Jueliet Menolascino has become a regular at the Munroe-Meyer Institute this summer.
Menolascino, who started her first year of medical school this fall, attends weekly bocce ball practices at the institute.
The third-generation UNMC student has family ties to MMI through her grandfather, Frank Menolascino, often called the father of the community programs in Nebraska that largely replaced institutionalization.
Frank Menolascino, MD, became a leading voice in Nebraska arguing for more humane treatment of people with intellectual disabilities.
He died in the 1990s, never meeting his granddaughter Jueliet. But she’s felt connected to him through reading his books and learning of his legacy within the MMI and wider community.
“Even though I never met him, I wonder what he would think of the building and how far they’ve come in what would have been his lifetime,” Menolascino said. “Everything about MMI is so thoughtful for the population they serve.”
Menolascino, who’s from Wyoming, completed her undergraduate studies at Arizona State University. She grew up visiting her dad’s side of the family in Omaha.
She enrolled at UNMC, following in the footsteps of her father and grandfather.
“It’s really special to continue the legacy,” Menolascino said. “You’re not just a doctor who sees patients. You advocate for them, for our systems to better support and serve our patients.”
Menolascino, who is in the MD/MPH dual degree program, spent her summer on campus working in the Buch lab at the Durham Research Center.
She got involved in the wider UNMC community when an email about MMI’s up-and-coming bocce ball league showed up in her inbox. She was eager to sign up, in part, because of past experience volunteering for organizations that work with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“Life’s too short to just think about what enhances a resume. What’s good for my wellbeing? What brings me joy? Bocce ball definitely brings me joy, especially with the teammates that I have. It adds so much more love to it,” Menolascino said.
Menolascino isn’t quite sure yet where her medical degree will take her, but she knows bocce ball won’t be the only time she visits MMI.
“I can feel it in my bones,” she said. “It’s been such a great way to meet folks and get involved.”