Longtime UNMC supporter Ruth Scott, members of the Truhlsen family — including son Bill Truhlsen and Bill’s wife, Joan — and other friends visited the UNMC Omaha campus Nov. 13 to celebrate the birthday of Stanley Truhlsen, MD, at his namesake Stanley M. Truhlsen Eye Institute’s annual “Eye-Scream Social” event marking the day.
Approximately 200 people attended the event, with about half choosing to snack on butter brickle ice cream, considered Dr. Truhlsen’s favorite flavor, from the eCreamery.
It was the third year for the event, which was started in memory of Dr. Truhlsen after his death in December 2021 and commemorated what would have been his 104th birthday. Guests also were invited to view a historical exhibit on Dr. Truhlsen in the institute’s first-floor lobby.
Dr. Truhlsen’s contributions during his long career at the medical center helped position UNMC and Nebraska Medicine as a medical research, education and patient care leader.
“Dr. Truhlsen played a pivotal role in UNMC’s growth over the decades since he graduated from the UNMC College of Medicine in 1944,” said Amy Volk, senior vice president and chief developmental officer at the University of Nebraska Foundation. “He gave of his time and resources to invest in education, research and patient care.
“Ice cream was one of Dr. Truhlsen’s favorite things, and so the Eye-Scream Social is a fun way to honor Dr. Truhlsen, tell Truhlsen stories and pass along the important legacy that Dr. Truhlsen left as an inspiration to our students, staff and patients,” Volk said. “Having ice cream in the Truhlsen Institute’s parking lot is just another reason to thank Dr. Truhlsen.”
Truhlsen family members remember Volk stopping by with a tray of ice cream treats when Dr. Truhlsen turned 100, as well as NU President Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, then-chancellor of UNMC, once stopping in to share an ice cream with Dr. Truhlsen when he was hospitalized.
“I love the Eye-Scream Social,” said Barb Mitchell, one of Dr. Truhlsen’s children. “It’s such a fun and personal way to remember him. He would have loved sharing the simple joy of ice cream with everyone.”
“It is my pleasure to host this event every year at the Truhlsen Eye Institute, in honor of Stan Truhlsen, MD, on his birthday,” said Truhlsen Eye Institute Director Ronald Krueger, MD, chair of the UNMC Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. “He is the reason why I and many of our ophthalmology faculty are here at UNMC. We are inspired by his life and legacy, and are reminded of him every day, as we work at the beautiful facility that bears his name. We would like everyone else to be reminded of him, as well, by providing free ice cream during the ‘Eye-Scream Social’ every year. Happy birthday, Dr. Truhlsen.”