UNeMed’s ‘Back-o-the-Napkin’ contest returns
UNeMed will again sponsor a “Back-o-the-Napkin” contest, calling for any inventive faculty, staff or student at UNMC or the University of Nebraska at Omaha to submit their ideas for new inventions and better ideas.
A suitable entry could be a simple solution created to solve a clinical or translational research problem, whether it’s a line of software code, a possible new molecule or a medical device. The deadline for entries is Jan. 1.
All novel entries will be judged by an internal committee and evaluated for their novelty, market potential and possible intellectual property protection. Top entries with the most viable path to commercial success will win additional development and financial support.
Digital entry forms have been provided to all the clinical departments across UNMC, and entry forms can be downloaded here. Physical versions of the entry form are available upon request. Designed to resemble actual napkins, entry forms ask that inventors draw and describe their ideas.
Co-sponsors are the Great Plains IDeA-CTR; the James and Karen Linder Maker Studio at UNMC’s McGoogan Library; the UNO Machining and Prototyping Core in the Department of Biomechanics; and the UNeTech Institute.
-Charlie Litton, UNeMed
Sarche joins the Buffett Early Childhood Institute
Michelle Sarche, PhD, a leading researcher and expert in Native American child development, parenting and early care and education, has joined the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska as a professor and project lead. Trained as a clinical psychologist, Dr. Sarche is a Tribal citizen of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Ojibwe and has worked with Native American communities for more than 25 years to conduct research to improve access and quality in Tribal early childhood programs.
At the institute, Dr. Sarche will continue her work with American Indian and Alaska Native communities focusing on children’s development, parenting and early care environments such as Head Start, home visiting and child care. Dr. Sarche will have an appointment as professor with tenure at the UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute.
“I am thrilled at the opportunity to do meaningful work with and for Indigenous families, children, and communities at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute,” Dr. Sarche said.
Dr. Sarche is nationally known for supporting the health and well-being of Native American families and centering their voices, culture, and experiences in her work and research.
“Michelle Sarche has contributed immensely to the field of early childhood development and education and has done so with great care and respect for the Native American communities she works alongside,” said Walter Gilliam, PhD, executive director of the Buffett Early Childhood Institute.
Said Karoly Mirnics, MD, PhD, director of the Munroe-Meyer Institute, “The Munroe-Meyer Institute conducts wide-ranging research on topics like child development, disabilities, psychology and genetics. We’re excited to add Michelle Sarche, a respected scholar and researcher, to our faculty ranks.”
-Buffett Early Childhood Institute
Winter pause on Lot 2 construction
The below-freezing temperatures have signaled the temporary pause in construction work on Lot 2/ Green Parking garage that is connected to Durham Outpatient Center.
Starting Monday, Dec. 9, at Lot 2, much of the construction equipment will be removed, allowing the garage to return to normal operations. A small number of contractors will be working in the garage during the winter and have about 20 stalls on level B reserved for storage.
With Lot 2, a visitor and patient parking structure, returning to normal operations, all of Lot 50 will return to employee parking. During construction of Lot 2, portions of Lot 50 had been used for visitor/patient overflow parking and valet parking.
Construction work will resume on Lot 2 next year once temperatures rise and are consistently above freezing.
-Joe Evans, Nebraska Medicine