Dr. Davies highlights UNMC College of Nursing at monthly forum

UNMC Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD

For students wondering if there’s a place for them in the field of nursing, the answer is clear.

There is.

This was the message Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, shared during this month’s all-campus forum held at the UNMC College of Nursing-Lincoln Division.

Dr. Davies was joined by a panel of guests from the college to share their experiences in the field.

The panel included LeAnn Holmes, DNP, interim associate dean for transformational practice and partnerships, director of Morehead Center for Nursing Practice and clinical associate professor; Krystal Davis, EdD, assistant professor; office associate Anna Lowe; and Jennifer Miller, PhD, assistant professor.

They addressed topics such as assisting nursing students through their academic careers, balancing research and clinical care, and the role of simulation and virtual reality in nursing training.

“Such accomplished people from diverse educational and academic backgrounds are all thriving here,” Dr. Davies said of the panel. “Thank you for helping make UNMC a better place.”

UNMC faculty, staff and students can access a recording of December’s forum at this link.

Dr. Davies also:

  • Announced the opening of nominations for the newly created UNMC Staff Advisory Council. Elections will be held in January. The council will include representatives from all colleges and institutes. “The purpose of this council is to promote and facilitate communication with administration, so we can listen to the things you think are important and take them into consideration as we make decisions that impact everybody,” Dr. Davies said.
  • Addressed continuing work on the EDGE District. The Catalyst building is nearing completion. The CORE building is slated to open at the end of 2025. Other projects in the district include pedestrian bridges and a parking lot.
  • Discussed two leadership changes. Keith Olsen, PharmD, will step down as dean of the UNMC College of Pharmacy in January. He’ll stay on as faculty for a year before retiring. Don Klepser, PhD, will serve as interim dean. Debra Romberger, MD, will step down as chair of the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine in January. She will move to the dean’s office in a special advisory role. Mark Rupp, MD, will serve as interim chair of the department.
  • Attended a ribbon cutting in Kearney for a new Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center location. The space, he said, will help patients in rural parts of the state get the same quality of care as they would at the Omaha location, which facilitates leading-edge research with state-of-the-art care as one of 72 National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers in the country.
  • Invited campus and community members to skate this winter at the UNMC Ice Rink. The ice rink underwent construction to add a canopy, expanding its capability to hold events year-round.
  • Celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Community Wellness Collaborative at the Highlander, a partnership with Nebraska Medicine. The space allows for UNMC representatives to “go into the community and meet the people we’re serving in North Omaha,” Dr. Davies said. “It’s been a really big success.”
  • Thanked the UNMC College of Dentistry for a month of successful outreach. The college added more hours to serve veterans through a specialty clinic. In a two-day span, more than 100 veterans received dentures as part of a collaborative project. Other clinics have offered services to more than 800 underserved community members.
  • Thanked employees for contributing to a successful employee giving campaign. It brought in more than $100,000, which was $13,000 more than last year.
  • Congratulated members of the class of 2024 who will graduate later this month. “What an extraordinary opportunity to celebrate all of your accomplishments,” he said, adding that he looks forward to handing out diplomas and handshakes at the commencement ceremony.

In closing, Dr. Davies thanked his hosts from the UNMC Lincoln campus — including the four panel guests, as well as Lepaine Sharp-McHenry, DNP, dean of the UNMC College of Nursing, and Myra Schmaderer, PhD, interim assistant dean of the UNMC College of Nursing-Lincoln Division — for a welcoming reception.

“It’s great to see all the wonderful work you’re all doing,” he added. “We very much appreciate your contribution to campus and the whole system.”

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