The UNMC Department of Surgery will hold a celebration of life on Jan. 8 for Elisabeth “Liz” Tracey, MD, a UNMC alum and former surgical resident and vascular surgery fellow at the medical center. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Wigton Heritage Center.
Dr. Tracey, a native of Omaha and graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, passed away on Oct. 25, 2024, after a long battle with cancer.
Chandra Are, MBBS, the associate dean of graduate medical education, called Dr. Tracey a profile in courage and grace.
“While she had to be taking care of herself, she was taking care of others,” he said. “This young lady, in the prime of her life, was befallen with a grave diagnosis, and she came to work with fortitude, courage and grace, and did what she felt she was destined to do – care for others – until almost her last day.”
Jonathan Thompson, MD, who led Dr. Tracey’s vascular surgery fellowship program and spent the most time with her, said he would remember her grit, courage and resolve.
“Despite her physical limitations as a result of cancer, she literally used every ounce of energy to care for her patients,” he said. “Dr. Tracey relentlessly took care of patients, despite being ill herself. She had this resolve until the last weeks of her life, often working late to follow up on patient needs or other issues. She gave everything she had to patient care and the pursuit of being a surgeon. The whole vascular family will miss her greatly.”
For David W. Mercer, MD, chair of the UNMC Department of Surgery, Dr. Tracey was a remarkable woman, physician and surgeon.
“All who knew Dr. Tracey remember her drive, passion and work ethic,” he said. “She was incredibly committed to her patients even up to the very end as she battled cancer every step of the way. The department was fortunate to have Dr. Tracey as a general surgery resident and as a vascular surgery fellow. She will be deeply missed.”
Tiffany Tanner, MD, was Dr. Tracey’s program director during her surgical residency.
“From the time she started in our program, Liz was an amazing resident – hardworking, diligent, someone everyone could depend on,” Dr. Tanner said. “Throughout her program, she developed relationships with the people in her class, and she always made sure the work got done. She was just a wonderful person. She never let anything stand in her way despite the challenges she faced.”
UNMC College of Medicine Dean Bradley Britigan, MD, noted that Dr. Tracey was a member of the UNMC family from her medical student days. She graduated from the college of medicine in 2017.
“Throughout her all-too-brief time with us, Dr. Tracey was the epitome of what constitutes an outstanding physician,” Dr. Britigan said. “She was a trusted and valued colleague who lived her life with compassion and unwavering commitment to her patients and the practice of medicine.”
Dr. Tanner, who with Dr. Thompson planned the UNMC celebration of life event, said she hopes it will bring Dr. Tracey’s family and colleagues a measure of peace to see the impact she had.