Kimberley Nichols, MD, to give Walling Yanney lecture

Kimberley Nichols, MD, headlines this year’s Gail Walling Yanney, MD, Lectureship, to be held during the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology’s Grand Rounds on Wednesday, April 17.

Dr. Nichols is an associate professor of anesthesiology at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the UNC School of Medicine’s senior associate dean for medical student education. Her leadership expertise includes medical education, organizational culture and equity and inclusion.

Dr. Nichols will speak on “Building Work Communities Where People Can Thrive.” Attendees can learn how to define the characteristics of and how to foster inclusive work cultures and the importance of mentorship and sponsorship in organizational success.

Sasha Shillcutt, MD, who holds the Gail Walling Yanney MD, Professorship in the department of anesthesiology and is the department’s vice chair of strategy, will be hosting Dr. Nichols.

“Dr. Nichols is a national expert in not just anesthesiology, but also in creating well cultures,” Dr. Shillcutt said. “We are honored to have her on campus to teach us.”

Mohanad Shukry, MD, PhD, interim chair of the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology, said the department is honored to have visionaries like Dr. Yanney among its alumni.

“With her endowment, Dr. Yanney established a legacy of supporting women and wellness for everyone,” he said. “Dr. Yanney’s generosity allows us, among many other things, to invite experts such as Dr. Nichols to the department’s grand rounds, and for that we are grateful.”

The Gail Walling Yanney, MD, Lectureship was established in 2023 to honor the legacy of Dr. Walling Yanney, a UNMC College of Medicine graduate and former Bishop Clarkson Memorial Hospital anesthesiologist who retired from clinical practice in 1986 and as a clinical instructor in anesthesiology at UNMC in 1992. She has served as executive director of the Clarkson Foundation and as a board member of the Nebraska Medical Center. She received her undergraduate education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.