An upbeat culture, combined with a winning strategy, yields unprecedented opportunity, UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., says.
To capitalize on that opportunity, UNMC must make big decisions and move “full speed ahead,” Dr. Maurer said. “I believe that we have a great chance – a great chance – of being successful in achieving our long-term vision.”
Dr. Maurer offered his assessment of UNMC and its direction at the Annual Faculty Meeting on Wednesday. Among those in attendance were Regent David Hergert of Scottsbluff and his wife, Nancy. In addition to Dr. Maurer’s annual address, several faculty members were honored for 30, 20 and 10 years of service to UNMC. In addition, special awards were given to five faculty members. Those awards included:
- The Spirit of Community Service Award to Jim Medder, M.D., associate professor in family medicine.
- The inaugural Faculty Mentor to Graduate Students Award to M. Patricia Leuschen, Ph.D., associate professor of genetics, cell biology and anatomy.
- Outstanding Teaching Awards to Ann Berger, Ph.D., associate professor and Florence Niedfelt Professor in the College of Nursing; Joel Bessmer, M.D., assistant professor of internal medicine; and Barbara Heywood, M.D., associate professor of otolaryngology-ear, nose and throat.
In his address to the faculty, titled “Thinking World-Class,” Dr. Maurer noted that UNMC can achieve world-class status by becoming “excellent in everything and outstanding in two or three things.”
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Martha Harmon speaks with Joel Bessmer, M.D., at the Annual Faculty Meeting, where Harmon was recognized for her service and contributions to the UNMC Faculty Senate. |
“Culture, to me, is not a project,” Dr. Maurer said. “It’s something that is an attitude. It grows. The attitude is built on success.”
Achieving big success, Dr. Maurer said, requires making “big decisions,” as opposed to non-decisions. Big decisions are dynamic and change the overall course of UNMC, while non-decisions are static and sap the energy from the university.
“When you make big decisions, those decisions have traction,” Dr. Maurer said.
Currently, Dr. Maurer said, his top priority is increasing faculty and staff salaries. He also highlighted the past year’s successes from each unit and college, and he outlined three new goals for UNMC and strategies to achieve those goals: 1) UNMC will become the best place to do biomedical research in the country; 2) UNMC will lead the state in reducing or controlling health care costs through prevention strategies such as SimplyWell and electronic medical records; and 3) UNMC will be learning-centered in education.