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Tom Hejkal, M.D.. M.D. |
The announcement was made by John Gollan, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the College of Medicine. Dr. Hejkal fills the void left by the death of Carl Camras, M.D., on April 14. Dr. Camras had served as chairman of the department since 2000.
“Dr. Hejkal will be a wonderful interim chair,” Dr. Gollan said. “He steps in at a difficult time for the department following the sad loss of Dr. Camras. I look forward to working with Tom as he leads ophthalmology to an exciting future.”
Dr. Hejkal joined UNMC in 1994 as an assistant professor. He was elevated to associate professor in 2000 and to professor in 2008. Since 1996, he has served as residency program director for the department.
In 2007, Dr. Hejkal took on more administrative responsibilities when he was appointed vice chairman for clinical operations.
“I feel fortunate to have worked with Dr. Camras these past 14 years,” Dr. Hejkal said. “He did a wonderful job and built a strong department. Hopefully, I can continue the tradition of excellent leadership that Carl established. I look forward to the challenge.”
Dr. Hejkal earned his Ph.D. in oceanography from Florida State University in 1978 and his medical degree from UNMC in 1990. He did his internship and residency at UNMC. He also completed a vitreoretinal fellowship at UNMC in 2006.
Active in a number of professional organizations, Dr. Hejkal has served as a member of the board of directors for the Lions Eye Bank of Nebraska from 1997 until 2003 and as president of the Omaha Ophthalmological Society since 1998.
He has been a senator on the UNMC Faculty Senate for the past eight years and served on the Graduate Medical Education Committee since 1996.
In 2006, Dr. Hejkal received the Outstanding Teacher Award given by resident physicians in ophthalmology and visual sciences. He was a 2001 recipient of the Chancellor’s Council Silver ‘U’ Award.