New regents visit UNMC

The three newest University of Nebraska Regents — Hal Daub, Lavon Heidemann and Jim Pillen, D.V.M., toured UNMC on Tuesday.

Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, right, explains the layout of the Cancer Center Campus on Tuesday to the University of Nebraska’s newest regents – from left – Lavon Heidemann, Jim Pillen, D.V.M., and Hal Daub.

Daub of Omaha, Dr. Pillen of Columbus and Heidemann of Elk Creek were elected to the board this past fall. They replaced outgoing regents Randy Ferlic, M.D., of Omaha, Chuck Hassebrook of Lyons and Jim McClurg of Lincoln, respectively.

Daub is a former U.S. Congressman and Mayor of Omaha. Dr. Pillen is a farmer and veterinarian who was a three-year letterman for the Nebraska football team in the late 1970s. Heidemann is a farmer and a former Nebraska State Senator who served in the Legislature from 2005 to 2013.

Below, we hear more from the university’s newest regents about their tours, which included:

• A rounds session during which UNMC health professionals and students met with patients;
  
• Presentations on microbubble technology, personal cancer care, advanced surgical technology and UNMC’s security-related research; and
  
• Meetings with campus leaders.

Heidemann said, “It was impressive to see how the students get hands-on clinical experience so early on in their education. You can see where that’s going to make a difference in the real world. I also find what UNMC’s researchers are able to do with genome processing and cancer care to be exciting.”

Daub said, “I’m impressed by the caliber of the people who work here. Their dedication boils over into clear excitement. They love coming to work and you can tell it. If every taxpayer in Nebraska could see what the three of us saw today they would feel like they are getting a whole lot better of a deal.”

Dr. Pillen said, “I particularly appreciated the clinical rounds and the interactive teaching I saw. It gives you great confidence that we have great doctors being sent out into the community who are being trained here. They are touching and full of empathy for their patients. It was very gratifying to see.”