Harold M. Maurer, M.D., chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical
Center, has been honored by the Lincoln Medical Education Foundation, Inc.
for his accomplishments in promoting medical education.
The foundation presented Dr. Maurer with the John C. Finegan Award,
named after the organizations first Family Practice Program director.
Dale Gruntorad, foundation president, said he and Bruce Gfeller, M.D.,
president of the organizations Family Practice Program, have been impressed
with Dr. Maurers efforts at UNMC to raise educational standards for medical
school graduation.
Dr. Maurer has distinguished himself through his continued focus on
primary care residencies in greater Nebraska during a time when he also
has accomplished the merger of University Hospital and Clarkson Hospital
to form Nebraska Health System, Gruntorad said.
These accomplishments were a significant undertaking by themselves
without including his ability to update campus facilities and increase
non-taxpayer funding for research and medical studies, which are regionally
and nationally recognized.
The Lincoln Medical Education Foundation was established by the Lincoln
hospitals and Lancaster County Medical Society in 1972 as a cooperative
nonprofit corporation. Its primary focus was to train family practice physicians,
but it has evolved into a multi-dimensional organization providing other
services such as cancer counseling and continuing medical and health education.
Dr. Maurer was appointed chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical
Center in December 1998 after serving as dean of the College of Medicine
since 1993.
From 1968 to 1993, Dr. Maurer was on the faculty of the Childrens Medical
Center at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, serving as the Jessie
Ball duPont Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics during
his last nine years there. Prior to this, he served two years as chief
of pediatrics for the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital in Norfolk, Va.,
and he did a two-year fellowship in pediatric hematology and oncology at
Babies Hospital at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York.
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state.
Through its commitment to research, education, outreach and patient care,
UNMC has established itself as one of the country’s leading centers for
cancer research and treatment and solid organ transplantation. More than
$34 million in research grants and contracts are awarded to UNMC scientists
annually. In addition, UNMC’s educational programs are responsible for
training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other
institution.