University of Nebraska Medical Center Pediatric Infectious Disease Physician
and Researcher, José Romero, M.D., has been selected to serve as
the new KETV Channel 7 Health Watch physician. He succeeds UNMCs Ed Dominguez,
M.D., who joined private practice in Tyler, Texas, in early December.
Dr. Romero is an associate professor in two UNMC departments, pediatrics
and pathology and microbiology. He also is interim director of the UNMC/Creighton
University Combined Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, and is chief
Latino recruitment officer at UNMC. He accepted the TV role at Channel
7 to provide community service.
I believe that as academic physicians we have a responsibility to educate
the community at large, Dr. Romero said. It also allows me to serve as
a role model for minority children, whom I hope will aspire to earn college
degrees.
Dr. Romero has excellent credentials, said Rose Ann Shannon, KETV
news director. His expertise as a pediatrician who specializes in infectious
diseases makes him an ideal person for this job.
Bruce Buehler, M.D., chair of the UNMC/Creighton University Combined
Department of Pediatrics, encouraged Dr. Romero to audition for the role.
I think its a valuable public service we should do, he said. You can
make a big impact on peoples lives, Dr. Buehler said.
Dr. Romero earned his medical degree in 1977 from the Universidad Autonoma
de Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Mexico, graduating in the top 1 percent
of his class. He did an internship at the Centro Medico del Noroeste in
Hermosillo, Mexico, where he was named outstanding intern in 1978.
Dr. Romero, board-certified in pediatrics and pediatric infectious diseases,
holds numerous memberships in national and local professional and community
organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Board
of Pediatrics, American Society for Microbiology and American Association
for the Advancement of Science.
His community involvement includes serving as acting president of the
Chicano Awareness Center’s board of directors and running a tuberculosis
clinic in South Omaha. Dr. Romero is a lifetime member of the Society for
the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science.
Dr. Romero has received numerous awards, including the 1995 Outstanding
Faculty Teaching Award, Departments of Pediatrics Joint Residency Program,
Nebraska/Creighton Universities Health Foundation; and 1995 Charles A.
Monasee Faculty Development Award, Creighton University.