James Armitage, M.D., dean of the University of Nebraska Medical Center
College of Medicine, will be honored Feb. 4 as the 86th Face on the Barroom
Floor by the Omaha Press Club.
Dr. Armitage, who has served as dean of the College of Medicine since
2000, is best known for starting the bone marrow transplant program at
UNMC in 1982. Prior to becoming dean, he served 10 years as professor and
chairman of the internal medicine department.
The ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a cash bar cocktail reception
followed by a roast of Dr. Armitage at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. The
event is open to the public. There is no cost to attend the roast. If you
wish to stay for dinner, cost is $24.50, and reservations are required.
The OPC is located on the 22nd floor of the First National Bank building
at 16th and Dodge streets. Reservations can be made by calling 345-8008.
Harold M. Maurer, M.D., UNMC chancellor, will serve as master of ceremonies,
while the roasters will be: John Gollan, M.D., professor and chairman,
UNMC internal medicine department; Mike Sorrell, M.D., professor, UNMC
internal medicine department; Ward Chambers, M.D., executive director,
UNMC community and multicultural affairs; and C. R. (Bob) Bell, vice president
for business and community development for UNeMed Corp. and former president
of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce.
A caricature of Dr. Armitage done by Omaha artist Jim Horan will be
unveiled at the end of the roast. The drawing will be encased on
the barroom floor until a new “face” is honored in a couple of months.
The old face will then join previous honorees on the club’s walls.
The Omaha Press Club has been doing the Face on the Barroom Floor events
for the past 30 years. With more than 1,000 members, the Omaha Press Club
is a private club. Membership is open to the general public as well as
members of the news media. For more information on the Omaha Press Club,
call 345-8587.