Michelle Hess, human genetics lab supervisor for the Munroe-Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, received the “Outstanding Achievement Award” at the recent National Association of Genetic Technologists (AGT) meeting in Denver. The award is given annually to one member of AGT who is committed to furthering the field of genetics.
AGT is composed of more than 1,300 cytogenetic and molecular genetic technologists and directors from around the United States, Canada and other countries.
Hess was nominated by the membership and selected by the awards committee. She has worked in the UNMC Human Genetics Lab since 1980 and was certified as an AGT member in 1981. She served as the president of AGT from 2003 to 2004.
UNMC is the only public health science center in the state. Its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through their commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have established themselves as one of the country’s leading centers in cancer, transplantation biology, bioterrorism preparedness, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, genetics, biomedical technology and ophthalmology. UNMC’s research funding from external sources is now nearly $80 million annually and has resulted in the creation of more than 2,400 highly skilled jobs in the state. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes more than 460 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties who practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.