Rubens Pamies, M.D., vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, recently received an inaugural award from Omaha’s new Gershom Empowerment Center. The award recognizes the unique contributions and service immigrants have made to the United States.
Pamies, the son of Haitian immigrants, moved to Queens, N.Y., at the age of six. The Gershom Award honored his lifetime commitment to medicine and reducing health disparities within minority populations.
“The award highlights the positive contributions people have made to our community who are foreign born,” said Ope Banwo, Gershom Empowerment Center chairman. “Dr. Pamies’ career exemplifies a deep commitment to improving the health and lives of our community. We are honored to present him this award.”
Dr. Pamies said he was grateful to receive the award.
“We are a country of immigrants. Part of the American dream is that if you get a good education and work hard, you have a good chance to succeed,” Dr. Pamies said. “My parents instilled those values in me at a young age. I have also been fortunate to have good mentors, who took an interest in helping me develop professionally. I am forever indebted to them as well. Those key aspects have allowed me to pursue the American dream.”
The awards banquet officially opened the Gershom Empowerment Center. It is designed to assist immigrants in assimilating into the U.S. and Omaha communities by offering English as a Second Language classes, driving lessons, vocational training and other services.
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 now exceeds $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 513 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.