Meet Distinguished Scientist Jill Poole, M.D.

This profile is part of a series to highlight the researchers who will be honored Feb 2 at a ceremony for UNMC’s 2014 Scientist Laureate, Research Leadership, Distinguished Scientist and New Investigator Award recipients.

• Name: Jill A. Poole, M.D.
• Title: Associate professor, internal medicine-pulmonary
• Joined UNMC: July 2005
• Hometown: Grand Island

Describe your research briefly in layman’s terms.
My research is focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying the inflammatory airway disease that occurs following inhalant environmental and occupational dust exposures, with particular focus on agriculture dusts. More recently, I have taken a new line of investigation into the systemic bone health consequences induced by these environmental exposures. I also have developed an interest in vitamin D’s health effects in the lung and skin, and we recently found that vitamin D supplementation is beneficial in patients with chronic hives.

How does your research contribute to science and/or health care?

In my laboratory-based studies, determining how occupational/environmental organic dusts cause airway inflammatory diseases and/or adverse systemic health consequences could lead to novel ideas to prevent and/or treat disease in exposed humans. In our human clinical studies, finding relatively simple therapies to alleviate hive symptoms is greatly beneficial to patients suffering from this disease.

What is the best piece of advice anyone ever gave you, professional or personal?

The best piece of advice was along the lines of the great balancing act between professional and personal life. Namely, life is like a marathon and you need to pace yourself, but keep moving forward.

List three things few people know about you.

• I am a master of creating a sit-down and healthy family dinner in less than 20-30 minutes.
• I thoroughly enjoy gardening, particularly vegetables and flowers.
• I look forward to doing the Omaha World-Herald crossword puzzles on Saturdays.