Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, Rep. Brad Ashford and Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert will be among the guests Friday as the UNMC/Nebraska Medicine Biocontainment Unit celebrates its 10th anniversary.
From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Nicole Lurie, M.D., also will attend.
Students, faculty and staff of UNMC are invited to celebrate a decade of preparation and the ongoing accomplishments of the UNMC/Nebraska Medicine Biocontainment Unit team at the event. Attendees are encouraged to show up early to sign a “Congratulations” banner that will be presented to the team.
Rick Sacra, M.D., the first Ebola patient treated at the Biocontainment Unit, also will speak at the event.
UNMC/Nebraska Medicine has one of three biocontainment units in the nation that have treated Ebola patients. Having drilled for countless hours since the unit opened in 2005, the Nebraska biocontainment team was uniquely qualified to answer the call. The original team was soon joined by other experts on campus.
In February, President Barack Obama said the center had delivered “world-class care” to Dr. Sacra.
The ceremony will be held at the Truhlsen Campus Events Center, located on the first floor of the Sorrell Center at 2 p.m. on March 27. Immediately afterwards, a reception in the foyer will follow.
The event will be tweeted live at the hashtag #NEbiounit10, and it will be livestreamed here beginning at 1:40 p.m.
Parking for those guests arriving from off campus will be available in Lot 36, northeast corner of 42nd and Leavenworth streets.
To assist organizers with planning, please RSVP here if you plan to attend.