UNMC for the record

Stephane VanderMeulen

UNMC shows strong presence at Physician Assistant Education Association forum
Stephane VanderMeulen, assistant professor of physician assistant education in the College of Allied Health Professions, managed the gavel as president over the annual business meeting at the national Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) Education Forum in Washington, D.C., last month. Under her leadership, the PAEA has built collaborative relationships with the American Association of Medical Colleges and is overseeing significant growth of the organization that now represents 200 PA programs across the country. At the PAEA forum, Darwin Brown, associate director and assistant professor of PA education, helped lead a full-day workshop on clinical coordinator skills and was invited to present a session with fellow faculty member Ryan Wessel. Cody Sasek, assistant professor, led two presentations and co-presented with former UNMC faculty, Tamara Ritsema, who now serves as PA faculty with St. Georges University of London and George Washington University.

“Winter Warm Up” at the Olson Center

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Holiday tea draws crowds

Wednesday was the Chancellor’s Holiday Tea. To see a Flickr slideshow of the event, click here.

The UNMC community is invited to the Olson Women’s Health Resource Center’s Winter Warm Up event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday. The Olson Center for Women’s Health will be offering hot apple cider, hot cocoa, holiday recipes, treats and games.

For more information on the open house, please call 402-559-6345. The event will take place at the Olson Center for Women’s Health, which is located on the fourth floor of the Durham Outpatient Center.

College of Allied Health Professions’ satellite site sees first graduate









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Rosa Lopez, left, with Lydia Howell, M.D., chair of pathology at UC, Davis Medical Center

This fall, the College of Allied Health Professions’ cytotechnology program’s satellite site at the University of California, Davis Medical Center produced its first graduate, Rosa Lopez. UNMC is a national leader in distance-learning cytotechnology education and its program in collaboration with UC-Davis is the first cytotechnology program in Northern California in more than 20 years. The didactic portion of the program is provided by UNMC and hands-on clinical training by respective satellite sites — students are enrolled in UNMC’s program and are UNMC graduates. UNMC also has satellite sites at Carle Foundation Hospital and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

Dr. Sears honored at retirement reception









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After more than 33 years at UNMC, Tom Sears, M.D., associate professor, internal medicine-cardiology division, is retiring. Dr. Sears was honored at a reception on Dec. 7. John Windle, M.D. (left), professor of internal medicine and chief of the division of cardiology, is shown with Dr. Sears at the retirement party. Dr. Sears was saluted for his long-term commitment to serving as a volunteer on the Institutional Review Board. Dr. Sears began working with the IRB just a few months after he started at UNMC. He hopes to continue to assist the IRB even after he retires.

Omaha Symphony’s snowman visits campus to promote event









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The symphony’s snowman chills with UNMC nursing students during a visit to campus.
This week the UNMC Ice Rink saw a visitor in the form of a snowman from the Omaha Symphony‘s Christmas Celebration. The symphony’s Christmas Celebration once again returns from Dec. 12 to 20. It will provide a singing and dancing treat for the whole family as Broadway stars will add to the lush sounds of the Omaha Symphony. UNMC employees receive a discount of 20 percent for all symphony concerts. Just enter code “NMC” on the Omaha Symphony website.