Myrna Krohn, a longtime supporter of the Munroe-Meyer Institute, is one of the recipients of the 2017 Community Service to Research Award.
What others are saying
“Myrna and Bob Krohn have been strong supporters of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. They welcomed us to this community 19 years ago when my wife and I first visited UNMC, have attended every Cattlemen’s Ball Cancer Center fundraiser across the state and have been long-term friends ever since we moved to Omaha. This is well deserved recognition for all that Myrna does for UNMC and for this community.”
-Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center
“There would not be the MMI of today without board members and visionaries like Myrna Krohn. Her passion for people with special needs is a commitment.
I have had the honor of working with Myrna for 35 years. This award is well deserved.”
-Bruce Buehler, M.D., former director, Munroe-Meyer Institute
“Myrna Krohn has spent her career helping children with speech and language disorders and carried this dedication on into supporting the Munroe-Meyer Institute and its research. I have been honored to hold the Buehler Professorship she endowed. She always wants to know what we are doing to help children and inspires us to always keep the translational aspects of our research in sight. I am so pleased her support of research is being recognized by this award.”
-Shelley Smith, Ph.D., Buehler Professor and director of developmental neuroscience at the Munroe-Meyer Institute
Krohn and her husband, Bob, also have supported research at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.
At MMI, the Krohns funded the Bruce A. Buehler Professorship at MMI, currently held by nationally respected researcher Shelley Smith, Ph.D., MMI’s director of developmental neuroscience.
Krohn’s association with MMI began in 1962, when she worked as a speech-language pathologist at the C. Louis Meyer Rehabilitation Institute, a precursor to MMI. She wanted the Buehler Professorship to make an impact on patient care in speech pathology and genetics, and she was pleased when Dr. Smith accepted the post.
“She was doing research on the location and identification of genes that contribute to communication and learning disorders, so it was a perfect match,” she said.
After serving on the MMI boards for most of five decades, Krohn now is an elected emeritus member of the Munroe-Meyer Institute Board of Directors.
“Myrna is an amazing, caring individual and the champion for MMI for more than 50 years,” said MMI Director Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D. “She is soft-spoken, thoughtful, extremely smart and is always willing to help. She has always been passionate about supporting our research mission, with a goal of translating our new knowledge to better diagnostic screening and patient care.
Dr. Mirnics called Krohn a lifelong partner of MMI.
“She has been a builder of our history,” he said. “Individuals like her make our community work, and our joint successes underscore the importance of the partnership between the community members and our providers.”
“I am deeply honored to receive this award,” she said. “It has been a privilege for me to be a part of MMI and UNMC for so many years and a joy to witness the growth and extraordinary accomplishments that have taken place at MMI to serve those with disabilities at the highest level.”
Krohn has watched with pride as MMI’s educational, clinical and research impact has grown in Nebraska and beyond.
“Part of MMI’s mission is extraordinary patient care,” Krohn said. “But an important part of that is knowing the cause of these disabilities. With research continuing to provide answers, it results in better diagnostic screening, and treatment can, thus, be designed for that specific cause.
“As a result of research, many health issues, starting at infancy, are being detected through screening procedures, resulting in early intervention.
“My deepest gratitude to all those at MMI and UNMC who provide leadership, patient care, education and training, research and outstate clinics. It is through their dedication that they are transforming the lives of those with disabilities.”
Thank you so much Myrna Krohn for supporting basic research! I am honored to work for Dr. Smith and Developmental Neuroscience. While it is critical to provide services for MMI clients, it is so important to recognize that research must be supported as well. We can continue to treat symptoms but long term, being able to develop a cure or treatment is paramount. Research is painstaking and tedious and intensely time consuming. Building on past discoveries and working toward a better future requires long-term commitment and financial support. Thank you for your generosity.
Thank you Myrna for your support of MMI.
We are so very honored to know Myrna and thank her for all of her wonderful contributions.
You’re the best.
Tom & Janet Thrasher
What sn honor for all you have done. It's an honor to know you as a close friend. It is a great picture.You should be very proud.