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UNMC for the record

Beth Conover

FDA committee taps MMI’s Conover to speak
The Munroe-Meyer Institute’s Beth Conover will be giving an invited presentation in March at the Food & Drug Administration’s Risk Communication Advisory Committee meeting on Risk Communication in Pregnancy Labeling. Conover, a genetic counselor in the MMI Department of Genetic Medicine, will speak on risk communication from the Teratogen Information Service perspective. Organizers cited Conover’s expertise in this area, adding that her presentation will be a valuable addition to this meeting.

UNMC takes 2017 recruiting honors from national eye research network
The Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (PEDIG) has selected UNMC for its Top Recruiter of the Year Award for 2017.

PEDIG is a collaborative network dedicated to facilitating multicenter clinical research in strabismus, amblyopia and other eye disorders that affect children. The network, which was formed in 1997, is funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI). The NEI is a part of the National Institutes of Health, which is the branch of government that funds medical research. There are currently more than 100 participating sites (offices) with more than 300 pediatric ophthalmologists and pediatric optometrists in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom participating in the network.

UNMC also received an excellent site report card from the group. PEDIG investigators at UNMC include Donny Suh, M.D., Whitney Brown, O.D., Sachin Kedar, M.D., Linda Morgan, O.D., and Geetanjali Rathore, M.D.

Dr. Saksena named an ELAM outstanding alumna









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Yun Saksena. D.M.D.
Yun Saksena, D.M.D, associate dean for education in UNMC’s College of Dentistry, has been recognized as an outstanding alumna of the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine program through Drexel University’s College of Medicine. She was highlighted as one of this year’s “Alumnae Success Stories” at the 2018 ELAM Professional Development Program in Denver.

The ELAM program is a one-year program that offers leadership training and networking opportunities to women in academic medicine, dentistry, public health and pharmacy. Dr. Saksena graduated from the ELAM program in 2016, and believes that the skills she gained in ELAM helped her land her dream job at UNMC in January.

“I believe in ELAM’s mission of increasing the representation of women in leadership roles in academic health institutions, which is still very much needed,” she said in her spotlight story. “I have personally gained immensely from my ELAM experience and treasure the community.”

Other UNMC faculty members who have completed the program include Jennifer Larsen, M.D., Debra Romberger, M.D., Shelley Smith, Ph.D., Sheila Ellis, M.D., Vimla Band, Ph.D., Pamela Carmines, Ph.D. and Shilpa Buch, Ph.D. Kari Simonsen, M.D., is currently participating in the 2017-2018 ELAM program.

Volunteers needed for cancer study
Caucasian women 19 to 30 years of age are asked to participate in a study of the role of estrogens in cancer. Participation involves collecting one urine sample and providing your year of birth. Participants cannot have been taking hormonal birth control pills in the past three months or diagnosed with cancer. To participate, contact Ellen Duysen or call 402-552-3394 or 402-618-8297.

Enrollment special at EngAge Wellness
EngAge Wellness, Omaha’s only medical fitness and whole-person wellness center, is celebrating its seventh birthday with a $7 enrollment fee and $7 monthly participation fee through Feb. 28. Call 402-552-7210 with questions. EngAge Wellness is located at 7:30 S. 38th Ave. in the Home Instead Center for Successful Aging.