I think it is fair to say we are all anxious for spring to arrive. Spring brings more opportunities to be outside. Connecting with nature is a way many of us re-energize and are reminded of what is most important and good in our lives. Activities that don’t require being outside also help ground us. I was challenged a few years ago to start the habit of maintaining a daily gratitude list. Each day I make a list of three things for which I am grateful and looking back over that list intermittently has become a way I reflect on the many good things in my life.
This newsletter contains many more than three things for which I have much gratitude! There are some wonderful achievements to celebrate such as Dr. Jim O’Dell being recognized as the UNMC Educator Laureate- a distinction that his brother Dr. David O’Dell has received previously and certainly tells us that the O’Dell family has excellent "educator" genes. Dr. Shannon Boerner also received the inspirational mentor of educator award in that same ceremony. Three of our faculty were recognized with UNMC research awards recently—Dr. Matt Lunning as a distinguished scientist and Dr. Saras Viswanathan and Dr. Bin Duan as New Investigators. Dr. Duan will also be recognized with the Gilmore award on March 14th. Dr. Julie Vose has been elected into the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh, a remarkable international recognition of her work.
I was very proud to attend the ceremony for the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) where three of our faculty and two of our med-peds residents were inducted, having been chosen by medical students in GHHS because they are excellent role models in how they care for the whole patient and not just the disease that the patient is enduring.
Please look at the newsletter to see which residents have been recognized for their teaching by our students recently, who has new grant funding or publications, and who has been active in the community inspiring others.
We recently marked the one-year anniversary of losing our resident colleague Dr. Jarrod Dye to suicide. For those who knew Jarrod personally, we miss his engaging smile and the concern he showed for his patients and colleagues and we seek to honor the wonderful way he lived his life. We appreciate all the work our residents’ wellness council does in helping us be mindful in how we care for one another.
We mourn the passing of Mrs. Virginia Grissom, the wife of former Chair Dr. Robert Grissom. Virginia passed away recently at age 99. She was a truly remarkable woman and such a strong supporter of UNMC and the Department of Internal Medicine. We think of her family in this time of loss.
Lastly, we welcome Shannon Thomsen to the department! Shannon is the creative one behind the newsletter and we are grateful to have her with us. Please provide us feedback about what you would like to see in future newsletters.
With gratitude for all the staff, trainees, and faculty of this department,
Deb Romberger, MD