 |
UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, center, speaks during the virtual award ceremony for the Greater Omaha Chamber. |
UNMC has been honored recently by both the Greater Omaha Chamber and OneWorld Community Health Centers.
The Greater Omaha Chamber presented its Headliner of the Year Award to the Global Center for Health Security at UNMC. The award was accepted by UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, at the chamber’s annual meeting on Jan. 21, which was a virtual event. UNMC’s GCHS team has been a leader in biopreparedness research, education and training throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The annual award recognizes an organization that has positively impacted Omaha and Nebraska’s image. The chamber noted the center’s current work on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic and also recalled the organization’s efforts during the Ebola crisis of 2014-15.
“Subsequently, the GCHS has built robust collaborations with the HHS, the CDC, Department of Defense, Department of State and other federal agencies,” the chamber said on its award website. “Through these partnerships and support from local and state leadership, the GCHS developed its response to COVID-19. As a result, the center’s activities have further elevated Omaha’s status as a global health care leader.”
In addition, OneWorld Community Health Centers awarded UNMC the 2020 Milagro Award, recognizing the medical center’s continued partnership and work during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When OneWorld was slammed with huge numbers of patients and community members needing coronavirus testing, UNMC and Nebraska Medicine came to our aid,” said Andrea Skolkin, CEO of OneWorld Community Health Centers.
“We are honored to support the work of OneWorld Community Health Centers and are dedicated to continuing our partnership,” Dr. Gold said. “We are grateful for the recognition for the work we continue to do regarding the COVID-19 pandemic with the communities that OneWorld serves.”
Skolkin said that the workload at OneWorld was lightened by the efforts of UNMC and Nebraska Medicine, together with the Douglas County Health Department, allowing OneWorld’s COVID-19 teams to focus their efforts on patients who were hit hard by the virus.
“They saved the health center staff from burn out and helped us have a few moments to gear up for the marathon of COVID-19 for the rest of the year. We treasure our partnership which dates decades and they continually step up in times of need,” Skolkin said.
The Milagro Award celebrates OneWorld volunteers and medical partners. Past award recipients include: Midwest Gastrointestinal Associates; Methodist Health System; Ruben Cano, principal of Omaha South High School; Robert Aranda, principal of Omaha Bryan High School; and David Filipi, MD.