UNMC for the record

The hallway through the Wigton Heritage Center features UNMC history exhibits.

Third-floor walkway from Wittson Hall to University Tower reopens

The third-floor walkway from Wittson Hall through the Wigton Heritage Center into University Tower, now is open. People no longer need to walk through Bennett Hall tunnels or outside along Emile Street.

Construction work still is happening in the area, but the walkway is available for use.

“We are excited that the walkway is open,” said Emily McElroy, dean of the McGoogan Health Science Library. “Also, the exhibits along the walls of the walkway will give the UNMC community a glimpse of what to expect with exhibits in Wigton Heritage Center.”

Author Brandy Schillace, PhD, to speak as part of medical humanities program

Author Brandy Schillace, PhD, will read and discuss her book “Mr. Humble & Dr. Butcher: A Monkey’s Head, the Pope’s Neuroscientist, and the Quest to Transplant the Soul,” at a virtual event from 4-5:30 p.m. on March 24.

This discussion, sponsored by the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Medical Humanities Program, will be moderated by Allison Schlosser, PhD, an assistant professor of sociology and anthropology at UNO and a member of UNO’s medical humanities faculty.

This virtual event is free to attend, but registration is required. Register here.

Described as “one of the most fascinating and largely forgotten sagas in the history of medicine” (Luke Dittrich, New York Times bestselling author of “Patient H.M.”), “Mr. Humble & Dr. Butcher” tells the story of the world’s first successful primate head transplant and how this endeavor not only shaped, but inaugurated, technologies that save lives today. In this conversation, Dr. Schillace will share excerpts from this engrossing tale that begs the questions: If you make a brain to live outside a body, what becomes of the self? Can you transplant the human soul?

In addition to the public talk, Dr. Schillace will meet with faculty and administrators on Wednesday, March 24, from 1-2 p.m. and with students who are enrolled in the medical humanities program or interested in the MH major or minor on Thursday, March 25, from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. For more information, contact Steve Langan at 402-659-6343 or via email.