Nebraska legislative candidate John Fredrickson of Omaha toured UNMC in late July.
Fredrickson, who is running to represent District 20 in Omaha, met with university leaders, toured the Davis Global Center and discussed mental health issues with representatives from BHECN, the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska.
"I’m walking away really inspired," Fredrickson said after seeing the educational opportunities that comprise iEXCEL. "It’s incredible to see many of the cutting-edge techniques with the latest science, and it gives me a lot of hope for the future and the way to use technology to expand industry and medical education."
A mental health professional and educator, Fredrickson has strong interests in mental health issues, education and health care resources. And iEXCEL, which exposes students to different medical scenarios and enables them to "practice" procedures in a safe environment, is not unlike the role of mental health providers. Both, he said, "train the brain to be exposed to potential crises."
The campus visit was motivating, he said. "UNMC is one of the prides of the state, and all Nebraskans should be extremely proud of what UNMC does. It’s truly inspiring."