UNMC Today - Today's Headlines

UNMC chancellor: Campus intends to give raises as planned

UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., said today that UNMC plans to implement the scheduled salary increases to employees beginning July 1.

Jun 12, 2002

Brain death expert: accepted fact but no global consensus in diagnostic criteria

Declaring a person brain dead is a necessary step to withdraw life support and allow for organ donation. But, Eelco F.M. Wijdicks, M.D., Ph.D., (pronounced ale-coe vadix) has found that the simple criteria for determining brain death has been widely expanded around the world.

On Thursday, the Mayo Clinic neurologist — considered by many to be the foremost expert on brain death — shared the results of his yearlong, global survey on brain death criteria with the UNMC community.

Jun 11, 2002

36 hours of surgery brings new hope to 10 NHS transplant patients

More than 30 hours of surgery resulted in 13 organ transplants for 10 patients at NHS. The transplant surgeries began around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28 and continued until late Thursday afternoon, May 30.

When they were over, the surgical teams had transplanted six livers, one pancreas, one small bowel and four kidneys into nine adult and one pediatric patients. All 10 people are recovering at NHS.

Jun 10, 2002

Faculty Senate announces new officers, senators

The UNMC Faculty Senate officers for the 2002-2003 term are:

  • Lynne A. Farr, Ph.D., president (College of Nursing)
  • Paul M. Paulman, M.D., vice president/president elect (College of Medicine)
  • Joel R. Bessmer, M.D., secretary/treasurer (College of Medicine)
  • Nancy N. Woelfl, Ph.D., director of the McGoogan Library, agreed to continue serving as the Senate’s parliamentarian.

See story for a list of newly and re-elected senators, as well as those who have finished their term.

Jun 10, 2002

Information session today on health insurance guidelines

An employee informational session regarding the university’s health insurance plan has been scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Monday, June 10, at Cooper Auditorium in the College of Nursing.

Jun 10, 2002

Nebraska contingent to attend biotechnology convention in Toronto

A contingent of Nebraskans will travel to Toronto this weekend to attend the largest biotechnology convention in the world in an effort to raise awareness for Omaha’s biotechnology programs.

The group, which includes representatives from the academic, business and governmental sectors, will be attending the BIO 2002 International Biotechnology Convention and Exhibition being held June 10 to12 in Toronto. More than 14,000 people from around the world attended last year’s convention.

Jun 7, 2002

UNMC to host Nebraska eighth-graders at annual Health/Science Meet

UNMC will host 60 eighth-graders from 21 schools across Nebraska at its 10th Health/Science Meet, which runs through Saturday. The students qualified for the meet by submitting science projects in regional science competitions earlier this year.

Jun 7, 2002

College of Nursing study to prevent osteoporosis in breast cancer survivors

UNMC’s College of Nursing has received more than $2.9 million to evaluate a new approach to prevent osteoporosis in breast cancer survivors after menopause.

The five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Nursing Research, may provide an alternative treatment for breast cancer survivors, most of whom cannot take hormone replacement therapy, the most frequently used preventive treatment. (See story for audio clips).

Jun 6, 2002

Internal medicine announces annual research awards

Five UNMC researchers have received this year’s Internal Medicine Research Awards for outstanding achievements and research accomplishments:

  • Lynell Klassen, M.D. — Career Excellence Award, given to an established faculty member at the professor level for excellence in his or her research career.
  • Paul Fey, Ph.D. — Basic Science Research Award, given to a junior or mid-level faculty member for excellence in a basic science research program.
  • James O’Dell, M.D. — Clinical Research Award, given to a faculty member for excellence in a clinical research program.
  • Scott Chapman, M.D. — Fellowship Research Award, given to a fellow for excellence in a research program.
  • Todd Tessendorf, M.D. — Resident Research Award, given to a resident who has demonstrated excellence in a specific research project.

Jun 5, 2002

UNMC’s annual employee recognition banquet tonight

Nearly 290 UNMC employees will be honored tonight for their service and dedication to the university. Retiring employees, employees who have received a Gold ‘U’ award within the past year, and those with employment anniversaries in a five-year increment (5, 10, 15, etc.) will be recognized tonight at the annual employee recognition banquet at the Omaha Marriott Regency. See story for the list of employees being honored.

Jun 4, 2002