College of Medicine

- Admissions Overview
- - MD Program
    UNMC's rigorous academics, diverse clinical experiences and supportive environment put you on the path to becoming a skilled, compassionate physician.
  - How to Apply
    UNMC prepares medical degree students to meet the needs of patients through clinical practice, biomedical science and research, problem-solving and compassion.
  - Contact Us
    Review contact information for the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs in the College of Medicine at UNMC.
  - Verification and State Licensure
    Review opportunities for state licensure following completion of the MD program in the College of Medicine at UNMC.
- - MD-MBA Program
    A combined MD-MBA degree equips you with the tools you need to become highly skilled in both management and medicine.
  - MD-MPH Program
    Pursue your passion for public health and medicine with a combined MD-MPH and help solve complex health problems.
  - MD-PhD Program
    Do you have a passion for caring for patients and for research? Consider the dual MD-PhD degree.
- Education Overview
- - Curriculum
    Our curriculum produces physicians whose foundation in basic, clinical, and health systems sciences prepare them to promote health and reduce patient suffering.
  - Graduation Requirements
    Review requirements for students pursuing an MD at the UNMC College of Medicine to graduate and receive their degree.
  - Objectives
    The objectives of UNMC's medical degree program are to prepare you for success in primary care or specialty fields.
  - Service Learning
    Active participation in community service provides critical opportunities to apply skills and knowledge gained in medical school and develop a sense of empathy.
- - Enhanced Medical Education
    Enhanced Medical Education Tracks offer medical students an opportunity to perform an in-depth study of an interdisciplinary field of medicine.
  - Enhanced Medical Education Tracks
    EMET applicants are selected for Tracks based on their interest in the topic and motivation to complete work above and beyond the primary MD curriculum.
  - MD Honor’s Thesis Program
    The MD honors thesis encourages students to engage in scientific research during medical education and become eligible to graduate with honors.
- Research Overview
- Internal Grants
  The College of Medicine has a variety of research-related grant and award opportunities available to UNMC faculty.
- Comparative Effectiveness Research
  The Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) program identifies knowledge gaps in the effectiveness of clinical care and improves CER in these areas.
- Great Plains IDeA-CTR
  The Great Plains IDeA-CTR is a collaborative effort between nine regional institutions that provides training, resources. and funding to regional researchers.
- Research and Development Committee
  The Research and Development Committee handles funding opportunities for faculty, including the Bridge Funding program, and student research opportunities.
- Student Opportunities
  The College of Medicine provides a variety of research opportunities for both current and prospective UNMC students.
- Residencies & Fellowships Overview
- Graduate Medical Education Programs
  UNMC's dozens of programs--including nearly 20 in internal medicine--allow residents and fellows a variety of specialties.
- House Officer Resources
  Find information for residents and fellows, including salaries, benefits and nearby housing.
- House Officer Wellness
  Wellness resources for residents and fellows include an assistance program and a private wellness lounge.
- Research
  We aim to facilitate house officers’ involvement in research in the areas of patient safety, quality improvement, healthcare disparities and education research.
- Salary and Benefits
  Paid vacation and professional leave, health insurance and meal allowances are just a few of the benefits residents receive in addition to their yearly salary.
- Contact Us
  Reach out to the Graduate Medical Education office for information about benefits, contracts, orientation or graduation.
Departments

— College of Medicine — Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology — Our Faculty — Erika I. Boesen, Ph.D., FAHA

Erika I. Boesen, PhD, FAHA

Associate Professor, UNMC Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology

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Erika I. Boesen, Ph.D.

Erika I. Boesen, PhD, is an associate professor in the UNMC Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology. Recruited to the UNMC faculty in 2012, Dr. Boesen’s research focuses on factors regulating kidney function in health and disease.

Current work in the lab relates to understanding how the kidneys become damaged in the autoimmune disease lupus, which predominantly affects women and has limited effective treatments.

In addition to research, Dr. Boesen plays an active role in the education of graduate and health professions students at UNMC. She currently serves as director of the Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine doctoral program, which is one of seven programs within the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences. She also serves as a co-director of the Gastrointestinal Block for the Phase 1 Medical curriculum and as course director of the foundational physiology course taken by all physician assistant and doctor of physical therapy students at UNMC.

Dr. Boesen obtained her PhD in physiology from Monash University in Australia before embarking on postdoctoral training at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta.

Education

Bachelor's: Monash University, Australia, with honors, 2001
PhD: Monash University, 2005
Postdoctoral: Medical College of Georgia in Augusta

Research

Renal physiology and pathophysiology
Lupus nephritis
Iron-mediated renal damage
Autocrine/paracrine mechanisms impacting renal function and injury
Endothelin and salt-sensitive hypertension

Publications, National Library of Medicine

Honors and Service

Member, Pathobiology of Kidney Disease Study Section, National Institutes of Health, 2023-2027
UNMC College of Medicine and Class of 1962 Basic Science Outstanding Teacher Award, 2021
Young Investigator Award, American Physiological Society Renal Section, 2021
UNMC New Investigator Award, 2014
Fellow, American Heart Association since 2012