Building Namesakes

Since moving to Omaha, Harold M. Maurer, MD and Beverly Maurer have committed themselves to the University of Nebraska Medical Center and making it a world-class academic health center.

Dr. Maurer, an internationally recognized, award-winning medical scientist, has served as chancellor of UNMC since December 1998. Before that, he served as dean of the College of Medicine for five years. Prior to joining UNMC, Dr. Maurer spent 25 years at the Medical College of Virginia, serving as professor and chair of the department of pediatrics for 17 of those years.

A native of New York, Dr. Maurer received his A.B. degree in 1957 from New York University and his medical degree in 1961 from State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn. He completed an internship at Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn, and a pediatric residency at Babies Hospital, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, where he also fulfilled a fellowship in pediatric hematology and oncology.

As a pediatric oncologist, Dr. Maurer is internationally known for his expertise in rhabdomyosarcoma, a childhood cancer. He served as principal investigator of National Institutes of Health research grant awards and chaired the national Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group for 26 years. That group has been credited with raising the cure rate from 20 percent to 75 percent. In 2003, the Children’s Oncology Group awarded Dr. Maurer with its most prestigious honor – the Lifetime Achievement Award – recognizing his leadership and contributions in this important area of cancer.

During his tenure as chancellor, several new facilities have been or will be constructed at UNMC. These include the Durham Research Center, the Durham Research Center II, the Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education, the Student Plaza and Ice Rink, the Home Instead Center for Successful Aging, the Center for Nursing Science, the Harold M. and Beverly Maurer Center for Public Health and the Truhlsen Eye Institute, among others.

In 2009, Dr. Maurer was appointed to a three-year term on the board of directors of the Association of Academic Health Centers. In 2010, he was appointed by the U.S. Government Accountability Office to a three-year term on the newly created National Health Care Workforce Commission, a landmark group that is charged with finding answers to the health care workforce shortages that need to be addressed in this era of health care reform.

Dr. Maurer’s contributions have been recognized by several other organizations. In 2005, he was named Midlander of the Year by the Omaha World-Herald and appointed King of Ak-Sar-Ben; in 2008, he was presented the “Men of Honor” award from 100 Black Men of Omaha, Inc.; in 2009, he was inducted into the Omaha Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame; and in 2011, Dr. Maurer received the Distinguished Alumni Award from his medical school alma mater, SUNY-Downstate Medical Center.

Beverly Bennett Maurer, a native of New York City, is an award-winning educator whose passion for community betterment has driven her vast civic involvement throughout her adulthood.

After completing her degree in mathematics from Brooklyn College, she taught in New York City public schools. After moving to Richmond, Va., she was involved in education for the next 25 years as a teacher, assistant principal and principal, a position she held for 17 years. She designed curriculum and used innovative teaching methods, earning her the Master Teacher Award and the Chai Award for her distinguished service in enriching the quality of education. She has current and continuous inclusion in Who’s Who in Education and Who’s Who in America.

Since relocating to Omaha, Beverly has served on numerous boards and committees, such as Uta Halle, Lauritzen Gardens, the University of Nebraska Hospital Auxiliary and Jewish Federation. She was a founding member of Nebraskans for Research — now the Nebraska Coalition for Lifesaving Cures. She remains actively involved and serves on the board for this statewide organization. She currently is a member of the Advisory Board for the Ronald McDonald House Charities, as well as the Board of Governors for Joslyn Art Museum.

In addition, Beverly is a full-time volunteer for UNMC, assisting with recruiting, orchestrating functions, developing community support and fund raising. She actively supports the UNMC Sharing Clinic, a student-run clinic providing health care for underserved populations in Omaha.

In 2004, the Maurers were honored with the People of Vision Award from Prevent Blindness Nebraska; in 2005, they received the “Chai Leadership Award” from Chabad of Nebraska; in 2006, the Maurers received the Jason Award from Children’s Square U.S.A. in Council Bluffs, Iowa, for their commitment to children, family and community; and in 2007, they received prestigious recognition as the Omaha Press Club’s “Faces on the Barroom Floor.”

The Maurers have two daughters, Ann and Wendy, who live in Tampa, Fla. Ann is married to Dr. David Rosenbach and the couple has two children: Diane is a rising senior at the University of Michigan and Michael is an entering freshman at Brandeis University. Wendy Maurer-Linsky is the mother of precious 4-year-old identical twin girls, Alex Rose and Ally Min. The Maurers are most proud of their children and grandchildren.