The HIV Clinical Faculty and Staff
Susan Swindells, MBBS, is Terry K. Watanabe Professor of Medicine, and Medical Director, HIV Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine. She serves as Medical Director of the HIV Clinic. She also serves as Principal Investigator for the Nebraska AIDS Clinical Trial Group subunit. Dr. Swindells has been caring for patients with HIV and AIDS for almost 20 years and has been at UNMC for more than twelve years. She is actively involved in many scientific activities at the national and international level and serves on many advisory groups. She lectures frequently and has published book chapters, many papers and research studies on HIV/AIDS and related topics.
Ziba Jalali, MD, PhD is an Infectious Diseases/HIV specialist. She joined the Section of Infectious Disease/HIV at UNMC in November 2005. She received her MD from the University of Cologne College of Medicine, Germany. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at New York University Medical Center (NYU) in Manhattan. Subsequently, she accomplished a fellowship in Infectious Diseases/HIV at Montefiore Medical Center and The Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. She is involved in the clinical and teaching efforts of the Infectious Disease Section. Her main clinical and research interest focuses in HIV and viral hepatitis co-infection.
Uriel S Sandkovsky, MD joined the HIV/Infectious Disease team in July 2009. He graduated from Universidad Maimonides in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Hospital General de Agudos Ignacio Pirovano in Buenos Aires Argentina and obtained the degree of Specialist in Internal Medicine form the Universidad de Buenos Aires. He then moved to New York where he completed a residency in Internal Medicine at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center/Columbia University of Physicians and Surgeons and a fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Montefiore Medical Center of The Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and board eligible in Infectious Diseases. His main research interests are HIV pathogenesis, antiretroviral resistance and opportunistic infections. Other interests are Gram negative infections/antimicrobial resistance and infections in transplant patients.
Ann Fitzgerald, APRN, MSN has been a HIV clinic nurse practitioner since 1995, giving her a wealth of experience in caring for persons with HIV/AIDS at all stages of disease. Having many years of experience in the clinical setting as well as a nurse educator, she enjoys teaching and is committed to patient education and health promotion activities. Ann in actively involved in the Nebraska AIDS Education and Training Center, providing training to our healthcare professionals.
Frances Van Meter, MSN, APRN, returned to our HIV program as a nurse practitioner in 2000. She had previously worked as a registered nurse in the HIV clinic from 1993 to 1996. Van Meter brings more than 30 years of nursing experience to her clinical position, most of her time at UNMC in various departments in clinical and administrative roles. Francie currently serves as Research Coordinator of ACTG Clinic Trials as well as a clinical care provider in the HIV clinic.
Daniel Cobos, RN, BSN, MPH was recruited to UNMC in 1996 as a study coordinator. Daniel currently holds the position of Outreach Coordinator for our program. A major part of his role is to insure patients remain in care and to facilitate patient visits. He also coordinates our outreach clinic in Grand Island. He is bilingual in Spanish and well respected in the Latino community. A volunteer at NAP for more than 17 years and at One World (formerly Indian-Chicano Health Center) for 7 years, he is very committed to his work and to our patients.
Jennifer O’Neill, RN, BSN, was born and grew up in Kearney, NE. She attended the University of Nebraska- Lincoln for 2 1/2 years and then received her BSN from the University of Nebraska Medical Center-Kearney Campus in May of 2000. She has been in Omaha since August of 2000, working primarily in pediatrics until joining the HIV team as Patient Care Coordinator on the HIV Clinic in June of 2003. Jennifer manages the day-to-day operation of the clinic and is a real patient advocate.
Tacy Kirkendall, MSW, MPH joined the HIV team in July of 1999 as a case manager and coordinator for the Ryan White Title III grant program. Prior to joining our team Tacy worked as a case manager at the Nebraska AIDS Project for 5 years providing client-centered services to individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Tacy is strongly committed to quality care and access for our patients and always goes the extra-mile for patients, partners, relatives, and family members. Tacy recently received her Masters degree in Social Work, going to school while working full time in our program.
Jeremy Johnson, MSW joined the HIV team in October 2005 as a social worker and coordinator for the Nebraska AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). He received his Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Denver, Colorado. Prior to working with us, he was the Southwest Iowa case manager for Nebraska AIDS Project. He is commited to working with this population of clients and greatly enjoys being a part of the team.
Renae Furl, BA joined the HIV team in August 2007. She received her BA from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln and was employed as a case manager with the Nebraska AIDS Project for nearly five years. After time at home to raise her family, Renae has returned to HIV care excited for the opportunity to assist clients with identifying resources to fit their needs. Her position is titled "Patient Resource Specialist". Sebrina Taylor has been a laboratory technician at UNMC since 1990, and has worked with the HIV Team since 2001. She is responsible for collecting, processing, and shipping and handling of all laboratory specimens. Deanna Hansen has provided support as an Administrative Assistant to the UNMC HIV Program since 1992 and has been at UNMC since 1990. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1986. Her responsibilities include correspondence, meeting scheduling, preparation of reports, grand and manuscript submissions, regulatory documents, and travel arrangements. Deborah Justesen is the HIV Program Assistant, provides support services for all HIV Program-related projects and programs, including assisting in the preparation and tracking of all materials submitted to the Institutional Review Board for new and on-going clinical research being conducted by the HIV Program, program data collection and management, budgetary management, and day-to-day operational activities. She is also the Project Coordinator for the Nebraska AIDS Education & Training Center (AETC). Deb has worked at UNMC since 1984 and with the HIV Program since 2004. Data Manager:
Sharon Richard has been employed by UNMC since 1988. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. She is instrumental in our program developing and maintaining budgets. She supervises the payment of bills for contractual services. She participates in the internal quality assurance activities.
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