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John Hibbing, Ph.D.
Foundation Regents University Professor of Political Science
"Are Liberals and Conservatives Physiologically Different?"
10/05/10 @ The Slowdown
01/21/10 @ red9
Human behavior is the product of a fascinating interaction of environmental and genetic forces. In spite of this fact, political scientists have limited their attention almost exclusively to environmental variables. Dr. Hibbing’s current work, mostly with John Alford of Rice University, employs economic games, fMRIs, evolutionary theory, and behavioral genetics in order to identify the deeper biological causes of social and especially political behavior. Previously, he has edited the Legislative Studies Quarterly, served as President of the American Political Science Association’s Legislative Studies Section, received six National Science Foundation grants, co-authored Congress as Public Enemy and Stealth Democracy (with Elizabeth Theiss-Morse), won the Fenno Prize, and been a NATO Fellow in Science as well as a Senior Fulbright Fellow. Last fall Dr. Hibbing was featured on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart."
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Darwin Brown, PA-C, MPH
Assistant Professor, Physician Assistant Education at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)
"Let Food be Your Medicine: Chocolate, Wine and Salt"
09/21/10 @ The Steel Grill
Mr. Brown is currently an assistant professor within the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Physician Assistant Program. His role in the PA Program is that of Clinical Coordinator. He has been in clinical practice (General Internal Medicine) for twenty-three years, spending the last 12 years as a full-time faculty member in the PA Program. Mr. Brown is active with several organizations both locally and nationally. He completed the Department of Health and Human Services, Secretary’s Primary Health Care Policy Fellowship in 2002. Mr. Brown also. In January, Mr. Brown was an invited participant of the Macy Foundation Conference, titled, “Who will provide primary care and how will they be trained.”
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James Jenkins D.D.S.
Assistant Professor in the Adult Restorative Dentistry Department at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)
"Forensic Dentistry"
09/07/10 @ The Slowdown
05/20/10 @ red9
Dr. James Jenkins is an Assistant Professor in the Adult Restorative Dentistry Department at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He received his B.S. Dentistry in 1981 from the University of Nebraska and his D.D.S. in 1984 from the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry. Dr. Jenkins research interests include Practice Management and Patient Management.
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Jack Turman, Jr., Ph.D., P.T.
Professor and Program Director in the Division of Physical Therapy Education in the School of Allied Health Professions at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)
"Arriving Early: The Problem of Preterm Birth in the USA"
08/03/10 @ The Slowdown
Dr. Turman is the newly appointed Professor and Program Director in the Division of Physical Therapy Education in the School of Allied Health Professions at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Turman received his Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Washington University in St. Louis, his PhD in Kinesiology (neuroscience emphasis) from UCLA, and did his postdoctoral fellowship in the Dept. of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the UCLA School of Medicine. For the past 15 years, Dr. Turman was on faculty in the Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, and the Departments of Cell and Neurobiology, and Pediatrics in the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. During his tenure at USC, Dr. Turman founded and directed the Center for Premature Infant Health and Development. Dr. Turman is an internationally recognized developmental neurobiologist investigating the development of feeding behaviors. In addition, Dr. Turman has received multiple recognitions from the California State government for the development of university-community partnerships that address health disparities in birth outcomes.
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Eric Fung, Ph.D.
Professor of Pharmacology, Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)
"Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence"
07/15/10 @ red9
Eric Fung, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology, Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Dr. Fung received his B.Sc. in chemistry (Summa cum Laude) from University of Wisconsin and his Ph.D. in pharmacology from Ohio State University. He has been a faculty at UNMC, College of Dentistry for 26 years and has received several teaching recognition, including the prestigious UNMC campus-wide Outstanding Teaching Award. His research activities include determining the role of mercury in neurodegenerative disorders, the effects of nicotine on central dopaminergic and GABAergic neuronal systems, the effects of nicotine on bone remodeling and the pharmacokinetics of bisphenol A released from a dental sealant in human. His research has been highlighted in American Dental Association News and New York Times. Dr. Fung has published 68 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and 30 abstracts. He is the principal investigator and co-investigator in research funding exceeding two million dollars.
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Shawn Gibbs, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of the Department of Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health in the College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)
"Environmental Hazards"
07/13/10 @ The Slowdown
Shawn Gibbs is an Associate Professor with the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Department of Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health in the College of Public Health. Shawn received a B.S. (1997) in Biology from The Ohio State University, and both a M.S. (2000) and Ph.D. (2002) from the University of Cincinnati in Environmental Science. Shawn was a US Fulbright Scholar to Egypt in 2006 where he collaborated with Egyptian colleagues to develop a bioaerosol monitoring and research program, and continues to collaborate with that project. He became a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) in 2009. His previous work experience includes three years as a contract Biologist/Toxicologist for the USEPA, and two years as a research associate and postdoctoral fellow for Wright State University’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and five years as an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Houston School of Public Health. His research area is environmental exposure assessment, focusing on environmental microbiology. Primary research interests are on environmental bioaerosols (bacterial, antibiotic resistant bacteria, fungal, viral) from both the indoor and ambient environments, and water exposures. This includes source evaluation, source tracking, and methods to reduce exposure. Shawn is the author of over 30 peer reviewed articles. He has served as a reviewer for over a dozen peer reviewed journals and has served as grant reviewer for multiple organizations including the USEPA and Fulbright Commission.
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Sandra Wells Ph.D.
Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health in the College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)
"After the Smoke Clears: Facts and Fiction about Secondhand Meth"
05/04/10 @ the Slowdown
Dr. Sandra Wells earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology at Columbia University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in immunology at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Subsequently, Dr. Wells worked for 9 years in the biotech industry as a regulatory and clinical scientist prior to returning to academic research in 2005. In 2009, Dr. Wells, joined the faculty of the Department of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health in the College of Public Health at UNMC. Dr. Wells' research focuses on the health impacts on the respiratory tract in response to environmental exposures. She has been awarded NIH funding to study mechanisms involved in the development and pathophysiology of asthma. Dr. Wells is also exploring the pulmonary effects of secondhand exposure to methamphetamine. She has helped facilitate the development of a multidisciplinary collaboration to assess health effects of environmental exposure to methamphetamine use and production in children, and serves on the National Advisory Board for the nonprofit organization, National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (NADEC).
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Thomas G. Tape, M.D., F.A.C.P.
Chief of General Internal Medicine and Vice-chair for Clinical Affairs of the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)
"What does health care reform mean to us?"
04/06/10 @ the Slowdown
Dr. Tape is Professor and Chief of General Internal Medicine as well as Vice-chair for Clinical Affairs of the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). He is also “Governor “of the Nebraska Chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP). Dr. Tape received his BA from Dartmouth College in 1977 and an MD from Washington University in St. Louis in 1981. His residency in Internal Medicine and research Fellowship in General Internal Medicine were both completed at the University of Rochester (New York). Immediately after finishing his training in 1986, he joined the Internal Medicine faculty at UNMC. His work at the medical center blends teaching, research, patient care and administration. His research has focused on better understanding how physicians make diagnostic and therapeutic medical decisions. He has also worked on the design and implementation of electronic medical records with particular focus on the physician-computer interaction. Recently, he has been overseeing the transformation of the Turner Park clinic to a Patient-Centered Medical Home as a model for the future education of internal medicine residents in primary care medicine. Since May of 2009, he has served on a joint UNMC/TNMC/UNMCP review committee studying the health care reform process.
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Donald G. Klepser, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Nebraska, College of Pharmacy
"How much would you pay for a better future? The costs and benefits of scientific innovation"
03/25/10 @ red9
12/01/09 @ the Slowdown
Dr. Donald Klepser is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Nebraska, College of Pharmacy. Dr. Klepser received his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Socioeconomics from the University of Iowa and his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. His areas of interest include organizational theory, policy, pharmacoeconomics, and outcomes research. His current research is in the areas of rural pharmacy access, cost containment, and managed care benefit design. Dr. Klepser has presented his research in these areas at national and international meetings and has numerous peer reviewed publications. His teaching emphasis is in the areas of healthcare management, managed care, and pharmacoeconomics.
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Zac Triemert
Brewmaster
"The Science of Beer"
03/02/10 @ the Slowdown
Zac Triemert is Co-President of Lucky Bucket Brewing Company and the Sòlas Distillery. Before founding Lucky Bucket and Sòlas, he earned bachelor degree's in microbiology and chemistry, and masters degree's in brewing and distilling from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. After studying, Zac worked as a fermentation microbiologist for 6 years and was head brewer at Upstream Brewing Company for another 6 years. Lucky Bucket first launched in 2008 and Sòlas Distillery in 2009.
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Christopher Fisher, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor in the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
"Sex, Sexuality and Sexual Health"
02/09/10 @ the Slowdown
Dr. Christopher Fisher is a sexual health behaviorist who has trained with nationally recognized leaders in community-based participatory research (CBPR), sexuality education, sexual health, gender, and human sexuality. His research interests and publications primarily focus on the utilization of CBPR to address sexual health, wellness, and education issues at the individual and community levels. He also has interests in policy implications particularly as they relate to sexuality education for adolescents and the socio-cultural dynamics of human sexuality. His work has and will continue to address ethnically and racially diverse populations of all gender identities and sexual orientations. Dr. Fisher received recognition as an Exemplary Diversity Scholar from the National Center for Institutional Diversity at the University of Michigan in 2009. He currently serves as Treasurer for the HIV/AIDS section of American Public Health Association (APHA) and is on the Board of Directors for the Public Health Association of Nebraska (PHAN).
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Courtney Fletcher, Pharm. D.
Dean of the College of Pharmacy; Professor, Departments of Pharmacy Practice and Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
"The Science of Personalized Medicine"
01/05/10 @ the Slowdown
Courtney V. Fletcher is presently Dean, College of Pharmacy and Professor, Departments of Pharmacy Practice and Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He is the Director of the Antiviral Pharmacology Laboratory at University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Fletcher received his Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy (with honors) from the University of Wyoming, and his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Fletcher has previously held faculty positions at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, University of Minnesota and Drake University. Dr. Fletcher has devoted his research and practice interests towards the clinical pharmacology of antiviral agents. Dr. Fletcher has 14.5 years of academic administrative experience including five years as Chair, Department of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center; three years as Director of Graduate Studies in Social, Administrative and Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota; three years as Assistant Head, Department of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Minnesota; and four years as Assistant Director of Pharmaceutical Services at the University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinic. Dr. Fletcher is a past member of the FDA Antiviral Drug Advisory Committee. He recently completed a four-year term as a member of the NIH AIDS Discovery and Development of Therapeutics Study Section. He is a member of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Panel on Clinical Practices for the Treatment of HIV Infection.
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Michael Feloney, M.D.
Assistant professor of urologic surgery
"The Science of Sex"
11/19/09 @ red9
04/07/09 @ the Slowdown
Dr. Feloney completed his bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology from Santa Clara University in 1994 and earned his medical degree from St. Louis University School of Medicine where he graduated cum laude in 1998. He went on to do his general surgery internship and residency in urologic surgery at the University of Oklahoma. He finished his fellowship in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery at University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey Robert Wood Johnson Graduate Hospital in 2006.
Dr. Feloney is currently one of a few physicians in Omaha actively treating female sexual dysfunction, which is defined as any medical problem or phenomenon that prevents females from engaging in normal sexual activity.
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Dmitry Oleynikov, M.D.
Associate Professor of Surgery, Joseph and Richard Still Faculty Fellow in Medicine, and Director of the Center for Advanced Surgical Technology at UNMC
"Your Doctor is a Robot"
11/10/09 @ the Slowdown
Dmitry Oleynikov is an Associate Professor of Surgery, Joseph and Richard Still Faculty Fellow in Medicine, and Director of the Center for Advanced Surgical Technology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Oleynikov received his medical education at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University in 1994. He completed his residency at the University of Utah Medical Center and served as an instructor and senior fellow at the Center for Videoendoscopic Surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. Dr. Oleynikov holds additional faculty appointments in the College of Education and School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His current collaborative, multidisciplinary research interests include: robotic surgical technology, educational simulation, and clinical outcomes research.
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Mellissa Helligso, M.T. (A.S.C.P.), M.F.S.
Forensic DNA Analyst in the Molecular Diagnostics section of the Pathology/ Microbiology department
"CSI Omaha: the Fact behind the Fiction"
09/10/09 @ red9
07/07/09 @ the Slowdown
Ms. Helligso is an Forensic DNA Analyst in the Molecular Diagnostics section of the Pathology/ Microbiology department at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She received her bachelor's degree in Medical Technology from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and will receive her Master's of Forensic Science from Nebraska Wesleyan University in December 2009. She has over 10 years of experience in performing forensic DNA testing for hundreds of criminal cases in Omaha, and the surrounding areas. One of the most memorable is the Christopher Edwards case in which she testified to her DNA analysis regarding the disappearance and murder of Jessica O'Grady.
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James Sorrell, M.D.
Associate professor of Psychiatry
"Why the human brain is primed for addiction, the effects of marijuana and why it has both the potential for medical benefits and misuse.”
09/01/09 @ the Slowdown
Dr. Sorrell provides consultation services for medical/surgical patients with a focus on clinical services and research in psychiatric aspects of liver disease, HIV/AIDS, oncology and transplantation. At one time he hosted, "Sunday Night Shrink Rap," a weekly call-in show on an Omaha radio station. He now develops telepsychiatry services that will help soldiers on a range of issues from post-traumatic stress disorder to depression and substance abuse.
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Bruce A. Buehler, M.D.
Professor of pediatrics and director of the Research Subject Advocacy Office
"Modifying our Genetic Blueprint, Nature versus Nutrition"
08/04/09 @ the Slowdown
Bruce Buehler is a professor of Pediatrics and director of the Research Subject Advocacy Office.
Dr. Buehler began his career working with individuals with disabilities at the University of Florida in 1970. He completed training in genetics, endocrinology, and metabolism in 1977 after a year as Chief Resident of Pediatrics.
He spent four years in Utah as the Director of the Utah State Training School as well as the Director of Genetics at the University of Utah. He left Utah to take the Directorship of Genetics and eventually the Rehabilitation Institute at the University of Nebraska in 1981, and he was appointed Chairperson of Pediatrics in September of 1994. He stepped down as Chairman and Director in 2008. He continues to practice Clinical Genetics and to do clinics throughout the region.
In addition, Dr. Buehler has a local medical segment during the midday news on the local CBS channel and has spoken around the country and throughout the world on the subject of medically handicapped and fragile individuals, and drug susceptibility of the fetus in utero. He is presently working on a degree in Complimentary and Alternative Medicine.
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Daniel Anderson, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine Section of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine
"Diet, Exercise, Inflammation and Heart Disease: What's the Connection"
06/02/09 @ the Slowdown
Dr. Anderson is an Assistant Professor in Section of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He is currently an Electrophysiology staff member. He received his Doctorate of Medicine and his Doctorate of Philosophy in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. His internal medicine and cardiovascular clinical training programs were performed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Dr. Anderson is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease and Electrophysiology.
Dr. Anderson is funded by the National American Heart Association to study and evaluate the inflammatory mechanisms of heart disease and the non-invasive detection of vascular injury. He has published multiple peer reviewed manuscripts and book chapters. He has presented his research findings at numerous research forums both locally and nationally.
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Sanjay P. Singh, M.D.
Director of the Nebraska Epilepsy Center and Associate Professor in the Dept. of Neurological Sciences
"How the brain works"
05/14/09 @ red9 - Download the handout
02/10/09 @ the Slowdown - Download the handout
Dr. Sanjay P. Singh is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurological Sciences and the Director of The Nebraska Epilepsy Center, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He also currently serves as the Program Director for the UNMC-CU Joint Neurology Residency Program. He received a Medical Degree from M.L.N. Medical College in India. Dr. Singh was the valedictorian for the class of 1992 at his medical school. He completed his Neurology residency at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington D.C. In addition, he completed a two year fellowship in Epilepsy at Yale University School of Medicine
Dr. Singh is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society. He is the recipient of numerous awards and honors for his professional excellence.
Dr. Singh has authored several articles in peer reviewed journals and lectures on a frequent basis. He is the author of a book, “Locatelli and Singh’s Handbook of Neurology”. He is a reviewer for major peer reviewed journals.
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Kendra Schmid, Ph.D.
Assistant professor of biostatics in the College of Public Health
"The Science of Attractiveness"
05/05/09 @ the Slowdown
Dr. Schmid completed her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Chadron State College in 2001 and earned her MS and Ph.D in Statistics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2004 and 2007, respectively. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Biostatistics in the College of Public Health at UNMC. Her research interests include statistical shape analysis, with an emphasis on statistical methods for face recognition and statistical modeling.
Dr. Schmid's research uses the golden ratio to measure the geometry of the face and rate attractiveness on a scale of one to 10. Recently, her software program was featured in a documentary on the Discovery Channel and on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
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William E. Thorell, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery
"High-tech brain surgery"
02/03/09 @ the Slowdown
William Thorell is an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He is board certified in neurological surgery by The American Board of Neurological Surgery. He specializes in endovascular neurosurgery offering patients a minimally invasive approach for the treatment of neurovascular diseases. He provides individualized neurosurgical care to patients with cerebral aneurysms, vascular malformations, strokes and brain hemorrhages, carotid and vertebral stenoses, tumors, and spine and peripheral nerve diseases. Other clinical areas of special interest to Dr. Thorell are normal pressure hydrocephalus and Chiari malformation. Dr. Thorell has been instrumental in forming an inter-disciplinary stroke team, the Nebraska Stroke Center, right here at the University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Medical Center.
Dr. Thorell graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln with distinction. He earned his medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center with highest distinction, where he also completed his internship, residency, and served as Chief Resident. He accomplished a two-year fellowship in endovascular neurosurgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Dr. Thorell is a native of Denver, Colorado, but is now an avid Husker. When not in scrubs, he enjoys playing baseball and spending time with his wife and two boys.
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