2010s
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BS – Bachelor of Science
CLS – Clinical Laboratory Science
CP – Clinical Perfusion
Cyto – Cytology
D – Dentistry
DH – Dental Hygiene
GC – Genetic Counseling
GS – Graduate Studies
HPTT – Health Professions Teaching and Technology
M – Medicine
MHA – Master of Health Administration
MITS – Medical Imaging & Therapeutic Sciences
MLS – Medical Laboratory Science
MN – Medical Nutrition
MS – Master of Science
MT – Medical Technology
N – Nursing
OT – Occupational Therapy
P – Pharmacy
PA – Physician Assistant
PH – Public Health
PT – Physical Therapy
R – Radiography
RST – Radiation Science Technology
RT – Radiologic Technology
Kristen Day N’10
Grand Island, Neb., was inducted into the University of Nebraska at Kearney Athletic Hall of Fame in October 2025. She is among the top players in Loper women’s tennis history. She is currently a CRNA with CHI Health St. Francis.
Terry Larsen, Surgery ‘10
Huron, S.D, was named chief medical officer at Huron Regional Medical Center (HRMC) and their physician's clinic in summer 2025. He continues his general surgery practice.
Paige VanWinkle N’10
Kearney, Neb., recently wrote a children’s book, The Wayward Adventures of Wendall the Wandering Sock. The book is about a sock who longs for adventure, escapes through the dryer vent, and has many fun and exciting experiences along the way.
Allyson Benzel PT’11
Sidney, Neb., was inducted into the Chadron State College Athletic Hall of Fame in September 2025, becoming the first female golfer to earn this honor.
Kurt Fisher GS’11, M’13
Omaha, Neb., received a New Investigator Award from UNMC in fall 2025. He is an associate professor in the department of pathology, microbiology, and immunology.
Justin Frederick PH’11
Omaha, Neb., received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the UNMC College of Public Health Alumni Council in spring 2025. He serves as the deputy health director and chief of epidemiology and preparedness at the Douglas County Health Department in Omaha.
Christopher Mueller PA’11
Black River, N.Y., joined Rochester Regional Health’s St. Lawrence Hospitals in the emergency department in spring 2025. He also continues to work as an adjunct clinical assistant professor at Clarkson University in the department of physician assistant studies.
Branden Nemecek P’11
Pittsburgh, Pa., received the Early Career Achievement Award from the UNMC College of Pharmacy Alumni Council in spring 2025. He is an associate professor of pharmacy practice at Duquesne University School of Pharmacy and a clinical pharmacy specialist practicing internal medicine and nephrology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Mercy Hospital.
Omaha, Neb., started a new position as an education researcher for the Interprofessional Academy of Educators at UNMC in fall 2025.
Anthony Podany P’12, GS’22
Elkhorn, Neb., received a 2025 Distinguished Scientist Award from UNMC. He is an associate professor in the department of pharmacy practice and science in the College of Pharmacy.
Scott Sanderson CP’12
Omaha, Neb., received the Abstract Fellowship Award during the American Society of extraCorporeal Technology International Conference in March 2025. In September 2025, he was inducted into the UNMC Interprofessional Academy of Educators. He is director of the clinical perfusion program in the College of Allied Health Professions, an adjunct associate professor, and a staff perfusionist.
Mark Aksamit PA’13
Elkhorn, Neb., received the Pat and Susan McClaughry Physician Assistant Excellence in Teaching Award from the UNMC PA class of 2024.
Erin Anderson D’13
Sheldon, Iowa, was named to the N’West Iowa REVIEW Business section 20 under 40 list in March 2025.
Kearney, Neb., joined the faculty at UNMC on the Kearney campus in summer 2025 as the director of community partnerships and clinical assistant professor, pharmacy practice and science. He and his wife, Samantha McCartney P’13, have two boys, Jude and Miles, and two dogs, Penicillin and Lidocaine.
Molly Whitlow PH’13, GS’17
Omaha, Neb., was inducted into the UNMC Interprofessional Academy of Educators in September 2025. She is an assistant professor in the occupational therapy program within the College of Allied Health Professions.
Mathew Burton N’14, ‘21, ‘24
Gering, Neb., joined Regional West Physicians Clinic – Diabetes Care Center as a nurse practitioner in fall 2025.
Chad Schock RST ‘14, GS’23
Grand Island, Neb., and his wife, welcomed their second child, Ethan Gerard, on July 22, 2025.
Haley Hays N’14, ‘21
Scottsbluff, Neb., was selected for the 2025 NurseTRUST Emerging Leaders Fellowship Program. She serves as a clinical assistant professor and interim assistant dean of the UNMC College of Nursing West Nebraska Division in Scottsbluff.
Nikki Heidemann CLS’14
Albion, Neb., was recently recognized by Medical Laboratory Observer magazine as one of its “55 Under 55 Laboratory Professionals”.
Leslie Newburn N’14
Newport, R.I., received the Dorothy Patach Spirit of Service Award from the UNMC College of Nursing Alumni Council in fall 2025. Lieutenant Commander Newburn serves as department head of allied health services.
Elkhorn, Neb., received a 2025 President’s Excellence Award, the University of Nebraska’s highest honor. The Faculty IP Innovation and Commercialization (FIPICA) Award recognizes faculty who have developed and nurtured significant new intellectual property from concept to licensing/startup business. He is an assistant professor and research scientist in the department of emergency medicine at UNMC and an emergency medicine clinician for Nebraska Medicine.
Tia Stevenson N’14
Lincoln, Neb., was inducted into the UNMC Interprofessional Academy of Educators in September 2025. She is a simulation operation specialist in the College of Nursing Lincoln Division.
Tiffany Volden M’14
Herber City, Utah, was promoted to associate professor of medicine in the division of geriatrics at the University of Utah in July 2025.
Vijaya Bhatt, Internal Medicine '15, MS'20
Omaha, Neb., received a Research Leadership Award from UNMC in November 2025.
Angela Johnson N’15
Laurel, Neb., was selected as a 2025 40 Under 40 award recipient from the Nebraska Nurses Association and the Nebraska Organization of Nursing Leadership. She serves as assistant dean and assistant professor in the UNMC College of Nursing Northern Division in Norfolk.
Santa Monica, Calif., joined the Los Angeles Vision Institute as a partner and will be based in LA long term.
Melanie Menning M’15, Family Medicine ‘18, PH‘19
Omaha, Neb., received the Early Career Achievement Award from the UNMC College of Medicine in fall 2025. She serves as an associate professor and associate program director for the department of family medicine and director of the IDEA-CTR Community Engagement and Outreach Core. She provides care at Nebraska Medicine and OneWorld Community Health Center.
Chance Unger PT’15
Lincoln, Neb., published a book this year called Stride for Stride: A Physical Therapist's Playbook for Runners. Akin to having a "PT in your pocket", the book addresses every component needed to apply concrete skills and knowledge that empower any runner at any skill level.
Kirkland, Wash., was appointed chief medical officer at Fairfax Behavioral Health in the greater Seattle area in January 2025. Fairfax is the largest private provider of psychiatric services in the state of Washington and includes three inpatient hospitals spanning 221 beds as well as several outpatient sites. He was also elected to the executive committee of the American Psychiatric Association’s Caucus on Climate Change and Mental Health. He is completing his service as a Major in the U.S. Army Reserve with the 1835th Medical Detachment (Combat Operation Stress Control).
Annie Woodruff Jameson PT'15
Omaha, Neb., joined the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions as an assistant professor in the physical therapy program in July 2025.
Jacob Zitterkopf D’15
Colorado Springs, Colo., received a Distinguished Young Alumni Award from Chadron State College in fall 2025. He is an orthodontist and an entrepreneur and has built a distinguished career that bridges healthcare, technology, and innovation.
Ellie Brouillette R’16, RST’17, HPTT’22
Lincoln, Neb., joined UNMC’s radiation therapy program in the College of Allied Health Professions in fall 2025 as an assistant professor and clinical education coordinator.
Marcia Shade GS’16
Omaha, Neb., was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor with continuous (tenure) appointment, in the UNMC College of Nursing Omaha Division, effective July 1, 2025.
Erica Smith N’16
Alliance, Neb., was promoted to chief nursing officer of Box Butte General Hospital in May 2025. For the last nine years, she has provided care there through a variety of roles.
Katie Thompson M’16
Hastings, Neb., practices at Hastings Family Care. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Blake, their three boys, and three dogs, as well as golfing and other outdoor activities.
Jordan Broekhuis M’17
Omaha, Neb., completed his endocrine surgery fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women’s Hospital and recently returned to UNMC as an assistant professor in the department of surgery in the division of surgical oncology.
Logan Franck P’17
Omaha, Neb., became residency program director of the first residency through the UNMC College of Pharmacy in 2024. The residency is a collaboration with Bakers Pharmacy and is named the UNMC College of Pharmacy and Bakers Pharmacy PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program. He and his wife welcomed their second child in August 2025.
Daina Keehn PH’17, PA’20
Denver, Colo., moved to Colorado this year.
Shaheed Merani, Transplant Surgery ‘17
Omaha, Neb., was inducted into the UNMC Interprofessional Academy of Educators in September 2025. He is an associate professor in the department of surgery and is director of the transplant surgery fellowship.
Margaret Spinosa M’17
Baldwinsville, N.Y., joined Auburn Community Hospital in summer 2025, and sees patients at Auburn Gastroenterology. She is a native of central New York and so it is a full-circle moment to return back to the region to practice.
Jacob Wardyn M’17
Cleveland, Ohio, graduated from his consultation liaison psychiatry fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in June 2025. He then began the role of director of consultation-liaison psychiatry at Cleveland Clinic Akron General. He also started the role of associate program director for the Cleveland Clinic Akron General Psychiatry Residency Program.
Dillon Clarey M’18
Columbus, Neb., practices at the Columbus Dermatology Clinic and started seeing patients at the Boone County Health Center in Albion one day a month beginning in April 2025.
Austin Clark N’18, ‘22
Omaha, Neb., joined the Methodist Neurology group at the Indian Hills Clinic in June 2025. He previously served as a nurse practitioner with neurocritical care at Nebraska Medicine for more than 10 years and is looking forward to this new challenge. He currently serves as president of the UNMC College of Nursing Alumni Council.
Zach Clemens N’18, ‘24
Gering, Neb., joined Regional West Physicians Clinic-Pain Management as a nurse practitioner in summer 2024.
Kelli Gandee N’18
Ogallala, Neb., joined the faculty at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado, in fall 2025. For six years, she worked primarily in emergency departments across western Nebraska and eastern Colorado. Seeking a career better suited to her young family, she earned her Master of Science in Nursing in 2024 and transitioned to teaching.
Keenan Hartert GS’18
Mankato, Minn., received the Early Career Achievement Award from the UNMC Graduate Studies Alumni Council in fall 2025.
Leah Jesse M’18
Omaha, Neb., joined UNMC in fall 2025, as an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and sees patients with Nebraska Medicine.
Frank Mezzacappa M’18
New Haven, Conn., completed his neurosurgery residency at UNMC in June 2025 and then he and his family moved to New Haven for him to complete a one-year fellowship in neurosurgical oncology. They will move back to Omaha in July 2026, and he will join the neurosurgery faculty at UNMC.
Jeremy Pepin Internal Medicine ‘18, Nephrology ‘20
Omaha, Neb., practices at Advanced Kidney Care in Council Bluffs.
Jordan Pieper PH’18
LaVista, Neb., and his wife, welcomed their first child, Cason, on June 9, 2025.
Jake Bianco M’19
Grand Island, Neb., joined the staff at Central Nebraska Orthopedics in fall 2025.
Emma Kratochvil PH’19
Brookline, Mass., and her husband, Taylor Kratochvil GS’18, M’22, welcomed their first child, a daughter, Cecilia Jo, on October 18, 2025.
Council Bluffs, Iowa, was appointed director of the liver transplant fellowship, just over two years after joining the faculty in the department of anesthesiology at UNMC.
Omaha, Neb., received the Preceptor of the Year Award from UNMC’s Physician Assistant Program in March 2025.
Omaha, Neb., joined UNMC as an assistant professor in the department of family medicine in summer 2025.