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
Jed Droge PT’10
Vermillion, S.D., received the University of South Dakota School of Health Sciences’ 2026 Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence. He is an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy. He also received the Physical Therapy Innovation Award from the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy.
Heidi Keeler GS’10
Papillion, Neb., was elected president-elect of District 1 of the Nebraska Organization for Nursing Leadership. Her term will begin on Jan. 1, 2027.
Matthew Lunning, Internal Medicine ‘10
Omaha, Neb., was appointed chief of the UNMC Division of Hematology in August 2026 after serving in an interim capacity since November 2025.
Hugh McLeod PA’10, ’11
Manistee, Mich., joined Munson Orthopedic Institute in May 2026 after 25 years of active duty with the U.S. Army. He served first as an infantryman and later as a physician assistant providing primary and orthopedic care to service members. He and his wife have four children and enjoy traveling, spending time outdoors, fishing, hunting, and golfing.
Brad Dexter PT’11
Omaha, Neb., was inducted into the UNMC Interprofessional Academy of Educators in September 2026. He serves as an assistant professor in the physical therapy program.
Monica Sullivan PA’11
Omaha, Neb., joined Sutton Dermatology + Aesthetics in Lincoln in September 2026.
T.J. Welniak M’11, Emergency Medicine ’14
Fort Calhoun, Neb., received the UNMC Interprofessional Academy of Educators’ Distinguished Educator designation in October 2026, the academy’s highest honor. The active designation requires ongoing engagement.
Windom, Minn., practices family medicine, emergency medicine, and hospital medicine in rural Minnesota. In 2026, he published “No Secrets in a Small Town: Inside the Mind of a Rural Doctor,” a reflection on patient trust, rural practice, and the moral and practical realities of modern health care.
Bryant England M’12, Internal Medicine ’15, Rheumatology ’17, GS’19
Omaha, Neb., was appointed chief of the UNMC Division of Rheumatology and Immunology in August 2026 after serving in an interim capacity since January.
Stephen Mohring M’12, Internal Medicine ’15
Elkhorn, Neb., was named the next chief of the UNMC Division of General Internal Medicine and will assume the role Nov. 1, 2026. He currently serves as an associate professor of medicine at UNMC.
Tiffany Moore, GS'12
Elkhorn, Neb., received the Outstanding Faculty Mentor of Graduate Students Award from the UNMC Faculty Senate in April 2026. She is an associate professor at the College of Nursing.
Armando De Alba, PH '13, GS '24
Omaha, Neb., received the Registered Student Organization Advisor of the Year Award from the UNMC Office of Student Life, Involvement and Development in April 2026. He serves as an associate professor in the College of Medicine's Department of Family Medicine. In September, he received the 2026 Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) National Community Health Trailblazer Award in recognition of his longtime service as an LMSA faculty advisor.
Brittney Dickey PH’13, GS’19
Omaha, Neb., received a New Investigator Award from the UNMC Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research in October 2026. She serves as an assistant professor at the UNMC College of Public Health Department of Epidemiology.
Greg McClanahan M’13, Family Medicine ‘16
Ord, Neb., was named chief of staff at Valley County Health System in July 2026. He joined the system in 2016 and provides primary care services at the medical clinic in Ord and Sargent, as well as hospital inpatients and emergency room patients as needed.
Chelsea Navarrette M’13, Internal Medicine ‘16
Omaha, Neb., serves as an assistant professor and associate vice chair of belonging and community engagement in the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine and, on July 1, was appointed assistant dean for admissions in the College of Medicine.
Haley Hays N'14, '21
Torrington, Wyo., was appointed assistant dean at the West Nebraska Division of the UNMC College of Nursing on June 1, 2026. She had been serving in an interim capacity for the past year. She is also a clinical assistant professor and specialty coordinator for the Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP) program.
Syracuse, N.Y., was appointed clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at SUNY Upstate Medical University’s College of Medicine. He serves at the Golisano Center for Special Needs and credits his UNMC experiences, mentors and connections, as well as his SUNY Upstate colleagues, for supporting his work.
Aditya Bade GS'15
Omaha, Neb., was recognized in October 2026 by the UNMC Office of the Vice Chancellor of Research with a Distinguished Scientist Award. He serves as an associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience at the College of Medicine.
Elizabeth Blowers GS’15, M’20, Internal Medicine ’23
Stuart, Fla., joined Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute LLC as a medical oncologist and hematologist in August 2026.
Sarah Finnigan PA’15, ‘16
Watertown, N.Y., joined Lewis County Orthopedics in Lowville in September 2026.
Cale Kassel, Anesthesiology '15
Omaha, Neb., was named director of the Nebraska Society of Anesthesiologists Board of Directors in summer 2026, and Lauren Costello MS’17, M’21, Anesthesiology ‘25, Pediatric Anesthesiology ‘26, will serve as the alternate director.
Kate Kristensen PA'15
Seattle, Wash., started at the Acute Care Evaluation (ACE) Clinic at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in 2025 after eight years in emergency medicine.
Aleisha Nabower M’15, Pediatrics ‘18
Omaha, Neb., serves as an associate professor and vice chair of education for the UNMC Department of Pediatrics and, on July 1, was named assistant dean for student affairs at the College of Medicine.
Cory Rohlfsen M'15, Internal Medicine '18
Elkhorn, Neb., was recognized by UNMC in March 2026 with the Innovative Practices in Education Award. He serves as an assistant professor of internal medicine at the College of Medicine and sees patients with Nebraska Medicine.
Lexington, Ky., and her husband welcomed a daughter, Andi Rose, on May 6, 2026. She also became director of UK HealthCare’s PGY2 cardiology pharmacy residency program beginning in the 2026-27 academic year.
Woodinville, Wash., is the chief medical officer of the Fairfax Behavioral Health system in greater Seattle, where he oversees three inpatient campuses and an extensive outpatient network. He was appointed to the National Physician Advisory Board of Universal Health Services, one of the country’s largest behavioral health networks, and named a 2026 Chief Medical Officer to Know by Becker’s Hospital Review. He serves on Washington state’s RCW 10.77 Task Force by legislative appointment and on the Washington State Psychiatric Association’s Government Affairs Committee as its liaison to the task force. He was also appointed to the Northshore School District Board of Directors, which serves more than 20,000 students, including the oldest of his three children.
Shayla Yoachim GS'15
Kearney, Neb., joined the faculty at the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions in July 2026 as an associate professor and serves as the director for the college on the Kearney campus.
Kirsten Hepburn Callaghan N'16, GS’25
Omaha, Neb., received two awards from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences in July 2026: the individual Health Data Science Interprofessional Communication Award and the Top Poster Presentation Team Award, for which she designed her team’s research poster. She is a postdoctoral research associate at the UNMC College of Nursing.
Dalton Nelsen M'16, Emergency Medicine '19
Omaha, Neb., received the Spirit of Community Service Award from the UNMC Faculty Senate in April 2026. He is an assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine. In fall 2026, he received a 2026 Distinguished Young Alumni Award from Chadron State College.
Logan Franck P’17
Omaha, Neb., was promoted to clinical associate professor at the UNMC College of Pharmacy.
Matthew Hamrick PA’17
Thomasville, Ga., joined the emergency department at Archbold Memorial in September 2026.
Kassidy Horst N’17, ‘20, ‘24
Wisner, Neb., received the Dean’s Excellence in Teaching Award from the UNMC College of Nursing in May 2026, where she serves as a clinical assistant professor in the Northern Division in Norfolk.
Abby Lydic P’17
Gothenburg, Neb., worked in Lexington as a U-Save pharmacist and with Lexington Regional Health Center beginning in 2019. In 2026, she joined Gothenburg Health as a hospital pharmacist.
Jana Ponce MS’17, GS’21
Omaha, Neb., was named a Fellow of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. The FASPEN designation is the organization’s highest honor for members.
Roni Ruppert N’17, ’22
Madison, Neb., joined the UNMC College of Nursing Northern Division in Norfolk as an assistant professor in August 2026.
Austin Baker D’18
Bella Vista, Ark., joined M. Trent Gubler’s Lifetime Dental practice in Rogers, Arkansas, in August 2026.
Frank Mezzacappa M’18, Neurosurgery ’25
Omaha, Neb., joined UNMC as an assistant professor of neurosurgery after completing fellowship training at Yale. He also practices at Nebraska Medicine.
Justis Stolz M’18
Kearney, Neb., joined CHI Health Orthopedics as a board-certified sports medicine physician in August 2026.
Ashley Ambrosek N’19
Benkelman, Neb., received the Outstanding Alumni Award from Central Community College–Grand Island in April 2026. She practices as a nurse practitioner in Benkelman, Cambridge, and Fairbury and is helping expand Kompus Aesthetics and Wellness in Grand Island and Benkelman.
Amber Golden N’19
Omaha, Neb., received a 2026 Faculty Advisor Excellence in Community Engagement Award from the UNMC Office of Community Engagement.
Mariah Kay Jackson MN’19, GS’23
Papillion, Neb., received the Innovative Scholarship Award and the Excellence in Research for Early Career Faculty Award from the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions in May 2026. She is a registered dietitian nutritionist and an instructor in the medical nutrition program in the college.
Sebastian Lane M’19
Corning, Iowa, joined the surgical team at CHI Health Mercy Corning in September 2026.
Peter Maloley M’19, Internal Medicine ’22
Elkhorn, Neb., joined Saunders Medical Center as an internal medicine physician and will begin seeing patients in the Family Care Clinic in January 2027.