Judy Placek holds a Master's Degree in Nursing and a Post-Master’s Certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner, both obtained from Clarkson College in 1999. She has been employed at Nebraska Medicine since 1996, where she has spent over 25 years specializing in Burn and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. Her roles have included providing comprehensive intraoperative, inpatient, and outpatient care for patients undergoing acute and reconstructive burn and plastic surgery.

In February 2024, Judy earned her Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN) certification, underscoring her expertise in the field. Her professional interests also extend to burn disaster preparedness. She served as the Midwest Region Burn Disaster Coordinator for seven years and has worked closely with the American Burn Association as a consultant. Her expertise has been recognized through presentations on burn care and disaster preparedness at local, national, and international levels. Judy continues to contribute to this field as a member of the ABA Disaster Committee.

In October 2019, she joined the Nebraska Medicine Regional Disaster Health Response Ecosystem Grant Team, where she currently serves as the Burn Specialty Team Lead. Judy’s experience with disaster planning and exercise development will help identify gaps in preparedness, provide technical assistance to healthcare facilities and assist in continuing to build on the partnerships developed within the region.