It is hard to know what to say about the start of 2022. While the start of a new year typically brings a sense of hope, the launch of 2022 has brought us another COVID surge that is challenging us in new ways. The Department has amazing people and, once again, faculty, trainees, staff, and students are finding ways to continue patient care, education, and research despite the increased number of employees and patients with COVID. Thank you to all of you!
The good news about the newsletter is that it reminds us of the very positive things that are happening within the Department! We are excited that the top UNMC research award is going to one of our faculty- Dr. Andre Kalil. Some of you may know him for his COVID-related research but his overall research portfolio is very impressive. At the upcoming campus-wide research awards, Dr. Roslyn Mannon and Dr. Peter Mannon will be recognized as Distinguished Scientists and Dr. John Dickinson and Dr. Karuna Rasineni as New Investigators. Congratulations to each of them!
We have three faculty assuming new leadership roles—two within the department (Drs. Zimmer and Dr. Tsai) as well Dr. Lunning’s expanded role in clinical research at the campus level. If you have questions or ideas regarding faculty development programs, our specialty clinic programs, or clinical research, remember that these faculty can be important resources in their respective areas. I am grateful to their commitment to service.
As a Department, we welcome new practice sites to our clinical programs with addition of the oncology practice in Kearney and the Westroads rheumatology practice in Omaha becoming a part of Nebraska Medicine this month. Welcome to the physicians in these practices-oncologists Dr. Lewis and Dr. Hartl and rheumatologist Dr. Coyne to our Internal Medicine team.
Much good research- both COVID and non-COVID related- is happening. Congrats to Dr. Bryant England and Dr. Tate Johnson on recent research awards at the UNMC and national (Rheumatology Research Foundation) level.
One of our residents (Dr. Adomako) and fellowship directors (Dr. Melissa Teply) were featured in the COM news—learn a little more about them. Also make sure you check out information in the Education, Faculty Development, and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) sections of the newsletter. Of course, there are also the notable furbabies at the end of the newsletter to bring a smile!
The culture topic for conversation in January and February is around accountability. You may remember having seen an accountability ladder which I find helpful to remind me what steps I can take when feeling powerless in a given situation.
Just a reminder that our monthly department meetings are on the third Thursday of the month by zoom at 5pm. Hope you can join us this Thursday, January 20th. Please send your topics or questions to be addressed at this and future meetings.
Again, thank you for what each of you is doing to move us through this latest COVID challenge. Please take care of yourselves!