Michael Sitorius, MD, was only planning to stay one year.
He’d arrived at UNMC as a medical student in 1974 and matched as a resident three years later. In 1980, his residency complete, he expected to be in Omaha only until his wife, Marilyn, finished her radiology residency the following year. Then, he thought, a rural practice would be just the thing.
"My dad had been a rural GP (general practitioner), and I knew since I was in junior high school that I really wanted to become a physician," Dr. Sitorius said. "I had a great deal of respect for my father and for the work he did in our rural community."
Dr. Sitorius, a Cozad native, never did make it back to rural Nebraska to practice. But as he retires this month, following a 42-year career at UNMC, he’s arguably had as big an impact on rural health in the state of Nebraska as anyone in the last 40 years.
During a career that saw him serve for nearly 30 years as the chair of the UNMC Department of Family Medicine, Dr. Sitorius oversaw or collaborated on initiatives such as:
- UNMC’s Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP);
- The development of the college of medicine’s rural training tracks; and
- Helping develop a curriculum that integrated primary, family medicine and internal medicine to train physicians with a broader base of skills to serve rural Nebraska.
"The light went on for me when I was given my first leadership responsibility as a clinic director for a Durham Outpatient Center clinic years ago," Dr. Sitorius said. "I saw an opportunity to have a bigger impact by training students and residents than I could by being one individual trying to provide care in one rural location."
UNMC College of Medicine Dean Bradley Britigan, MD, spoke of the impact Dr. Sitorius has had.
"As Dr. Sitorius retires, he will leave a legacy of impacts to our institution and the state that have resulted in UNMC being among the national leaders in supporting the delivery of high-quality health care to rural locations," Dr. Britigan said. "In addition to being instrumental in the creation of the Nebraska Area Health Education Center, the Rural Health Opportunities Program and the combined primary care residency program for family medicine and internal medicine, Dr. Sitorius also played a key role in the creation of Nebraska Medicine and led the expansion of its primary care effort. Through Dr. Sitorius’ calm, no-drama leadership style, he effectively supported the growth of his faculty and the academic mission of the college. I wish Mike and his wife, Marilyn, all the best in the coming years of their well-deserved retirement after a job well done."
Rowen Zetterman, MD, emeritus professor at UNMC, said Dr. Sitorius not only understands rural medicine but utilized that knowledge to build an outstanding department and training program for family medicine physicians.
"His rural upbringing gives him enormous credibility and allows him to speak fluently on the needs of rural patients and communities for greater health care access and improvements in health care delivery," Dr. Zetterman said.
Dr. Sitorius said the three things he’ll miss the most in retirement are:
His patients. "It has been my good fortune to have their trust and to take care of them all this time."
His clinical colleagues. "Not just the physicians but all of the health care providers — without all of them, we couldn’t provide the kind of care we do here. We truly are a team."
His academic colleagues and students. "A lot of the focus in my early career was on building a stronger rural education focus for not only the college of medicine but the institution, and I’ve had many wonderful colleagues from other disciplines help with that. And I’ve had many wonderful students, some of whom became colleagues."
He also developed the department of family medicine at UNMC, more than doubling the department’s size from when he became chair in 1990. When Dr. Sitorius stepped down from his role in 2019, about 70 percent of Nebraska’s practicing family physicians had been trained at some point by the UNMC Department of Family Medicine.
Few physicians have had a greater impact on the health of Nebraskan’s than Dr. Sitorius, said James Linder, MD, CEO of Nebraska Medicine.
"His leadership of the department of family medicine trained hundreds of physicians who established practices throughout the state and created opportunities for thousands of medial students to have first-hand experience in rural practice settings," Dr. Linder said. "On a personal note, he has been my friend and advisor for over 30 years. We will miss him, but the next phase of his life is well deserved."
"I’ve loved working at UNMC," Dr. Sitorius said. "I’ve enjoyed and learned from everyone whom I have interacted with over the years. The support has been wonderful, and my opportunities for growth and for personal and professional satisfaction have more than exceeded my expectations.
"I’m happy to leave a very strong department of family medicine that is fully integrated into the academic aspects of UNMC and Nebraska Medicine and fully integrated into the service of the community. That community is broad, including both the Omaha metropolitan area and the entire state of Nebraska.
"The department of family medicine is far beyond what we were like when I started in the department in 1980, and I know it’s in good hands moving forward under the leadership of Dr. Jeffrey Harrison.
"I am proud and thankful for the team that I have been able to work with, both at the department of family medicine, my colleagues on campus and throughout the state of Nebraska."
Dr. Sitorius, I am going to miss you, but I know your retirement is well-deserved. Congratulations and enjoy this time with your family!
Truly a Giant among our faculty at UNMC! Congrats Sy – cheers to you in retirement!
Mike: it's been a great run. I appreciate everything you have done for me and the UNMC community. I wish you all the best in your retirement and hope you now have time to do everything you put on hold….Irv
Mike–what you have done for UNMC and Nebraska is amazing. Thanks for all the leadership through many years. I have learned a lot from you!
Congrats to a UNMC legend. Take a bow, Mike. You will never be forgotten. Enjoy the next chapter.
Dr. Sitorius is truly a legendary leader who did so much for building the state's primary care workforce – especially in small towns throughout the state. He cared deeply about mental health as well and was always a wonderful partner for BHECN and the UNMC Dept. of Psychiatry. Congrats on your incredible career, Mike!
Teaching and training the best possible general practitioners is the most valuable work anyone can do for the well-being of a community, and for that, Mike has been our truest champion.
Lest we forget, however, Mike also had a mean jump shot. As a senior in high school, Mike (along with Jack Lawless) led the Cozad Haymakers to the Class B State Championship over the Laurel Bears, with his team scoring a record 240 points in just three games. The 6’2” 170 lb Sitorius was named to the Class B All-State team that year. Mike, (along with Pat Sitorius, UNMC Class of 1978, 1981 graduate of UNMC’s Family Practice residency, and still practicing in Janesville, WI) was also a member of the 1973-74 Hastings Broncos that won the NAIA District 11 Championship. That team was inducted into the Hastings Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991.
Among current and former COM faculty, Drs. Jon Thompson, Alan Langnas, Bing Rikkers, Steve Raynor, Jerry Donovan, I and others whose names I’ve can’t locate) were on a surgery department team that had the pleasure of simultaneously playing against and often losing to Mike and his colleagues.
But what’s next, Mike? I doubt it involves basketball.
Dr. Sitorius you are an excellent person and an amazing physican! Wishing you the best in this phase of your life. Working in Family Medicine as a Financial Counselor for many years, I could see the dedication to your career and all the patiens you've helped and made a drifference for- You will be greatly missed!!!
Congratulations on your retirement. Thank you for the wonderful care that you have provided over the years and for making this world a better place. You will be missed!
Mike's first priority was always his patients. I know because he was my physician. Our children were about the same age and I will miss our times together when we would update each other on our families. Enjoy your retirement!
Dr. Sitorius, Congratulations! Your presence will be missed here but I am so happy for you to move on to your next adventure.
Thank you for all your leadership and support!
A man of integrity, and that says a lot!
Our state and our health are better because of you, Dr. Sitorius. Thank you for your visionary work in caring for Nebraskans.
Mike, Congratulations. You developed a world class department and served Nebraska exceedingly well. You were always a straight shooter in difficult circumstances. My best to you and Marilyn as you take on new adventures in retirement. You will certainly be missed for your unique leadership skills and ability as a great clinician. Hal Maurer
Congratulations! Enjoy your retirement and complete all items in your bucket list. Best wishes.
You and I have been together in various capacities since your were a student in my class in 1975, then as a faculty colleague and finally as a personal physician. You distinguished yourself in each of these positions. Thank you so much for always being available to Deanna and I by providing very personal and superior health care.
Terry Hexum
Congrats Dr. Sitorius!
Congratulations on a tremendous, distinguished career. Best wishes in retirement. JOHN KUGLER
Your career is just remarkable, as a physician sincerely caring for your patients, a leader in academics, family and rural medicine, and friend to many. Onward. Rick
Dr. Sitorius will be missed and has left a legacy in our Department of Family Medicine!
Congratulations Dr. Sitorius !
Congratulations Mike! Thank you for being my preceptor in medical school and a great friend all these years. You did a great job showing me true leadership. I hope to see you at a few concerts. Enjoy your retirement!
Mike, hope you have a great retirement. Your work will be remembered for years. I always appreciated your interdisciplinary work.