The 2023-24 academic year is well underway, and some very important and exciting events have already happened. Dr. Sue Swindells in the Infectious Diseases division received the Alexander Fleming Lifetime Achievement award from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) during the organization’s recent national meeting for her long history of involvement in national and international work in TB and HIV and contributions to guidelines for these diseases and COVID-19. This is a wonderful recognition of Sue’s exemplary work—please take a look at the details within the newsletter. Dr. Swindells has been providing excellent mentorship to others in her division and you can see that in two other stories in this newsletter regarding Dr. Sara Bares and our HIV clinic’s involvement in a landmark study and regarding Dr. Nada Fadul and her selection to the IDSA’s HIV Medical Association Board.
Other divisions have faculty garnering national awards as well. Dr. Michaud is co-recipient of the American College of Rheumatology’s (ACR) presidential award which will be presented in November at the annual ACR meeting. This is Dr. Michaud’s second time to be recognized with this national award. I understand the rheumatology division has well over 50 presentations at the upcoming ACR meeting.
There are several other faculty recognitions featured in the newsletter including two faculty (Drs. Casey and Shonka) receiving UNMC-wide research awards in November and Dr. Daniel Hershberger receiving another Golden Apple teaching award. Please take a minute to see your colleagues’ recognitions and to congratulate them when you have a chance.
In terms of department leadership changes, Dr. Mark Rupp has decided it is time for him to transition out of the Division Chief of Infectious Diseases role. He will remain the Chief during the national search that will soon get underway and will continue as faculty when he finishes as Chief. Dr. Rupp has provided nearly 13 years of outstanding leadership as Division Chief. The division has grown in the numbers of faculty, fellows, APPs, and staff, and in the complex services they provide. Dr. Rupp was an amazing servant leader through the pandemic and helped his team provide incredible service to all of us and our patients. He has done a wonderful job of balancing the educational, research, and clinical missions of the division and department. I am so grateful for his many contributions and look forward to a time of celebrating his service as Division Chief in the future.
Please check out all the stories in the newsletter! Autumn is often a favorite season for many, so I hope you all find some time to enjoy those activities that brighten your spirits. Thanks for all that each of you do to keep the department moving forward!