Danielle Tibbels, MD, was one of about 560 UNMC students to graduate May 10 during commencement ceremonies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Baxter Arena.
Dr. Tibbels now is the fourth generation of her family to graduate from the UNMC College of Medicine and the first woman in the Tibbels family.
She wasn’t aware the family “had almost a century of Tibbels history at this institution” until her father told her about her great-grandfather, UNMC graduate Randolph Tibbels, MD, class of 1932, who was a physician in Oakland, Nebraska.
Watch UNMC Today for an upcoming video on UNMC’s spring commencement in Omaha.
She also follows in the footsteps of grandfather Thomas Tibbels, MD, class of 1967, who was a physician in West Point, Nebraska; and father Stephen Tibbels, MD, class of 1995, who practices at the Nebraska Medicine clinic at Eagle Run in Omaha.
“It’s very humbling, but also exciting,” she said. “I know that whatever I do moving forward in my career, I can make what I want of it, but at the same time, I’m part of this longstanding legacy that I feel great pride in.”
Initially, Dr. Tibbels will remain in Nebraska to do her residency in internal medicine at UNMC.
Jordan Knapp, chief of staff in the UNMC Student Senate, received his second UNMC degree May 10, a Masters of Medical Physiology, to go with a Masters of Public Heath degree he earned in 2024. He also was lauded by UNMC Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, during his address to the graduating class. (See sidebar.)
Knapp said he hopes to come back to UNMC again, this time as a medical student.
“I’m feeling great,” said Knapp. “This is an honor. Serving as chief of staff for three years in the Student Senate has been a great experience that, coupled with my education experience, has been amazing. So hopefully, the next four years will be in medical school, and it’s going to be just as great.”
For Dr. Davies, the day was a highlight in more than one way. In addition to it being his first spring commencement ceremony as interim chancellor, he got to see his own son walk across the stage.
“Of course, there’s nothing that gives you greater joy than to see your children move on to the next stage,” Dr. Davies said. “We’re incredibly proud of him, and every one of our UNMC graduates.”
Interim UNMC College of Pharmacy Dean Donald Klepser, PhD, saw his daughter graduate as well, during his first commencement ceremony serving in his new role.
“It’s an honor to be here, to share this time with our pharmacy graduates,” he said. “It’s doubly meaningful for me, being that my daughter is also graduating today (with a master’s degree in medical anatomy).”
As he closed his commencement speech, Dr. Davies said it was gratifying to see the Class of 2025 receive their degrees at the ceremony. UNMC had nearly 1,000 spring graduates in May at its five campuses across the state of Nebraska.
“Take up your wings, take flight,” he told the graduates. “Don’t worry about where you’re going to land, as you have been very well prepared. Just go full steam ahead toward your goals. You are ready. Enjoy the journey, and the destination will take care of itself. We have a great sense of pride in all of you, and we can hardly wait to see where you’re going to land. We know you all will be changing the world.”
See more photos from UNMC’s Omaha commencement in this Flickr photo album.