Dr. Zimmerman to lead national education organization
Holly Zimmerman, director of the genetic counseling program in the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions, has been named president-elect of the Genetic Counselor Educators Association for 2025-2026.
The Genetic Counselor Educators Association is a national organization that consists of institutions who have a genetic counseling program accredited by the Accreditation Council of Genetic Counseling. This organization promotes the collaborative interactions between genetic counseling programs, supports high standards of practice and advocates on behalf of the interests of training programs.
Zimmerman has served on its national board the last three years and served as director (2022), secretary (2023-24) and treasurer (2024-25).
-Fran Higgins, UNMC College of Allied Health Professions
Pharmacy faculty and staff awards announced
The UNMC College of Pharmacy recently honored its 2024-25 college award winners at its faculty meeting to kick off the fall academic year.
Josh Havens, PharmD, clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice and science, and clinical pharmacist in the specialty care center HIV program, was honored as Scholar of the Year.
Kristen Cook, PharmD, clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice and science and the college’s director of campus culture, earned the College Impact Award for her work on impactful improvements to programs related to the education, research, patient care, service and community outreach goals of the College of Pharmacy at UNMC.
Amber Hawk, director of recruitment and admissions, was honored with the Staff Impact Award for outstanding service in pursuing the college’s missions and embodying UNMC’s core iTEACH values.
-Kalani Simpson, UNMC strategic communications
Dentistry has two new residency directors
The UNMC College of Dentistry has two new residency program leaders — Alexandra Bilunas, DDS, and Kristy Marker, DDS.
Dr. Marker joined the college in August as the endodontics residency program director after working in private practice for 13 years.
The two-year program has five residents currently; it results in a certificate in endodontics or, in three years, students can receive a master’s in endodontics. Endodontics is the study of care for dental pulp and tissues surrounding the root of the teeth.
Dr. Bilunas joined the college in June 2024 and took over in April 2025 as the program director of the pediatric dentistry residency program.
Her 24-month program, which is for a certificate in pediatric dentistry, currently has nine residents.
-John Keenan, UNMC strategic communications