Teresa Berg, MD, looks back on her nearly four-decade career with gratitude.
An associate professor in the UNMC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Berg said it’s been a pleasure to work with her colleagues at the med center and with the nursing staff she’s known over the years.
Just as much, she appreciates being able to care for so many women at such vulnerable times in their lives. In all, she said her career has been “very rewarding.”
“It’s been a lot of fun to watching things change over time,” she said.
Now, Dr. Berg will retire from UNMC and Nebraska Medicine, after 35 years at UNMC and 39 years total in medicine.
Dr. Berg’s colleagues praised her skills as a leader, a clinician and an educator whose career guided the growth of the department, built the system of OB-GYN physicians around Nebraska and served her field with dedication.
Carl Smith, MD, former chair of the department and a professor of obstetrics and gynecology, said he had the “supreme privilege” of working with Dr. Berg for more than three decades and in two separate institutions.
“She is one the finest clinician educators I have encountered,” Dr. Smith said. “She is superb obstetric surgeon and clinician who has served as an excellent role model for a generation of medical students and residents.”
He added: “Dr. Berg could always be counted on to do the right thing and is an effective patient and nursing advocate. She has left wonderful legacy that will ensure a vibrant department for many years to come.”
In her note announcing Dr. Berg’s retirement, Sarosh Rana, the Endowed Chris J. and Marie A. Olson Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, said that as residency program director, Dr. Berg “breathed new life into resident education upon her return in 2002.”
“Dr. Berg has been a dedicated clinician educator during her tenure at UNMC and can be credited with significant contributions to maternal health, resident education, and ever-changing treatments and new frontiers for high-risk pregnancy,” Dr. Rana said.
“Please join me in congratulating Dr. Berg on her tremendous career and wishing her all the best in this next chapter of her life.”
After growing up in the small town of Lemmon, South Dakota, Dr. Berg said she’s proud of her role expanding maternal-fetal medicine care to rural communities in Nebraska.
While the department chairs current and past acclaimed Dr. Berg’s leadership over the years, she had a more understated response, saying that “it’s been nice to see the division get to this point.”
She said she found it fulfilling to stay in the teaching environment of an academic medical center and stay involved in residency education. “Between medical students and residency, our department has touched a lot of physicians throughout the state,” she said.
Now the South Dakota native who came to Nebraska for her residency plans to return to her home state in retirement with her husband, Greg Babbe, MD. Dr. Babbe was a longtime UNMC faculty member in family medicine who retired in 2021 and came to Nebraska with Dr. Berg for their residencies.
“It’s been a wonderful place to raise children,” Dr. Berg said. “My husband and I had successful and rewarding careers here. It’s just time to take a next step in life.”
Warmest congratulations as you begin this new chapter. Your vision and leadership have truly positioned the department for continued growth and long-term success. It was a pleasure working on your team, and I’m grateful for the guidance, support, and collaboration you shared. Wishing you fulfillment, joy, and well-earned rest in the years ahead.
Teresa I am honored to have worked with you. Your excellence in patient care and advocacy for patient rights has been so admirable. I hope you and Greg have a wonderful retirement in SD.
I know you have shed many tears over babies in the years you have practiced. Thank you for the care of mine during hard times. Enjoy your retirement.
Thank you, Dr. Berg, for all you’ve done. It was always great dealing with you – you are the definition of a pro’s pro. Enjoy the next chapter.
As you step into retirement, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for the incredible role you played in one of the most meaningful moments of my life. You helped bring my baby into the world—something I will forever consider a miracle. In fact that is what I named her, “Miracle.”
Your skill, compassion, and calm presence made all the difference during a time I will never forget. Because of you, I carry not only a beautiful memory, but a lifetime of gratitude.
Wishing you a retirement filled with peace, joy, and all the happiness you’ve given to so many families over the years. You truly made a difference.
Congrats on wonderful career and legacy! Your impact on residents and medical students has been profound. Enjoy retirement!
Congratulations on your retirement! Thank you for all of your work and dedication to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit team over the years, and on behalf of the whole NBU team we wish you the best. It’s been a pleasure working with you.
Nicely done!
E. Silva, MD, PhD
One of the best doctors-compassionate, dedicated, and deeply missed. Congrats on your retirement.
Dr Berg I want to firstly congratulate you on all your accomplishments and I wish you a happy retirement.
I also want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. I doubt you remember me but Oct 2019 you stayed way past your time to deliver my daughter because the other doctor coming on… well let’s just say we didn’t agree. You monitored us with the utmost care. When I delivered her I got a tear in a deep weird place. Lost over 2 liters of blood and I firmly believe if it wasn’t for you being there I would have died. You came in several times every day to check on me while I was in hospital. You didn’t have to, but you did because you cared. I’ll admit when I was going in for all my appointments you weren’t my favorite; I kinda joked I didn’t think you had emotions. However watching you save my life and everything else you had genuine care on your face. I could even see you were scared. I realized it was your doctor poker face.
I hope you get to read this, or I hope someone else tells you about this comment. My daughter was my rainbow baby after 8 miscarriages and 15 years of infertility. She’s 6 years old now in no small part because of you and colleagues.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. May God bless you and keep you.
Thanks for everything Teresa!
Congratulations Dr. Berg on your retirement. I always appreciated your partnership on electronic health record applications!