The UNMC Faculty Senate recognized 123 faculty members at its Annual Faculty Meeting in April for hitting the milestones of 10, 20, 30 and 50 years of service. Comments from the program are included here, edited for length.
50 years of service
Elli Rogan, PhD, UNMC College of Public Heath
Dr. Rogan has been “an essential force in shaping the University of Nebraska Medical Center,” said Brandon Grimm, vice dean of the UNMC College of Public Health.
Dr. Rogan joined UNMC in 1973 as the first woman faculty member in the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Grimm said. She has since has played a central role in building the institution’s national reputation through pioneering cancer research, visionary leadership and an enduring commitment to academic service and mentorship, he said.
He called her scientific impact “extraordinary,” securing more than $40 million in grants, winning major awards, advancing the understanding of environmental causes of cancer and positioning UNMC as a national leader in cancer research.
“Through her scholarship, leadership and service, Dr. Rogan’s impact is embedded not only in UNMC’s scientific achievements but in its culture and governance. Her legacy is inseparable from the institution she helped build,” Grimm said.
30 years of service
Elisabeth Backer, MD, UNMC College of Medicine
Dr. Backer was credited as “a steadfast source of excellence, compassion and leadership at UNMC.”
“As a clinical associate professor in the department of family medicine, Dr. Backer has shaped the development of countless medical students, residents, nurse practitioner trainees and early career faculty. Her influence spans behavioral medicine, women’s health, dermatology, global health outreach and preventive care — areas in which she has taught, published, lectured nationally, and developed curricula that continue to benefit learners today.”
Pi-Wan Cheng, PhD, UNMC College of Medicine
Dr. Cheng has built a “distinguished career in biochemistry and molecular biology marked by decades of academic leadership, impactful research and services.”
“A professor in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology, his research has focused on glycobiology, particularly the mechanisms of glycan biosynthesis in health and disease, advancing understanding of cancer progression, immune interactions and mucin biology. This work is supported by continuous grant funding and international collaborations. His service underscores a career defined by scholarly excellence, leadership and lasting contributions to glycobiology.”
Helen Lovell, MD, UNMC College of Medicine
Dr. Lovell was recognized for her contributions “to the health and wellbeing of so many patients, and the education of countless trainees through her quiet mentorship and bedside teaching.”
“An associate professor in the UNMC Division of Nephrology, Dr. Lovell joined UNMC in July 1995 and served as the division chief from 1996-2012. During her 30 years of service, Dr. Lovel has been the lifeline of pediatric nephrology, continuing pediatric nephrology as a clinical service for children at UNMC. This includes being the only pediatric nephrologist in Nebraska from 1997-1998 and from 2011-2012.”
Susan MacQuiddy, MD, UNMC College of Medicine
An assistant professor, Dr. MacQuiddy has been “a cornerstone of the UNMC Department of Emergency Medicine, helping shape its clinical culture, operational stability and shared sense of responsibility.”
“She was one of a small number of emergency medicine physicians practicing in Nebraska during the early years of the specialty. Her career reflects not only longevity, but a commitment to building and sustaining the specialty within the state and the institution. Her leadership as medical director of the then-Clarkson West/NOH Emergency Department demonstrated her steady judgment, collaborative spirit and unwavering commitment to high-quality emergency care.”
Rakesh Singh, PhD, UNMC College of Medicine
Dr. Singh’s career reflects his “scientific leadership, sustained funding and impactful mentorship.”
“A professor in the UNMC Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Dr. Singh is a cancer biologist focused on tumor microenvironment, inflammation and metastasis. His research has defined key roles of chemokines in tumor growth, angiogenesis, immune regulation and therapy resistance. Dr. Singh has published more than 190 peer-reviewed articles and serves on multiple international grant review panels. He has received numerous honors, including the UNMC Distinguished Scientist Award and Outstanding Graduate Mentor Awards.”
Michael Wadman, MD, UNMC College of Medicine
A professor and chair in the department of emergency medicine, Dr. Wadman “has spent more than three decades advancing clinical care, education and innovation in an urban academic medical center and Level 1 trauma center.”
“Dr. Wadman was the founding program director of UNMC’s emergency medicine residency program, the first in Nebraska. He also contributed to national efforts through the American College of Emergency Physicians. And, as medical director of the National Quarantine Unit, Dr. Wadman played a key leadership role in preparing for and responding to highly infectious diseases.”
20 years of service (25 faculty members)
UNMC College of Allied Health Professions
- Tonya Custer, PhD
UNMC College of Dentistry
- Matthew Byarlay, DDS
- Peter Giannini, DDS
- Gregory Oakley, PhD
- Merlyn Vogt, DDS
UNMC College of Medicine
- Daniel Anderson, MD, PhD
- Alan Erickson, MD
- Marius Florescu, MD
- Apar Kishor Ganti, MD
- Santhi Gorantla, PhD
- David Harnisch Sr, MD
- Brian Hasley, MD
- Chi Lin, MD
- Yutong Liu, PhD
- Shannon Lynch, MD
- Sean McGarry, MD
- Claudia Moore, MD
- Jennifer Oliveto, MD
- Jason Shiffermiller, MD
- James Simmons, MD
- James Sullivan, MD
- Heather Thomas, MD
UNMC College of Nursing
- Elizabeth Beam, PhD
- Katherine Bravo, PhD
- Kristen Wertz, MSN
10 years of service (91 faculty members)
UNMC College of Allied Health Professions
- Michael Dutt
- Victoria Kennel, PhD
- Kathryn Wampler
- Tessa Wells, DPT
- Elizabeth Wellsandt, PhD
UNMC College of Dentistry
- Gregory Bennett, DMD
- Richard Bokemper, DDS
- Michael Dowd, DDS
- Kathleen O’Brien, DDS
UNMC College of Medicine
- Amy Beethe, MD
- Samuel Bierner, MD
- Chelsea Bloom Anderson, MD
- Adam Burdorf, DO
- Jason Burrows, MD
- Siddappa Nagaden Byrareddy, PhD
- Jodi Cantrell, MD
- Keely Cassidy, PhD
- Kelly Cawcutt, MD
- Sujata Chaudhari, PhD
- Christopher Curzon, DO
- Christopher Deibert, MD
- Mary Drake, MD
- Bin Duan, PhD
- Kurt Fisher, MD
- Bradley Fremming, MD
- Andrew Gard, MD
- Gargi Ghosal, PhD
- Daniel Gih, MD
- Nathaniel Goodrich, MD
- Laura Graeff-Armas, MD
- Daryl Gress, MD
- Stephanie Gustin, MD
- Carrie Hemer, MD
- Daniel Hershberger, MD
- Emily Hill Bowan, MD
- Arika Hoffman, MD
- Andrew Steve Huang Pacheco, MD
- Soonjo Hwang, MD
- Ali Ibrahimiye, MD
- Rachel Johnson, MD
- Andrea Jones, MD
- Cale Kassel, MD
- Thuy Koll, MD
- Adam Krause, MD
- Mark Kusek, MD
- Jason Langenfeld, MD
- Eric Langewisch, MD
- Thomas Lockhart, MD
- Linda Love, EdD
- Natalie Manley, MD
- Ross Mathiasen, MD
- Travis McCumber, PhD
- Melissa Muff-Luett, MD
- Shawn Murdock, MD
- Mohd Nasser, PhD
- James Padussis, MD
- Palsamy Periyasamy, PhD
- Karuna Rasineni, PhD
- Sutapa Ray, PhD
- Mary Rickard, MD
- Samantha Simet Chadwick, PhD
- Benjamin Stobbe, MBA
- Tiffany Tanner, MD
- David Tingley, MD
- Matthew Van Hook, PhD
- Charles Walcutt, MD
- Shuo Wang, PhD
- David Warren, PhD
- Tedd Welniak, MD
- Cherie Welter, MD
- Tammy Wichman, MD
- Noah Wiedel, MD
- Michael Wiley, PhD
- Megan Willet, MD
- Rae Witt, MD
- Weiwei Zhang, PhD
- Andrea Zimmer, MD
UNMC College of Nursing
- Elizabeth Bockoven
- Nicholas Guenzel, PhD
UNMC College of Pharmacy
- Corey Hopkins, PhD
- Daryl Murry, PharmD
UNMC College of Public Health
- Deborah Levy, PhD
- Hilary Raikes, PhD
- Wael ElRayes, MBBCH
- Hyo Jung Tak, PhD
- Shannon Maloney, PhD
McGoogan Health Science Library
- Emily Glenn
- Larissa Krayer
Munroe-Meyer Institute
- Mindy Chadwell, PhD
- Karoly Mirnics, MD