BHECN honors behavioral health leaders
The Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska recognized leaders from across the state during its Annual Awards presentation at the 2026 B-CON Conference on April 24 in Omaha.
The awards highlight individuals whose work is strengthening Nebraska’s behavioral health workforce and improving access to care.
BHECN’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, was presented to Hugo Gonzalez Nieto, MD, of Kearney. A longtime leader in behavioral health, Dr. Gonzalez has expanded access to care in Central Nebraska and helped establish one of the state’s first rural psychiatry residency training sites — creating new opportunities to train and retain providers in rural communities.
The Courage Award was presented to Jamie Legates, CPSS, and posthumously to Matt Martinosky. Both were recognized for their impact in connecting individuals and families to critical behavioral health services and supports.
New this year, the Bridge Builder Enduring Impact Award was presented to Ann Kraft and Adrienne Van Winkle for their leadership of the BHECN Buddies program, which brings psychiatry residents together for shared training, connection, and support.
Additional honorees included Lulu Rangel, (Ambassador Award); Kristen Rose, (Champion Award); and Mariah Seim and Brittany Jones (Emerging Leader Awards).
“These awards are one of the highlights of our year,” said Marley Doyle, MD, BHECN’s director. “It’s a chance to recognize the people doing the work every day to support behavioral health in Nebraska and to thank them for the impact they’re making in their communities.”
-John Keenan, UNMC strategic communications
UNMC retirements
UNMC Human Resources has announced the following retirements, covering the first half of 2026. The longest serving employee is Steven Kuss, of the UNMC Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, who started at UNMC on Oct. 1, 1975.
- Lisa Bally, UNMC College of Medicine Office of Continuing Education, retirement date Feb. 28, start date Oct. 22, 1991.
- Teresa Berg, MD, UNMC College of Medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, retirement date April 25, start date Jan. 9, 1993.
- Melissa Bradford, UNMC College of Medicine, pathology, microbiology and immunology, retirement date April 1, start date Aug. 20, 2007.
- Patricia Coleman, UNMC College of Medicine Office of Continuing Education, retirement date May 2, start date Aug. 23, 2000.
- Esther Collins, UNMC Office of Business and Finance, business services, retirement date April 4, start date July 11, 1994.
- Valeta Creason-Wahl, UNMC College of Nursing Continuing interProfessional Development and Innovation, retirement date April 25, start date Nov. 1, 2003.
- Mark Darby, UNMC College of Nursing-Omaha Division, retirement date May 9, start date July 1, 2017.
- Julie Dexter, Sponsored Programs Administration, retirement date Jan. 31, start date Sept. 26, 2011.
- Cheryl Dressel-Wolff, Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska, retirement date April 1, start date Aug. 1, 2019.
- Mary Edgerton, MD, PhD, UNMC College of Medicine, pathology, microbiology and immunology, retirement date July 1, start date April 1, 2023.
- David Harnisch Sr., MD, UNMC College of Medicine, family medicine, retirement date July 1, start date Sept. 9, 2013.
- Deborah Hawkins, UNMC Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, retirement date April 4, start date March 6, 2001.
- Peter Iwen, PhD, UNMC College of Medicine pathology, microbiology and immunology, retirement date July 1, start date Oct. 17, 1978.
- Debi Kibbee, UNMC College of Nursing Continuing interProfessional Development and Innovation, retirement date June 1, start date July 12, 2011.
- Ann Kraft, Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska, retirement date May 30, start date Dec. 9, 1985.
- Steven Kuss, UNMC College of Medicine pathology, microbiology and immunology, retirement date June 2, start date Oct. 1, 1975.
- Timothy McCashland, MD, UNMC College of Medicine, internal medicine, division of gastroenterology and hepatology, retirement date July 1, start date April 1, 1993.
- Denise Nabors, Munroe/Meyer Munroe-Meyer Institute occupational therapy, retirement date Aug. 1, start date Aug. 15, 2001.
- Margaret Ofe Fleck, PhD, UNMC College of Nursing-Omaha Division, retirement date March 1, start date Aug. 6, 1991.
- Huiling Pang, MD, PhD, UNMC College of Medicine, anesthesiology, retirement date July 1, start date Aug. 20, 2001.
- Jean Simonson, MD, UNMC College of Medicine, anesthesiology, retirement date July 1, start date July 1, 1997.
- Carmen Sirizzotti, UNMC Human Resources, retirement date March 4, start date Aug. 29, 2005.
- Lisa Stillahn, UNMC College of Medicine, orthopaedic surgery, retirement date March 6, start date Jan. 15, 1987.
- Mary Stoffel, UNMC Office of Business and Finance, general accounting, retirement date April 4, start date Nov. 14, 1994.
- Mark Theis, UNMC Office of Business and Finance, environmental health and safety, retirement date March 7, start date March 14, 2005.
- Steven Wildasin, UNMC Office of Public Safety, retirement date May 1, start date Feb. 17, 2011.
-Jeff Robb, UNMC strategic communications