The campus community is invited to a retirement reception celebrating the career of Shantaram Joshi, PhD, professor in the UNMC Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy.
The event will be held July 28 from 2-4 p.m., with comments at 3 p.m., in the Linder Reading Room inside the Sorrell Center.
Dr. Joshi has been at UNMC for more than 43 years – a career marked by outstanding teaching, research and service to the department and UNMC, as well as the broader community, said Vimla Band, PhD, chair of the department.
“Over the years of his tenure as a member of the UNMC Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, Dr. Shantaram Joshi has not only been a passionate educator and researcher, but he has also rendered outstanding service to the department, UNMC and the Omaha community,” Dr. Band said.
“He has been one of the most respected leaders on the campus and in the Omaha community. His faculty service extends beyond the departmental boundaries to key entities like faculty senate and the promotion and tenure committee. His loving, caring and collegial personality brings the best out of everyone.”
Dr. Joshi joined UNMC in 1983 as a postdoctoral fellow before being promoted to instructor only one year later. He became a tenured professor in 2001.
His research into the role of tumor microenvironment in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Ewing sarcoma development and therapy for lymphoma and pediatric cancers resulted in numerous novel findings that improved mantle cell lymphoma therapies for patients.
His educational experience included teaching and mentoring both medical and graduate students, and he served on numerous graduate students’ supervisory comprehensive examination and thesis exam committees.
He also was active in the community, receiving the UNMC Spirit of Community Service Award in 2025 for his work with the Nebraska Indian community.
He received numerous teaching honors and awards, including:
- UNMC College of Medicine Class of 1962 Basic Science Outstanding Teacher Award, 2005;
- Outstanding Teaching Award, 2011 and 2018; and
- Inspirational Mentor of Educators Award, 2017.
He was active in numerous institutional committees, including the systemwide Executive Graduate Council for six years, the college of medicine’s promotion and tenure committee for six years and the UNMC Faculty Senate for 15 years.
“To me, Dr. Joshi has not only been a colleague but like an elder brother who kept me grounded throughout my career at UNMC,” Dr. Band said. “I am glad he will still be part of the department as an emeritus professor.”