Anesthesiology celebrates three endowed faculty positions

The UNMC Department of Anesthesiology recognized three faculty members who, thanks to gifts from generous donors, received endowed chairs and professorships – including two that were newly created — during a ceremony held July 9.

Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, called it a special moment for UNMC and for the department, noting that endowed positions rank among the most meaningful investments donors can make in a university.

“It helps us attract and retain the exceptional faculty, researchers, educators and clinicians who drive innovation, who mentor the next generation and help us elevate the standard of care,” Dr. Davies said.

Three positions were recognized:

• The Robert Lieberman Endowed Chair of Anesthesiology.
• The Steven J. Lisco, MD, Distinguished Professorship in Anesthesiology.
• The Daniel W. Johnson, MD, Chair in Critical Care.

Bradley Britigan, MD, dean of the UNMC College of Medicine, presented the Lieberman Chair to Andrew Patterson, MD, PhD, chair of the department of anesthesiology, praising his clinical expertise in critical care, contributions to education and leadership in clinical operations.

Dr. Patterson credited the department’s growth — it now is ranked in the top 20 nationally among anesthesiology departments for National Institutes of Health funding — in large part due to the endowment’s dual support of research and education. He highlighted the department’s education and global health efforts, where UNMC teams have trained healthcare workers on a global level.

“It has been transformational to have the support of the Lieberman Fund to be able to elevate training and quality of care,” Dr. Patterson said.

Dr. Patterson then presented the inaugural Steven J. Lisco, MD, Distinguished Professorship, named for former department chair Steve Lisco, MD, to Daniel Johnson, MD. Dr. Johnson was recognized for building the department’s critical care and biocontainment programs, including his work leading care during the 2014 Ebola outbreak.

“I am deeply honored to be the first recipient of the Steven J. Lisco, MD, Distinguished Professorship in Anesthesiology,” Dr. Johnson said, thanking Dr. Lisco “for the lead gift, and more importantly, for everything you’ve done for the department of anesthesiology.”

Dr. Johnson, in turn, presented the newly created Johnson Chair in Critical Care — made possible by a gift from Mike and Dana Meyer — to Jim Sullivan, MD, who was the department’s first board-certified critical care physician and helped lay the foundation for the critical care anesthesiology division. Dr. Johnson praised Dr. Sullivan’s clinical skill, mentorship and steady presence during some of the department’s most challenging staffing stretches.

Accepting the honor, Dr. Sullivan thanked the Meyers for their gift and said funds from the chair will support critical care fellows and young faculty pursuing academic careers.

Brian Anderson, executive director of development for the UNMC College of Medicine at the University of Nebraska Foundation, thanked the donors on behalf of the foundation, noting the impact of their generosity “will be felt for generations to come.” He invited attendees to the foundation’s Circle of Distinction event Oct. 6, which will showcase UNMC’s full community of endowed faculty and their donors.