The UNMC Interprofessional Academy of Educators named members Abbey Fingeret, MD, PhD, and Tedd (T.J.) Welniak, MD, as its 2026 Distinguished Educators.
The Distinguished Educator designation is the academy’s highest honor. It recognizes academy members who consistently demonstrate excellence in teaching and peer mentoring while helping develop the next generation of effective and innovative health professions educators.
- Abbey Fingeret, MD, PhD, is an endocrine surgeon, professor of surgery and award-winning educator in the UNMC College of Medicine. Dr. Fingeret, who joined UNMC in 2016, credits the mentors who shaped her early professional development with inspiring her passion for teaching. Her nominators cited her dedication to service, mentorship and innovation, describing her as “a visionary educator, a dedicated mentor and a nationally respected leader in health professions education.” They noted that her innovative curricula, scholarly contributions and unwavering commitment to excellence make her an ideal candidate for the IAE Distinguished Educator honor. Dr. Fingeret also recently received the Varner Educator Laureate Award at the 2026 Impact in Education Awards.
- T.J. Welniak, MD, is an associate professor in the UNMC Department of Emergency Medicine. He serves as program director of the Medical Education, Technology and Innovation Fellowship and as associate residency director. He is also co-director of the UNMC Health Design Thinking Program. Dr. Welniak is driven by opportunities to help learners grow through active learning, critical thinking and collaboration. One nominator said that, beyond his unwavering commitment to educational excellence, his ability to inspire sets him apart as an educator: “Whether teaching medical students, facilitating faculty workshops or leading interdisciplinary teams, he creates environments where people feel empowered to contribute, innovate and grow.”
Drs. Fingeret and Welniak were recognized at the Interprofessional Academy of Educators’ InnovatED Symposium, held Oct. 1.
The Distinguished Educator designation is active and requires ongoing engagement. Recipients must participate in at least three teaching or mentoring activities each year and complete a renewal process every five years to maintain the designation.
The Interprofessional Academy of Educators, which recently celebrated a decade of educational excellence, includes 300 faculty, staff and learners across Nebraska, with members representing all five UNMC campuses, seven colleges and three partner organizations. Its mission is to cultivate an interprofessional community that connects educators with shared interests to foster collaboration, innovation and scholarship.
Applications for IAE membership will open in spring 2027, with details to be announced at a further date. See more information about the IAE at this link.