UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., Phil Smith, M.D., medical director of the Biocontainment Unit at Nebraska Medicine-Nebraska Medical Center, and the unit’s associate medical director, Angela Hewlett, M.D., will participate in an event at the White House today that recognizes the U.S. response to the Ebola crisis.
President Barack Obama will speak at the event, which also will highlight how the U.S. government has worked with other governments, international organizations, private sector leaders and non-government partners to support a focused response to the virus.
Other accolades
The Nebraska Ebola team’s efforts were hailed internationally, and at home: The Omaha World-Herald named the team its 2014 Midlanders of the Year.
Recognition for the Med Center’s contribution to the fight against Ebola continues to drive momentum. The World Health Organization has since made UNMC a partner in its Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN).
More detailed information on the unit and Ebola is available here.
“We are deeply grateful to receive this invitation from the White House. It is a testament to the work of our entire Biocontainment Unit team at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine,” Dr. Gold said. “Federal officials recognize the expertise we have shown not only in treating patients with this disease, but also in our internationally recognized education of other health care providers in the safe and effective treatment of Ebola and other highly infectious diseases.”
UNMC/Nebraska Medicine has one of three biocontainment units in the nation that have treated Ebola patients. Having drilled for countless hours since the unit opened in 2005, the Nebraska biocontainment team was uniquely qualified to answer the call. The original team was soon joined by other experts on campus.
Dr. Smith, a professor of infectious diseases at UNMC, will be making his second invited trip to Washington in a few weeks. He was a guest of U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse at President Obama’s State of the Union address on Jan. 20.
“Once again, I am humbled and excited to represent UNMC and Nebraska Medicine — and specifically, our Biocontainment Unit team — as dialogue continues about how we can best address the need to treat patients who are afflicted with deadly diseases,” Dr. Smith said. “I’m pleased that we have established and shared the gold standard for Ebola treatment. I’m hopeful that the research opportunities and worldwide partnerships that have arisen from this crisis truly will make a difference in discovering and sharing better treatments and treatment protocols around the world.”
UNMC/Nebraska Medicine has proposed that it become a national center for health security and biomedical preparedness, which would “continue to recognize the achievements of our team and provide distinction for Nebraska,” Dr. Gold said. Funding decisions on that proposal are expected within the month.
Today’s event is scheduled to begin at 12:20 p.m. CST in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, near the White House’s West Wing.
What an awesome honor!
Very cool! – Beth Beam
It is thrilling to see Dr. Smith and Dr. Gold riding this wave! We are in the presence of visionaries. Hopefully the President will agree that the designation of a national center here at UNMC/Neb Med is of urgent importance. Congratulations!!!!
An incredible national international recognition of UNMC existential expertise in the Rx of Ebola infected patients. Thanks in great part to Chancellor Gold's leadership!!