UNMC for the record

College of Pharmacy interns make annual trip to the Nebraska Unicameral in Lincoln

The UNMC College of Pharmacy pharmacist interns made their annual trip to the Nebraska Unicameral earlier this month, keeping an eye on the legislative session and on the health of our lawmakers. The students conducted free health screenings for state senators, staff, lobbyists, testifiers and assorted passersby as an outreach activity through their work with the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists. Michael Crowe, P3, took the lead in organizing the trip, said Ally Dering-Anderson, Pharm.D., clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice. Creighton pharmacy students and the Nebraska Pharmacists Association also took part in the annual effort.

Dr. Drapkin to speak on non-ovarian origins of ovarian cancer

Ronny Drapkin, M.D., Ph.D.

The Olson Center for Women’s Health and the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center are partnering to host world-renowned researcher and physician Ronny Drapkin, M.D., Ph.D., director, Ovarian Cancer Research Center; director of GYN Research, Basser Research Center for BRCA – Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Drapkin will speak from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, in the Durham Research Center Auditorium, Room 1002. The talk, “Modeling the Non-Ovarian Origins of Ovarian Cancer,” will be the first in a series of “Cure Symposium” speakers in the upcoming year.

Dr. Chen named member of AcademyHealth Education Council

Li-Wu Chen, Ph.D.

Li-Wu Chen, Ph.D., professor and chair of Health Services Research and Administration, College of Public Health, has been selected to a three-year term in the AcademyHealth Education Council. AcademyHealth is a major and leading national organization serving the fields of health services and policy research and the professionals who produce and use this important work. It also brings stakeholders together to address the current and future needs of an evolving health system, inform health policy and translate evidence into action. The responsibility of the Education Council is to advise the board of directors and the leadership of AcademyHealth on the priorities and trends in the educational needs of AcademyHealth members and the field of health services research. Dr. Chen also is director of the Nebraska Center for Rural Health Research and co-director of the Nebraska Public Health Practice-Based Research Network.

Custer leads strong UNMC showing at Nebraska Society of Radiologic Technology Conference

Tanya Custer

Tanya Custer, assistant professor of radiation science technology education in the School of Allied Health Professions, was presented with the Sister Francis Salesia Memorial Award at the Nebraska Society of Radiologic Technology (NSRT) Annual Conference earlier this month in Grand Island. Custer also was elected to the office of NSRT president-elect for the upcoming year. Christina Gregg, clinical education coordinator of radiography, will serve a second term as NSRT vice president. UNMC made a very strong showing at the conference’s annual awards — for more, click here.

100 percent of physician assistants pass certifying exam
The School of Allied Health Professions physician assistant education program has learned that 100 percent of its December 2014 class passed the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) on the first attempt. Nationally, 95 percent passed the exam the first time. It’s UNMC’s first 100-percent showing since 2010. UNMC’s five-year pass rate for first attempts is 98 percent – the national five-year average is 94 percent. “We’re very proud of the 44 PA graduates from the Class of 2014, all finding a rewarding job market and each one with employment in patient care as PAs,” said program director Michael Huckabee, Ph.D.