A group of six Russian researchers/physicians spent three days at UNMC this week as part of the Open World Program, one of the most effective U.S. exchange programs for countries of the post-Soviet era.
“I think it was a very worthwhile visit,” said Ward Chambers, M.D., executive director, international health and medical education for the UNMC College of Public Health and one of the UNMC hosts for the group. “Russian scientists are just like scientists all over the world. When you’re dealing with other scientists, the politics between the two countries doesn’t matter. They are far more interested in knowledge than politics.”
The Russian delegation met with more than 20 UNMC administrators and faculty between Monday and Wednesday, including UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D. They gained exposure to a variety of different areas, including organ transplantation, nanomedicine, HIV research, DNA sequencing, and human genetics.
“They were particularly interested in our HIV research, as infectious diseases and HIV are the focus of much of their work,” Dr. Chambers said. “It also was nice that some of our researchers were able to speak Russian with them.”
The Open World Leadership Center administers the Open World program. Begun as a pilot program in 1999 and established as a permanent agency in late 2000, the center conducts the first and only international exchange agency in the U.S. legislative branch.
It has enabled more than 17,000 current and future leaders from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan to meaningfully engage and interact with members of Congress, Congressional staff, and thousands of other Americans, many of whom are the delegates’ direct professional counterparts.
The Open World program focuses both on assisting Congress in its oversight responsibilities and on conducting exchanges that establish lasting professional relationships between the up-and-coming leaders of Open World countries and Americans dedicated to showcasing U.S. values and democratic institutions.
Open World delegations consist of committed leaders (average age 38) who experience in-depth programming in themes of interest to Congress and of transnational impact.
Former U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson was instrumental in bringing the exchange program to Nebraska, Dr. Chambers said. Because of this, the Russian visitors are known as Ben Nelson Fellows.
Two prominent Nebraska business leaders and longtime supporters of UNMC, Mike Yanney and Walter Scott, are members of the Open World Leadership Center Board of Trustees. Scott is chairman of the board, while Yanney is chairman emeritus. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska also is a member of the board.