BHECN Awards honor outstanding sevice, outreach and support
Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska Director Howard Liu, M.D., presented the organization’s annual awards in June at the BHECN Annual Conference at the Embassy Suites-La Vista. Award winners included:
- Amie Nelson, who received the Courage Award, which recognizes outstanding service and outreach to the behavioral health community by a consumer of services or a family member. Nelson is a graduate of UNO and currently serves as a board member, chair of public policy committee, and co-chair of program services for the Nebraska Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
- Melissa O’Dell, M.D., and Tara Sjuts, Ph.D., who received Ambassador Awards, recognizing the outstanding efforts of a student, trainee, or health care professional in mentoring the future behavioral health workforce of Nebraska. With the help of other leaders of the Psychiatry Interest Group and in partnership with BHECN, Dr. O’Dell coordinated such events as Medical Student Mental Health Week, Mental Health Mentorship Dinner, and consumer- and provider-led talks for health professions students. Dr. Sjuts, who is currently completing her postdoctoral fellowship at MMI, has been involved in BHECN through serving as a mentor in the Virtual Mentorship Network live meetings and blog, as a facilitator at the BHECN Ambassador High School conference and assisting in the development of behavioral health modules.
- Rhonda Hawks, president of the Hawks Foundation, who received the Distinguished Service Award, presented to an individual for inspirational leadership, service, advocacy, and heart for behavioral health of Nebraska. Hawks is one of the founders of the Behavioral Health Support Foundation, which subsequently created a public/private partnership to advocate for implementation of behavioral health reform, supplied funding for the renovation and start-up of Lasting Hope Recovery Center (LHRC) in Omaha, and provides funding for community-based behavioral health services. Hawks serves on the LHRC Committee and Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN) Executive Committee.