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Elizabeth Reed, M.D., left, and Mary Mailliard. |
For the past six years Mailliard, a clinical research nurse, and Dr. Reed, an oncologist and breast cancer specialist, have helped dozens of patients, including a UNMC employee who praised the pair for their “extraordinary service.”
It is that team effort that has earned the pair the Chancellor’s Gold ‘U’ Award for August. This is only the second time in the award’s five-year history that two employees have shared the monthly honor.
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“It is well-known that Dr. Reed is an excellent physician and an expert in her field,” said her nominator, a UNMC employee who turned to Dr. Reed after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002. “What is not well-known is that Beth Reed is an extraordinary person, with genuine care and compassion and a great sense of humor..I know I got state-of-the-art physical care, but more important to me, I got state-of-the-art care for my mind and spirit.”
The nominator also praised Mailliard for her attentiveness, encouragement and thoughtfulness. “I’m convinced Mary is an angel in disguise,” she said. “She calls her patients ‘her ladies’ and you instantly feel a bond with her. During some of my low moments, she was always there to talk me through them.
“Because of the outstanding care of Dr. Elizabeth Reed and Mary Mailliard, I was able not only to keep living, but to keep accomplishing – to keep contributing in substantial ways to society and to my profession.”
Patients find comfort in Dr. Reed’s “never cross a bridge until you get there” approach. “She has the ability to see through smoke,” Mailliard said. “Everything can be in flames and she will say, ‘there is a solution and we will find it.’ ”
An associate professor in internal medicine, Dr. Reed joined UNMC in 1988 following a three-year senior fellowship at the University of Washington in Seattle. The 1980 UNMC College of Medicine graduate completed her internship, residency and fellowship at UNMC.
Women who are enrolled in UNMC’s breast cancer clinical trials, usually eight to 10 at any given time, are positive, altruistic people, Dr. Reed said, who want to help advance the science. “We have lots of positive patients and we offer patients the very best therapy available,” she said. “There is a lot of hope for patients.”
Mailliard, a native of Grand Island, received her bachelor of science in nursing in 1982 from the UNMC College of Nursing. She served as an oncology nurse at University Hospital from 1980 to 1984, before following her husband Mark’s medical career to Florida, then Texas. The couple returned to Nebraska six years ago through her husband’s long-term relationship with UNMC’s Mike Sorrell, M.D. Mailliard was fortunate to find a clinical research position with Dr. Reed in UNMC’s division of oncology.
Mailliard identifies all new patients, determines who is eligible for a research study and gathers information required for the study data. “Mary is the patient resource,” said Dr. Reed, praising her organizational skills, work ethic and knack for winning people over. “Patients have been very happy on our trials because of Mary.”
Said Mailliard: “Patients come to us facing a tremendous challenge, but we can help them through it. I also remind myself that it could be me, my mother, or sister and I treat my patients like I would any family member.”
Dr. Reed, a native of Broken Bow, Neb., and her husband, Ellis Makos, have a daughter, Olivia. Mailliard and her husband have two sons, Jim and Andrew. Both women enjoy reading and discussing books and spending time with their families.