UNMC’s College of Public Health celebrated its 10th anniversary Tuesday night with a dinner and award presentation.
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Nebraska State Sen. Mike Gloor |
Also recognized were Dr. and Mrs. Maurer and two of UNMC’s most generous supporters, Ruth and Bill Scott of Omaha, who established the chair with a $1 million gift in honor of Dr. Maurer, who served as UNMC chancellor from 1999 to 2014 and was instrumental in establishing the College of Public Health in 2006.
The Chancellor Robert D. Sparks, M.D., Award in Public Health and Preventive Medicine was presented to Nebraska State Sen. Mike Gloor, from district 35.
He is chairman of the Revenue Committee and a member of the Banking, Insurance and Commerce Committee and the Legislative Planning Committee.
Sen. Gloor is serving his final year in the Nebraska Legislature due to term limits. Prior to joining the legislature, he was president and CEO of St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island, Neb., served as chairman of the Nebraska Hospital Association and as a member of the American Hospital Association’s Strategic Planning Committee.
He also has been honored with numerous awards from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, American Cancer Society, Nebraska Academy of Family Physicians, Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce and the University of Nebraska Regents.
The Sparks Award recognizes an individual who has shown outstanding innovation, excellence, collaboration and impact on health promotion, disease prevention and advancement of effective public health. Dr. Sparks, who was UNMC’s second chancellor (1972-1976), established this award through the University of Nebraska Foundation.
College of Public Health Dean Ali S. Khan, M.D., M.P.H., noted accomplishments of the past 10 years:
- COPH founded and accredited.
- Harold M. and Beverly Maurer Center for Public Health opened June 2011.
- Faculty is 70 members strong.
- Enrollment grew 518 percent since 2006.
- Continuing education provided to more than 5,000 practitioners.
- National leader in responding to Ebola.
Dr. Khan also announced the college’s goals for the next 10 years:
- Increase diversity and triple student enrollment.
- Grow funding for research.
- Enhance reputation as an institution of excellence.
- Create globally recognized programs.
- Develop new prevention models.