Peter Coccia, M.D., the Ittner Professor and vice chairman of the Department of Pediatrics, will retire at the end of this month.
Retirement celebration
The UNMC Department of Pediatrics will be hosting a retirement party for Peter Coccia, M.D., from 3-5 p.m. on Tuesday at University Tower’s Private Dining Rooms B and C.
Joining UNMC in 1987, Dr. Coccia founded the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and the Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation Program, serving as director until 2012. He also served as the chairman of the College of Medicine Promotion and Tenure Committee from 1995-2015.
In addition to patient care and teaching, Dr. Coccia has been actively involved in clinical and translational research. His major areas of research have included the characterization and treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in children and adolescents/young adults as well as stem cell transplantation for inherited disorders, aplastic anemia, acute leukemia and lymphomas.
Looking ahead
Although retired, Dr. Coccia will stay on as an emeritus professor, officed in pediatrics, and he will continue working with Steve Lisco, M.D., on the Promotion and Tenure Committee in an ex officio role to help mentor junior faculty to prepare for promotion.
He also will continue working on a number of manuscripts in progress, collaborating both with junior faculty and national colleagues, as well as stay involved in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and its guidelines panel for Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology.
He hopes to catch up on his reading and travel with his wife, UNMC’s Phyllis Warkentin, M.D.
“We’ve been here almost 30 years and have developed an excellent pediatric hematology/oncology and stem cell transplant program and recruited outstanding faculty,” Dr. Coccia said. “I’ve enjoyed all of the friendships I’ve made and collaborations I’ve participated in while here, and I hope to be able to continue them. I’d like to thank the leadership of UNMC for all the opportunities they’ve given me.”
“Peter is a great clinician, and his patients love him,” said Bruce Gordon, M.D., division chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation. “But where he really shines is his absolute commitment to mentoring young (and not so young) faculty. He has been there for me and dozens of others, throughout our careers – guiding, making introductions, giving good advice. He has never stopped caring about my career. My success was his success. That is Peter Coccia.”
“Dr. Coccia has had a distinguished career as a national leader in pediatric hematology/oncology,” said John Sparks, M.D., chairman of the UNMC Department of Pediatrics. “He has been very active in national organizations, and has ably represented UNMC through his national leadership in pediatric bone marrow transplantation, the care of adolescent-young adult patients with cancer, and pediatric cancer patients in general.
“Dr. Coccia has made a deep and personal commitment to faculty development,” Dr. Sparks said. “He led the College of Medicine’s Promotion and Tenure Committee for 20 years. As importantly, he has advised countless faculty on their career advancement. He has been readily available to all faculty of all departments, not just pediatrics, to discuss their career trajectory and their path to promotion and tenure. His wise counsel has been widely appreciated by faculty across the college of medicine.
“He has ably served as vice chair of the department of pediatrics and provided invaluable advice and counsel on both day-to-day issues and on long-term departmental growth and strategic direction.”
Wishing you the best in your retirement. You have certainly earned it! I know that you will not stop doing what you love, but I hope you get more time to relax and enjoy travel and family! Thank you for all your skills, time and wonderful patient care! You will be missed.
What an outstanding career! Congratulations. Myrna and I look forward to seeing you and Phyllis more often. God Bless.
Don't go far! There's a chair in my office with your name on it! So glad I still have your phone #!
Congrats, Peter! As the person who started our pediatric bone marrow transplant program, you will always be a historic figure in the annals of UNMC. I can only imagine how many children and families you helped over your illustrious career. Kudos to you on an outstanding career. You were someone who made a difference.