For being “the spark behind what may be the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s most explosive period of growth and for his efforts to make UNMC a world-class academic medical center,” UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., has been named “Midlander of the Year” for 2004 by The Omaha World-Herald.
In a special 12-page section in the Jan. 2 edition, the newspaper highlighted Dr. Maurer’s accomplishments and featured five key faculty members who have been recruited or retained by the medical center during Dr. Maurer’s tenure.
The featured faculty included: Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center; Howard Gendelman, M.D., professor and chairman of the department of pharmacology; Alexander “Sasha” Kabanov, Ph.D., professor, College of Pharmacy; Dmitry Oleynikov, M.D., assistant professor, department of surgery; and Peggy Wheelock, Ph.D., professor, College of Dentistry.
In addition, the section:
- highlighted milestones in UNMC’s 125-year history;
- detailed the five construction projects currently under way or expected to begin within the next year;
- listed eight major construction projects that have been completed since Dr. Maurer arrived at UNMC in 1993;
- featured Dr. Maurer’s eight future goals for UNMC;
- and recognized Dr. Maurer’s wife, Beverly, for being “the chancellor’s sounding board and wife of 44 years” and for her full-time work for UNMC, even though she doesn’t get paid for it.
“I’m honored and humbled to be recognized with my family for this award,” Dr. Maurer said. “It really represents the outstanding achievements of all the faculty and staff at the medical center. They deserve all the credit.”
Dr. Maurer becomes the 40th recipient of the Midlander of the Year Award, which was initiated in 1965 by the World-Herald to recognize business, political, educational and community leaders who have made a difference in Nebraska and the region. Other prominent recipients have included Charles W. “Chuck” Durham, Walter Scott Jr., Tom and Nancy Osborne, Bob Kerrey, Eugene Mahoney and James Exon.
Dr. Maurer is the first person from UNMC to ever receive the award.
The Midlander of the Year is selected by senior management at The Omaha World-Herald. “We get lots of recommendations from beat writers and other reporters,” said Larry King, executive editor of the newspaper.
“We try to choose someone who has had a significant impact on the Midlands and done a great job,” King said. “We’ve been looking at the medical center for quite awhile. It rose to the top with the recent announcement of the second research tower.
“It seemed like the right time to recognize the chancellor for all that’s happening and all that has happened down there. The momentum (at UNMC) is so big. It’s hard to ignore.”
James B. Milliken, J.D., president of the University of Nebraska, saluted Dr. Maurer for the honor. “Dr. Maurer has been exceptionally effective as chancellor of UNMC,” Milliken said. “He has placed a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary team research efforts, which has paid off in dramatic increases in competitive research funding. He also has taken on serious issues such as rural health care and the shortage of nurses with considerable success.
“Obviously, he has been an able fund raiser working closely with philanthropists like Chuck Durham and others to make significant improvements on the campus that support the work of faculty, staff and students. He also is a kind and considerate person who loves Nebraska.”
Perhaps John Niemann, Ed.D., senior vice president of the University of Nebraska Foundation, summed Dr. Maurer up best in the World-Herald story when he said: “A lot of people are good thinkers, but Hal’s kind of the whole package – a thinker and a person who’s got the energy, strength and character and courage to carry through on their plan.”