At the end of a busy workday, Deb Romberger, M.D., can be found serving others at One World Health Clinic, the local hospice program or through her faith-based community.
That’s what has kept the Kansas transplant connected to the Omaha community. It’s also the reason she joins an elite group of female leaders to be honored by the YWCA.
Dr. Romberger, interim chairwoman of UNMC’s Department of Internal Medicine, will be honored June 14 by the YWCA Omaha during its annual Tribute to Women luncheon. Dr. Romberger is one of 10 “Women of Vision” who will be recognized.
“There are so many women I admire at this institution who have gotten this award previously,” said Dr. Romberger, who serves as vice chairwoman for research in UNMC’s Department of Internal Medicine. “It’s an honor to be included in that group. Being engaged in the community is how I feed my soul and get more insights into my faith. I don’t do this sort of thing by myself, though.”
For the past 18 years, the YWCA Omaha has paid tribute to women who have made significant contributions in the Greater Omaha Metropolitan area. Dr. Romberger will be recognized for her impact in the medical professions.
Her contributions in that arena go well beyond UNMC.
“Many physicians have little time they can call their own, and because of her large number of administrative responsibilities, Dr. Romberger is no exception to this rule,” one nominator said. “Yet, while many physicians would not consider spending what little time they have supporting the community, Dr. Romberger consistently chooses to spend her free time in support of others.”
As co-medical director of the Visiting Nurses Association’s Hospice Program, Dr. Romberger has led community efforts to extend and consolidate hospice care and is a strong community advocate for quality, end-of-life care.
She volunteers at One World Health Clinic in south Omaha once a month, providing physician services to the clinic’s large Hispanic and Sudanese populations. In 2002, she received the Milagro Award, the highest honor bestowed by the clinic.
“I’ve been inspired by the people who started One World Health Clinic,” she said. “It’s been very educational for me.”
Through First United Methodist Church, Dr. Romberger has been an avid supporter of many projects sponsored by Omaha Together, One Community (OTOC). The group consists of more than 35 faith-based organizations working together for the common good of the community. “OTOC is enormously valuable to me and teaches a lot of leadership skills,” she said.
A native of Abilene, Kan., Dr. Romberger grew up in a farming household that valued education and volunteer service. The first generation college graduate earned her medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City, Kan., in 1983. She joined UNMC in July 1990.
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In addition, Dr. Romberger serves as physician volunteer at One World Tuberculosis Clinic where she has led the way to provide important new medical services to the immigrant community. The clinic mostly sees patients with latent TB, meaning they have a positive skin test but no active disease, Dr. Romberger said. “The physicians work to prevent the active disease, which kills 2 million people globally,” she said. “We need to identify those at risk people and coordinate their care.”
Through her volunteer projects, Dr. Romberger and her colleagues have created educational opportunities for students, including a hospice elective for fourth-year medical students to better understand end-of-care issues and clinical experiences for students at One World Health and Tuberculosis clinics.
“It’s been a learning experience for me,” she said. “I get involved with something and learn things I didn’t necessarily learn in medical school. The more diverse the group is the more interesting the future is.”
Beyond her career and volunteer projects, Dr. Romberger enjoys biking, movies and drinking coffee with friends. She also encourages women to pursue their passions.
“If they want to be involved in a specific leadership role they should go after it and take advantage of the positions that will help them get there,” she said, acknowledging that her single status gives her the ability to be more involved in community groups.
“Anything I do is part of a team working with other people,” she said. “It’s enriched my life. I’m fortunate UNMC values community involvement and has allowed me to work with different people and learn more about myself.”