An Omaha couple that have been longtime community leaders and philanthropists, and a national leader in health-professionals education and patient safety, were honored at UNMC’s May 5 commencement ceremony at Baxter Arena.
Mike Yanney and Gail Walling Yanney, M.D., each have achieved remarkable success in their chosen professions. But they since have become best known as a powerhouse team dedicated to giving back to their community, city and state. The Yanneys were honored with the J.G. Elliott Award for their decades of service to their fellow Nebraskans — notably, contributions to medicine and health programs for the state of Nebraska and for UNMC.
The Yanneys’ leadership was instrumental in the public-private partnership that resulted in the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and in creating the medical center’s Healing Arts Program. The Yanneys also were key players in establishing the chancellor’s “kitchen cabinet,” bringing Omaha’s most powerful business leaders into the UNMC fold.
“I can’t thank them enough for what they have done for us,” said Kenneth Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. “When you have the Yanney name behind a project, I don’t think you can do much better than that. It is good as gold.”
The Yanneys are University of Nebraska alumni and have individually served on numerous boards and been recognized with hosts of honors. Mike Yanney has worked in business and investment industries for more than 58 years and founded Burlington Capital in 1984 – he currently serves as chairman emeritus. Dr. Walling Yanney is a graduate of the UNMC College of Medicine and served as a clinical instructor for UNMC while practicing as an anesthesiologist at Bishop Clarkson Memorial Hospital. She retired from practice in 1986.
Together, they have chaired numerous local and national charitable drives and have jointly earned several prestigious honors.
The J.G. Elliott Award is given in memory of Jack Elliott, a former Scottsbluff resident, who served on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents for 20 years, until his death in 1974.
Kudos to the Yanneys! They have done so much for our community and for our medical center. Nobody could be more deserving of this recognition.
Congratulations Gail and Mike. You two are the best! So deserving! Thanks for all you do!
Congratulations. Mike Yanney and Gail Walling Yanney, M.D have made significant positive impacts on the programs at UNMC. Gail thanks for your continued service to the Board of Directors of the Olson Center for Women's Health.