On May 31, friends, family and colleagues gathered to celebrate the career of Bruce Buehler, M.D., former director of the Munroe-Meyer Institute, at a retirement reception held in the Linder Reading Room on the UNMC campus — “not a retirement party,” as MMI Director Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D., put it, “but a celebration of an amazing person and an amazing career.”
Dr. Buehler received tributes and gifts from people whose lives he impacted in his four-plus decade career.
“MMI is the house that Bruce built,” Dr. Mirnics said, which became more obvious as many friends and colleagues stepped forward to share stories of Dr. Buehler’s impact — on the institute, on their careers and on the lives of his patients.
Dr. Buehler began his career working with individuals with disabilities at the University of Florida in 1970. He completed training in genetics, endocrinology and metabolism in 1977 after a year as chief resident of pediatrics. He spent four years in Utah as the director of the Utah State Training School as well as the director of genetics at the University of Utah.
He left Utah to take the directorship of genetics at the Meyer Children’s Rehabilitation Institute (which became MMI), later becoming director of the entire institute. Dr. Buehler was appointed chairperson of pediatrics in
September of 1994. He stepped down as chairman and director in 2008.
Dr. Mirnics called Dr. Buehler an elemental force, “with an amazing power of vision and dedication, the type of person you see very rarely during your career.
“We are here because Bruce has touched our hearts, and we care,” he said.
For photos of the event, click here.