One of UNMC’s outstanding teachers, Parmender Mehta, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, died March 3. He was 65.
Services are today (March 5) at 11 a.m. at Heafey Hoffmann Dworak Cutler Mortuaries, 7805 W. Center Road, in Omaha.
“Dr. Mehta was a kind and caring individual who was also an excellent scientist and teacher,” said UNMC College of Medicine Dean Bradley Britigan, M.D. “In his nearly 20 years at UNMC, he was a key contributor to the success and growth of the department of biochemistry and molecular biology. He will be greatly missed by his UNMC friends, colleagues and students.”
Said Surinder Batra, Ph.D., chair of the UNMC Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: “Dr. Mehta’s philosophy of altruistically performing actions with perfection, and without regard to any personal goal, motive, desire, reward or interest, enabled him to be truly a caring teacher and mentor who yearned to distill and refine the purpose of education. We will be missing an outstanding teacher, scientist and colleague at UNMC.”
Dr. Mehta joined UNMC in 2000 and received multiple teaching awards including the UNMC Outstanding Teaching Award in 2010, the Hirschmann Prize for Teaching Excellence from the Class of 2017, and the Silver Pear Award from the UNMC College of Medicine Class of 2020.
Students continually noted “his calm demeanor, positive attitude, and thorough explanations of core concepts” and said throughout his lectures, he always took “a moment for meditation and relaxation, particularly when covering difficult topics.”
“Teaching,” Dr. Mehta once said, “provides you an opportunity year after year for repeated self-examination and self-criticism to reveal the best and the worst in you for your intellectual and spiritual growth.”
A native of Chamba, India, Dr. Mehta earned his Ph.D. at Kobe University in Kobe, Japan, in 1983 and launched his career, as well as his postdoctoral work, at the University of Miami School of Medicine in Miami before joining UNMC. Here, he taught endocrinology and hemostasis for first-year medical students, as well as several courses for graduate students.
Dr. Mehta’s research focused on gap junctions, the tiny channels in the cell membrane, through which neighboring cells communicate with each other. By focusing on the proteins (connexins) that make up the gap junctions, his laboratory was engaged in understanding how alterations in connexin assembly and degradation disrupt cell-cell communication and contribute to cancer initiation and progression.
“Parmender was the gentlest person I have known,” said Laurey Steinke, Ph.D., assistant professor, biochemistry and molecular biology. “He loved nature, and regularly took time to enjoy it. He shared pictures of his beloved mountains with me, and his generosity always brightened my days. Parmender will be deeply missed.”
Dr. Mehta is survived by his wife, Manju Mehta; son, Pankaj Mehta; daughter, Pooja Mehta; daughter-in-law, Nicci Mehta; son-in-law, Aman Sandhu; and four grand-daughters.
Memorials may be sent to the Siena/Francis House, 1702 Nicholas St., Omaha, NE 68102, or the Hindu Temple, 13010 Arbor St., Omaha, NE 68144.
Dr. Mehta has touched so many lives, and made a positive difference to so many. He was so kind and cared deeply about teaching his students. We will miss him!
Dr. Mehta was a very kindhearted and genuine person blessed with contagious optimism. He will be missed by many!
Parmender was not just a colleague at UNMC, he was one of my best friends. He would often call me to talk about something, anything that he wanted to get out of his mind or to get clarified. Very often, I did not have a good answer, but that never bothered him. He was happy to talk. He was a genteel man with plenty of humility. He was a passionate lover of nature, music, poetry, and of course, spiritual understanding. A prolific sportsman, avid jogger, and superb harmonica player. His main pride was his understanding of cell culture, and rightfully so. He really knew his science. He never asked anything for material gain, but never hesitated to seek knowledge from anyone, be it a graduate student, medical student or professor. I lost a dear friend and colleague in person, but his warm spirit will stay with me forever. He enlightened the medical center, his department, and anyone who came in his contact. Above all, he enlightened me. He will be missed.
Dr. Mehta was great human being and teacher -had always nice interaction and talk about life and philosophy.
Dr Mehta was a very kind person and I will always cherish the moments spent talking with him on different subjects.
Dr. Mehta will be missed. May his soul rest in peace.
An amazing person, a great friend & above all a person of positive thinking. Parmender, You will be sorely missed!
I had the honor of being able to co-facilitate the "healer's art" class for 1st and 2nd year medical students with him last year and he was an incredible man who was so gentle and kind and caring. He showed that care to the students and to me and we all felt very connected. I am sad for his family but also feel so genuinely blessed to have known him.
An amazing person i never miss to meet in our floor at least once a day. The calmness and positive attitude amazed me many times. You will never be forgotten and terribly missed Sir.
I didn't know Parmender well — I only met him one time. But, it wasn't hard to ascertain what a special man he was. He had the gift of instant likeability. He will be sorely missed. He was one-of-a-kind.
Yes, gentle peace and knowledge freely flowed from Parmender, lecture halls to hallways alike. A gentle hum, breath of fresh air. And ideas. Now he rests gently at peace and with all knowledge. Sincere condolences to his family, thank you for sharing his days with us.
Dale W Laird
Parmender was a highly valued member of our gap junction community. He will be best remembered for his gentle and kind nature. Parmender dedicated much of his later studies on determining the role that connexins played in cancer onset and progression. He will be deeply missed.
I met Parmender about 25 years ago, when beginning my own research on the role of gap junctions and cancer. His work was foundational to the field, and he will be missed in our research community. His gentle and considerate nature clearly impacted those around him. My sincere sympathy to his family and friends.
Parmender was one of the kindest people I ever met and I thought he had a really interesting niche in gap junction research. One story that comes to mind: when I visited Nebraska for a talk, he not only drove me to the airport, but when we found out my flight was delayed by several hours he was happy to hang out a have a great conversation. Very sad he has passed away and my condolences to his family.
Sincere condolences to the Mehta family and his friends !! This is a great loss to UNMC and Indian community in Nebraska, and to the scientific world.
Dr. Mehta's presence was like calm and pleasant breeze. He has left a deep mark in our life by his presence. We rarely meet a person of such a grandeur. His going has left a vacuum and we will miss you and your teachings.
Shocked and immensely saddened by the passing of Dr. Mehta. He will be deeply missed, not just for his science but also for his wisdom, kindness and humbleness. He was such a gentle soul. Sincere condolences to his family and friends.