UNMC SAPA hosts trunk or treat event in Lincoln
The UNMC Student Alliance for People of All Abilities (SAPA) hosted a Drive-Thru Trunk or Treat event for children and young adults with special needs and their families at the UNMC College of Dentistry in Lincoln on Oct. 30.
Local organizations that participated were:
- Autism Family Network;
- Down Syndrome Advocates in Action;
- Down Syndrome Association:
- Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation:
- Nebraska Transition College; and
- Special Olympics Nebraska.
Lotte Sjulin, a third-year dental student and the event organizer, said, “All the volunteers helped create a magical, safe Halloween experience for the 178 children and young adults who attended. Everyone involved took away special Halloween memories.”
UNO Wellness Fair is virtual this year
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s University of Nebraska at Omaha Health and Wellness Fair will be taking place entirely online and will provide multi-day access to resources from vendors across the community.
This year’s fair, which continues through Nov. 20, will focus on UNO’s Eight Dimensions of wellness:
- Physical
- Occupational
- Intellectual
- Spiritual
- Emotional
- Financial
- Environmental
- Social
Participants can learn more about UNO’s Eight Dimensions of Wellness on UNO’s Wellness website.
Three physicians listed in ‘Best of Omaha’ rankings; hospital ranked in three categories
Three UNMC/Nebraska Medicine physicians were listed in Omaha Magazine’s “Best of Omaha” rankings for 2021. The physicians and the category in which they were ranked included:
- Neurosurgeon – William Thorell, MD, professor, neurosurgery;
- Family Doctor – Jason Patera, MD, assistant professor, family medicine; and
- Allergist – Andrew Rorie, MD, assistant professor, internal medicine – allergy/immunology.
This marks the second consecutive year for Drs. Thorell and Patera to make the rankings.
Nebraska Medicine was ranked second among the three top hospitals, while Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, a partner of UNMC/Nebraska Medicine, came in third in this category.
In addition, a component of Nebraska Medicine, Village Pointe Aesthetic Surgery/Dreams Medspa, was ranked in two categories – cosmetic surgeon and med spa.
MD/PhD student’s essay published in ‘Inspiration: Young Scientists Reflect’
An essay by Safwan Elkhatib, a student enrolled in UNMC’s MD/PhD program, is one of 11 featured in a book published by the Lasker Foundation and Diamonstein-Spielvogel Foundation titled “Inspiration: Young Scientists Reflect.”
In July, Elkhatib’s essay was one of 11 winners of the Lasker Foundation seventh annual Lasker Essay Contest, an annual global competition that engages young scientists and clinicians in discussion about the role of biomedical research in society today. The foundation received more than 300 submissions.
Elkhatib’s essay is about Jonas Salk, MD, and Albert Sabin, MD, and how Elkhatib was inspired that the polio vaccine was never monetized. Salk invented the polio vaccine, which was approved in 1955, and in the 1960s Sabin introduced an oral vaccine.
To receive a copy of the book, email the Lasker Foundation or the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Foundation.
41st Street to be closed Wednesday for resurfacing
Omaha Public Works will be conducting street resurfacing on 41st Street from Emile to Leavenworth streets. 41st Street will only be closed on Wednesday, Nov. 18. Access to Parking Lot 36 and Davis Global Center will be from the Lauritzen Outpatient Center parking lot.
The exit from Lot 36 to Leavenworth Street will not be impeded. 41st Street will reopen by the end of the day.
Also, the sidewalk on the east side of 42nd Street in front of Williams Science Hall will be closed Nov. today.
Lauritzen Garden holiday show open to UNMC, Nebraska Medicine
UNMC and Nebraska Medicine employees and their families are welcome to receive complimentary admission to Lauritzen Garden’s Merry & Bright Holiday Show Dec. 18-Jan. 3. Immediate family is considered to be children, parents, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren. The employee must be in attendance.
The garden is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. every day except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
Employees should reserve their spots online, which is where they will enter the promo code: MERRY20. The code is valid Dec. 12-Jan. 3.