UNMC for the record

Dr. Eneanya to speak on use of race in kidney function-estimating equations

Nwamaka Eneanya, MD, will speak on “Controversies in Medicine: Lessons Learned from Using Race in eGFR Equations” at the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine’s Grand Rounds today at noon. She will give the presentation on Zoom.

In a 2019 paper published in JAMA, Dr. Eneanya and co-authors Wei Yang, MD, and Peter Reese, MD, argued that “the use of kidney function estimating equations that include race as a variable cause problems for transparency and unduly restrict access to care in some cases, yet offer only modest benefits to precision.”

Dr. Eneanya is the director of health equity, anti-racism and community engagement and an assistant professor in the Renal-Electrolyte and Hypertension Division at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She is a clinical investigator with research interests in palliative care, informed decision-making, and racial disparities among patients with kidney disease. Her work has been supported by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities and the American Society of Nephrology.

Olson Center wellness program offers cooking tips

Artwork by Jami Monico

If nothing makes cold winter days better than a hot bowl of soup, the Olson Women’s Health Resource Center has a presentation that will help.

“Wellness Through Doing: Shortcuts in Soup Making” will be held via Zoom from noon-1 p.m. Feb. 25.

Meghan McLarney, Nebraska Medicine dietitian and food entrepreneur, will speak about creating a well-stocked pantry and making a starter for many different soups with just a handful of simple and healthy ingredients.

Registration is now open. Call the Olson Women’s Health Resource Center at 402-559-6345, or email Lana Molczyk to pre-register.

Wellness Through Doing is a series of courses teaching hobbies as a resource for improved mental health.

For more information call the Olson Women’s Health Resource Center at 402-559-6345.

Applications for Buffett Early Childhood Institute fellowship open

University of Nebraska Medical Center doctoral students can now apply for a $25,000 fellowship to fund research on any aspect of early childhood or early development.

The Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska is accepting applications for its Graduate Scholars program, a one-year fellowship annually awarded to up to three University of Nebraska doctoral students.

The Buffett Institute program has funded a range of doctoral research projects, including the development of early math skills, a study of racial and socioeconomic health disparities in young children, assessments of autism spectrum disorders, and research focused on teacher stress management.

A UNMC public health student, Alethea Chiappone, and a psychology student at UNMC’s Munroe-Meyer Institute, Elizabeth Preas, PhD, both received graduate scholar fellowships during the 2019-2020 academic year.

The institute encourages diverse candidates to apply and is seeking out research projects across a wide range of disciplines-public health, education, social work, music, art, psychology, and many others-with ties to early childhood.

Applications for the 2021-22 academic year are due on March 31. The award winners will be notified by the end of June. See more information.

Research office raises funds for Food Bank of the Heartland

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research raised more than $3,600 for the Food Bank of the Heartland during a December holiday drive.

All of the research offices were invited to participate in the food drive, which ended on Dec. 31.

Blood drive set on campus for Feb. 16

The next UNMC Campus Blood Drive is scheduled for Feb. 16 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. inside the Center for Healthy Living gym. The Nebraska Community Blood Bank has an electronic scheduling system. Donors can schedule an appointment for the drive here. (Enter sponsor code MSC or call 1-402-486-9414.) Appointments are requested, but walk-in donors will be accepted if scheduling allows. For assistance, call Peter Pellerito at 402-559-5253 or via email.