Regents’ visit covers autism to workforce

Bob Bartee, executive assistant to the chancellor, left, with regents Charles Wilson, M.D., and Randy Ferlic, M.D.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents recently spent a full day on campus covering a myriad of topics from autism to workforce.

Members of the board, as well as leaders from NU’s Central Administration, spent Friday attending 11 different presentations, which included autism, the hospital’s biocontainment unit — the largest in the country — and how cells communicate. In addition, they heard presentations on nanomedicine’s role in advancing drug delivery, breakthroughs in rheumatoid arthritis and the medical center’s premier small bowel transplantation program.

Regents also toured the Newborn Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Medicine Departments in the new Hixson-Lied Center for Clinical Excellence.

In two separate sessions, panelists outlined UNMC’s global efforts in health care, as well as how to strengthen America’s future research workforce.

Robert Muelleman, M.D., medical director of The Nebraska Medical Center and professor of surgery and emergency medicine at UNMC, led a tour of the new emergency room.

“This was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the outstanding research being done at this medical center,” said UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D. “The visit allowed the Board of Regents and the university’s senior leadership to interact with our world-class faculty and staff, as well as understand the pride we have in helping advance the nation’s research, education and clinical care.”

Board members make biennial visits to the four campuses to learn the latest accomplishments in research, academic and outreach.