Autumn has arrived and brings with it lots of special activities (Husker volleyball, football, pumpkin patches and more) and seasonal foods for our enjoyment. The good news is that many of these activities can be enjoyed outdoors and be adapted for pandemic safety standards. Autumn means that new medical students have started and our teaching activities for students and house officers are in full swing. Fellowship interviews are underway and residency interviews will begin before long—all virtual activities again this year. Thanks to all who are involved in the department’s important educational mission. You will note that our residency program coordinator Erin Maxwell-Snow received a well-deserved, campus wide award recently!
Dr. Tom Tape, the Division Chief of General Internal Medicine and Vice Chair of Clinical Activities, has joined the ranks of retired, emeritus professors and we wish him all the best! Dr. Jennifer Parker has assumed the role of Acting Division Chief of GIM, and we welcome her to this role. A national search for the new division chief is underway. The Vice Chair of Clinical Activities has not yet been filled. Regarding other leadership positions in the department, a new Associate Vice Chair of Faculty development/mentoring has been created to replace the Director of Faculty Mentoring/Development position that Dr. Shannon Boerner did so well but has vacated to take a new job outside UNMC. I am grateful for all that Shannon brought to her role and wish her all the best in her new ventures. As noted in a recent email, persons interested in the Associate VC of Faculty Development/Mentoring position should submit a CV and letter of interest to Jenny Kreikemeier in the Chair’s office by October 1st.
We were sad to lose one of our retired faculty in August. Dr. Thomas Gallagher, a former longtime member of the DEM division who was a wonderful educator and physician, passed away in August. He had an amazing impact on our department and part of his legacy is his daughter, Dr. Mary Gallagher-Jansen who is faculty in the GIM division.
I hope you will scan through all the newsletter to learn of many accomplishments of our faculty and trainees as well as be introduced to new members of the department. We are very excited to have new faculty and staff join our team.
Teamwork is our culture focus in September and October. We want to remember to incorporate appreciation, recognize and value the diversity of approaches and behavioral styles that our fellow team members bring to work, and to examine our own “filters” and how that influences our responses as a team member as well. I am every grateful for all of you and what you bring to the big Internal Medicine department team and to your division teams. I welcome your thoughts on what we can do to support one another.
At the end of newsletter, you will see a new fun item…a featured furbaby…your pet of any kind could be featured next!
Enjoy the fall!