Dr. Lomneth receives Outstanding Teacher Award

Carol Lomneth, Ph.D., assistant professor of genetics, cell biology and anatomy, works with a student during a recent discussion session. Dr. Lomneth — along with three other faculty members — will receive this year’s Outstanding Teaching Award on Tuesday, during the 4 p.m. Annual Faculty Meeting in the Durham Research Center Auditorium.

She had planned to be a forest ranger until she landed in an Illinois cornfield.

As she gazed out over the field, where she and other undergraduates had been assigned to build a nature trail, Carol Lomneth, Ph.D., knew this wasn’t the career she had in mind.

In the years since, the assistant professor of genetics, cell biology and anatomy has blazed her own trail as one of UNMC’s top teachers.

Dr. Lomneth — along with three other faculty members — will receive this year’s Outstanding Teaching Award on Tuesday during the 4 p.m. Annual Faculty Meeting in the Durham Research Center Auditorium.

“The human body in its macroscopic and microscopic form has, and I believe always will, fascinate me,” she said. “I love interacting with students to facilitate their understanding of the human body and I am intrigued by the different ways students learn.”

Dr. Lomneth, who joined UNMC in 1994, has extensive teaching experience in the medical curriculum. In the lecture hall, she contributes to structure and development of the human body, cellular processes and function of the human body. In the laboratory, she instructs students in gross anatomy and histology.

Dr. Lomneth enjoys the one-on-one teaching because it enables her to develop a dialog, evaluate the student’s knowledge base and then facilitate their leap to the next level of understanding.

“I truly believe we learn best when we feel least vulnerable,” she said. “It is critical that a student feel comfortable asking any question, no matter how elementary. Many times I have had students timidly approach, embarrassed that they do not understand something. Their questions are often only a minor misunderstanding of some piece of information and after a brief explanation you see a wave of understanding comes over them; large pieces fit together that otherwise seemed incongruent.”

Dr. Lomneth discovered her career path, thanks to Bill Larsen, Ph.D., an anatomist at The University of Cincinnati, who invited her to teach and do research in his department.

“I was intrigued by the basic science of anatomical structures,” she said.

A part-time employee, by choice, for the past 13 years, Dr. Lomneth reads new anatomy texts late at night and relishes in finding anatomically significant articles in clinical journals.

“You can spend a long time reading for a miniscule piece of information to boost your knowledge base, but it’s so worthwhile,” she said.

And her students reap the benefits.

Said a first-year medical student: “Dr. Lomneth has a passion for what she does.”

Fun facts about Dr. Lomneth Dr. Lomneth has been a part-time employee, by choice, for the past 13 years. Dr. Lomneth spent one semester with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), where they “essentially taught you how to survive in the wilderness.” Dr. Lomneth’s passion for the outdoors may be rooted in the childhood camping trips she took with her family every other weekend from May through October. Dr. Lomneth has done a 15-hour technical rock climb in the Tetons and ice-climbed waterfalls in the Adirondaks. Dr. Lomneth has a 100 pound, 10-month-old St. Bernard-mix puppy that her daughter named Athena.

A third-year medical student agreed. “Dr. Lomneth is a great professor. It is obvious she enjoys education. I have very much enjoyed having her at my dissection table and I really wish we didn’t have to rotate!”

Dr. Lomneth’s meticulously prepared lectures, professionalism and hard work are noteworthy, but she is especially proud when students cite her knowledge and approachability.

“I try to create an environment that I myself would like to learn in,” she said. “The teachers I enjoyed most were those who were engaged with the material they were teaching, encouraged questions, thoughtful exploration and creative thinking.”

As a member of the Nebraska Anatomical Board, Dr. Lomneth plays an indispensable role at UNMC in the oversight of the deeded body program, which acquires about 200 donations per year. She also has developed advanced elective courses in anatomy for senior students and physicians seeking continuing education.

Although, Dr. Lomneth’s favorite course always is the one she’s currently teaching, she said gross anatomy might be the most challenging because of the detail, volume of information and ability to integrate with other disciplines.

In addition to her classroom duties, Dr. Lomneth is active with the American Association of Clinical Anatomists, American Association of Anatomists and is a reviewer for Clinical Anatomy, as well as Anatomical Sciences Education.

She and her husband, Richard, a biochemist at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, live on an acreage, where Dr. Lomneth enjoys horseback riding and gardening. They have three children, Clay, 20, Phil, 17 and Theresa, 15.

Being an expert in anatomical sciences is more than a goal for the Chicago native. “It’s a responsibility,” Dr. Lomneth said.

That love of learning and natural curiosity spills over into the classroom daily as she challenges and guides young minds.

“Teaching students is a great joy,” Dr. Lomneth said. “They make it worthwhile.”