UNMC chancellor travels to Cozad, Lexington, Holdrege










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Left to right, Roy Pearson, a Board of Counselor alumnus, Dr. Maurer, Adam Mues, a third-year UNMC family medicine student, and Stuart Embury, M.D., chief of staff, Phelps Memorial Hospital, and a 1969 graduate of UNMC.

UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., recently visited the Nebraska communities of Cozad, Lexington and Holdrege. Sandy Goetzinger-Comer, director of public affairs, and Dan Chambers, program coordinator for the Rural Health Education Network, joined him on the July 31 and Aug. 1 trip.

In Cozad, Dr. Maurer met with Lyle Davis, administrator of the Cozad Community Hospital, members of the hospital administration, hospital board members and physicians, who provided an update on health care in the community. He also toured the community’s new wellness center.

During remarks at that evening’s community reception, Dr. Maurer commented on the vibrant community and the visionary hospital leadership. He noted that 31 UNMC alumni are practicing in Cozad and that UNMC’s chair of family medicine, Michael Sitorius, M.D., hails from Cozad. About 75 people attended the reception.










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Dr. Maurer with Rodney Sitorius, M.D., of Cozad. Dr. Sitorius graduated from UNMC in 1950.

Dr. Maurer’s next stop was Lexington, where he attended a community breakfast hosted by the Tri-County Hospital. Board of Counselor member Tom Fagot, D.D.S., introduced the chancellor and helped coordinate the visit. Dr. Maurer visited with hospital administrator Cal Hiner, key hospital staff and board members following the breakfast. The visit ended with a stop at KRVN Radio and the Lexington Clipper.

Holdrege was the group’s next destination. There, Board of Counselor alumnus Roy Pearson helped coordinate several activities. The first was a visit to Phelps Memorial Hospital, where the chancellor learned of the hospital’s expansion plans.










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Phelps Memorial Hospital PR Director Rhonda Johnson shows Dr. Maurer expansion plans.

He then addressed the Holdrege Rotary and special guests including Kent Schroeder, chair of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents; several physicians from Phelps Memorial Hospital; Adam Mues, a third-year UNMC family medicine student; and Russell Edeal, UNMC Board of Counselor member from Loomis. Following the Rotary meeting, Dr. Maurer met with the physicians in attendance.

The rest of the afternoon included a visit to the Pioneer Prairie Museum, a tour of the Becton Dickinson plant given by general manager Steve Hoefling, and a talk on water issues in Nebraska by Tim Anderson of the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District.










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Dr. Maurer tours the Becton Dickinson plant in Holdrege with general manager Steve Hoefling, left, and Board of Counselor alumnus Roy Pearson.










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Dr. Maurer addresses a group in Lexington.