Dr. Zetterman receives ACG’s top national award

Rowen Zetterman, M.D.

Rowen Zetterman, M.D., professor of internal medicine and the associate dean for veterans affairs at UNMC, has received the American College of Gastroenterology’s (ACG) highest award.

Dr. Zetterman received the 2008 Berk/Fise Clinical Achievement Award, formerly the ACG Clinical Achievement Award, during last month’s 73rd Annual Scientific Meeting in Orlando, Fla.

In addition to a career of distinguished clinical practice of gastroenterology, award recipients have made contributions in patient care, clinical science, clinical education, technological innovation and public and community service.

“This top national award again recognizes Dr. Zetterman’s contribution to how gastroenterology is practiced on a daily basis around the world,” said Lynell Klassen, M.D., the Henry J. Lehnhoff Professor and chairman of the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine. “The department of internal medicine is proud and honored to have been associated with Rowen for many years. He has always made UNMC a key player in academic gastroenterology.”

“The opportunity to work with local and national physician organizations has been one of the highlights of my career in academic medicine,” Dr. Zetterman said. “I am deeply honored to have been recognized.”

In addition to his UNMC post, Dr. Zetterman serves as chief of staff of the Veterans Affairs, Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, as well as associate dean for veterans affairs at Creighton University School of Medicine.

“The department of internal medicine is proud and honored to have been associated with Rowen for many years. He has always made UNMC a key player in academic gastroenterology.” Lynell Klassen, M.D.

A native of York, Neb., Dr. Zetterman received his medical degree from UNMC in 1969 and has served on the UNMC faculty since 1976. Nationally, Dr. Zetterman served as president of the ACG in 2000. He is editor emeritus of Digestive Diseases: Current Concepts in Research and Practice and The American Journal of Gastroenterology and is past president of the Nebraska Medical Association and the Metro-Omaha Medical Society

Dr. Zetterman’s research interests include the care of all types of liver transplantation patients and the evaluation and care of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis and others with chronic liver disease.

In 2007, Dr. Zetterman received the prestigious Alfred Stengel Memorial Award for Outstanding Service from the American College of Physicians (ACP). The award — given by the nation’s largest medical specialty organization and the second-largest physician group in the United States — recognizes unusual loyalty and exceptional contributions to the aims and purposes of the ACP.