Office of Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge will visit Nebraska Friday for briefings on homeland security efforts, including bioterrorism-related projects at UNMC.
Ridge, former governor of Pennsylvania, was appointed to his federal position following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
“We’re extremely excited for the opportunity to show our expertise in bioterrorism preparedness to Gov. Ridge, firsthand,” said UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D. “UNMC is a national leader in bioterrorism preparedness, and we have the capability to do more.”
Ridge’s visit to UNMC is expected to last around two hours. During this time, Gov. Mike Johanns and other state officials will brief Ridge on the state’s bioterrorism preparedness strategies. A news conference also is planned.
Steven Hinrichs, M.D., director of the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory and a UNMC faculty member, will inform Ridge about UNMC’s expertise in bioterrorism preparedness. Dr. Hinrichs said that UNMC is proposing a bioterrorism preparedness laboratory on campus that would augment the work of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Ga.
“In addition to our expertise at UNMC, there are several factors that make Omaha the best place to locate strategic activities,” Dr. Hinrichs said. “Our location, as well as our communication capability and the support we have from community leaders, are key assets that make UNMC the logical location for the facility.”
Several community and governmental leaders will be on hand Friday when Ridge visits the campus, Dr. Maurer said. That group is expected to include members of Nebraska’s Congressional delegation, the governor and Lt. Gov. Dave Heineman, and Omaha business leaders Walter Scott, Chuck Durham, John Gottschalk and Mike Yanney, among others.