LEAD fellows visit UNMC

Fellows from the Nebraska LEAD (Leadership Education/Action Development) program stopped by UNMC on Feb. 19-20, to learn more about the medical center’s programs, outreach and educational efforts.

The Nebraska LEAD Program is a statewide agricultural leadership development program designed to increase knowledge and understanding of economics and social changes affecting agriculture and rural areas.









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Thirty Nebraska LEAD fellows visited UNMC on Feb. 19-20.
Each year, 30 people from across the state are selected to participate. They are farmers and ranchers or in some way involved in agribusiness. Eventually, many of these individuals go on to become key leaders in agriculture, business, academia and state government.

One requirement of the program is for participants to visit major colleges and universities around the state. During their UNMC visit, which was coordinated by the UNMC Rural Health Education Network’s office, the LEAD participants toured the mobile nursing unit, the Lied Transplant Center and the Munroe-Meyer Institute.

The LEAD program, which is based at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is now in its 27th year. Below is a list of participants and their hometowns.

  • Alliance: Jamie Graham
  • Alma: Tony Anderson
  • Arthur: Gigi Gardner
  • Aurora: Ron Rose and Ernie Newquist
  • Bertrand:Linda Schwarz
  • Central City: Beau Bearnes, Jess Brandes, Brian Brown
  • Crete: Sheryl Kastanek
  • Dixon: Martey Stewart
  • Dodge: Joan Ruskamp
  • Falls City: Sarah Heidzig-Kraeger
  • Ft. Calhoun: Jeff Shaner
  • Gering: Bryan Barrett
  • Gothenburg: Shannon Peterson and Greg Feather
  • Gretna: Steve Tippery
  • Lincoln: Kevin Griess and Taia Huls
  • Ohiowa: Megan Williams
  • Omaha: Ward Reesman and Stacey Korte
  • Papillion: Lindsey Hackel
  • Sargent: Terry Horky
  • Shelton: Paul Gangwish
  • Shickley: Leslie Simonsen
  • St. Edward: Darren Nelson
  • Wahoo: Al Vybiral