UNeMed’s Gunderson receives Gold ‘U’ award

Michael Dixon, Ph.D., president of UNeMed, has worked at UNMC for 12 years and he’s still learning of units and departments that exist on this campus.

So when he hears of some group or department that’s new to him, he goes to UNeMed Business Manager Valerie Gunderson to learn more.

Valerie Gunderson with UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., at a breakfast to recognize Gunderson for receiving the Chancellor’s Gold ‘U’ award.

Gunderson — who has been at UNMC for 25 years — always is able to answer Dr. Dixon’s questions.

“Val’s knowledge of and service to UNMC is phenomenal,” Dr. Dixon said. “I affectionately refer to Val as the glue that holds our group together.”

Gunderson effortlessly brings scientists, lawyers, business professionals and others together to help UNeMed initiatives progress, Dr. Dixon said.

Below Gunderson — who received the Chancellor’s Gold ‘U’ for March — talks with UNMC Today about her work at the medical center.

Describe your job in laymen terms.

As UNeMed business manager, my job encompasses a little bit of everything from managing the day-to-day operations of the department to coordinating campuswide or community-based programs and events for UNeMed/UNMC.

What is your best on-the-job memory?

A few that come to mind are:

• Implementing the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) that is used by medical students;
  
• Sending out the first campuswide funding newsletter to make researchers aware of what funding opportunities are available;
  
• Being a two-time recipient of the Chancellor’s Silver ‘U’ Award; and
  
• Playing an integral part in organizing UNeMed’s annual Research Innovation Awards ceremony that recognizes and honors our UNMC faculty and researchers for their new inventions, patents and licensed technologies.

What is the best part of your job?

The absolute best part of my job is that I have the distinct pleasure of working with an awesome group of people at UNeMed. No matter what the work load or stress level may be, the staff are always helpful, upbeat and positive with an attitude of “no matter what it takes, we’ll get the job done.” It makes me really proud to be part of UNeMed’s commitment to support the research mission of UNMC.