UNMC welcomed Omaha Mayor John Ewing, Jr., to campus on Monday, June 23, to meet with leadership and see some of UNMC’s cutting-edge advancements, world-leading expertise and newest development.
Ewing, who became Omaha’s 52nd mayor earlier this month, was joined by his chief of staff, Tom Warren, and the two visitors met and toured with UNMC Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD.
The guests met with a team of UNMC and Nebraska Medicine leaders at the Davis Global Center for an overview of UNMC and Nebraska Medicine partnerships.
They then toured UNMC’s iEXCEL health care simulation program, led by Michael Hollins, assistant vice chancellor for creative production and emerging technologies, iEXCEL.
Hollins showcased iEXCEL’s interactive iWall technology, the 3D holographic theater, the five-sided Laser CAVE and clinical simulation rooms, where Ewing witnessed the lifelike responses of health care manikins.
Also at the Davis Global Center, Ewing and Warren received a tour of the Global Center for Health Security spaces, as they were escorted by a team of the med center’s leading biosecurity experts.
James Lawler, MD, the global center’s associate director of international programs and innovation, led the tour of the Training, Simulation and Quarantine Center, including the 20-bed National Quarantine Unit.
In the area of high-consequence infectious diseases, Dr. Lawler said, “We are the national resource for training.”
At the newly opened Catalyst building in the EDGE District, Ewing received a tour from Amy Thompson, UNMC’s director of campus development. Thompson showcased how the former Omaha Steel Castings plant has been renovated into modern office, meeting and community space to serve as an ecosystem for new health care-related startups in Omaha.
Ewing called the project “one of the most amazing concepts I’ve seen in the city of Omaha.”
At the end of the tour, Ewing said he was amazed at the med center’s technology, innovation and the fact that it’s such a leader in biotechnology, medical innovation development and infectious disease control.
In offering a message to the UNMC community, Ewing said, “I’d like to say thank you for being a worldwide leader, and your innovation and commitment to Omaha and the people of Nebraska. We appreciate the partnership.”
Said Dr. Davies, “We were honored to welcome Mayor Ewing to the Omaha campus and appreciate the time he and Tom spent learning about the exciting activities and advancements available to our faculty, staff and students, and to the public. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with the mayor’s office and working together to enhance the health, education and economic vitality of the Omaha community.”
