The UNMC Department of Anesthesiology highlighted academic excellence and innovation in research and education during its annual Celebration of Academics on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at the Wigton Heritage Center.
Formerly known as the Celebration of Research, the newly renamed event brought together faculty, trainees and collaborators to showcase research, exchange ideas and recognize scholarly achievements.
“This year was the most successful yet,” said Hanjun Wang, MD, the department’s vice chair of research. “Expanding to a broader focus to include education reflects our shared vision of stronger collaboration among our basic science, education and clinical teams.”
Peter Pellegrino, MD, PhD, director of the Anesthesiology Clinical & Translational Research Program, echoed that sentiment, noting the scope of participation.
“We had unprecedented involvement from undergraduate and medical students, residents, graduate students, postdoctoral and clinical fellows, physicians and research faculty,” Dr. Pellegrino said. “That level of engagement underscores the momentum and depth of our academic mission.”
The event opened with remarks from Dr. Wang and Andrew Patterson, MD, PhD, department chair, followed by an hourlong poster session with hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. Attendees engaged with investigators and explored a range of research topics in anesthesiology and perioperative medicine.
Dr. Pellegrino highlighted several programmatic milestones.
“We saw incredible scientific presentations across the board,” he said. “We also showcased upcoming multicenter clinical trials, MINDDS2, FEEDS and IntraOp Ox, which will help shape future collaborations.”
This year’s Lieberman Lecturer was David Paterson, DPhil, DSc, professor and head of physiology, anatomy and genetics at the University of Oxford.
“We were thrilled to see a record number of poster presentations and to welcome Dr. David Paterson as our Lieberman keynote speaker,” Dr. Wang said. “His visit and inspiring lecture made a tremendous impact on our campus.”
Dr. Paterson, who also presented at grand rounds, delivered the keynote titled “Thinking heart: cardiac neurobiology of arrhythmia.” He explored the brain–heart connection and how innovative bioelectronic therapies are shaping the future of care.
Dr. Pellegrino called it “a highlight of the day.”
“Dr. Paterson’s perspective as a visionary with an international footprint and transdisciplinary impact in basic and translational research elevated the conversation,” he said. “This year’s Lieberman lecture was both an inspiration and a blueprint for the research program that we are working to build in the department of anesthesiology.”
The evening concluded with the department’s awards ceremony, recognizing outstanding contributions in research, education and scholarly activity:
- Sam Gillman – Best preclinical research by a graduate student
- Adrian Domene Rubio, PhD – Best preclinical research by a post-doc
- Reesa M. Wilcox – Best preclinical research
- Jordan Cruz – Best case report
- Elizabeth Amato-Hanner – Best clinical research by a medical student
- Lieberman Award winners: Biju Bhargavan, PhD, Sowmya Yelamanchili, PhD, and Kamalika Mukherjee, PhD
“With Dr. Patterson’s great leadership and forward-looking vision, I’m confident our department’s research and academic mission are poised for an even brighter future,” Dr. Wang said.
Dr. Pellegrino also expressed gratitude for those who made the day possible.
“The behind-the-scenes magic of Emely Sanchez, Carolle Dogbevi and Rob Hansen ensured the event ran seamlessly,” he said. “Their roles at the Celebration of Academics are a microcosm for their exemplary facilitation of research in the department on a daily basis.”
“We are deeply grateful to our education team led by Dr. Nicholas Markin and the outstanding administrative staff, including Elora Newton and Nichole Klepper, for their exceptional dedication and support in organizing this event,” Dr. Wang said. “Their efforts were instrumental in making the Celebration of Academics a smooth and successful experience for everyone.”
The Celebration of Academics continues to be a cornerstone event for the department, celebrating curiosity, discovery and collaboration across all levels of training and practice.
“This year set the bar high,” Dr. Pellegrino said. “We thank everyone who made it so special and look forward to continued synergy between our research, education and patient care missions and an even bigger celebration in 2026.”