Mary Petersen, research nurse coordinator for the UNMC Division of Infectious Diseases, plans to retire on Feb. 1, after 30 years of working at UNMC.
Petersen has held many roles in her nursing career at UNMC, which began in 1986 as a clinical nurse specialist. She was the director of continuing nursing education from 1990 to 1996 and then returned to UNMC in 2006. In 2023, Petersen began her current role coordinating NIH or direct-sponsored research with the division of infectious diseases.
“I have always enjoyed being part of an organization that is the most advanced in providing excellence in patient care,” she said. “Being part of an academic medical center means providing cutting-edge patient care based on evidence-based research. The nurses at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine have always provided additional contributions to research through their unique lens and understanding of patient care, since they are at the bedside and see what interesting patient questions need to be answered.”
Petersen, who holds MSN, RN and APRN-CNS degrees, is part of a research team originally created by Diana Florescu, MD, former professor in the division of infectious diseases, who died Jan. 27, 2023.
“She passed prior to my starting date, but she built a robust team and the work has continued in her honor,” she said. Carlos Gomez, MD, associate professor in the division of infectious diseases, and Anum Abbas, MD, assistant professor, now oversee the team and more than 18 research studies.
Dr. Gomez said that Petersen is consistent in her efforts to elevate the quality and impact of the team’s work.
“Mary has been an extraordinary colleague and an integral part of our research team,” he said. “She is consistently generous with her time, expertise and mentorship, and she is always willing to step in to support her colleagues. We are deeply grateful for her many years of service and leadership, and we wish her the very best in this next chapter as she enjoys well-deserved time with her family and new adventures ahead.”
Petersen said she is proud of the work she’s done at UNMC but is ready for the next phase in her life and is hoping for “a little less work and more intentional fun” as she spends time with her grandchildren and traveling.
“I have witnessed and been part of many changes on this campus, but my role has always involved being a patient advocate,” she said. “I have been proud to be part of this system of care.”