Abbey Fingeret, MD, PhD, named Varner Educator Laureate

Abbey Fingeret, MD, PhD, has been named UNMC’s 2025-26 Impact in Education Varner Educator Laureate, the university’s highest honor for educators.

The award recognizes a faculty member with sustained excellence in teaching who has significantly enhanced the UNMC learning environment through outstanding educational contributions.

Dr. Fingeret said receiving the Varner Educator Laureate Award was an “extraordinary honor” and a reflection of her dedication to educational innovation and excellence.

“This recognition strengthens my commitment to advancing high‑quality medical education and motivates me to continue building scalable, evidence-based programs that elevate learners across disciplines,” she said.

She added that the award acknowledges the interprofessional collaborations that shape her teaching and scholarship. “It highlights the progress of learners whose growth inspires me, the colleagues who have partnered with me and the mentors who have supported my development.”

A native of Pittsburgh, Dr. Fingeret joined UNMC in 2016 as an associate professor in the division of surgical oncology in the UNMC College of Medicine’s Department of Surgery. An expert in the surgical care of thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal disorders, she completed her residency at Columbia University Medical Center in New York; a fellowship in endocrine surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital of Harvard University in Boston; and an advanced robotics endocrine surgery fellowship at Severance Hospital of the Yonsei University Health System in Seoul, South Korea.

Dr. Fingeret, along with six other Impact in Education honorees, will be recognized at a ceremony on Friday, March 6, at 4 p.m. in the Durham Research Center Auditorium, Room 1002. The 2026 ceremony marks the 10th year of the awards program. A reception will follow, and registration is open at this link.

“The Impact in Education Awards have celebrated the dedication, innovation and excellence of UNMC faculty for over a decade,” said Jane Meza, PhD, UNMC interim vice chancellor for academic affairs. “This year’s dynamic group of faculty elevate the learning experiences of our students and spark inspiration among fellow educators. Their work exemplifies UNMC’s mission to lead the world in transforming lives by creating a healthy future for all individuals and communities.”

The other 2025-26 Impact in Education Award honorees are:

• Emerging Educator: Maribeth Clifton, OTD, assistant professor, division of occupational therapy education, UNMC College of Allied Health Professions. Recognizes an emerging health science educator who demonstrates excellence, dedication and perseverance early in their career.
• Excellence in Educational Service: Nathan Sutera, PharmD, clinical assistant professor and pharmacy coordinator in psychiatry, UNMC College of Pharmacy. Honors a volunteer, emeritus or adjunct faculty member who exemplifies outstanding teaching and has made lasting contributions to health professions education.
• Innovative Practices in Education: Cory Rohlfsen, MD, assistant professor of internal medicine, UNMC College of Medicine. Recognizes ingenuity, creativity and innovation in teaching, including educational technology, experiential learning, simulation or other creative approaches.
• Inspirational Mentor of Educators: Therese Mathews, PhD, associate professor, UNMC College of Nursing. Honors an individual who has provided exceptional mentorship to junior faculty or trainees in their development as health professions educators.
• Interprofessional Education Scholar: Alfred Fisher, MD, PhD, professor and chief, division of geriatrics, gerontology and palliative medicine, UNMC College of Medicine. Recognizes excellence in interprofessional education and contributions to its advancement locally, regionally or nationally.
• Visionary Leadership in Education: Nancy Krusen, PhD, professor of occupational therapy, UNMC College of Allied Health Professions. Honors an individual who has skillfully established or led an educational initiative at UNMC or on a national scale.