Last week and the current one mark several impactful events here at UNMC.
First, the National Quarantine Unit and the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit have been activated. Once again, the medical, nursing and health professionals of UNMC and Nebraska Medicine have been placed in the national spotlight, this time as a result of a hantavirus outbreak. Once again, the medical center and the state of Nebraska has risen to the challenge of caring for our guests. It makes me proud to be part of the UNMC and Nebraska Medicine community, and the UNMC College of Medicine sends its prayers and good wishes (and several talented faculty members) in support of this effort.
Also, the class of 2026 is in the books. Hooding and graduation occurred last Thursday and Saturday, respectfully. As usual, it was a wonderful celebration of the accomplishments of our graduating seniors. Congratulations to each of the graduates and their families as they move on to residency training. We know they are each leaving college well-prepared and will excel. Thanks to Lindsay Meyers, Cody Phillips and Rachel Samson in orchestrating the hooding event at the Orpheum to celebrate our departing seniors.the class of 2026 is in the books. Hooding and graduation occurred last Thursday and Saturday, respectfully. As usual, it was a wonderful celebration of the accomplishments of our graduating seniors. Congratulations to each of the graduates and their families as they move on to residency training. We know they are each leaving college well-prepared and will excel. Thanks to Lindsay Meyers, Cody Phillips and Rachel Samson in orchestrating the hooding event at the Orpheum to celebrate our departing seniors.
The hooding ceremony had a slightly bittersweet tone to it this yearm, as it marked the end of 15 years of participation in the event by Wendy Grant, MD, senior associate dean for admissions and student affairs. As was announced in March, Dr. Grant will step down from her decanal role at the end of June to return to being a transplant surgeon full-time. The college and its students who have had the privilege of working with her over the past 15 years owe her a debt of gratitude. Her commitment to the success of each of our students and helping them achieve their individual goals has been a pleasure to witness. We wish her well as she returns full-time to her clinical passion and thank her again for all she has done for the college and our students over her time in the dean’s office.
Today marks another milestone for the UNMC College of Medicine, the official opening of the Health Sciences Complex II building in Kearney. This will be the primary home of the medical students who will occupy the Kearney regional campus of the medical school that will welcome its inaugural class this August. It is truly a spectacular facility. If you are in the Kearney area, I encourage you to swing by and take a look.
Later in the day, the college will host a reception to thank the alumni and other supporters of the regional campus through their gifts toward, the building, programming and scholarships. We are truly grateful for their support of this new venture that we hope will help address the chronic and worsening shortage of physicians in rural Nebraska. We can’t thank them enough.
The next month and half will be marked by further transitions. Some of our current residents and fellows will be graduating and moving on to the next phase of their careers, and we will be welcoming the incoming residents. May 12th also was the annual Graduate Medical Research Symposium that showcased the research activity of our house officers over the last year. The depth and breadth of the work is always remarkable, and this year’s presentations were in keeping with that tradition. Congratulations to all on your exceptional work.