Catherine Mello, director of the UNMC Office of Alumni Relations, just completed a 13-month term as the chair of the steering committee for the Association of American Medical Colleges’ Group on Institutional Advancement.
“The group is made up of development officers, alumni relations professionals, communications professionals and marketing professionals who support colleges of medicine,” Mello said.
“This role has enabled me to connect with colleagues across the country, and not only learn from their experiences, but share the great work that’s happening at UNMC and share our best practices with them,” she said.
A high point of her term was chairing the group’s annual professional development conference, which drew more than 600 attendees last spring.
“That was not only a learning experience, but a huge honor to serve in that leadership role,” she said.
“Group leaders and steering committee members are an essential link between the AAMC and its member institutions,” David Skorton, MD, AAMC president and CEO, told Mello in a letter. “Your dedication has been critical to the success of the Group on Institutional Advancement, the academic medicine community, and the AAMC.”
UNMC Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, congratulated Mello on her year as chair.
“Catherine Mello was a distinguished ambassador for UNMC during her tenure as the chair of the steering committee for the AAMC’s Group on Institutional Advancement,” Dr. Davies said. “We congratulate her on the end of her term, a significant national accomplishment with contributions that have made a meaningful difference to the committee, the broader academic medicine community and UNMC.”
Mello, who has served on the steering committee in several different capacities, will be past president for the next year.