Sallie Weathers UNMC Office of Obstetrics and Gynecology

EMBRACE program builds momentum in first year

Funding from the Clarkson Institute and DHHS support improved maternal and child health efforts in rural Nebraska.

Oct 21, 2026

Members of the EMBRACE program pose in front of the Durham Outpatient Center. From left, Neil Hamill, MD, EMBRACE medical director; Elizabeth Reisher, PhD, clinical informaticist; Lora Bogatz, manager of women and infants services; Rebecca Rimsza, MD, STAMPP medical director; Courtney Thomas, EMBRACE nurse care coordinator; Sarosh Rana, MD, EMBRACE founder and executive director; Briley Patterson, EMBRACE program manager; Mel Buman, EdD, STAMPP director, women and infant services director; Brianna Heneger, EMBRACE ultrasound lead; Michelle Pieters, clinical research projects coordinator; Chelsey McLaurine, clinical research projects coordinator; Sallie Weathers, marketing and communications specialist; Santiago Ortiz Barragan, clinical research projects coordinator; Destiny Cole, community health navigator; Rick Blum, UNMC Department of OB/GYN administrator; KP Gesch, EMBRACE maternal care educator; and Jasmine Fischer, EMBRACE maternal care educator.