{"id":108990,"date":"2024-03-13T03:46:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-13T08:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=108990"},"modified":"2024-03-13T04:47:24","modified_gmt":"2024-03-13T09:47:24","slug":"dr-gold-pays-tribute-to-two-civic-leaders-friends-of-unmc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2024\/03\/13\/dr-gold-pays-tribute-to-two-civic-leaders-friends-of-unmc\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Gold pays tribute to two civic leaders, friends of UNMC"},"content":{"rendered":"
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UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, used his campus forum Monday to pay tribute to two giants of the Nebraska business and philanthropic community, Bill Scott<\/a> and Bruce Lauritzen<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lauritzen, the first chair of the board of Nebraska Medicine, was one of the first people Dr. Gold met when he arrived in Omaha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Scott, who, with his wife Ruth and family, has been a longtime supporter of many med center initiatives and projects, he said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSince that first dinner meeting with Bill and his family \u2026 have been amazing friends, colleagues, mentors and advisors,\u201d he said. \u201cHe will be greatly missed without a doubt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBill and Ruth have done so much for this community, so much for this campus.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will be celebrating the life of both of these individuals when their respective families are ready to have those events,\u201d Dr. Gold said.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Anne Barnes, vice chancellor for business, finance and business development<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The chancellor was joined at Monday\u2019s event by Anne Barnes, vice chancellor for business, finance and business development, who addressed the audience on UNMC Alert, the med center\u2019s new alert system. Powered by Rave Mobile Safety, the opt-out system will provide more reach for campus emergencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want to be able to send out alerts that will come to everyone’s cell phone,\u201d she said. \u201cWe want to be able to load the most accurate information into the system. There will be communications coming out about how to get that information updated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The system is scheduled to go live at the end of the month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe one thing that we want to make sure of is, if there is an event on campus, we have the ability to notify all of the members that are on campus that day, and that will include not only students, faculty, staff, patients but even visitors to our campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe feel (the system) will give us a really good way of communicating that information quickly,\u201d Barnes said. \u201cBut again, the information is only as good as what’s currently in our system. So, making sure we have accurate information is going to be critically important.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch the March 11 forum at this link.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barnes also said budget discussions for next year are underway, and Dr. Gold said he was committed to complete transparency to the UNMC community during the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barnes said surveys and listening sessions with students have shown a strong demand for additional housing on campus, and UNMC leaders plan to take a program statement to the next business and finance committee of the NU Board of Regents to build student housing on campus, featuring approximately 300 beds, in units of various sizes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe goal at this point would be to begin construction very soon, and ideally have occupancy beginning with the fall semester, calendar year 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A parking study also is underway to explore expansion of parking opportunities, although Barnes said it may remain a challenge for the next several years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Gold reminded the campus that March 27-28 is the second UNMC Giving Day, For the Greater Good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur goal, my personal goal, is to have the very best participation possible,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a way of expressing our enthusiasm for the future of the institution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He pointed attendees to the For the Greater Good website<\/a> for information of giving and matching opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Gold closed the forum with another appeal for UNMC colleagues to prioritize their own wellness and also the wellness of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, the chancellor:<\/p>\n\n\n\n