{"id":129471,"date":"2026-02-04T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=129471"},"modified":"2026-02-03T13:37:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T19:37:34","slug":"dr-fingeret-named-unmcs-varner-educator-laureate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2026\/02\/04\/dr-fingeret-named-unmcs-varner-educator-laureate\/","title":{"rendered":"Abbey Fingeret, MD, PhD, named Varner Educator Laureate"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Abbey Fingeret, MD, PhD, has been named UNMC\u2019s 2025-26 Impact in Education Varner Educator Laureate, the university\u2019s highest honor for educators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Dr. Fingeret said receiving the Varner Educator Laureate Award was an \u201cextraordinary honor\u201d and a reflection of her dedication to educational innovation and excellence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis recognition strengthens my commitment to advancing high\u2011quality medical education and motivates me to continue building scalable, evidence-based programs that elevate learners across disciplines,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She added that the award acknowledges the interprofessional collaborations that shape her teaching and scholarship. \u201cIt highlights the progress of learners whose growth inspires me, the colleagues who have partnered with me and the mentors who have supported my development.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Impact in Education Awards have celebrated the dedication, innovation and excellence of UNMC faculty for over a decade,\u201d said Jane Meza, PhD, UNMC interim vice chancellor for academic affairs. \u201cThis year\u2019s dynamic group of faculty elevate the learning experiences of our students and spark inspiration among fellow educators. Their work exemplifies UNMC\u2019s mission to lead the world in transforming lives by creating a healthy future for all individuals and communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other 2025-26 Impact in Education Award honorees are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n