{"id":98924,"date":"2023-05-01T01:56:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-01T06:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=98924"},"modified":"2023-04-28T16:38:47","modified_gmt":"2023-04-28T21:38:47","slug":"bob-bartee-others-honored-at-bhecn-awards-dinner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2023\/05\/01\/bob-bartee-others-honored-at-bhecn-awards-dinner\/","title":{"rendered":"Bob Bartee, others honored at BHECN awards dinner"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As he helped guide UNMC for more than four decades, Bob Bartee had a keen understanding of the health care needs of Nebraska and particularly Nebraska\u2019s rural and underserved areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This allowed the former UNMC vice chancellor for external relations to champion many initiatives \u2014 including the founding of the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska \u2014 that improved the lives of Nebraskans, said Erin Schneider, BHECN\u2019s associate director of external relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schneider presented Bartee recently with the 2022 BHECN Distinguished Service Award during the organization\u2019s recent annual mentorship dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor bestowed by BHECN and is presented to individuals who provide inspirational leadership, service, advocacy and heart in support of behavioral health workforce development in Nebraska.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hard to think of a more deserving recipient as we likely wouldn\u2019t be here tonight were it not for (Bartee\u2019s) amazing work,\u201d Schneider said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After helping secure state funding to start BHECN in 2009, Bartee provided continual support to help the organization grow, Schneider said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A recent example of Bartee\u2019s support was his guidance and mentorship of BHECN leaders as they worked to secure more than $25 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds last year that BHECN now is administering to help address Nebraska\u2019s behavioral health workforce shortage and challenges that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic, Schneider said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBob has been a great teacher, mentor and friend to me and others at BHECN,\u201d Schneider said. \u201cIt is truly an honor to be able to present him this award.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others honored at the dinner included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n