Joseph C. Stothert Lectureship

Throughout nearly three decades at UNMC, Joseph C. Stothert, MD, PhD, distinguished himself as a visionary leader in trauma and critical care surgery, known for his clinical excellence, integrity and compassion. A faculty member, trauma medical director, and passionate advocate for pre-hospital care, Dr. Stothert played a defining role in shaping the landscape of trauma systems in Nebraska and the Midwest. When he arrived in Omaha in 1993, he recognized the urgent need for a coordinated trauma network. Through relentless advocacy, strategic planning, and coalition-building, he led the creation of the Omaha Trauma System—an achievement that unified regional hospitals, EMS, and public health stakeholders in the shared mission of delivering timely, expert care to the injured. This vision ultimately expanded statewide, as Dr. Stothert contributed to the development and refinement of Nebraska’s statewide trauma system, ensuring that even the most rural communities had pathways to high-quality trauma care.

Dr. Stothert’s commitment to emergency response extended beyond hospital walls. For over two decades, he served as Medical Director for the Omaha Fire Department, where he was not just a policymaker but a hands-on leader—riding alongside paramedics, reviewing field protocols, and working side-by-side with first responders to improve patient outcomes. His ability to bridge academic medicine with real-world emergency care was one of his defining qualities. He believed that optimal outcomes required well-functioning systems, clear communication, and shared accountability across all levels of care. Whether rounding in the ICU, training surgical residents, or helping troubleshoot a piece of field equipment, Dr. Stothert led by example—combining surgical precision with deep humility and a tireless work ethic.

As a trauma surgeon and intensivist, Dr. Stothert was known for his calm under pressure, his encyclopedic medical knowledge, and his ability to inspire trust among patients, families, and colleagues alike. He mentored countless students, residents, nurses, and junior faculty over the course of his career, many of whom went on to lead trauma and critical care programs across the country. He had a rare gift for recognizing potential in others and pushed those around him to pursue excellence with the same vigor he applied to his own work. He was a champion of interdisciplinary collaboration, believing that the best patient care came from shared expertise and mutual respect among all members of the healthcare team.

To honor Dr. Stothert’s extraordinary legacy, the Department of Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center established the Joseph C. Stothert Lectureship. This annual lectureship, held as part of the department’s Grand Rounds series, brings nationally recognized leaders in trauma surgery, critical care, pre-hospital medicine, and health systems innovation to campus. The lectureship focuses on key themes central to Dr. Stothert’s career—trauma systems development, surgical leadership, interdisciplinary care, and the integration of field and hospital-based care to improve outcomes for the injured. It is intended for faculty, residents, fellows, medical students, and professionals across emergency medicine, surgery, EMS, nursing, and public health.

Through this lectureship, the department not only honors Dr. Stothert’s life and contributions but continues his work by fostering education, innovation, and collaboration in trauma care. His legacy lives on in the systems he built, the patients he saved, and the people he mentored. The Joseph C. Stothert Lectureship ensures that future generations carry forward his enduring values: clinical excellence, unwavering integrity, and a deep, personal commitment to the communities they serve.