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MMI Monthly
The electronic newsletter of the Munroe-Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
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A message from the director:
Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities grow up, but their challenges do not disappear. Frankly, their trials multiply: the number of services and activities available to them decrease, and their primary caregivers (most often parents) develop their own health challenges as they age. As a country we largely ignore and forget about our fellow citizens who still need our services and care.
Our community can be proud that we (across MMI and other community organizations) provide some of the much needed services to this population -- actually, we are doing much better than the majority of the country. However, we need to expand our adult services, and we need to provide more extensive content and care across the lifespan.
No one should be left behind and forgotten.
.
Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Munroe-Meyer Institute
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Dr. Allen to lead the psychology department at MMI
Keith Allen, Ph.D., has been named the new director of the psychology department at MMI. To learn more about Dr. Allen and his plans for the department,
click here.
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New program will celebrate MMI 'Stand-Outs'
Dr. Seuss asked, "Why fit in when you were born to stand out?"
Now, Munroe-Meyer Institute employees, students and volunteers have a new avenue to stand out. Beginning in December, MMI Stand-Outs will be selected from nominations.
This new award celebrates MMI employees who model ITEACH values (Innovation, Teamwork, Excellence, Accountability, Courage, and/or Healing) while at work or in the community as a MMI representative.
Anyone in the MMI community may be nominated, and
anyone on the UNMC campus or in the greater Omaha community may nominate. Anyone who works or volunteers at MMI is eligible, and up to five individuals will be selected monthly for this honor.
Nominations are due by 8 a.m. on the 15th of each month for the next cycle of stand-outs. These nominations may be submitted online or e-mailed to
Sandy Willett,
Janice Flegle or
Barb Glover for consideration
.
The awardees will be notified the first Monday of the month and will be invited to have lunch with MMI Director (and Dr. Seuss fan) Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D. MMI Stand-Outs will receive a "Stand-Out" mug for their morning coffee (or tea) or a water bottle, will have their pictures displayed on the second floor and will be featured in MMI Monthly.
"This program gives Dr. Mirnics and the rest of the MMI community the opportunity to recognize individuals who routinely reflect MMI values or who 'stand-out,' " said Sandy Willett, who developed the program. "I'd encourage people to nominate their outstanding co-workers for this honor."
So nominate someone. As Dr. Seuss said, "if you never did, you should. These things are fun, and fun is good."
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Camp Munroe experiences key for medical student
Fourth-year medical student Dan Mulhall will be going for his match in pediatrics this May, a process that could land him almost anywhere in the country.
Physical distance seems to be the only thing that will keep Mulhall away from the Munroe-Meyer Institute.
Click here to read more.
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The Phi Rho fundraising committee presents its check. From left to right, committee members Connor Mulhall and Leah Svingen, Meyer Foundation for Disabilities Board President Mary McHale, MMI Director Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D., committee members Madeleine Wilson and Nick Jesse. (Not pictured, committee members Aidan Hoie and Jamie Holland.)
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Phi Ro golf tournament a boost for MMI
Phi Rho's second annual golf tournament benefiting the Meyer Foundation for Disabilities, an
18-hole scramble event, was held Oct. 9. A total of 48 golfers raised $6,000 during the event. A check presentation was held Oct. 17. The Meyer Foundation supports programming at the Munroe-Meyer Institute.
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MMI Profile: Dan Mitteer
D
an Mitteer is a graduate research assistant in the Munroe-Meyer Institute's Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Below, he shares some information about himself.
Name:
Dan Mitteer
Time at MMI:
Four years
The best part about my job:
Seeing children obtain new educational or leisure goals once their destructive behaviors are treated.
Best MMI memory:
The week I arrived at this job, I met another student studying behavior analysis at MMI. In 2015, I became her lucky husband!
If I had another career, it would be:
Hogwarts professor.
Not everyone knows that:
Although I have always majored in psychology, I helped pay for my undergraduate tuition with graphic design scholarships.
One more thing:
I have gotten to know some great people from other departments just by smiling and saying hello in the hallway. There are some amazing faculty, students and staff at MMI and I encourage everyone to take a moment to greet one another in passing, even if you might not know them. It can lead to new collaborations and a more welcoming environment!
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News in brief
Dr. Kurz receives UNeMed award during Innovation Week
Max Kurz, Ph.D., associate professor of physical therapy, and Nicholas Stergiou, Ph.D., director of the University of Nebraska at Omaha's Biomechanics Research Building and chair of the UNO biomechanics department, received a patent award from UNeMed for their patent for "Method and System for Assessing Locomotive Bio-Rhythms, which was issued Nov. 10, 2015. Pictured above are
from left, Michael Dixon, Ph.D., CEO of UNeMEd, Dr. Stergiou, Dr. Kurz and UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.
The plaques Drs. Stergiou and Kurz are holding are recreations of the cover page of their U.S. patent.
Ken Bird named King of Ak-Sar-Ben
Ken Bird, a member of the Hattie B. Munroe Foundation board and a longtime advocate for the intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) community, was named king of Ak-Sar-Ben in October. Ken's wife, Annie Bird, is a member of the Munroe-Meyer Institute board of directors.
MMI's Dr. Stuberg honored by the Scottish Rite of Omaha
Earlier this month, Wayne Stuberg, Ph.D., associate director of the Munroe-Meyer Institute, was honored by the Scottish Rite Foundation of Omaha with the 2016 Friend of the Scottish Rite Award. The Scottish Rite Foundation is the longtime supporter of MMI's RiteCare Speech and Language Clinics. In giving the award, the foundation praised Dr. Stuberg for "fostering a collaborative atmosphere among the medical disciplines at the Munroe-Meyer Institute," noting that "children receive the best care with departments working together to provide excellent and innovative services that are nationally recognized."
PT's Emily Drew completes second year of 'Girls on the Run' at Hartman Elementary
The Hartman Elementary School's second season of Girls on the Run, led by Emily Drew of MMI's physical therapy department, finished on Oct. 30 with a 5K run at Pioneers Park in Lincoln. Drew coached a team of 25 third to fifth grade girls for two months, including girls with disabilities. "We grew from a team of 16 last season to 25 this year," Drew said. "One third of our team speaks English as their second language. We have had tremendous enthusiasm from the girls and support from the school."
Second Go Baby Go! event a success
The MMI physical therapy department hosted its second Go Baby Go! Nebraska event of 2016 on Oct. 15. Approximately 40 physical therapy students from UNMC, 20 engineering students from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, six physical therapists from MMI, and two physical therapists from Children's Hospital & Medical Center participated. Eight cars were modified and given to children with developmental disabilities.
MMI on hand for Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands' Buddy Walk
On Oct. 8, representatives from MMI attended the Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands' Buddy Walk, handing out 250 beach balls and giving 40 children rides in a Go Baby Go car. Volunteers were on hand from the physical therapy department, administration, and the speech and language department.
Shorts
- Heidi Reelfs was asked to be a Routine-Based Interview trainer for the Nebraska Department of Education.
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Members of the MMI Physical Therapy Department volunteered this season for the BSC TOPSoccer program, designed for players with special needs. The department adopted a grade school team and provided coaching and player "buddy" support. Below, MMI's Jamie Gehringer coaches a player.
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Upcoming Events
Upcoming events of interest to the MMI community:
Welcome reception planned for Dr. Mirnics on Nov. 22
A campus welcome reception for Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D., new d
irector of MMI, is planned for Tuesday, Nov. 22, from 4 to 6 p.m., in the Truhlsen Campus Events Center housed in the Sorrell Center. UNMC Cha
ncellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., will make remarks at 4:30 p.m.
Laurie Cutting, Ph.D., will speak at Dec. 1 Grand Rounds
The Munroe-Meyer Institute will welcome Laurie Cutting, Ph.D., to campus for a Grand Rounds presentation from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on Dec. 1 at the Durham Research Center, Room 1004.
Dr. Cutting will speak on "Correlates of Reading and Reading Disorders: A Tale of Complexity." Dr. Cutting is the Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Special Education, Psychology and Human Development, Radiology and Pediatrics. She is a member of the Vanderbilt Brain Institute and a training faculty member for Vanderbilt's Neuroscience Ph.D> program. She also is a senior scientist at Haskins Laboratory.
Caregiver Awareness Month - Helping Caregivers Take Care of Themselves
November is Caregiver Awareness Month. Ellen Bennett of Respite Across the Lifespan at MMI will be giving a presentation from noon to 12:50 p.m. on Nov. 15 at the Sorrell Center, Room 3030, to remind caregivers that there is help available. If you have a family member with a disability, a chronic health care condition or aging parents with special needs, please come and find out how you can find respite that will give you the opportunity to take care of yourself. If you have questions, contact Kim Falk at [email protected].
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Links of the month
National news of interest to the MMI community:
Family medicine welcomes Project Search intern
UNMC's Department of Family Medicine has its first Project Search intern. Check out his first-person story
here.
PCPID report on inclusivity published
Paper explores "Frontiers in Down Syndrome Research"
53 years of the Developmental Disabilities Act
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Community Living posted a blog to mark the 53rd year of the act. To read the blog, click here.
Mom's message goes viral after modeling agency turns down tot
Modeling agency's reason for not casting toddler left mom shocked and disappointed.
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Silver U winners
The following MMI staff members received Silver U Awards in the past months:
September: Susan Dickson-Matsunami
October: Paula Swanson
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Send your news to MMI Monthly
Is there something exciting going on in your department? Send your news to MMI Monthly to share with your colleagues at the Munroe-Meyer Institute. MMI Monthly will be published during the first week of each month.
Send your news to us!
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Contact the Munroe-Meyer Institute
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