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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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Coming home, reaching out
I first came to the Munroe-Meyer Institute in the late-1970s as a cytogeneticist and then spent the majority of the next 25 years there as a genetic counselor.
It was a wonderful place to work, mission-driven and committed, and I found a caring mentor in Warren Sanger, Ph.D. It was a home.
As I return to MMI as the director of community engagement, it still feels like home -- but the neighborhood has gotten bigger.
Today, much of my job is to reach out into that neighborhood, that community and statewide network of organizations, government entities, health care professionals, families and individuals that share MMI's mission to transform the lives of all individuals with disabilities and complex health care needs.
These are people whose commitment mirrors ours, who recognize the importance of what we do, who need our help or, just maybe, will be able to help us.
That's what neighbors do, after all. We have some fine ones. And we're looking forward to getting to know them better, so we can all have a greater impact on those we serve.
Melonie Welsh
Director of Community Engagement
Munroe-Meyer Institute
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MMI's Dr. Godfrey receives Impact in Education Award
Maurice Godfrey, Ph.D., is one of the recipients of the Office of Academic Affairs' inaugural Impact in Education Awards. Dr. Godfrey received the Visionary Leadership in Education Award, which recognizes an individual who has demonstrated the ability to skillfully establish or administer an educational initiative or role at UNMC or a national organization.
For more information on Dr. Godfrey and his award, click here.
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Participants in the 2016 Walk and Roll for Disabilities
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Registration open for March 5 Walk and Roll event
Registration is open for the Meyer Foundation for Disabilities' 2017 Walk and Roll for Disabilities on March 5. The event will be held at Oak View Mall, 3001 S. 144th St. The event's Facebook page is already up, and organizers hope to get to 500 likes. Visit the page
here
and like it! Then start planning your teams! Funds raised at the event go to support programming at MMI. Click here to register for the event!
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Alexander Rodlach, Ph.D., left, and Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D.
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Lecture on intercultural competence draws large crowd
Alexander Rödlach, Ph.D., an associate professor of medical anthropology and psychiatry, and the director of the graduate program in medical anthropology in Creighton University's Department of Cultural and Social Studies, spoke at UNMC on Jan. 27 on "Culture, Clinical Care, and Intercultural Competence."
Dr. Rödlach spoke on the importance of intercultural competence to the health care industry.
"Different social and cultural groups have different 'languages of distress,' he said. "Certain cultures don't talk about certain things, Very often, there are misunderstandings."
The presentation was part of MMI's Grand Rounds series. More than 100 people attended the event.
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From left, Lori Littlejohn Wells, Pharm.D., Sandy Willett, interim director of physical therapy, Adam Wells, M.D., and Jonah.
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MMI family pleased for chance to give back
When Adam Wells, M.D., was looking for help for his son, Jonah, who had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, he turned to the Munroe-Meyer Institute and its physical therapy department.
Now, Dr. Wells and his family are offering a helping hand in return. Read more here.
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From left: Cynthia Villanueves, John Keenan, Mari Nelson, Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D., and Jerri Dayton. Not pictured: Vicki Morrison.
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MMI Standouts program seeking nominations
January's MMI Standouts awardees included Jerri Dayton, developmental neuroscience; John Keenan, public relations; Vicki Morrison, psychology; Mari Nelson, genetics lab; and Cynthia Villaneuves, education.
February's awardees will include Kim Bainbridge, administration; Rachel Ray, Family Care Enhancement Project; Shelly Nielson, medical genetics; Sarah Simmons, business office; and Heidi Reelfs, physical therapy. Watch for their photo next month!
Nominations are being accepted for future monthly Standout awards. Awardees will be
invited to lunch with Dr. Mirnics, receive a coffee mug or water bottle and have their pictures featured in MMI Monthly.
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 Standouts, so there's still time to nominate for March. These nominations may be submitted
online or e-mailed to
Sandy Willett for consideration
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From left, Schala McGee and Juwan Mountain
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Project SEARCH interns achieving success at med center
In January, Juwan Mountain, an intern in the Project SEARCH program, received an Excellence Award from Environmental Services, while another intern, Schala McGee, already has been offered a job.
Read more
here
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UNMC to host film on developmental disability rights pioneer
UNMC will host a screening of the documentary "Valuing Lives: Wolf Wolfensberger and the Principle of Normalization," at 5 p.m. Feb. 23 in the Durham Research Center Auditorium.
Wolf Wolfsensberger, Ph.D., was a researcher at the former Nebraska Psychiatric Institute from 1964 to 1971, and a faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry, of what would become UNMC, during his time here. Over the course of his career, he became a world-renowned advocate for and expert on the care of the developmentally disabled.
Read more here.
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News in brief
Grant news
Wayne Stuberg, Ph.D., and Wayne Fisher, Ph.D., submitted a Simmons Foundation SPARK grant with assistance from Cindy Ellis, M.D., Keith Allen, Ph.D., Joanne Johnson, and Amy Nordness, Ph.D.
Brian Greer, Ph.D., site principal investigator, and Wayne Fisher, Ph.D., co-investigator, submitted an R01 in collaboration with Tim Shahan, Ph.D., PI at Utah State University titled, "Resurgence as Choice: Basic and Clinical Studies." This project represents a collaboration between a basic scientist/theorist (Dr. Shahan) and clinical scientists with expertise in DRA treatments (Drs. Greer and Fisher) to evaluate and translate the predictions of a novel choice-based theory of resurgence, which is a common form of treatment relapse.
Shorts
- Kim Michl accepted the position of medical billing coder in the Human Genetics Lab after passing the American Academy of Professional Coders exam. Kim was previously a clinical authorization representative.
- Jaclyn Pope begin employment with the Human Genetics Lab on Feb. 21 as a cytogenetic technologist I.
- Tanner Clark and Kristen Jackson were promoted to cytogenetic technologist I in the Human Genetics Lab.
- Loretta Childs was promoted to the position of client services representative in the Human Genetics Lab.
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Upcoming Events
Upcoming events of interest to the MMI community:
"Learning to Drive," a film inspired by the true story of a young man with Down syndrome determined to convince his brother to teach him to drive, will have a free showing at FilmStreams on Feb. 20. For more information on the event, which will include a discussion and Q&A with actor Conor Long and filmmaker Roderick Stevens, and to register for tickets,
click here.
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) is now accepting applications (Deadline Feb. 19) for the 2017 Autism Campus Inclusion (ACI) Summer Leadership Academy. The ACI Summer Leadership Academy prepares autistic students to do disability advocacy at their colleges. Accepted students will travel to Washington, D.C., and participate in advocacy training from June 10-17. ACI participants learn about making student groups, understanding disability policy, and talking to people in the government. ASAN pays for travel and rooms for all Academy students.
There will be a conference sponsored by the Nebraska Department of Education on March 16-18 at the Younes Conference Center, Kearney, Neb. This conference is open to all Nebraska parents who are raising a child with a verified disability. The child must have an active IFSP/IEP. Click
here for the full program and registration details, as well as other upcoming events and information from the department, including the
State Autism Conference March 30-31 in Kearney.
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Links of the month
News from around the Internet of interest to the MMI community.
The Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) created a transition guide to advance their efforts in ensuring that all students and youth with disabilities are equipped with the skills and knowledge to be engaged in the 21st Century workforce. In doing so, OSERS recognizes the significance of collaborative partnerships and hopes that the information in this guide will assist families and their students and youth with disabilities in developing and pursuing their goals for adult life.
The Today Show's website tells the story of a couple who built a community for their son on the autism spectrum. Read the story
here.
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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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