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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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Thoughts on 'Thinks'
Oh, the thinks you can think when you're watching a performance by the Camp Munroe Theater Co.
This past weekend, we saw the second performance by the group. The show, "Oh, the Thinks You Can Think," was the climax of the summer theater program, another successful collaboration by our own Department of Recreational Therapy and WhyArts, a nonprofit dedicated to providing Omaha's underserved populations with access to inclusive quality arts programming.
The thinks I thought?
Wonderful. Amazing. Heartwarming. Uplifting. I can't wait for the next production, slated for January 2018.
Community collaborations such as this are at the heart of our mission, and when they pay off like they did on Saturday night, the result can melt the heart of any Grinch.
Here's looking forward to more successful collaborations within our community -- and here's one last round of applause to our players, and the artists and staff who helped them, for a job exceptionally well done.
Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D.
Director
Munroe-Meyer Institute
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The grand finale of the Camp Munroe Theater Co. performance.
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Camp Munroe Theater Co. summer production shines
The second Camp Munroe Theater Co. production, "Oh, the Thinks You Can Think," was held July 8 at the Bellevue Little Theater.
Twenty-four participants, ages 6-25, were involved in the production, which marked the group's first performance away from the UNMC campus.
"I think it's a great idea for the kids to be in a different venue," said Carolyn Anderson, director of WhyArts?, which once again partnered with MMI's Department of Recreational Therapy to put on the show, which drew approximately 100 people.
The actors enjoyed working on the BLT stage.
"It seems more like a real theater to them," said Michael Crawford, Ph.D., director of recreational therapy.
The production was a Dr. Seuss-inspired show, and participants seemed to enjoy the performance. Rec therapy's Jon Purcell emceed as the Cat in the Hat, while MMI Director Karoly Mirnics made a brief appearance as the Grinch.
Mary McHale's son, Daniel, who was making his second appearance in a Camp Munroe show, was particularly enthusiastic.
"This was a real theatrical experience," said McHale, adding her appreciation for the MMI staff and the WhyArts artists.
"You can't beat these professionals," she said. "And Karoly is such a good sport."
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From left, MMI Director Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D., Kelley Coutts, Michael Crawford, Ph.D., director of recreational therapy, and Steve McWhorter, president of the Hattie B. Munroe Foundation.
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MMI says good-bye to rec therapy's Kelley Coutts
Kelley Coutts was volunteering at a special education class at Westside High School in 1985 when her counselor pointed her to a volunteer opportunity at the Munroe-Meyer Institute's Camp Munroe. She stayed for more than three decades.
Coutts, who is stepping down as associate director of the MMI Department of Recreational Therapy and as the director of Camp Munroe to relocate to Florida, reflected on her more than 30 years at MMI -- a place that led her to a college major, a job, a career -- in fact, to a lifelong vocation that she intends to continue even after she leaves.
Read more here.
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Janet Miller and her daughter, Jennifer
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Jennifer's story
Janet Miller, a respite care associate at the Munroe-Meyer Institute, shares the story of the struggles and triumphs of her daughter, Jennifer. Read more here.
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UCEDD welcomes first international fellow
The MMI University Center for Education in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) Program recently welcomed its first international fellow. Jackline Wangeci, a non-governmental agency employee from Kenya, spent three weeks at MMI in the early summer.
"I wanted to learn more about developmental disabilities, and how MMI works with children with developmental disabilities," she said. "I wanted to see how everything connects, with the children, the parents, the service providers and everyone as a whole, to make sure that a child or person with developmental disabilities is able to function both in the school and in the community."
"This has been a wonderful opportunity for MMI to sponsor U.S. Department of State international fellow," said MMI Associate Director Wayne Stuberg, Ph.D., the UCEDD project director. "We look forward to continuing this relationship and sponsoring additional fellows in the future to learn more about issues related to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities."
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United Way grant helps overcome educational barriers
The Munroe-Meyer Institute's Sara Kupzyk, Ph.D., was recently awarded a $66,853 grant from United Way of the Midlands' Karnett Trust. The Karnett Family Trust Grant funds programs that are focused on the care, education and training of children with intellectual disabilities in the Omaha metropolitan area. Read more here.
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Participants at the 2017 RiteCare Golf Tournament take part in the "Mega-Putt Challenge," in which everyone putts at once and the first person to sink the shot wins.
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June events raise approximately $42,000 for MMI
The 2017 RiteCare Classic Golf Tournament, hosted by the Scottish Rite of Omaha, was held in June. Proceeds from the event, which raised nearly $17,000, support speech and language programs at the Munroe-Meyer Institute and Scottish Rite's RiteCare Clinics.
"Each year, we strive to give our guests a top-notch event for our players, and to increase what we raise to support speech and language therapy for our RiteCare kids," said John "Buzz" Garlock, the event chairman. "We did both, thanks to the extraordinary support from the community."
Also in June, the Munroe-Meyer Guild's Garden Walk raised more than $25,000.
"We had a great garden walk, with around 900 people viewing the gardens," said Guild President Luann Rabe. "It was a hot day, but there were only good comments on what beautiful gardens the homeowners had built."
The guild's grant committee is reviewing another round of MMI grants that were submitted.
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From left: May Standout Nicole Hackendahl, Chris Edelbrock, Associate Director Wayne Stuberg, Ph.D., Liz Konopasek and Ann Kruger.
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MMI Standouts program seeks nominations
June's MMI Standout awardees include Jackie Hankins, education and LEND administration; Chris Edelbrock, occupational therapy; Peggy Whitsell, patient information office; Ann Kruger, physical therapy; and Liz Konopasek, physical therapy.
July Standouts are Erin Brandenburg, recreational therapy;
Maggie Neujahr, developmental medicine;
Maegan Pisman, pediatric feeding;
Kathlene Egbers, p
sychology; and
Sarah Baird, education. Watch next month for their photo with Dr. Mirnics.
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 picture 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. These nominations may be submitted
online or e-mailed to
Sandy Willett for consideration
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From left: Karissa Scott, Jacki Evans, Jennifer Sanmann, Ph.D., Evan Roberts, Marilu Nelson and Michelle Hess.
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Human Genetics Lab group makes impact at AGT meeting
Members of MMI's Human Genetics Laboratory recently attended the 42nd Annual Association for Genetic Technologists (AGT) meeting in St. Louis.
Laboratory director Jennifer Sanmann, Ph.D., served as annual meeting director. Molecular genetic technologists Jacquelynn Evans and Karissa Scott presented scientific posters. Molecular genetic technologist Evan Roberts and molecular genetics supervisor Marilu Nelson gave scientific presentations. Laboratory manager Michelle Hess delivered a management presentation.
At the meeting, Roberts was given the New Horizons Award and Nelson was presented with the Margaret Barch Memorial Workshop Presentation Award.
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News in brief
Human Genetics Laboratory welcomes summer interns
In June, Harrison McMinn
, Regan Sindelar and Ben Reckmeyer began temporary employment with the laboratory as summer students. These are part-time paid positions open to undergraduate or graduate level students with an interest in genetics. They perform a variety of laboratory tasks that are otherwise done by regular staff.
Dr. Greer named to leadership position for prestigious national society
Brian Greer, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, has been named executive director for the Society for the Quantitative Analyses of Behavior
. Wayne Fisher, Ph.D., director of the center, said, "This is an important and prestigious position in our field, and I believe that Brian is the youngest scholar ever to be selected for this position."
Registration now open for People First Nebraska's annual convention in October
Registration is now open for the 2017 People First Nebraska annual convention, to be held Oct. 13-15 at the Holiday Inn in Kearney. The theme is
"RESPECT People with Disabilities and Power Up!"
There will be
several new presentations this year, including a keynote presentation by a nationally-known disability advocate and
advocacy training designed and presented by self-advocates
from Nebraska and the region. Find more information or register at the People First Nebraska website.
Registration and payment is due by Sept. 1.
HGL's Roberts receives AGT's New Horizons Award
Evan Roberts
is the recipient of the Association of Genetic Technologist (AGT) New Horizons Award, presented by Foundation for Genetic Technologists (FGT). Roberts received his award at AGT's 42nd Annual Meeting in St. Louis, where he presented a talk titled "Verification of Next Generation Sequencing and Multiplex Ligation-Dependent Probe Amplification Findings in the Pseudogene Region of PMS2; Technical Concerns and Adjunct Studies Utilizing Our Clinical Experience." This award gifts $750 toward the recipient's meeting expenses.
Mitteer receives UNMC Graduate Studies Assistantship/Fellowship Award
Daniel Mitteer, a graduate research assistant in the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, was awarded one of the 2018 UNMC Graduate Studies Assistantship/Fellowship Awards. Miteer is a Ph.D. candidate, and the award will provide a year of salary funding to allow him to dedicate his time toward his dissertation research. Mitteer's dissertation is
focused on improving caregiver treatment adherence to treatments for severe destructive behavior using empirically supported caregiver-training refinements.
Shorts
- The Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program hired four new employees: Erika DiNatale, Heather Carlson, Taya Zagursky and McKadee Donnelly.
- Tara Johnson of pediatric feeding was promoted to Behavior Analysis Specialist I.
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Upcoming Events
Upcoming events of interest to the MMI community:
July 24-28: 8:30 a.m. - 4:50 p.m., 2017 ICan Bike Camp by Autism Society of Nebraska Omaha Support Network
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Links of the month
News from around the internet of interest to the MMI community.
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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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