MMI Monthly 

The electronic newsletter of the Munroe-Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center

Oct. 3, 2017
Going (Mid)west
                            
The first time I went west was to attend a genetics fellowship program in California. After returning to Mississippi, I didn't think I'd be doing that again. But then along came Omaha and an incredible opportunity at a place called MMI.

 And so westward again I went.

Coming in as the director of the Munroe-Meyer Institute Department of Genetic Medicine, I am easily reminded of the incredible work done by my predecessors. From Bruce Buehler, M.D., to Warren Sanger, Ph.D., to Brad Schaefer, M.D., who set the example, and now under the leadership of Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D., and Wayne Stuberg, Ph.D., the bar continues to be set high. There are many great things we will do to make our department truly unique and provide a service that will be innovative and hard to rival.

In addition to great leadership, there is an incredible team of people in the department -- and at the end of the day, it is all about the folks you work with. As someone who has not been here for long, I can clearly say that our talented geneticists and genetic counselors have made a name for themselves nationally and are well-known in the world of genetics. The care they provide is exceptional and the state of Nebraska is lucky to have them.

We also have a remarkable group of dedicated administrative and support staff that make all the magic happen behind the scenes. Trust me, nothing happens without this entire team working together. I truly enjoy the creative brainstorming we are doing as a group to make us even better.

I have to give a special thanks to what I am calling my transition team. Ann Olney, Beth Conover and Kim Tyrey have been great guides as I orient into this new role, and I would be lost without them!

Of course, I must also thank the Friedland family. It is an honor to be the inaugural holder of the Friedland Family Foundation Distinguished Professorship. Community support from stakeholders such as the Friedlands is part of what makes MMI so special, and I am proud to represent the Friedland family in this new role. 

Our main focus right now? Growth! New knowledge continues to emerge on how genetics impacts more and more aspects of medicine. This continues to open doors on how genetics providers can integrate further into the broader landscape of health care. And to do that, we need more of them. There is a shortage nationally, but our own institution is rising to the challenge. With a new slate of genetics fellows that have started in our clinical genetics program led by Lois Starr, M.D., and a genetic counseling training program coming soon, the future is bright for MMI and UNMC to lead. 

 And so we will lead, here in the Midwest and beyond!

Omar Rahman, M.D.
Director
Department of Genetic Medicine
MMI Director Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D., speaks at the 2016 community breakfast.

MMI's annual Community Conversation set for Oct. 18

The Munroe-Meyer Institute's second annual Community Conversation, "Celebrating Successes & Setting Goals," will be held from 8-10 a.m. in the Lower Storz Pavilion of the Clarkson Tower on UNMC campus, 4350 Dewey Ave., Omaha.

The event, which will be led by MMI Director Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D., will be a chance for community partners and stakeholders to join MMI leadership in examining what the institute has accomplished in the past year and discuss goals for the coming year.

It is open to the public as well as the university community. 
 
"Our clients and the wider community have a right to know what we've done, ask us questions about our efforts, and provide feedback on our successes or failures," Dr. Mirnics said.
Joseph Evans, Ph.D.

Increasing rural access to behavioral health care

In rural Nebraska, citizens don't blink at driving 50 miles or more for essential goods or services found only in larger towns.

That's just part of country living for some items. But, said Joseph Evans, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the Munroe-Meyer Institute, that kind of wait and distance is unacceptable when it comes to the truly important stuff.

"Our ultimate goal is that no Nebraska resident will have to travel more than 50 miles to get behavioral health care," Dr. Evans said. Read more here. 
Members of the Munroe-Meyer Institute's NE150 Challenge team

MMI staff members rise to the (NE150) challenge

Three months are left in the  Nebraska 150 Challenge , and it looks like the Munroe-Meyer Institute team is going to run away with the title of No. 1 Team at UNMC.

It may also win a friendly side wager that Ali S. Khan, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the UNMC College of Public Health, issued to UNMC deans and directors -- the team that logs the most miles by the end of the year collects the winnings and donates it to a charity of their choice. Read more

Families invited to MMI's first 'Trunk or Treat' event Oct. 29

The Munroe-Meyer Institute will hold its first sensory-friendly "Trunk or Treat" event from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 29 in the parking lot of the west side of the building at 444 S. 44th St., Omaha.
 
The event, which will feature treats presented from the trunks of decorated cars, will have no loud music, and costumes are optional. Departments from MMI, as well as several community groups, will hand out treats.
 
"The goal of the event is to provide an opportunity for children with disabilities and their families to participate in trick-or-treating fun in an environment that is sensitive to any complex health care needs our visitors might have," said Melonie Welsh, community engagement director for MMI. "This is our first time holding this type of event, and our staff is very excited to welcome our MMI families."
 
The event also is supported by the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services-Division of Public Health, the Nebraska Early Development Network and the Family Care Enhancement Project at the Munroe-Meyer Institute.
 
For more information, please contact Mandi Reinders or Jennifer Hansen
 
MMI client Christian Moore tries out the Aqua Bike.

Aqua Bike adds new recreational therapy option for adults

The Munroe-Meyer Institute has added an Aqua Bike to its array of recreational therapy options.
 
The bike, which will be used in the department's pool at the MMI building in Omaha, was purchased with a grant received by the Meyer Foundation for Disabilities from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska.
 
"MFD is excited about having the Aqua Bike in the pool at MMI rec therapy," said foundation President Mary McHale. "It is because of partnerships like this one with Blue Cross Blue Shield that adults with developmental disabilities have increased programming options, such as the improved aquatic program made possible by this new acquisition."
 
"This bike provides us a much needed exercise option for our medically obese participants who have a difficult time finding a cardio activity they can do comfortably," said Recreational Therapy Director Michael Crawford, Ph.D. "Many have given up on exercise on dry land because it is just too uncomfortable. With this bike, we can offer then another alternative toward the goal of trying to be heart healthy."
\
From left: Rashelle Hoffman and Jacy VerMaas

MMI graduate students named NASA Nebraska Fellows

Rashelle Hoffman and Jacy VerMaas, two Munroe-Meyer Institute physical therapy graduate research assistants in the lab of Max Kurz, Ph.D., have been awarded NASA Nebraska Fellowship Grants.  The grants focus on research that could have applications within the space program. Read more here.

MMI Director Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D.

Journal publishes results of UNMC/Vanderbilt study
 
A team of researchers from UNMC and Vanderbilt University have discovered that co-occurring maternal infection and gestational diabetes may create a more pronounced response associated with pathways implicated in psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and autism.

The results of the study, "Gestational Diabetes Exacerbates Maternal Immune Activation Effects in the Developing Brain," was published in Molecular Psychiatry, a Nature Publishing Group publication considered one of the leading journals in the fields of psychiatry, neuroscience and molecular biology.  Read more here.
From left, Andrea Clements, August standout Nichole Buchholz, Megan Morse, Dr. Mirnics, Rose Kratochvil and Patty Cattano.

MMI Standouts program seeks nominations

September's MMI Standouts are  Patty Cattano , H uman Genetics Laboratory;  Megan Morse, p sychology;  Andrea Clements,  Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders;  Tasha Tyson, d evelopmental medicine; and  Rose Kratochvil, s peech.

October's MMI Standouts are  Ashley McClain, p sychology; Sara Fisher, genetics; Colleen Gibilisco, e ducation; Erin Kaspar, Human Genetics Laboratory; and Karissa Scott, Human Genetics Laboratory.

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 .

Pat Levitt, Ph.D.

Pat Levitt, Ph.D., to discuss autism at MMI Grand Rounds

Pat Levitt, Ph.D., will speak on "Addressing the Biological Origins of Autism Heterogeneity" from 1-2 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Durham Research Center, Room 1004, as part of the Munroe-Meyer Institute Grand Rounds series. 

The event is open to the public as well as the university community. 

Dr. Levitt, the Simms/Mann Chair in Developmental Neurogenetics at Children's Hospital in Los Angeles and a professor at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, has held chair and institute directorships at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Vanderbilt University and USC.

His research program includes basic studies that probe the ways in which circuitries that control learning, emotional and social behavior develop, using advanced technologies in genetics, cell biology and behavior. His clinical research investigates children with autism spectrum disorder who have co-occurring gastrointestinal and other conditions, as well as studies of infant resilience to adversity focused on the brain-based and metabolic changes that may have short- and long-term impacts on mental and physical health. He has published more than 290 scientific papers.
News in brief

Another 'Go Baby Go!' build set for Oct. 7
The MMI Department of Physical Therapy will be holding a Go Baby Go! Nebraska event on Saturday in the Center for Healthy Living gym on the Omaha campus. Department staff, UNMC students and volunteers plan to build and give away 10 cars -- nine to area children from Omaha, Bellevue, Columbus, Papillion, Elkhorn and South Dakota, and one larger car for Children's Hospital & Medical Center to use in-house. The build is funded in part by a private donation of $3,000. Students from the UNMC and University of Nebraska at Kearney physical therapy programs will participate, as well as University of Nebraska at Omaha and University of Nebraska-Lincoln engineering students Therapists from MMI, Children's Hospital & Medical Center, Stones Worth Stepping, Assistology, Omaha Public Schools Early Development Network, and the Columbus, Omaha and Bellevue school systems also are participating.

Dr. Allen named director of academic affairs at MMI
Keith Allen, Ph.D., has been named director of academic affairs at MMI.  "Over the last year, I have been very impressed with Dr. Allen," said MMI Director Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D. "He is a thoughtful colleague, caring provider, dedicated teacher and a genuinely nice person. Since his appointment as the director of the department of psychology, Keith has proven himself as a skilled administrator and a selfless advocate for the advancement of MMI, and I believe that he is ideally suited for this post." 

Notes:
  • Wayne Fisher, Ph.D., director of the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Cathleen Piazza, Ph.D., director of the pediatric feeding program, gave invited presentations in Oslo, Norway to a diverse group of about 100 attendees that included behavior analysts, dieticians, occupational therapists, parents, psychologists and speech therapists.
  • Caitlin Kirkwood, a third-year doctoral student in the pediatric feeding disorders program, successfully defended her grant proposal and passed her comprehensive examination, becoming a doctoral candidate.
  • Christopher Engler of the pediatric feeding disorders program passed his board certified behavior analysis (BCBA) exam and officially earned his BCBA certificate.
  • New hires in the pediatric feeding disorders program include Jocelin Merciez, Nathan Jordan and Yuka Collision. 
Deb Timm, Meyer Foundation for Disabilities board vice president, left, and Nicole Giron, associate director of MMI's Recreational Therapy Department, at the Phi Rho for a Cause Golf Tournament.
Upcoming Events
 
Upcoming events of interest to the MMI community:

Oct. 11: 3-9 p.m., Meyer Foundation for Disabilities' fundraiser at Don & Millie's Saddle Creek and Farnam streets location. Mention the fundraiser and 20 percent of your total purchase will be donated to the Meyer Foundation for Disabilities.

Oct. 13: 5-10 p.m.,  Friends of Scottish Rite Dinner and Auction, Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 202 S 20th St., Omaha.

 
Oct. 13-15: People First of Nebraska, Inc., 2017 Convention. Holiday Inn Convention Center, Kearney, Neb.

Oct. 17: 6:30-8:30 p.m. MMI Director of Psychology Keith Allen, Ph.D., will speak on "Three Behavioral Health Secrets for Managing Common Behavioral Challenges in Raising Children with Down Syndrome" at October's Down Syndrome Education Series, UNO Weitz Community Center, Room 231, UNO Dodge Street Campus. Register here. 
 
Oct. 18: 8-10 a.m. MMI's Community Conversation - Celebrating Successes & Setting Goals. Presented by Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D., Clarkson Hospital Storz Pavilion, ground level.
 
Oct. 25: 1-2 p.m. The Munroe-Meyer Institute Grand Rounds: Addressing the Biological Origins of Autism Heterogeneity, presented by Pat Levitt, Ph.D., Durham Research Center, Room 1004.

Oct. 29: 4-6 p.m., Munroe-Meyer Institute Trunk or Treat Event, MMI parking lot, 444 S. 44th St. 
Links of the month
 
News from around the internet of interest to the MMI community.

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!
Contact the Munroe-Meyer Institute
  Email the Munroe-Meyer Institute
 
402-559-6430 (phone)
402-559-5737 (fax)

See the Munroe-Meyer Institute website.

Follow MMI on Facebook.

Follow MMI on Twitter at @unmc_mmi