Celebrating Women in Medicine Month |
|
Some of the women that make our department a success. |
|
September was Women in Medicine Month! We want to recognize all of the women in our department for their talent, dedication and ingenuity. Your efforts and abilities make our department possible. Thank you!
Recommended Viewing
Shirley Delair, MD, associate professor, division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, participated in a "Give Her Reason to Stay in Healthcare" panel on Sept. 14. For information and to view the event:
Recommended Listening
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Podcast: Pediatrics on Call
EPISODE 81 -- Women in Medicine: A Bonus Episode with Dr. Madeline Joseph
In this episode AAP Board Member Madeline Joseph, MD, FAAP, talks about the state of women in medicine. She offers hosts David Hill, MD, FAAP, and Joanna Parga-Belinkie, MD, FAAP, suggestions on how to recruit, promote and retain not only women but also people of color and other underrepresented groups.
|
|
Division of Pediatric Dermatology
Gearing up to Open in October
|
|
The newly created division of Dermatology is making great progress towards the opening of its clinic this October. Nicole Harter, MD, is chief of the chief of Pediatric Dermatology at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and associate professor and chief, Division of Pediatric Dermatology, in the Department of Dermatology at UNMC. As the first full-time pediatric dermatologist at Children’s and UNMC, she is leading the development of a comprehensive specialty dermatology program to improve the lives of children in the region and beyond. Dr. Harter officially joined Children's and UNMC on September 1.
Dr. Harter comes to Omaha from Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA), serving on faculty at University of Southern California. She has served as a full-time academic pediatric dermatologist, focusing on complex medical dermatology, laser treatments and dermatologic surgery. She also served as associate program director of CHLA’s Pediatric Dermatology fellowship program. Dr. Harter’s research has been widely published in medical literature, as well.
"The first month has been going great, and so quickly! It has been full of continued growth, development and collaboration. Our staff is here, training and building," says Dr. Harter. "Our brand-new space is set to open on Oct. 25, and we could not be more excited! UNMC and Children’s have worked diligently to continue excellent communication and support in launching our pediatric dermatology clinics. We can’t wait for the next few weeks!"
Children’s and the UNMC Department of Dermatology plan to recruit an additional three pediatric dermatologists to the program over the next five years, and to develop an accredited fellowship in Pediatric Dermatology.
“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Harter to UNMC and Children’s as division chief of Pediatric Dermatology,” says Kari Simonsen, MD, MBA, chair of the UNMC Department of Pediatrics and pediatrician-in-chief at Children’s. “Historically, Nebraska has had a shortage of fellowship-trained pediatric dermatologists, and we look forward to collaborating in the development of a comprehensive, academic program that will benefit children across the region.”
A version of this story was written by Betsy Reece and originally ran in the Children's publication, The Pulse.
|
|
Drs. Scott Fletcher, Laura Pratt and Amanda Uber |
|
Scott Fletcher, MD, Pediatric Cardiology
Dr. Fletcher received his medical degree at the Creighton University College of Medicine. He completed his Pediatrics residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Fletcher completed a fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, S.C. and a fellowship in Interventional Pediatric Cardiology at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas. He is an adjunct professor in the UNMC Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics.
Laura Pratt, MD, Pediatric Rheumatology
Dr. Pratt received her medical degree at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. She completed her Pediatrics residency, as well as a Pediatric Rheumatology fellowship, at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. She is an assistant professor in the UNMC Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics.
Amanda Uber, MD, Pediatric Nephrology
Dr. Uber received her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University in Glendale, Ariz. She completed her Pediatrics residency and chief residency at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif, where she also completed her fellowship in Pediatric Nephrology. She is an assistant professor, UNMC Division of Pediatric Nephrology, in the Department of Pediatrics.
|
|
Flu Vaccination Process and Reporting |
|
It's flu season again! All UNMC Employees are expected to record their flu vaccination status – whether they have received the vaccine or provide a reason for declining the vaccination. For dually-employed and contingent workers of UNMC and Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, you are required to get the 2021 flu shot. Reporting your flu vaccine status to Children's Employee Health is also required.
Many of you will need to report your flu vaccination status to both institutions, especially if you receive your flu vaccine outside of their clinics. Both institutions continue to work toward a streamlined reporting solution so that information reported at one institution can be easily shared with the other; however, this process is not yet in place. Vaccination information is valuable to both institutions, especially as we continue to navigate the pandemic. Your time and effort to complete this reporting is appreciated.
See below for how to get a flu vaccine from UNMC/NM and Children's and how to report status to UNMC and Children’s.
Flu Vaccine Through UNMC/Nebraska Medicine
For information about how to receive the vaccine at the flu clinics for UNMC/Nebraska Medicine click here.
Reporting to UNMC (All UNMC Employees)
This guide will assist you in the process of reporting your vaccine status with UNMC. Sign into the reporting site with your UNMC NetID (without @unmc.edu) to enter your flu vaccine status information (date/location or declination). You will need to wait until at least one day after receiving the shot to enter the information. Reporting your flu vaccine status to UNMC is due by Dec. 31, 2021.
*If you get your flu vaccine at a UNMC/Nebraska Medicine clinic, you will fill out information on the influenza database prior to receiving the shot.
Flu Vaccine through Children's
Children's Employee Health continues to be creative in the delivery of our routine services, including administering the flu vaccine. New this year, all clinical staff will receive their flu vaccine within their clinical departments (unless received during their annual compliance review or requested otherwise). For all other staff, many vaccine options are available. Please click here to view a chart of available dates/times.
Employees may also make a flu vaccine appointment with Employee Health by calling 402-955-6020 or through your primary care provider or pharmacy. If you receive the flu vaccine elsewhere, please provide documentation of the vaccine to Employee Health. As a reminder, flu vaccines are required annually for all Children’s employees, contingent workers and volunteers and must be received by Nov. 30. Please refer to policy HR221 with any questions.
REPORTING TO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL & MEDICAL CENTER (ALL DUALLY-EMPLOYED AND CONTINGENT WORKERS)
There are two options for reporting to Children's Employee Health if you do not get your flu shot from Children's:
· Email subject line should include your full name and birth date
· A scanned copy or picture of your vaccination report that includes your full name, date of birth, and date vaccination received
· You can physically drop off a copy of your vaccination report at Children's Employee Health office.
Tuberculosis Annual Symptom Review
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) no longer recommend routine annual skin testing for health care personnel. However, all health care providers do need to complete an annual symptom review form. This form is located within the online health tracking system and can be filled out when you log in to complete your influenza questionnaire or document your influenza or COVID-19 vaccination status.
Email Jackie Ostronic if you have questions, concerns or a problem accessing the Influenza Database.
|
|
The Department of Pediatrics and the Child Health Research Institute are organizing a Community Engagement Event where we will have a chance to meet and hang out with kids from the NorthStar Foundation and other community organizations. The event will take place on October 23, from noon to 3:00.
We will be visiting as part of the NorthStar's Fritz Field Day. The kids will enjoy:
- An inflatable obstacle course
- Sports and games
- Snacks and prizes
- A visit from the Creighton men's soccer team
As part of the event, kids over 12 (as well as their eligible family members) will have the opportunity to get the COVID-19 vaccine. There will also be tables staffed by Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Research Institute professionals to provide health information to attendees.
What We Need from You
Your Time and Talents
We need people to play with the kids and/or help us staff the event. The latter entails setting up or tearing down equipment, staffing games, working the medical information table, delivering vaccines, etc. Volunteer sign-up sheets will be sent out soon.
Your Loot
Do you have a hookup for new things that we can give away as prizes or raffle off? We need items that would hold some value for kids, anything from t-shirts or toys to sporting equipment or gift cards.
Your Enthusiasm and Open Heart
This will be the first event of many through which we hope to establish a relationship and build trust with our greater community. As part of this, we will listen to what they need from us and aim to deliver it.
|
|
Our Successes:
Department Celebrations
|
The Department of Pediatrics shares accomplishments, publications and appointments. |
|
|
This month we feature Emmanuel Eugenio, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Urgent Care, and Samantha Rohe, MD, Assistant Program Director for the Pediatric Residency. |
|
 |
Dr. Emmanuel Eugenio and his wife |
Dr. Emmanuel Eugenio
What brought you to your given specialty/role?
What brought you to your given specialty/role?
Being the seventh among nine children in rural Philippines, I was the last to marry. Hence, I was the default babysitter of my nephews and nieces during summer breaks while I was in med school. In other words, I was the unpaid, overworked relative in-charge of the kids during the day. They were actually so much fun to be with! In my sophomore year of med school, I started thinking about what my specialty should be. I wanted to be a psychiatrist (until I had my rotation there and experienced spending the nights in pad-locked psych wards) and then a surgeon (until I had my rotation there and had to stand throughout operations without any break of any kind). They offered me an OB-GYN residency. It was interesting, but I didn't want to do it every day. Then came my Pediatrics rotation, and our consultants were just very genuinely caring, helpful, smiling and happy going through the rounds. Being in their wards and clinics, it was like being back in my hometown, with my young relatives.
What’s your favorite place in the world? This can be on your back porch during the fall or a favorite vacation city in Italy.
It was utterly exciting, self-effacing and intense being lost in the multi-level tunnels of the Paris Metro train with my girlfriend and knowing less than 10 French words! We managed to go to our chosen attractions, having dinner at 58 Tour Eiffel, locating the Rodin Museum, climbing up to the Basilique du Sacre Coeur de Montmartre and navigating the streets to the Cathedrale Notre-Dame. We were by ourselves yet feeling sufficient and complete as a team of two, having sincere faith in the goodness of people from whom we asked for directions. They were actually excited to try to speak English with us.
What are you a fan of or very interested in? This can be a sports team or a type of cuisine or leadership philosophy - whatever resonates with you.
Painting, gardening and reading inspirational and faith books are never boring to me, my wife or my children. These are the activities which we can work together in and tune out the din around us. They are a great auditory and social respite from busy shifts in the offices, a time to appreciate the ever-inspiring sense of life and growth that is actually abounding in this world, day in and day out.
Is there any medicine-based book, music or TV series or movie that you admire and would recommend to others? Or anything outside of the medical world that you recommend?
The Golden Girls series is enticing to me. They are older and wiser yet witty and seriously infantile. Somehow, their message to me is that one can be naughty as long as you are real, candid and offer kind words of help. Stjepan Hauser and his cello renditions are soothing. So confident of himself, he plays with irritating, naughty facial expressions, yet his talent carries you to a sense of wonder and appreciation. Perhaps that is how we appear to our patients? We are their music of healing. We appear quite confident and, at times, pushy, yet we mean to give them the best of who we are as doctors. Many end up appreciating that.
What was the most important lesson taught to you during your medical training?
My professors at the University of Santo Thomas, given the royal and pontifical status by the Pope as the oldest university in Asia, were typically from families of medical professionals. Most were trained or post-trained in the U.S. The professors instilled in us the need to be humble yet noble in the realization that education is a lifelong adventure. I remind myself of that every week to ensure that I see each day as a new beginning, a chance to be kind to myself, an opportunity to improve and an occasion to serve better. Sometimes, the aim "to be of service to humanity" (an answer which I gave during my interview for med school admission) seems hypocritical. But, not really. IT’S REAL! The best reward is a day well-spent in giving the best possible care, under current circumstances, to each child and paying it forward to society, in the belief that a healthier child shall be a helpful citizen in the future.
|
|
|
|
What brought you to your given specialty/role?
I have always been drawn to Pediatrics, but tried to keep an open mind in medical school. During medical school, I seemed to enjoy almost everything, but pediatrics was special. I loved the resilience of children, working with the entire family and the variety that is seen in the pediatric clinic (from the healthy child to the acute asthma exacerbation). Kids are light-hearted, innocent and fun. Their smiles light up the world. This all brought me to Pediatrics as a specialty.
What’s your favorite place in the world?
Outside of my home-town of Newcastle, Neb., there is a minimum maintenance dirt road that I used to run on. Just as you come over a hill, there is a view of a local pond surrounded by trees on one side and a corn field on another. The view is beautiful, and taking it in would always relax me. Next to cuddling my children before bed, it is probably one of my favorite places in the world.
What are you a fan of or very interested in?
I love to do anything active. Running, volleyball, basketball, hiking, etc. I love to play basketball in my front yard with my kids and husband, although I am definitely not as good as I was when playing in college!
I also love exploring pizza places. During my residency in St. Louis, Mo, my husband and I planned almost all of our date nights around trying out different pizza restaurants in the area.
Is there any medicine-based book, music or TV series or movie that you admire and would recommend to others? Or anything outside of the medical world that you recommend?
As a pediatrician and mom, I love to listen to the “Good Inside with Dr. Becky” podcast. She is a clinical psychologist and mom and has great advice for how to talk with your children. We don’t always get things right as parents, but she has great advice on how to keep learning, make improvements and apologize when you get it wrong.
What was the most important lesson taught to you during your medical training?
We all have our good days and our bad. Always put forth your best effort and approach every person with kindness and compassion.
|
|
|
|
Staff Milestones:
Recent Service Anniversaries
|
|
Congratulations to those celebrating recent work anniversaries. We wish you all the best for continued success! |
|
Diversity Supplement Seminar October 7, 4-5 pm
The National Institute of Health has developed a mechanism to support diversity candidates interested in or developing their research career by providing a supplement mechanism on top of funded grants, either at the time of initial submission or after funding award notice has occurred. This opportunity is available to undergraduates, graduate students and faculty. At the Diversity Supplemental Seminar, you can learn more about who is eligible for this funding mechanism and strategies from faculty who have been successful in submitting or receiving these supplements.
The panel includes:
- David Dzewaltowski, PhD, College of Public Health
- Regina Idoate, PhD, College of Public Health
- Paul Trippier, PhD, College of Pharmacy
- Todd Wyatt, PhD, College of Medicine/College of Public Health
Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device:
Passcode: 549477
Time will be allotted for questions from attendees.
The 2021 CityMatCH Leadership and MCH Epidemiology Conference
The annual Maternal and Child Health conference will be held fully virtually this Dec. 8 through 10, 2021. CityMatCH’s conference draws over 700 attendees every year from local and state health departments, academia, clinicians, students, community members and more. This conference is co-hosted with the Center for Disease Control’s Division of Reproductive Health, the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal Child Health Bureau and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. An excellent lineup of plenary and skills-builder sessions will be hosted live, and grouped abstract sessions will be pre-recorded and available for viewing at the convenience of attendees. Our distinguished plenary speakers include: keynote speaker and chief research officer of Seattle Indian Health Board, Abigail Echo-Hawk; medical historian Deirdre Cooper Owens; and professor of law Rhonda Magee. The event will also feature a panel of mental health experts which will be moderated by CityMatCH’s very own staff member and mental health professional, Chemyeeka Tumblin. Live and pre-recorded sessions will address timely and emergent maternal and child health issues.
The conference will take place Dec. 8 through 10, with pre-conference workshops taking place on the Dec. 6 and 7. Fees for regular attendance are $375, and student registration is $225. We hope you’ll join us virtually this December!
CHRI Seminar Series - Friday, October 15, Noon
Sathish Kumar Natarajan, PhD - Palmitoleate Protects against Zika Virus-Induced Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Apoptosis
Sheridan Jost, MD - Pediatric Hospital Medicine Triage Curriculum
CHRI Bone Health Mini Research Summit
The Child Health Research Institute invites you to attend the Bone Health Mini Summit on Nov. 18, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. convened by the CHRI Genetics, Development, Exposures & Injuries Area of Emphasis (AOE).
The mini summit will be led by Matthew Halanski, MD, associate professor and Chief of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery; Eric Peeples, MD associate professor, Division of Neonatology; and Bill Rizzo, professor, Division of Inherited Metabolic Diseases and CHRI Scientific Director. Attendees are welcomed to share projects, discover new resources and make valuable connections for future collaborative opportunities that improve child health.
The AOE has selected bone-related health and disorders as its theme for this year’s summit. While not an exclusive list of potential topics, trainees, investigators and supporting research and clinical personnel who are performing or are interested in the research topics below may benefit from participating in the virtual summit
- Developmental biology, embryology and limb development
- Osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts
- Bone dysplasias, genetic disorders and inherited disorders of metabolism affecting bone
- Collagen diseases
- Osteomyelitis, neonatal sepsis, MRSA musculoskeletal infections
- Bone metabolism
- Endocrinology and the skeleton
- Vitamin D, calcium, phosphorous
- Maternal fetal interactions in the developing skeleton
- Bone deformities and bone growth
- Primary malignancies of bone
- Biomechanics of bone
- Bone fracture, healing and remodeling
- Osteoimmunology
- Periosteum, cartilage and bone
- Orthopaedic implants and 3D scaffolds
- BMPs, FGFs, CNP, signaling
- Animal models
- Imaging of the skeletal system
- 3D modeling of osseus structure
- Bioengineered Scaffolds
- Novel therapeutic delivery systems
Please fill out the brief pre-registration form if you would like to receive a calendar hold and be on our list to receive the latest updates about the event as the agenda is finalized.
Attendees are encouraged to share their current research / research interests during the mini summit. Presentations are informal and about five minutes per presenter, and the greater number of presenters we have, the more opportunities for collaboration will occur.
Two types of registration will be available
- Participating investigator for those who plan to prepare and present a brief summary of their work and engage in active discussion to spark collaboration and resource sharing
- Active listener for those in research supportive roles or from other areas of research who would like to listen to the investigators and mini summit presentations
We look forward to seeing you at the mini summit. For questions or concerns, please reach out to chri@unmc.edu.
|
|
University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics
982155 Nebraska Medicine
Omaha, NE 68198-2155
402-559-6400
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
