Inside IM
News from the Department of Internal Medicine - November 2022


Debra Romberger, MD, chair of the department of internal medicine, shares a message with important updates for all faculty and staff.


Dr. Kotwal's self-diagnosis becomes national story
Anupam Kotwal, MBBS, division of diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism, did something very few doctors will ever do. He, along with help from his colleagues, discovered his own thyroid cancer — the very same cancer he often diagnoses and treats in his patients.

Dr. Kotwal has used this experience to be a better doctor for his patients, a better researcher in the lab, and he has experienced firsthand the benefit the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center provides to those in need of cutting-edge care.

Hear his story in this video.

Dr. Kotwal and Whitney Goldner, MD, spoke with Kate Snow from NBC's Today Show. Watch the news story at this link.
UNMC to participate in trial of possible monkeypox treatment
UNMC will be among more than 60 institutions nationwide participating in STOMP (Study of Tecovirimat for Human Monkeypox Virus), a phase 3 trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of the drug tecovirimat for the treatment of human monkeypox.
 
“As we learned in the COVID-19 pandemic, oftentimes the best way to proceed in times of clinical ambiguity is to as quickly as possible conduct a well-designed randomized, controlled trial to assess the efficacy and safety of promising therapeutics,” said Mark Rupp, MD, chief of the UNMC Division of Infectious Diseases. “I am very pleased and proud of the work being done by the ID faculty and staff at the Nebraska Medicine Specialty Care Center to get this clinical trial up and running. It is but another example of how UNMC ID is on the forefront of treating new and emerging infections.”

STOMP, which is being led by the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG), has been designed to learn as much as possible in a broad population of people with monkeypox. 

 
“UNMC has been caring for patients with monkeypox, and we are thrilled to have been selected as a site for this trial,” said Sara Bares, MD, associate professor in the UNMC Division of Infectious Diseases. “Our expertise in treating highly infectious diseases and in conducting clinical trials will help ensure the success of this trial.”

Drs. Fadul, Bares recognized at IDWeek
Two members of the division of infectious diseases faculty received awards at IDWeek, which was held in Washington, D.C., from Oct. 19-23.

Sara Bares, MD, received the HIV Medicine Association Research Award at the event. The award recognizes investigators for their independent research, innovation and originality in research and impact on the field of HIV research.

Dr. Bares said she was “incredibly humbled and honored” to receive the award. She thanked her research team at the UNMC Specialty Care Center as well as her collaborators, mentors, mentees, and patients at UNMC and in the AIDS Clinical Trial Group. She also gave special thanks to her mentor, Susan Swindells, MBBS, who has inspired and supported her throughout her tenure at UNMC, and to her nominator, UNMC colleague Jasmine Marcelin, MD, who she called “an incredible colleague who is constantly supporting and lifting others up.”

Nada Fadul MD, was honored with a 2022 Clinical Practice Innovation Award from the Infectious Diseases Society of America during the event. The award is given to ISDA members who devote the majority of their time to patient care and who have significantly advanced the clinical practice of infectious diseases within the past five years.
Dr. Fadul thanked her colleagues at the Specialty Care Center and throughout the UNMC College of Medicine for supporting her efforts.

“I could not have received this without the inclusive environment that we have and without my amazing sponsors and nominators, Dr. Jasmine Marcelin and Dr. Susan Swindells,” she said.

“The UNMC Division of Infectious Diseases was very well-represented at the recent IDWeek meeting in Washington, D.C., with numerous ID faculty and trainees being involved in dozens of abstracts, posters, meet-the-expert sessions, symposia, and moderator duties,” said Mark Rupp, MD, chief of the division. “The division is incredibly proud of Drs. Bares and Fadul receiving recognition from IDSA and HIVMA. These well-deserved singular honors recognized the impact of Dr. Bares in HIV research and Dr. Fadul in ID clinical practice, but also, Dr. Bares and Dr. Fadul have helped to put UNMC in the national spotlight.”  

Kaleb Michaud, PhD, honored by ACR
Kaleb Michaud, PhD, professor in the division of rheumatology, will be awarded the American College of Rheumatology’s Association of Rheumatology Professionals’ President’s Award during ACR’s annual meeting, known as the ACR Convergence.

The ARP recognizes leading researchers, clinicians, mentors, and other professionals exhibiting superior commitment to the advancement of the field of rheumatology. The ARP President’s Award is given to the ACR/ARP member or team performing outstanding service within the present year in advancing the goals, ideals, and standards of ARP.
Dr. Michaud will receive the award at the ACR’s event in November.

“I am truly honored to receive this award,” he said. “My volunteer journey in the ARP has been to ultimately make our rheum patient’s lives better through research, mentoring and having an organization responsive and responsible for our professionals’ needs. Being recognized like this along the way comes as a wonderful surprise."

IAE inducts new members including Drs. Bhat and Olivera-Martinez
Twenty-nine faculty and staff – including Ishfaq Bhat, MD, and Marco A. Olivera-Martinez, MD, both from the division of gastroenterology and hepatology – were inducted into UNMC’s Interprofessional Academy of Educators in the seventh annual ceremony held on Sept. 22.

“We are excited to welcome our new inductees, and we appreciate the contributions they’ve already made to further UNMC’s educational mission through innovation and dedication to teaching and scholarship,” said Brian Boerner, MD, director of the Interprofessional Academy of Educators and associate professor division of diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism.

The 2022 induction was a hybrid event, in which new inductees, their guests and current members came together in-person and virtually to connect and network, Dr. Boerner said. “During the engaging hybrid induction ceremony, we learned about the interests of our new members, and we look forward to working together in special interest groups and other academy venues.”

Robert Wigton, MD, remembered for what he gave to the world
On Oct. 17, dozens of people close to Robert Wigton, MD, gathered to remember a pillar of UNMC’s history — the campus’ unofficial historian, a valued faculty member whose career spanned decades and a Renaissance man whose varied interests brought light to those around him.

They shared their recollections of Dr. Wigton — or simply Bob to them — against the backdrop of the special library collections now arrayed in the Wigton Heritage Center thanks to his generosity.

In telling their own stories, everyone agreed: Bob Wigton made the people around him better.

Circle of Distinction recognizes leading stars and their benefactors
The annual UNMC Circle of Distinction event was held on Oct. 26, recognizing 69 faculty members named to chairs and professorships, as well as the benefactors who support them.
 
 
“A named chair, professorship or fellowship is one of the highest academic awards the university bestows on a faculty member,” said UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD. “These are endowed positions that are critical to the university’s ability to recruit and retain the highest-quality faculty. The greatest institutions have the best minds — the most creative researchers, the most engaged educators and the most caring clinicians. And as we recognize today, UNMC continues to successfully attract academic medicine’s leading stars.”
 
13 Internal Medicine faculty members were recognized at this event. They are:
 
James Lawler, MD – Woody and Paula Varner Professor
Amy Cannella, MD, MS – Gerald F. Moore Professor in Rheumatology
Ward A. Chambers, MD – Ward A. Chambers, MD, Professor of Cardiology
Apar Kishor Ganti, MD – Dr. and Mrs. Tim D. Leon Professor
Angela Hewlett, MD, MS – George William Orr, MD, and Linda Orr Chair in Health Security
Sunil Hingorani, MD, PhD – Nancy Armitage Presidential Chair of Pancreas Cancer Clinical Research
Peter Mannon, MD, MPH – Ruth and Bill Scott Endowed Presidential Chair of Internal Medicine
Ted R. Mikuls, MD, MSPH – Stokes-Shackleford Chair of Rheumatology
James R. O’Dell, MD, MACR, MACP – Robert L. Grissom, MD, Professor of Internal Medicine
Marco A. Olivera-Martinez, MD – Michael F. Sorrell Distinguished Chair in Internal Medicine
Ruxana Sadikot, MD, MRCP (UK) – Margaret R. Larson Chair of Pulmonary Medicine
Geoffrey Thiele, PhD – Dan and Carita Umbach Endowed Professor in Arthritis
Tammy O. Wichman, MD – James R. O’Dell, MD Professor

Bin Duan, PhD, named UNeMed's Emerging Inventor
UNMC researcher Bin Duan, PhD, took the top prize as UNeMed’s Emerging Inventor during the annual Research Innovation Awards Ceremony.

The awards ceremony, held Oct. 13 to cap off UNeMed’s Innovation Week, recognized all UNMC and UNO inventors who contributed to a new invention disclosure, had U.S. patent issued or had a technology licensed.

Dr. Duan, an associate professor in the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine, earned the Emerging Inventor award for his work in biomaterials and tissue engineering. He was listed as an inventor on 13 new inventions submitted during the last five years and has six pending patent applications. His work focuses on novel biomaterials and biofabrication techniques — including 3D bioprinting — to enhance human regenerative processes and promote various types of wound healing. He has developed numerous hydrogels and tissue-engineered scaffolds for clinical applications, including bacterial biofilm prevention, localized drug delivery, muscle and nerve regeneration and postoperative abdominal adhesion prevention. Dr. Duan’s work with UNeMed’s 2015 Innovator of the Year, Tammy Kielian, PhD, on a 3D printed antibiotic craniotomy scaffold has garnered interest from more than a dozen companies. It is patent-pending in the United States and in Europe.
Dr. Duan’s two inventions from 2022 are a novel, 3D-printable bio-ink and a 3D-printable, refillable hydrogel drug depot for localized, sustained delivery of therapeutic agents. 

Search committee to find the next cancer center leader
A committee has been formed at UNMC to begin a national search for a new director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer.
 
The search committee is charged with finding a successor to Ken Cowan, MD, PhD, who will step down from his roles but remain a full-time faculty member in the division of oncology and hematology and continue to see patients. Dr. Cowan joined the medical center in 1999 and, in 2021, led the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center to a successful renewal of its National Cancer Institute Cancer Center Support Grant.

Dr. Olivera-Martinez named to Sorrell Chair
When Marco Olivera-Martinez, MD, was named the Michael F. Sorrell Distinguished Chair in Internal Medicine in July, he was excited. But he also felt a sense of responsibility.
 
Dr. Sorrell, who looms large as a pivotal figure in UNMC history, also is a pivotal figure in Dr. Olivera-Martinez’s career, not only mentoring him when he came to UNMC in 1995 as a hepatology/liver transplantation fellow but reaching out to him even before.
 
“These are big shoes to fill, because whoever sees that ‘Sorrell Chair’ behind my name is going to have high expectations, and I want to be up to the task." said Olivera-Martinez, division of gastroenterology and hepatology. "It is a great honor and a great responsibility.”

Research News & Updates
Marius Florescu, MD, receives NIH accelerator funding
UNMC interventional nephrologist, Marius Florescu, MD, has been awarded $100,000 to support the development of a device that may help patients achieve vascular access for dialysis treatment.

The award, from the Midwest Biomedical Accelerator Consortium, a NIH Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub (REACH)-led by the University of Missouri, will be matched by an additional $100,000 from UNMC.
 
Dr. Florescu’s invention, the BioFlow, is a coil of bioabsorable magnesium alloy. It is designed to help support the maturation of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF), which is a connection between an artery and a vein that provides the vascular access necessary for filtering the blood during hemodialysis treatment. 

UNMC study finds success in split dosing COVID vaccine
A UNMC study has found that “split dosing” the COVID vaccine is as effective as conventional dosing in providing antibody responsiveness.
 
The study, conducted by the division of allergy and immunology and the UNMC Clinical Laboratory led by Paul Fey, PhD, was published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology in September. It focused on vaccine-hesitant and allergic patients. Unlike conventional dosing in which a patient receives the vaccine in one dose, split dosing breaks the vaccine into several smaller doses.
 
“Many people avoid getting the vaccine because of allergy concerns or fear of adverse reactions,” said Jill Poole, MD, chief of the division of allergy and immunology. “We were getting a lot of calls from our allergy patients, who were concerned about getting the vaccine.”
 
While split-dosing wasn’t new, Dr. Poole said, COVID-19 was unchartered territory.
 
“As allergists we thought, ‘How can we help people who are fearful of getting vaccinated?’” she said.
 
The solution – a four-month study that compared the effectiveness of split dosing to conventional dosing.

Publication of the Quarter Awards, Quarters Two and Three
Derrick Samuelson, PhD, has been awarded the Department of Internal Medicine Publication of the Quarter for quarter 2 of 2022 for his manuscript, “Host innate and adaptive immunity shapes the gut microbiota biogeography” in the journal Microbiology and Immunology (2022; 66: 330-341). Read the article
Vijaya Raj Bhatt, MBBS, MS, has been awarded the Department of Internal Medicine Publication of the Quarter for quarter three of 2022 for his manuscript, "Integrating geriatric assessment and genetic profiling to personalize therapy selection in older adults with acute myeloid leukemia" in the Journal of Geriatric Oncology (2022, Vol.13(6), p.871-874). Read the article
Research highlights from COM - Internal Medicine Spotlight
Congratulations to the following for receiving grant or funding awards:

James Murphy, MD, internal medicine-pulmonary, received a grant of $169,050 from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for the CFF Center Adult Program.

Sara Bares, MD, internal medicine-infectious diseases, received a grant of $21,644 from the University of California-Los Angeles for ACTG/STOMP.

Ronald Zolty, MD, PhD, internal medicine-cardiovascular, received funding for a study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of AV-101 in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Diana Florescu, MDinternal medicine-infectious diseases, received funding for the Global Registry for Long-Term Follow-up of Patients Participating in Clinical Trials with Posoleucel.

Thomas Porter, MD, internal medicine-cardiovascular, received funding to study the effect of diagnostic echocardiogram on microvascular recover following acute STEMI.
 
Anupam Kotwal, MBBS, division of diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism, was awarded the 2022 Great Plains IDeA-CTR Scholar Program grant. Awardees are selected based on their vision and potential for unique contributions to clinical and translational research.
Cyrus Desouza, MBBS, internal medicine-DEM, received funding for a study comparing the efficacy and safety of once weekly IcoSema and once weekly insulin icodec.
In the News or From Social Media
Dr. Lunning discusses academic-community partnerships
Matt Lunning, DO, division of hematology and oncology and associate vice chair of research, and Dr. Tara Graff from Mission Blood and Cancer in Des Moines discuss how academic-community partnerships benefit patients with lymphoma undergoing CAR-T therapy.

Dr. Schleifer performs in international piano competition
John William Schleifer, MD, division of cardiovascular medicine, participated in the Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition, held in Fort Worth, Texas on Oct. 12-18. Out of 205 applicants, 39 amateur pianists were selected as competitors and Dr. Schleifer was one of 15 selected as a non-competing festival participant. As a festival participant, Dr. Schleifer performed a 15-minute program for the jury, performed in a community concert in Fort Worth and attended all events related to the competition. 

Dr. Schleifer performed "Apres une lecture du Dante: Fantasia quasi sonata" (loosely translated "After Reading Dante: Fantasy somewhat like a Sonata") by Franz Liszt.

"It is a piece that never gets boring, despite performing it many times over the years. It is special to me as a physician, because it depicts the life-and-death struggle that we encounter each day in medicine," he said. 

Dr. Lawler gives air travel advice
James Lawler, MD, MPH, division of infectious diseases, gives practical tips on flying safely and avoiding illnesses.

Education News
Content prepared by Stephanie Hooten, internal medicine educational programs administrator
Residency program has 100% ABIM board pass rate six years in a row
For the sixth year in a row, our Internal Medicine residency program has a 100 percent ABIM board pass rate. Strong work by our faculty educators and to our most recent graduating class on this achievement!
Quarterly Best Resident Supervisor and Intern Teachers and Mentors
Each quarter, the M3 students choose the residents that were the best teachers and mentors from the intern and supervisory classes. Congratulations to the Q1 recipients!

The Best Supervisor Resident Teachers and Mentors are:
Dr. Nehemiah Gebreegzabeher
Dr. Noah Hammond
 Dr. Alex Sorrick
 Dr. Noel Bruner
Dr. Bridgette O’Neill

The Best Intern Resident Teachers and Mentors are:
Dr. Josh Lallman
Dr. Jacob Haiar
Dr. Jason Barbaretta
Dr. Collin Gilmore
UNMC team wins Nebraska ACP Doctors Dilemma competition
Our internal medicine residents, Drs. Brett Begley, Hannah Luksa, Josh Edgar, and Domenic DiSanti, represented our program in the Nebraska ACP Doctors Dilemma competition. The team nailed the final jeopardy question and defeated our crosstown rivals! Congratulations and strong teamwork!
Welcome Valia Al-Kourainy to the education team
We are excited to share that Valia Al-Kourainy joined the education team Oct. 3. Valia will primarily work with our faculty workgroups: DIVSERSE, scholarly activity, wellness and global health. 

Valia previously was a fellowship program coordinator for the divisions of endocrinology and rheumatology at Wayne State University School of Medicine and she has a background in nursing which helps her to understand both the joys and challenges that physicians experience daily and continues to inspire her passions for quality improvement in medical education and trainee wellness.

She enjoys hiking, travelling, playing piano, cooking, and spending time with her husband and daughter.
Recruitment season update
Fellowship recruitment is wrapping up. Fellowship programs’ rank order lists are due Nov. 16 and Match Day is Nov. 30. Best wishes to our fellowship programs!

Our internal medicine and medicine pediatric residency programs are full swing into the interview season with a Match Day in March 2023.  
Announcements
In September, Spencer Robinson, MD, med-peds resident, did a Great Cycle Challenge to raise funds for children’s cancer research.  

Congratulations to Mackenzie Dehmer, nephrology fellowship and med-peds residency program coordinator, and Ana who were married on Oct. 3.
The following house officers recently welcomed new additions to their families!
Madison Grinnell, MD, had her baby, Sloan Atlas Stefan, Oct. 16.
Sean McNitt, DO, welcomed daughter Avery Grace Oct. 31.
COM Residency Director of the Month
Alissa Marr, MD, division of oncology and hematology, is the November 2022 residency program director of the month.

COM House Officer of the Month
Kate Muir, DO, an oncology and hematology fellow, says she likes the camaraderie, collegiality and working alongside world-renowned cancer experts at UNMC.

COM Employee of the Month
Grace Handleman is a coordinator for the diabetes, endocrinology and metabolic medicine fellowship program.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Content prepared by Jasmine Marcelin, MD, DIVERSE Taskforce Chair
Taskforce hosts community health event

The DIVERSE Taskforce hosted a community health drive Oct. 15 in collaboration with the pharmacy department and Offices of Inclusion and Equity. UNMC medical students, residents and fellows provided free blood pressure and diabetes screenings to the public at Classic Barbershop in Omaha. The taskforce’s next community event will be in February 2023.
November is National Native American Heritage Month

From the Office of Inclusion newsletter:
National Native American Heritage Month is this month, and it explores the heritage, culture, and experience of Indigenous peoples both historically and in American life today. Native nations were separated from their homelands due to battles, genocide, and western expansion and that is why it so important to celebrate the languages, traditions, stories, and contributions of each community including the Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Island communities. To date, there are 573 federally recognized Indian Nations and tribes located throughout the United States who are recognized by their respective state governments. Each has its own distinctions, regional identities, language, and cultural practices. 
Upcoming "Positive Sexuality" virtual training

The Midwest Aids Training and Education Center (MATEC) has an upcoming virtual training in their Positive Sexuality Series. “SOGI 101: Understanding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity to Improve Patient Care” will be offered on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 12-1:30 pm CST. This training aids clinical and non-clinical staff in understanding sexual orientation and gender identity to support patients more effectively. Learn more and register or view archived webinars.
Faculty Education
It’s been called “teaching by humiliation,” “teaching by intimidation,” “grilling,” “toxic quizzing,” but most would know it as “medical pimping,” a teaching approach that has been ingrained in the clinical education environment for a long time. Most of us likely remember these experiences from medical school or residency. Putting aside the culturally insensitive and problematic idiom, it's also a teaching technique that is inferior to alternative, best practices. “Medical pimping” often leads to a negative learning environment, learner stress, learners feeling inadequate, and reinforces a team hierarchy with the learner at the bottom. In this module, Dr. Andrea Zimmer, Dr. Bill Lyons, Dr. Cory Rohlfsen, Dr. Kelly Caverzagie, Dr. Trek Langenhan and our Instructional Designer, Zach Benton-Slocum, look to further define this practice, why it is not appropriate for medical education, and provide examples of alternative teaching techniques.
  
Remember login information is simply your UNMC credentials.  
  
 Link to the Avoiding the P-word - how NOT to ask questions r module:       
  
Lastly, check out the other modules and resources on our faculty intranet:    
New Faces, Promotions or
Committee Involvement
Committee Involvement
The UNMC College of Medicine has announced the search committee that will lead a national search to recruit a new chair for the UNMC Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology. Ruxana Sadikot, MD, division of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine, has been selected for the search committee.

Anupam Kotwal, MBBS, division of diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism, has been elected as 2022 chair-elect for the Midwest Council of American Federation for Medical Research (AFMR). Dr. Kotwal is also on the planning committee for the Midwest Clinical & Translational Research Meeting held in Chicago April 24-25. Reach out to Dr. Kotwal with questions or if you would like to participate.

Dave Gannon, MD, division of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine, is on the Board of Directors and the Board Quality Committee for Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals. As of September, he is also the Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer (VPMA/CMO) at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals (Lincoln and Omaha).

Katie Nilsson, administrator for the division of diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism, was part of the inaugural American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Mentorship Program and will be one of four people presenting on a panel in December to share her experience. 
Welcome to the following new faculty!
Nidhish Tiwari, MD, Associate Professor, Cardiology
Suha Jabak, MD, Assistant Professr, Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Shweta Kukrety, MBBS, Assistant Professor, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
Pinaki Mondal, Instructor, Oncology and Hematology
Bo Tu, Instructor, Oncology and Hematology
Congratulations on your new position!!
Spencer Caniglia
Jillian Timperley
Eileen Griess
Danielle Hoskinson
Kristina Gifford
Valia Al-Kourainy
David Sullivan
Tony Brandner
James (Jamie) Zeman
ID
Geriatric
FPBCC
Cardiology
Cardiology
Education
Oncology
Pulmonary
Oncology
10/1/22
10/17/22
10/3/22
10/3/22
10/10/22
10/3/22
9/29/22
11/1/22
11/1/22
Faculty Development
Michael Smith, MD, division of hospital medicine, and a team of campus facilitators lead a four-unit communication skills workshop that incorporates the principles of improvisational theater to enable participants to become more agile communicators.

The in-person workshop series, “The Art of Thinking on Your Feet,” runs from October to March and is being hosted by the UNMC Office of Faculty Development.

Pictured at right, class participants and internal medicine faculty Drs. Mel Teply, Kelsey Klute, Laura Tenner and Craig Baumgart performed in an improv show at The Backline on Oct. 7!


Dr. Smith also presented his talk “Life is an Improvisation” at a TEDxOmaha Salon in October.
Awards and Honors
Internal Medicine represented at the Nebraska ACP annual meeting
The Nebraska chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP) was held Oct. 15 and the Department of Internal Medicine was well represented. View the awards announcement.
Dr. Micah Beachy is the governor of the chapter.
Dr. Deb Romberger won the Chapter Laureate Award.
Dr. Tammy Wichman received the Woman Physician of the Year Award.
Dr. Nate Anderson won the LeeRoy Meyer Dedicated Teaching Award.
Dr. RemyGrace Sass received the Resident of the Year Award.
Dr. Scott Lundgren and Dr. Justin Birge gave presentations at the meeting.
Dr. Raquel Lamarche presented an oral abstract as part of the resident abstract competition.
Drs. Brett Begley, Domenic DiSanti, Joshua Edgar and Hannah Luksa won the Nebraska ACP Doctors Dilemma competition.
Dr. Nate Anderson was also the head of the scientific program committee.
Dr. Regan Taylor led the awards committee.
Infectious diseases division wins award from OneWorld
The division of infectious diseases received OneWorld Community Health Center’s 2022 Milagro Award, which celebrates OneWorld volunteers and medical partners. Division chief Mark Rupp, MD, said the award recognizes the division’s team approach during the pandemic.

“This is an award that documents the depth and breadth of the ID division’s response to the pandemic and the large number of folks from ID that were involved in COVID mitigation,” he said.

“Given the role that UNMC has played in the community for COVID and advising OneWorld clinicians, the award is a token of our gratitude for the miracle of keeping the OneWorld community informed and safely riding out the pandemic,” said Andrea Skolkin, CEO of OneWorld. “To quote a physician, ‘UNMC had our back,’ especially with complicated patients that also were COVID positive. Dr. Rupp and his team were speaking the truth to the public and sharing the science when others were not believing — and this saved the lives of our patients and the community.”

Additional awards and honors
Sara Bares, MD, division of infectious diseases, was nominated as a finalist for the Omaha World Herald’s 2022 Inspire Award for Excellence in Healthcare. This award honors nominees for their ingenuity, perseverance and leadership. Nearly 400 nominations were submitted by the public.

Roslyn Mannon, MD, division of nephrology, was awarded the 2022 Transplant Therapeutics Consortium (TTC) Data Trailblazer Award during the group’s annual meeting. This award is bestowed on individuals who demonstrated a commitment to sharing anonymized patient-level data, helping with analyses and providing oversight to support the regulatory qualification of the iBox Scoring System. The most pressing needs in the field of kidney transplant drug development can only be met through collaboration between industry, academia, nonprofits, clinicians and regulatory agencies. The 2022 TTC Data Trailblazer Award recipients are dedicated members of the transplant community.
 
Anupam Kotwal, MBBS, division of diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism, was honored for submitting a new invention for prognostic biomarker panel for thyroid cancer from UNeMed’s 2022 New Innovation Awards.

As outgoing UNMC Vice Chancellor of Research, Jennifer Larsen, MD, division of diabetes endocrinology and metabolism, was honored at the UNeMed Research Innovation Awards Ceremony in October for UNMC’s record achievements in total sponsored and research awards and research expenditures that occurred during her tenure (2011-2022).
Announcements
Good News
Dr. Derrick Samuelson welcomed daughter Brenna Liv on Oct. 7.

Dr. Anery Patel's twin boys Purav and Pareen were born Oct. 22.

Dr. Ajaypaul Sukhi welcomed baby girl Laya on Oct. 26.

Dr. Nora Kovar had her son Arlo Cooper Carlson Kovar on Oct. 29.

Dr. Prasanth Ravipati's daughter Margot was born Oct. 29.

Dr. Faris Khan welcomed his son Rayyan Nov. 4. 
Do you have news to share with the IM department and UNMC?

Maria Daniels is communications specialist for the department of internal medicine. Email mardaniels@unmc.edu with suggestions or if you have news to share.
UNMC Department of Internal Medicine
983332 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-3332
402-559-6315 (phone)