Inside IM
News from the Department of Internal Medicine - March 2023


Debra Romberger, MD, chair of the Department of Internal Medicine, shares a message with important updates for all faculty and staff.

Remembering Dr. Diana Florescu
Diana Florescu, MD, professor in the division of Infectious Diseases, died Jan. 27 at age 54 after an illness.
 
Dr. Florescu, recently named the 2022 UNMC Scientist Laureate, joined UNMC/Nebraska Medicine in July 2009.
 
At UNMC, Dr. Florescu developed and led an internationally recognized clinical research program, becoming one of the university’s leading COVID-19 researchers. In 2020, she worked with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, leading the Phase 3 clinical trial of the NovaVax COVID vaccine at UNMC. A year later, she helped launch a clinical trial to investigate the safety and efficacy of Molnupiravir, an oral antiviral, as a preventative treatment for COVID-19.
 
Debra Romberger, MD, chair of the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine, said the department was blessed to have Dr. Florescu as a faculty member. 
 
“She was a compassionate physician, a tenacious clinical researcher, and an extraordinary mentor to many,” Dr. Romberger said. “Her life made an amazing difference to her patients, her colleagues and her friends and family.”
 
Mark Rupp, MD, chief of the UNMC Division of Infectious Disease and medical director of Infection Control and Epidemiology for Nebraska Medicine, recently lauded Dr. Florescu on her contributions to the understanding of infectious diseases associated with solid organ transplantation, as well as the ability to recognize, treat and prevent these complications.
 
“We will all profoundly miss Dr. Diana Florescu and will long grieve the loss of her presence,” Dr. Rupp said. “Anyone who knew Diana will also cherish her memory – she was dynamic and vital, full of a love for life – travel, dance, flowers. She cared deeply for her family, friends, colleagues and patients – a truly compassionate and skilled physician. Diana had tremendous determination, perseverance and grit. These traits, combined with her intelligence, enabled terrific career success and served her well as she battled her illness. She was truly an inspiration over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing forward with her vaccine trials and COVID therapeutic trials – even while fighting her own cancer. She was a tremendous role model and will be long missed.”
The Infectious Diseases division has established the
“Dr. Diana Florescu Infectious Diseases Clinical Research & Education Excellence Fund.” This fund is established to honor the memory of a most admired and respected faculty member and to support education, mentoring, and clinical research – all of which Dr. Florescu cherished and excelled at. 
Donations in memory of Diana Florescu, MD may be sent to:
University of Nebraska Foundation
P.O. Box 82555
Lincoln, NE 68501-2555
Please make checks payable to the University of Nebraska Foundation and include on the memo line or enclosed note that the gift is in memory of Dr. Diana Florescu.
Or click the link below to make an online gift.​ 
Internal Medicine faculty honored at research award ceremony
UNMC recognized its 2022 Distinguished Scientist, Research Leadership and New Investigator Award winners during a hybrid virtual and in-person awards ceremony on March 9 at the Durham Research Center auditorium.
 
Diana Florescu, MD, division of infectious diseases, was posthumously honored as the 17th UNMC Scientist Laureate.

James Lawler, MD, division of infectious diseases, received the Research Leadership Award.

Derrick Samuelson, PhD, division of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine, and Benjamin Teply, MD, division of oncology and hematology, were recognized with New Investigator Awards.

Internal Medicine faculty and residents among GHHS inductees
UNMC inducted its newest class of Gold Humanism Honor Society members on Jan. 28 with 21 students, six residents and four faculty members being honored. The GHHS each year recognizes third-year medical students, residents, and faculty members who use exceptional compassion and empathy when caring for patients. The inductees also serve as role models, mentors, and leaders in medicine. GHHS members are peer nominated and are the ones whom others say they want taking care of their own family.

Allison Ashford, MD, division of hospital medicine and med-peds program director, and Trek Langenhan, MD, division of hospital medicine and internal medicine residency associate program director, are GHHS co-advisors.

“First and foremost, being recognized by your peers that you provide compassionate care to your patients … there’s really nothing like that,” Dr. Ashford said. “To be recognized for something that is really hard to do in this day and age – to always provide compassionate and humanistic care – is an incredible thing.”

The Internal Medicine faculty and residents recently inducted into the GHHS are:    
               Dr. Prasanth Ravipati (assistant professor, division of nephrology)
               Dr. Bryant England (associate professor, division of rheumatology)
               Dr. James Fagerland (internal medicine resident)
               Dr. Josh Lallman (internal medicine-pediatrics resident)
               Dr. Debra Wekesa (internal medicine resident)
New leadership roles in the division of oncology and hematology
Due to the continued growth of the oncology and hematology division with 32 physicians and faculty, three new section leader roles have been created. Each leader will help enhance communication, recruitment, day-to-day operational efficiencies and educational needs.

Section leaders announced within the division are Vijaya Bhatt, MBBS, Malignant Hematology, and Apar Ganti, MD, Solid Tumor Oncology. In addition to these section leaders, Krishna Gundabolu, MBBS, has been appointed as the new bone marrow transplant director and medical director of level seven of C.L. Werner Cancer Hospital.

Dr. Leslie Eiland testifies in support of LB 256
“Telehealth, it just works,” were the words of one member of the Nebraska Legislature where LB 256, the Telehealth Payment parity bill, took the center stage of the Nebraska Legislature's Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee on Feb.13. The bill, introduced by State Sen. Tom Brewer, would require the reimbursement rate for any telehealth service to be the same as a comparable in-person health care service, at a minimum.

Leslie Eiland, MD, medical director of Telehealth and Patient Experience, testified in support of the bill on behalf of Nebraska Medicine among many of her physician peers. Her words left the committee and many others with much to consider.

“My patients are police officers, special education teachers and nurses from towns across the state like Hastings, Ogallala and Chadron, who are all so appreciative that they can do at least a portion of their regular visits with me at home instead of driving hours and taking an entire day off of work. Many of my patients who farm prefer in-person visits in the summer and winter but request telehealth visits during the spring and fall when they can’t afford to take a day off during planting and harvest," testified Dr. Eiland.
Giving Day to provide fundraising support for UNMC students, campus
The first ever UNMC Giving Day – “For the Greater Good” is a virtual day of giving and engagement in support of UNMC students and their campus.

To honor the year of UNMC’s founding, this philanthropic event will last for 1,869 minutes – from 10 am on March 30 to 5 pm on March 31. The date was also chosen to coincide with National Doctor’s Day (March 30).

The giving day will provide alumni, donors, patients, faculty, staff and students with the opportunity to support those who selflessly commit their lives to helping others.
Research News & Updates
Content prepared by Toni Goeser, Internal Medicine Research Program Associate
Publication of the Quarter
Peter Mannon, MD, MPH, has been awarded the Publication of the Quarter for quarter 4 of 2022 for his manuscript, “Crohn's Disease Patients Uniquely Contain Inflammatory Responses to Flagellin in a CD4 Effector Memory Subset.” in the journal Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Congratulations, Dr. Mannon! 
Research highlights from COM - Internal Medicine Spotlight
Congratulations to the following for receiving grant or funding awards:
Marius Florescu, MD, internal medicine-nephrology, received a grant of $41,827 from the University of Missouri-Columbia for the Midwest Biomedical Accelerator Consortium. 

Scott Westphal, MD, internal medicine-nephrology, received a grant of $19,188 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison for APOLLO-Upper Midwest. 

The following industry-sponsored grants and contracts were received:

Andy Schnaubelt, PhD, internal medicine-infectious diseases, received funding for a study on the functionality of the Streck Viral Extraction Kit. 

Patrick Twohig, MD, internal medicine-GI, received funding for a study on improving treatment for patients admitted with hepatic encephalopathy. 
UNMC researchers recognized as top in their fields
More than 60 UNMC researchers were recognized by a Stanford University study that looks at the impact of researchers worldwide. The ongoing study has identified 65 current and former UNMC faculty who ranked in a recently released study among the top two percent of all researchers in the world in their fields in 2021.
 
In the News or From Social Media
Dr. Jasmine Marcelin was quoted in a Healio article about identifying ways to improve diversity in medical education.
Dr. Kusum Kharbanda was featured in "Interview with a Scientist" in the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism Bulletin.
Read more (p. 8)
Dr. Jonathan Ryder was a guest on Breakpoints: The SIDP Podcast for the episode “This is a Potential Breakup Song: Controversies in the Management of Infective Endocarditis”
Dr. Shane Tsai tweeted about the first single stage hybrid convergent catheter ablation recently done at Nebraska Medicine. This procedure provides more atrial fibrillation options for patients. 
Faculty, fellows and staff from our division of cardiovascular medicine wore red on Feb. 2 as part of “Wear Red Day” to promote the heart health of women. 
The division of hospital medicine celebrated the dedicated physicians, APPs and administrative support staff on National Hospitalist Day 2023, March 2.
New pulmonary procedure suite now open
The new Pulmonary Procedure Suite opened in January after several years of planning and hard work from many and led by Dr. Keenan Taylor and Dr. Brian Boer. It was a huge success and will be a great opportunity for the division of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine division going forward to have their own dedicated space, making scheduling easier and cases flow more efficiently. 
Relief efforts for those affected by earthquakes in Turkey and Syria
Sehr Haroon, MD, and Nurlan Aliyev, MD, assistant professors in the division of hospital medicine, have coordinated relief efforts to help those impacted by the Feb. 6 earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
 
“My multitalented, Turkish-speaking colleague Dr. Aliyev stepped up, coordinating logistics of shipping 158,000 mercy meals from Orphan Grain Train to Turkey for distribution via the Turkish Embassy,” Dr. Haroon said. “By the grace of God, he received a message from the Turkish ambassador granting facilitation of a plane of humanitarian aid to land in Adana for aid distribution. The situation is fluid.” 
 
Dr. Aliyev said the most pressing need is now housing and donations to support that effort can be made at by clicking here. All aid will be distributed in collaboration with the Turkish embassy in the United States and through the Ministry of Interior Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) in Turkey. 

Wash your car, support the Sustainable Development Response Organization
The Student Alliance for Global Health (SAGH) is hosting a Rocket Carwash fundraiser to support the Sustainable Development Response Organization. SuDRO is a nonprofit organization based in Sudan started by UNMC faculty member, Dr. Nada Fadul. It aims to achieve sustainable, healthy communities in Sudan through partnership, knowledge exchange, and capacity building. 
 
Consider purchasing a $10 car wash through March 31 by clicking here and $6 will go directly to SuDRO and its humanitarian relief, infrastructure, public health and education projects. Wash codes from your purchase can be used at any Rocket Carwash location in the Omaha metro area and are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. 
Please note that purchases cannot be made using the link when connected to the UNMC Intranet - we apologize for the inconvenience!
Education News
Content prepared by Stephanie Hooten, Internal Medicine Educational Programs Administrator
Feb. 24 was Thank a Resident Day. This was the Gold Humanism Honor Society’s 20th year celebrating resident and fellow physicians and their contributions. Thank you to all our residents and fellows for their immeasurable contributions!

Congratulations to the fellows in the division of infectious diseases who recently had some fun showcasing their knowledge and expertise. They won House Officer Trivia Night!

Match Day was March 17. Click to view our new class of residents below. We look forward to welcoming them to the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine!

Announcing our department’s Top Teachers! Click to view the Fellowship Top Teachers list and the Department Top Teachers list.
Now accepting applications for HEAL
Interested in a career in academics, particularly that of a clinician educator? If so, the Health Educators and Academic Leaders (HEAL) track may be for you. This curriculum aims to foster the development of its participants into skilled educators, reflective academicians and empowered leaders of positive change alongside their residency/ fellowship training. With a combination of interactive seminars, online master's courses and mentorship-guidance, this two-year curriculum offers an opportunity to secure a Professional Certificate through the College of Graduate Studies (with tuition paid in full). Two tracks are currently being offered to accommodate your time and interest. All house officers who plan to continue at UNMC as a trainee in the fall of 2023 are encouraged to apply. Applications will close March 20.

Residency Program Wellness Check
A note from Rae Witt, MD, Internal Medicine Residency Wellness Council faculty advisor:

Feb. 28 marked the fifth anniversary of Dr. Jarrod Dye’s death by suicide. Jarrod was a resident in our program and we lost him during his final year of training. While some of you may remember him well, others have only heard stories, and others may know very little about Jarrod. His memory has and will forever shape our program (of note - fundraising efforts after his death led to the creation of the Jarrod Dye Funds which support many of our residency wellness initiatives). Our hope is that we can honor his memory by taking time out for wellness and to support one another. 
 
We would also like to take this opportunity to check in with each of you. Residency is hard and it is even harder in a pandemic when work (and life) are unpredictable and our typical support systems (gym, social interaction, faith gatherings, travel, etc.) are affected as a result. Please know we care about each and every one of you and we are here for you if you ever need anything. In addition, remember the following resources are available if you feel more comfortable reaching out for assistance outside of our program:
 
  •  House Officer Assistance Program – 24/7 availability with Susan Smith
  • Same day/flexible appointments at Methodist (Drs. Hays, Maliszewski, and Shoemaker who are all graduates of our residency program)
  • Multiple on-site/off-site options for mental health care


We are so grateful to have the privilege of working with you all.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Content prepared by Jasmine Marcelin, MD, DIVERSE Taskforce Chair
UNMC names new faculty diversity funds recipients

The first three recipients of UNMC Faculty Diversity Fund award funding in 2023 were named in December with funding beginning Jan. 1. Among the recipients is Internal Medicine’s Jasmine Marcelin, MD, associate professor in the division of infectious diseases. Dr. Marcelin’s funding will support the development of an Infectious Diseases Equity Accelerator (IDEA) Workgroup focusing on advancing and accelerating scholarship related to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in the field of infectious diseases and health care in general.

AAPI employee resource group now available

In January, an AAPI employee resource group launched on the Nebraska Medicine employee forum. To join the AAPI group, whether you self-identify or are an ally of the AAPI community, fill out a membership form. Read more about getting involved in AAPI and watch for AAPI Heritage Month events coming in May.
Book recommendation for Women's History Month

March is Women’s History Month and the book “Twice as Hard: The Stories of Black Women Who Fought to Become Physicians from the Civil War to the 21st Century” shines light on the history of black women in medicine and their often-overlooked stories. Learn more about this book and its author Jasmine Brown or read a review of the book.
Faculty Education
Content prepared by Zach Benton-Slocum, Internal Medicine Instructional Designer
Have you ever wondered how to send a zoom invite through Outlook, give someone access to your calendar, or send a poll in an email? Well, you are in luck. This month, Drs. Andrea Zimmer, Bill Lyons, Cory Rohlfsen, Kelly Caverzagie, Trek Langenhan, in collaboration with our Instructional Designer, Zach Benton-Slocum, provide just in time training for Outlook. This module is full of tips and tricks for getting the most out of Outlook.
   
Remember login information is simply your UNMC credentials. Click here for the Just-in-time training: Outlook module.
   
Lastly, check out the other modules and resources on our faculty Intranet.
Faculty Development
Content prepared by Faculty Development Chairs Kristina Bailey, MD, and Andrea Zimmer, MD
Faculty Development Events
Members of the Department’s P&T committee held a workshop on Promotion and Tenure on Feb. 6. Thank you to all who participated!

Dr. Scott Westphal and Dr. Andrea Zimmer presented Evaluation Preparation 101 on Feb. 13. Click here for a recording of the presentation.

Interprofessional Academy of Educators Writing Publication Workshop
May 11-12, 9 am-3 pm (hybrid)
Presenters: Jana Wardian, PhD, Michelle Howell, PhD, and Elizabeth Beam, PhD
Here is your opportunity to get a good start on that publication you’ve been meaning to write! You'll learn from Academy experts on best practices and new strategies, as well as have dedicated time to write. Individual authors and authorship teams are welcome, and you do not need to be an IAE member to attend this free workshop.

Teaching Launchpad
New to teaching? Or want a quick refresh of your existing skills? Teaching Launchpad, a series of training sessions from the UNMC IAE, can help hone your skills.
Session 1: Struggling with Test Item Writing?
March 23, 12 pm (virtual)
Presenters: Dr. Joyce Black and Dr. Sarah McBrien
Session 2: Panel Discussion: Managing Feedback and the Chaos of Clinical Teaching 
April 12, 12 pm (virtual)
Presenters: Dr. Kristen Cook, Dr. Cory Rohlfsen, Dr. Jonathan Hall and Dr. Amy Dreessen
Faculty Development Announcements and Opportunities
Applications are now open for AAMC Early Career Women Faculty Leadership Development Seminar to be held July 18-21. Click here for more information and to apply.
 
Applications are now open for AAMC Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) Certificate Program 2023-2024. Click here for more information and to apply.
New Faces, Promotions or
Committee Involvement
Stephanie Hooten was elected to serve on the APDIM Program Administrators Advisory Council. Her three-year term starts this July.

Congratulations to Bryan Alexander, PharmD, for being accepted into the 2023 IDSA Leadership Institute Community of Leaders Program!

Ishfaq Bhat, MD, has been named an AGA Fellow (AGAF) of the American Gastroenterological Association Governing Board.
 
Anna Nordhagen is the new Infectious Diseases and Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism fellowship program coordinator on March 15. She was previously the pathology fellowship and education programs coordinator at UNMC.  

Nebraska Medicine and Andjela Drincic, MD, is on the map for the national healthcare safety network, a collaboration with the CDC via the NHSNCoLab. Click here to learn more.
Welcome to the following new faculty!
Adam Karevoll, Instructor, Hospital Medicine
Mena Krishnan, Post-Doc Research Associate, Cardiology
Arual D J Kathiravan, Post-Doc Research Associate, DEM
Congratulations on your new position!
Art Heires
Titilola Labisi
Miranda Johs
Manuel Martinez
Yan Zhang
Shivani Modi
Meleia Oestmann
Ashley Delacema
Mahdi Hassan
Fantasia Blackson
Aruna Bewtra
Amy Biggerstaff
Shannon Flaggard
Amy Peterson
Mariah Snyder
Oliver Schanze
Eric Traugutt
Jocelyn Rodiguez-Paar
Yanhua Yang
Anna Nordhagen
PCCSM
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GI
FPBCC
GI
Oncology
CV CRO
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Nephrology
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Oncology
GI
Oncology
ID
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Awards and Honors
Congratulations to the Nebraska Chapter's newest ACP Fellows! From the Department of Internal Medicine, Emily Hill Bowman, MD, and Avyakta Kallam, MBBS, were named fellows. Being an FACP is a distinction earned from colleagues who recognize your accomplishments and achievements over and above the practice of medicine. The most important considerations for ACP Fellowship are excellence and contributions made to both medicine and to the broader community in which the internist lives and practices.

Congratulations to the entire ICAP and ASAP teams for being nominated for the "2023 LeadingAge Nebraska Excellence in Innovation Award". LeadingAge Nebraska is a prominent nursing home association in the state and their recognition of the work the ICAP/ASAP teams are doing speaks to the value of the long-term services offered by this term. The award ceremony will take place March 23.
 
Dr. Kristina Bailey has been elected as Faculty Member of Alpha Omega Alpha National Honor Society by the members of Alpha of Nebraska Chapter. This organization promotes scholarship and research in medical schools and encourages a high standard of character and conduct among medical students. Dr. Bailey was selected because of her leadership, scholastic excellence, integrity, professional skill, compassion and fairness. The spring initiation banquet is March 23.
 
Dr. Jasmine Marcelin was honored by receiving the “UNMC Impact in Education Inspirational Mentor of Educators Award” by the Interprofessional Academy of Educators. The award will be presented at the campus wide Impact in Education Awards ceremony on March 30, 2023. 

Dr. Rowen Zetterman, emeritus faculty in our Department (GI), was recognized at the annual meeting of Metro Omaha Medical Society (MOMS) with the Distinguished Service of Medicine Award. Dr. Zetterman has served a number of medical leadership roles in the community and nationwide. Dr. Zetterman’s granddaughter, a first-year med student at UNMC, was a part of making the presentation.

Weilun Ai, graduate student working with Saraswathi Viswanathan, PhD, in the division of diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism, has received the 2023 APS-Gastrointestinal & Liver Physiology Section Research Recognition Award for the American Physiology Summit.
 
Karla Mace, fellowship program coordinator division of rheumatology, was awarded the February Chancellor's ‘Silver U.’ 
Announcements
Internal Medicine Grand Rounds are again offered in person in the Durham Research Center Auditorium. Boxed lunches will be available, while supplies last. A Zoom option will also be available for those unable to attend in person. Click here for more information.


Would you like to recognize a staff member or colleague for their exemplary work? Click here to give them a shout-out! Remember, we can also appreciate colleagues with UNMC's People Are Everything program (sign in using your university credentials).
Good News
Dr. Jon Nilles and family welcomed a baby, Solomon Nilles, in January.

Dr. Sara Ghoneim, fellow in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology, and husband Ganesh welcomed baby Sidra on Jan. 16.

Gabrielle Marie Luedders joined Drs. Brent and Jen Luedders on March 8.

Dr. Nehemiah Gebreegzabeher welcomed Micah Seth to his family on Feb. 22.

Clare Meeker, nurse in the division of rheumatology, her husband Josh, and big brother Bo welcomed triplets on Feb. 8 – a boy and two girls named Lane, Emory, and Leighton.
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 fill out this form if you have news to share. And follow @unmc_im on Twitter and now Instagram!
UNMC Department of Internal Medicine
983332 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-3332
402-559-6315 (phone)