Stephen Mohring, MD, associate professor of medicine, has been named the next chief of the UNMC Division of General Internal Medicine.  

Hemant Roy, MD, chair of the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine, announced the leadership change, which is effective Nov. 1.

“He is a remarkably talented and dynamic physician and will build on the outstanding leadership of this division,” Dr. Roy said.

Jennifer Parker, MD, who has led the division since September 2021, said Dr. Mohring is a respected leader at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine.

“His leadership is grounded in service,” said Dr. Parker, who will continue as a physician-educator and associate professor in the division. “He understands that the strength of our division comes from the talents, dedication and diversity of the people in it. He values collaboration, supports innovation and consistently focuses on helping others succeed.”

Dr. Mohring said he is humbled and thrilled by the appointment, noting that he is following in the footsteps of two of his mentors and former division chiefs, Dr. Parker and Thomas Tape, MD, who was division chief from 2002 until his retirement in 2021.



“I’m excited to lead, as our division is thriving, with proven excellence in clinical care and teaching,” Dr. Mohring said. “The most important thing I can do as division chief is support my colleagues. We have a diverse array of faculty interests, and I’m going to do everything I can to support their work in education, teaching and research.”

Mark Rupp, MD, former chief of the UNMC Division of Infectious Diseases, has received the 2026 Senior Scholar Award the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

Dr. Rupp, a former president of the organization, was presented with the award at the opening plenary session of IDWeek, on Oct. 21 in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes the work of an investigator/practitioner in infection prevention/healthcare epidemiology and is based on the breadth and quality of the nominee’s contributions to infection prevention and healthcare epidemiology.

Lisa Maragakis, MD, SHEA president, said Dr. Rupp’s career exemplifies the impact that dedicated leadership, scientific excellence and mentorship can have on infection prevention.

“From his leadership as SHEA President during the H1N1 response to his contributions to advancing research, education and international collaboration, Dr. Rupp has helped shape SHEA and our field,” Dr. Maragakis said. “His remarkable body of work and commitment to developing the next generation of leaders make him an exceptionally deserving recipient of the 2026 SHEA Senior Scholar Award.”

UNMC College of Medicine Dean Bradley Britigan, MD, said Dr. Rupp was an excellent choice for the award.

“Mark’s entire career has been one of committed leadership in the area of infectious diseases,’ Dr. Britigan said. “He has been strong voice for effective treatment and prevention, often at times when a strong voice has been most needed.”

Ted Mikuls, MD, Stokes-Shackleford Professor of Rheumatology in the UNMC Division of Rheumatology in the UNMC College of Medicine, has been named the 2026 UNMC Scientist Laureate, the highest research honor bestowed at UNMC.

Dr. Mikuls is a rheumatologist and epidemiologist whose research focuses on the epidemiology, pathogenesis and outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis and gout. He is actively engaged in clinical/translational research activities and has received research funding from the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs, the Rheumatology Research Foundation and industry. He also serves as the director of the professional development core for the Great Plains IDeA-CTR.



Dr. Mikuls was honored along with 23 other researchers named UNMC Distinguished Scientist, New Investigator and Research Leadership Award winners for 2026 at a ceremony Oct. 29.

Ruxana Sadikot, MD, will receive a Distinguished Scientist Award. Distinguished Scientist Awards, which are sponsored by the chancellor, recognize researchers who have been among the most productive scientists at UNMC during the past five years.

Please describe your research focus in three words or less: 

• Mitochondrial dysfunction
• Innate immunity
• Macrophage

Why is research important in the world today? 

Mitochondria are autonomous cellular organelles that oversee a variety of functions such as metabolism, energy production, calcium buffering and cell fate determination. Mitochondria have indeed become critical regulators of innate immune responses to both pathogens and cell stress. Given their significant role in cellular function, mitochondria are a common target for viral and bacterial-derived effectors. We have focused on developing host directed therapies to enhance mitochondrial function through activation of PGC1 alpha a key transcriptional regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis.

Saraswathi Viswanathan, PhD, will receive a Distinguished Scientist Award. Distinguished Scientist Awards, which are sponsored by the chancellor, recognize researchers who have been among the most productive scientists at UNMC during the past five years.

Please describe your research focus in three words or less: 

• Obesity
• Alcohol-related diseases

Why is research important in the world today? 

Research is important in every field, because it drives innovation, expands knowledge and helps society grow and evolve. In the biomedical sciences, research advances our understanding of disease mechanisms and enables the development of preventive strategies, diagnostic tools and effective therapies. By generating new ideas and evidence-based solutions, research provides the foundation for advances in healthcare that improve human health, extend life, and enhance quality of life.

The UNMC Interprofessional Academy of Educators inducted a record 46 new members at its annual induction ceremony on Sept. 10. The event also marked the academy’s 10th anniversary of promoting educational excellence, interprofessional collaboration and educational scholarship across UNMC.

The new inductees include 39 faculty and staff as members and six learners as associate members.

The five inductees from the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine are:

• Natalie Crump, MBBS
• Jennifer Davis, MD
• Angela Hewlett, MD
• Jasmine Marcelin, MD
• Stephen Mohring, MD

A committee has been formed to assist in searching the nation for the next dean of the UNMC College of Medicine.

The committee, chaired by James Armitage, MD, will advise the UNMC Office of the Chancellor on potential candidates to fill the position, which has been held for the past 16 years by Bradley Britigan, MD, who earlier this year announced that he would be leaving the position. A national consulting firm also is being considered to aid in the search.

“Under Dr. Bradley Britigan, the UNMC College of Medicine has seen extraordinary growth and success, including this year the first cohort of UNMC medical students in Kearney,” said H. Dele Davies, MD, interim chancellor of UNMC. “Our search committee is tasked with finding a leader who can build upon the growth and success of Dr. Britigan, someone who has the vision and commitment to bring the college to even greater heights. Our search committee members have been chosen for their own demonstrated leadership and vision, and I thank them for agreeing to take on this task.”

Dr. Armitage, who has been at UNMC more than four decades, will lead more than a dozen leaders and stakeholders during the search process. 

Kelsey Klute, MD, associate professor in UNMC’s Division of Medical Oncology, has been appointed as the vice chair of the protocol review and monitoring committee (PRMC) at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. This committee provides central management and oversight of functions for all cancer-related trials involving human subjects and is conducted by members of the cancer center.

Joann Sweasy, PhD, director of the National Cancer Institute-designated Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, announced the appointment this week.



“We’re delighted to see Dr. Klute step into this important leadership role,” Dr. Sweasy said. “Her expertise, collaborative approach and commitment to advancing cancer research will serve the PRMC and the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center well. I look forward to seeing the impact of her leadership in this new appointment.”

Nebraska Medicine's cardiology team just reached a major milestone: the completion of their 1,000th WATCHMAN implant.

Jason Payne, MBBS, performed the procedure on Oct. 8. This comes about two years after the program celebrated completing more than 500 of the cases. 

WATCHMAN is for patients with atrial fibrillation, or AFib, who can't take blood thinners long term. The device helps reduce the risk of stroke by closing the left atrial appendage, which is an area of the heart where blood clots can form in patients with AFib.



But the 1,000th WATCHMAN isn't the only milestone for the program. The cardiology team has also performed around 160 "combo" cases, which combines the WATCHMAN procedure with a cardiac ablation. Nebraska Medicine performs far more of these "combo" cases than anyone else in the region, with the next closest facility performing in the neighborhood of 30 procedures.

Melissa Teply, MD, has been appointed the new communications COIL director for the UNMC College of Medicine.

The communications COIL director leads the teaching of such communications skills as taking medical histories, difficult conversations, breaking bad news and more. The COIL is emphasized in the first year of medical school, but continues throughout the four years of the program.

Dr. Teply, a 2010 UNMC College of Medicine graduate, said she was thrilled to be taking the role.



“It’s especially meaningful for me because this was one of my favorite aspects of medical school,” she said. “I’ve since spent my career learning how to improve my own communication skills and teach these skills to others.”