PM&R Newsletter
News from the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
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FROM THE DEPARTMENT CHAIR |
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Greetings and Happy Spring! As the days become longer and the masks are off, we can enjoy being outdoors which helps stress levels. The PM&R Department is looking forward to meeting in person our four new recruits who hail from Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, and China. Our specialty continues to have strong residency matches nationally, with no unfilled spots across the U.S. Our many thanks to Carrie Helmberger and Michael Weaver, DO for their hours of effort in the student interview and selection process.
We have the pleasure of recruiting to the faculty our first alumna, former chief resident Sonia Shah, MD who will join our department in September. Sonia will complete her spinal cord medicine fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin and start work full-time at Madonna in Omaha. We also announce and welcome our new chief resident, Anna Woods, DO, who started her duties April 1. We look forward to another successful year of resident education with her help.
Daniel Pierce, MD who joined our faculty in 2022, has become a representative to the American Medical Association House of Delegates put forward by the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM). We congratulate Dan on his appointment and look forward to his perspective on what is happening at the AMA.
Our medical student interest group is developing a variety of activities for this next academic year. Dr. Pierce will become our medical student director with able assistance from Kayla Zaloudek who continues as our energetic medical student coordinator. We will be hosting a medical student symposium in the early fall 2023 at Madonna Hospital. This half-day event provides early exposure to PM&R as a specialty for students early in their education.
Our pediatric division continues to become busier as Dr. Hope Voto sees patients at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center as well as Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital pediatric unit. A new physician assistant, Melissa Slechta, has joined Dr. Voto to help improve our coverage for both sites.
Research activities involve both University of Nebraska Omaha biomechanics faculty and graduate students as well as in collaboration with Madonna Institute for Rehabilitation Science and Engineering. The research space at Madonna has now built a gait laboratory on site for the Omaha campus.
Our educational involvement will continue to grow this next academic year as we have trainees from internal medicine, geriatrics, pain medicine and the new vascular neurology fellowship rotating through clinics and hospital units with our faculty and residents.
Finally, I wish to thank the efforts of our UNMC administrative staff who make all this run smoothly for the faculty: Carolyn Helmberger, residency coordinator, Kayla Zaloudek, medical student coordinator, Jean Palmer, administrative assistant, and Julie Zetterman, UNMC department administrator. Nothing much could be accomplished without their help. Thanks to all our UNMC departments and colleagues who help educate our residents and engage in the pursuit of academic excellence.
Samuel Bierner, MD, MRM
Professor and Chair
Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
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Drs. Christopher Anderson, Hope Voto, and Michael Weaver were named Premier Doctors by Omaha Magazine |
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Congratulations to Dr. Christopher Anderson, Dr. Hope Voto, and Dr. Michael Weaver for being named "Premier Doctors" by Omaha Magazine.
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New Assistant Professor - Dr. Daniel Pierce |
Name: Daniel Pierce, MD
Hometown: Midland, MI
Degree(s): MD, St. George's University
How I fell in love with PM&R: I worked as a research assistant in a biomechanics lab prior to medical school, focusing on gait analysis following spinal cord injury. I enjoyed working with the physiatrists and all of the other rehabilitation professionals to improve patient function and independence.
Three Things People May Not Know About Me:
- I love making ice cream and hope to open an ice cream shop someday.
- I enjoy cycling, including a "bikepacking" trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles along California Highway 1.
- Nebraska will be my ninth state to have legal residence.
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Congratulations Dr. Hope Voto |
Dr. Hope Voto has been appointed the Chair-elect of the University of Nebraska Medical Center chapter of National Hispanic & Latino Medical Association.
Dr. Voto was also nominated for the Helping Hands Award that recognizes excellence in non-nursing, clinical, and support staff. Nominated by a parent of a patient, Dr. Voto modeled extraordinary behavior, demonstrated trust, compassion, respect, and ethical behavior.
Congratulations Dr. Voto!
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BRAIN INJURY MEDICINE FELLOWSHIP |
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We are excited to announce the newly approved ACGME Brain Injury Medicine Fellowship with the department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) as well as our new Fellowship Director, Dr. Christopher Anderson.
Learn more about the PM&R Brain Injury Medicine fellowship here.
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Congratulations to PM&R's New Chief Resident |
Name: Anna Woods
Hometown: Omaha, NE
New title and department at UNMC: Chief Resident - Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Professional Interests: TBI Rehabilitation
How I fell in love with PM&R: When I started medical school I really enjoyed our MSK block and our OMT labs. I realized there was an entire specialty devoted to this which was exactly what I wanted. Plus, my sister is a speech language therapist and kept telling me how much I would love this specialty and she was right. I love that I get to see my patients improving and having a better quality of life each time I see them.
Two things people may not know about me:
- I do not like chocolate.
- I have ran 4 half-marathons.
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2022 - 2023 New Residents |
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Trevor Champagne, MD
Medical School: University of Minnesota, Duluth, MN
Undergraduate: University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND
Interests: Dogs, golfing, fishing, hiking, cooking, lifting weights, Kansas City Chiefs/Royals.
Something I would like other people to know about me: I played college baseball in Kansas.
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Kirby Lundy, DO
Medical School: Des Moines College of Osteopathic Medicine, Des Moines, IA
Undergraduate: Bethel University, St. Paul, MN
Interests: Video games, downhill skiing, 3-D printing, virtual reality, photography.
Something I would like other people to know about me: Someday I would love to own a dirt bike.
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Kyle Meek, DO
Medical School: Des Moines College of Osteopathic Medicine, Des Moines, IA
Undergraduate: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Interests: I enjoy running, biking, climbing, lifting, swimming, and almost all forms of physical activity. I have a passion for cooking/entertaining. I also am an avid fan of MMA.
Something I would like other people to know about me: I am a glass-half-full type of person. As you will often hear me say: It's a beautiful day to be alive.
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Forrest Zoch, DO
Medical School: University of Kansas City College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kansas City, MO
Undergraduate: Lamar University, Beaumont, TX
Interests: Golf, fishing, hiking, biking, physical fitness, spending time with my wife and son.
Something I would like other people to know about me: I was not named after Forest Gump the movie and I do not like to run.
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The PM&R Residents had their 3rd annual resident retreat on March 20th. They had speaker Dr. Jayme Dowdall in to talk about Physician Imposter Syndrome. After the retreat they went to Top Golf.
Our 4 seniors will graduate and be off to new adventures. Chief Resident, Matt Gerrelts, D.O. will be moving to La Crosse, WI for a position as a general Physiatrist with Gunderson Health. Nikita Wagle, M.D. is headed to St. Louis for a position as a general Physiatrist with SSM Health Rehabilitation Hospital-Bridgeton. Both Dr. Grant Langhofer and Dr. Graeme Boyter are doing fellowships. Dr. Langhofer will be doing an Interventional Musculoskeletal/Spine fellowship at the University of Kansas Medical Center and Dr. Graeme Boyter will be staying on at UNMC for a 1-year fellowship in Pain Medicine.
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The College of Medicine recognizes Matthew Gerrelts, DO, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation chief resident, as Resident of the Month.
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2022 Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Student Symposium |
The Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) hosted a Student Symposium this fall. 15 students from surrounding medical schools were in attendance to learn more about PM&R. Students in attendance were able to hear from physicians from UNMC and surrounding medical centers as well as some of our PM&R residents. A tour of Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Omaha was also given to the attendees. The event received great feedback and the PM&R Department is excited to host the event again in September 2023. |
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Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
981225 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-1225
402-559-7775
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