 
Welcome to the 2020 University of Nebraska Medical Center
Spring Commencement and Convocation ceremony
for the College of Public Health.
I am Dr. Christine Arcari,
I have the honor of serving
as the Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs
for the College of Public Health.
Please join Cacey Vavra, a Postbaccalaureate Certificate
in radiography candidate
in singing our national anthem.
Ashton Wyrick, a master of public health candidate
will deliver the student initiated invocation.
? O say, can you see ?
? By the dawn's early light ?
? What so proudly we hailed ?
? At the twilight's last gleaming ?
? Whose broad stripes and bright stars ?
? Through the perilous fight ?
? O'er the ramparts we watched ?
? Were so gallantly streaming ?
? And the rockets' red glare ?
? The bombs bursting in air ?
? Gave proof through the night ?
? That our flag was still there ?
? O say, does that star-spangled ?
? Banner yet wave ?
? O'er the land of the free ?
? And the home of the brave ?
On this day, we are blessed with the presence
of family and friends who have cared so deeply
over the course of our lives.
We remember those who cannot be with us today
and hope they are proud of what we have become.
We are grateful for the guidance provided
over these past years.
Today, we begin a new phase of our lives
full of both possibilities and perils.
We ask you to join us in this day of recognition
and celebration,
and the hope that our actions will prove worthy
of the confidence placed in us.
For these things and the intentions we hold silently
in our hearts, we pray.
Amen.
Today we honor the achievements and perseverance
of our graduates.
We also recognize the contributions and support
from parents, partners, children, relatives and friends,
who have helped the graduates reach this milestone.
We are delighted that you could be with us
for this day of celebration.
At this time, I would like to introduce the members
of the platform party.
Dr. Jeffrey Gold, chancellor.
Dr. H.Dele Davies , senior vice chancellor
for Academic Affairs, and Dean for Graduate Studies.
Dr. Ali Khan, Dean for the College of Public Health.
Ms. Kelly Erickson,
president of the College of Public Health Alumni Council.
I would also like to recognize state senator Megan Hunt
from District 8,
and state senator Robert Hilkemann from District 4.
We welcome you and all other distinguished guests
in the audience.
Thank you for being with us today.
I will now welcome the chancellor
of the University of Nebraska Medical Center,
Dr. Jeffrey Gold, to give remarks.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Ladies and gentlemen, I wanna thank you again
for joining us today.
This day, this unprecedented virtual commencement day
is truly special,
perhaps even more so than usual
considering the extraordinary circumstances
we find ourselves under.
Let me tell you why I feel more inspired than ever
to have been granted the incredible privilege
to address each of you on this occasion,
and why I am elated at the thought of each of us
all together at this moment,
even though we're at least six feet apart.
We all share this moment, no matter how you're following us
or wherever you may be.
I hope that some of you are able to be physically with
or at least close to a loved one or two for this occasion.
At least I hope so.
And if not, please know that they are with you
as are we and as am I.
As I always like to point out to our graduates
at the time of commencement,
that your commencement
is one of life's truly defining memories,
and that is especially true this year.
You will never forget your UNMC graduation in 2020.
You'll surely tell the next generation
and the other generations to come, about this day.
You will never forget this graduation
and you'll certainly never forget these historic times.
It's okay to have some disappointment
that this is how your commencement turned out,
that you're not gathered with your classmates,
your faculty and families,
that you're watching this remotely
in groups of a small handful or even less.
I'm disappointed as well.
So are each of your mentors, teachers, colleagues
and your classmates.
My favourite part of commencement every year
is getting to look out and to see all of your faces,
to bestow your new degrees
and to have a unique opportunity to congratulate you
on your achievements on this very big day.
So much hope and so much promise.
It reminds me of when I stood in your shoes,
and I miss that memory,
and I miss being with each of you.
Please know that as I look out into the lens of this camera
across an empty stage,
that in my mind's eye
I'm seeing each and every one of you.
I am so proud to be your chancellor on this day.
Today's commencement events
are representative of the trying times
that we find ourselves living in at this moment.
These times only further confirm that you,
that each and every one of you
have chosen the right profession at the right time,
that you are needed,
that you have a unique opportunity
to make a huge difference in this world.
That is an awesome responsibility.
It's a daunting challenge,
at the same time and incredible privilege.
The COVID-19 pandemic drives home the message,
definitively for once and for all
of the crucial role of science and medicine
and public health.
It makes clear that we all need courage and empathy
of all health professionals.
The ingenuity of our laboratory researchers and others.
The incredible ability of each of you
to look at a complex problem and see something innovative,
something helpful
that someone else might have missed.
The magical combination of care and caring
that you bring to those whose lives you touch.
This is your moment.
Today is your day
even if you are home huddling around a tablet,
watching on your phone or on a huge flat screen.
Yes, the reality starts right now.
This is your day to very clearly and firmly
take grasp of your future
as you embark upon the next phase of your journey,
a journey of providing care
and a journey of providing caring,
a journey of providing hope and one of healing.
Today, for my few minutes remaining with you,
I do not wish to address your exemplary knowledge,
your amazing technical skills,
but I do wish to address your stamina, your perseverance,
your tenacity,
your ability to see a complex process through to completion,
your capacity to quickly recover from challenges
and your capacity to navigate
the roughest of rough waters that may be ahead.
You will need these skills,
as so many of you know, the waters have been rough
and recently they've been very rough
in our state, across our nation and around the world.
Those in the professions you are about to join
across our nation and around the world are being challenged
in ways they could not have imagined
just a few short months ago.
Ours, your professions are unique calling.
In the health sciences, we witnessed the first breaths
and the last ones,
too many last breaths in these last few weeks.
Let us together just take a moment now
to honor and reflect upon all who have been lost,
including those in our health professions
who gave their very last breath
to fight back this relentless pandemic.
In our professions, we knowingly throw ourselves
into all of life's altering human triumphs and heartbreaks
and everything that comes in between
that is happening more than ever
during these extraordinary times.
People who did not sign up to be heroes,
who are now exhausted
and afraid for their own safety,
steal themselves at the start of every day
and then they walk back into the fire.
They do this mostly because they can't imagine not doing it
on a daily basis.
Our family of caring professionals,
like all of you who are graduating today,
are called to serve,
to ease pain and suffering
and to, as the philosopher say,
to improve the human condition.
There is nothing like seeing the smile
on a grateful patient's face
or the look of relief in the eyes of a parent
when they realize their child is going to be all right.
Seeing that in the patients we serve,
meeting these has been the favorite part of my career
and will assuredly be the best part of yours as well.
It is far better and more satisfying
than any official accolade or award,
any certificate or trophy,
and far better than any payment, compensation or reward
that you might derive.
These are the moments that will make it all worthwhile.
Moments like these will keep you going,
but so will the knowledge
that you are not alone in this.
There's a team around you,
others who are in the fight with you day after day.
As we are seeing time and again
during this moment of COVID-19,
we succeed.
We succeed based on how well we can work together
towards a common goal.
Healthcare is a team sport.
Research is a team sport.
Public health is a team sport.
And now you are a critical part
in new and incredibly strong link
of this lifelong team,
a championship team in every way.
Those who are on the medical frontlines
or working feverishly towards new treatments and cures,
are rightly being celebrated today
for embodying courage in our time of need.
But we should always humbly remember
that so are the grocery workers, the delivery drivers,
the environmental service professionals,
and many, many others
who are saving lives on a daily basis.
You're seeing this broadcast commencement today in part
because of the information technology experts
and the video production professionals
that have been deemed essential to come to work
during an infectious disease pandemic.
Never forget all that you have done
and all that you will do.
With so many counting on you
is because you are part of something greater than yourself.
Today, you become a lifetime member
of one of America's greatest championship teams,
the UNMC alumni.
During this COVID-19 crisis,
we've been on the front lines,
a national resource since the very beginning.
We were the first to volunteer
to take patients from the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
We were part of the federal response
keeping people at Camp Ashland,
and of course our federal government came to us.
We, here at the Med Center, had been pandemic planning
for more than 15 years.
And now we are truly leading the world,
conducting the first
National Institutes of Health Clinical trial
for a new therapeutic,
defining key genetic structures,
developing a better, faster set of diagnostic tests.
Here at the Med Center we pioneered a novel technique
to sterilize and reuse personal protective equipment
that is now in use widely across our state,
across the nation and around the world.
We've published a groundbreaking study
on patterns of disease transmission.
Thanks in part to our hosting patients here
from the National Quarantine Center.
And we've developed the 1-Check COVID smartphone application
for screening and testing.
Our expertise is sought by national media,
including 60 Minutes, CNN, Fox,
The New York Times and countless others.
And most important,
we continue to serve in a trusted resource
to our state's government and its citizens.
This is the team that you join today.
I do hope that all of you are as proud of us
as we are of you.
So, ladies and gentlemen,
members of the class of 2020,
today you graduate,
you commence with a bright spark of energy,
commitment, dedication, and genuine resiliency.
You will commence with knowledge
that you are part of one of the greatest teams
ever assembled,
and that we stand with you
as you energize and prepare yourself
before each day that lies ahead.
UNMC graduates, today is your commencement.
I do regret that you won't walk across the grand stage
with the diploma in your hand,
that you won't hear raucous applause
and feel the hug after hug from your family and friends,
faculty and mentors.
Yet I do also sincerely hope that you can join us
in the future
and share this very special experience.
I hope that you can take that very special selfie
or family photograph here on campus,
either in the fall or in the winter.
Please know that we are always with you
and that we are all together in this moment
and going forward.
I could not be any more proud than I am today
to be your chancellor,
to bestore your degrees
and to wish you well on this journey.
Class of 2020, we thank you.
Thank you for allowing us to share this day with you
and your family wherever you may be.
Thank you for allowing us to help prepare you
for this amazing journey upon which you now embark.
These are historic times, trying times,
challenging opportunities.
I cannot think of anyone else I would rather see lead us
through this moment
and into our future.
If you remember one, and only one thing from today,
let it be this.
Always, and I do mean always,
take care of yourself,
take care of each other
and always take care of your profession.
Class of 2020, congratulations and thank you,
and I wish you God's speed in your journey.
I will now welcome the Dean
of the University of Nebraska Medical Center,
College of Public Health,
Dr. Ali Khan, to give remarks.
Welcome,
esteemed faculty, staff, students, family,
friends and especially our graduates,
to the 2020 Convocation and Commencement.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic,
this is the first time I've ever had to pre-record my speech
in front of a green screen.
This is also the time nobody in this audience
needs me to spend any amount of time
explaining the role of public health in our society.
This is the first time in history
that Dr. Anthony Fauci has become a sex symbol.
And this is also the first time
I need to make sure my speech is really good
and really short.
Otherwise you can just fast forward through it.
Now, this doesn't make me feel special
since there are many firsts associated with this pandemic
in my life, for the college and for all of you.
It's easy to feel like our entire reality
and way of life has changed in the blink of an eye,
and there's no doubt that our current reality bears
very little semblance
to what we envisioned when the year started.
But before talking about what's changed,
let me focus a little bit on what hasn't changed.
And what hasn't changed are the emotions of this moment.
Joy and pride at your success,
excitement, things would apprehension at your future.
What hasn't changed is the passion, hard work,
the efforts of our university faculty and staff
who know that by educating, nurturing
and advising a new generation
of public health practitioners,
they are contributing to improve our world.
What also didn't change was the amount of tireless work
that every one of our graduates had to complete
to earn their degrees
and join the ranks of hopeful, optimistic,
hardworking, exalted public health professionals
already trying to make this a better world.
And the support they received in this path from you,
their family, their friends, their mentors,
their loved ones.
So the world has realized
that in the absence of a vaccine or a drug,
they are all depending on the power of public health
and practitioners like you
for them to get back to some semblance of a new normal.
But this new normal is really a lot like the old normal
for the work that you do to slow transmission,
educate our society,
enable us to work in a safe and healthy environment,
to be prepared, to understand disease dynamics,
to strengthen our health care services,
to address resilience and mental health,
provide services to the most vulnerable,
improve our nutritional and personal health,
control chronic conditions,
assure the health of mothers and their babies,
and I could go on and on about the work of public health.
Public health is a humbling career to be in,
partly because for the most part
when we do it absolutely right,
it's invisible and should be invisible.
Yet every now and again,
whether it's a natural disaster or a plague,
it exposes the role of public health practitioners
for the world to see.
And COVID has achieved just that.
Now, people are learning the word epidemiology,
Deciding that statistics might be worth their time after all
and realizing their public health friends
are in fact quite interesting.
So the next time they ask you to explain your major,
they may actually be quite riveted by your answer.
But it has also exposed the social injustices
within our society.
And when I think about the foundation of public health,
collective action to protect the health
and promote health for all of society,
it's social justice.
And continued social injustices in our society
have an impact on all of us.
During this pandemic
we have seen that a disproportionate number of cases
and deaths were among African Americans.
Every one of us shares the burden of that increased risk.
Through social distancing,
we have been reminded of our common humanity.
Let's harness that power to create a better society.
Graduates, today you become public health practitioners
at a time when your efforts, your contributions
will be visible and celebrated.
But when the crisis is over
and the world goes back to a feeling of calm,
trust me,
as an infectious disease expert,
those days are coming
when the apocalyptic feeling passes
and we are no longer regarded as the popular kids,
the work you will be doing in your different fields
will continue to be just as important.
Whether it is in academia, research, federal agencies,
the private sector, non-profits, healthcare systems,
in this beautiful country or any other place,
remember this pandemic.
Remember how important your training and skills
are for the world.
Remember what happens when something goes wrong
and public health becomes visible.
Remember the impact you can have on families,
on communities, on healthcare systems
and on individuals
when public health is exposed
and especially when does not.
Thank you for your effort, for your passion
and the work you have done and will continue to do.
I might need a green screen today to reach you.
But starting today, none of you will need a green screen
to save the world.
And in my book, that makes you braver and stronger
than any movie screen hero.
I would now like to welcome Kelly Erickson,
president of the College of Public Health Alumni Council
to give you an address.
I would like to share a few thoughts with our graduates.
As you finish your formal education
and start a new chapter in your professional lives,
I know that most of you are being bombarded
with various emotions, excitement, and mixed with fear,
Joy at your accomplishment,
anxiety about getting a job,
uncertainty about the current COVID-19 pandemic
among the other public health issues,
confusion about the best use of your new found
public health tools
and gratitude for this new education and skills.
Let me share another emotion, hope.
You now have new knowledge and additional skills
to fundamentally transform not only your own life,
but the lives in your communities locally and worldwide.
You're joining a proud and noble profession
and there has never been a better time than now
to be in public health
and to be an advocate for social justice.
Now is your chance to make a difference.
Remember how the public health practitioners
such as yourself
transformed the 20th century
and are continuing to transform the 21st century.
The world as we now know it would not exist
if it were not for the great public health accomplishments
over the past years.
It is us, the alumni of the College of Public Health
that will seek to find the next set of solutions
to tackle the public health challenges
of the present and the future.
On behalf of the alumni
of the University of Nebraska Medical Center
College of Public Health,
I welcome you to this great profession.
Thank you Ms. Erickson
for your welcome and words of inspiration to our graduates.
Now, it is my distinct pleasure
to introduce this year's keynote speaker,
Ms. Dannette Smith.
Dennette Smith was appointed chief executive officer
of the Department of Health and Human Services
for the State of Nebraska in February of 2019.
She brings more than 25 years of executive leadership
experience in large complex organizations to the state.
Prior to joining
the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services,
Ms. Smith was the director
of the Virginia Beach Department of Human Services.
She has also worked in a leadership capacity
in Seattle, Washington,
Atlanta, Georgia,
Charlotte, North Carolina
and Cook County, Illinois.
She's a true advocate of public and community service.
She serves on the boards of
The Healing Place of Hampton Roads, Norfolk, Virginia
and the Association for Training on Trauma and Attachment
in Children, in Minneapolis.
Smith holds a bachelor's of science in psychology
from Eastern Michigan University,
and a master's of social work
from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Under the auspices of the Child Welfare League of America,
she participated in a child welfare leadership program
at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
She also attended the County administration program
at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Her two daughters whom she loves dearly
reside in North Carolina,
and her dog, Mr. Bentley,
enjoys traveling the country with her.
Please join me in welcoming a true friend of public health,
a good friend of the college
and a good personal friend,
Ms. Dannette Smith.
Hello, I'm Dannette Smith,
CEO of Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services.
Congratulations to you, The graduating class of 2020.
As is evident from my appearing before you virtually
as opposed to in person,
you are entering the world as we know it
in this new normal.
You all have had a front row seat
to just how quickly changes in public health can occur
and how quickly society must prepare
to react to those changes.
I would venture to say that this is a foreshadowing
of what's to come as you prepare to embark
upon new endeavors as a recent graduate.
Some may be preparing to go immediately into the workforce
and some of you may be continuing your studies.
But no matter what your next path is,
remember that you are well suited and prepared.
These may be indeed unprecedented times,
but you have been prepared over the course
of your college career for this.
You have labored over the last two to three years
to master your craft.
You have learned from subject matter experts
in public health
and you have likely had real world experiences
that have also served to provide you
with a firm foundation for success.
You might not recall every lecture and lesson you have had.
However, as you take the knowledge gained through
your education and experiences here,
and translate it into the workforce,
you will undoubtedly exhibit the cumulative results
of your hard work
and prove yourself a well rounded professional.
Whether a public health practitioner,
researcher or clinician,
you are now entering the next level
and now is certainly the most interesting time
of which to put your skills to test.
The next months and years
will be filled with different challenges.
Remember why you chose this path.
Don't let the twists and turns deter you.
Don't be discouraged.
Continue forging your own path,
it's your destiny.
As you consider where this path will lead you next,
I want to impress upon you a few things to consider.
We are all seeing in the research
that is currently coming out,
the news reports and in updates from the medical community,
the importance of prevention for various populations.
Expanding a bit further,
we must all consider how we couple that
with the ability to communicate with
and influence those who don't look like us.
I am sure some of you have had
at least one class that requires you to consider
health disparities.
Whether socio-economic, ethnic, cultural or other,
it is vitally important as public health professionals
that we remember to speak up
and speak to those in our communities, who are vulnerable.
Charge yourself with not being a silent partner.
Set out to be a change agent in your own right.
You may find on this journey
that you may be asked to do more with less.
You'll be asked to think critically and creatively
to find new ways to solve old problems.
It certainly is a heavy lift.
Nevertheless, I am confident
that you all have all that is necessary to make it happen.
I know this because
we have a number of College of Public Health alumni
working for DHHS.
I'm so grateful to have these graduates
working at DHHS right now.
I'm seeing their knowledge, skills and talents firsthand.
I want to share just a bit with you
about why I decided to take the position
as the CEO
of Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services.
I had a long history of having worked in human services
for many years.
However, I like to continually challenge myself.
So I accepted this position because I wanted to be involved
with public health firsthand
and I also wanted to expand my own capacity.
As I arrived to lead this department,
the largest in the state,
I did so with my four pronged approach and plan.
To create an integrated service delivery system.
To establish and enhance collaborative relationships.
To align DHHS teammates under one mission
of helping people live better lives.
And finally,
to enhance the department's internal infrastructure
to provide more effective, efficient,
customer focused services to Nebraskans.
Each of you will eventually develop
your own tenets and plans with respect
to how you go about performing your job
within your profession.
And while I will be the first to tell you to plan,
I will also implore you to be flexible
and expect the unexpected.
Public health will at times be required
that you indeed fit a square peg into a round hole.
The secret is to cut a bigger hole.
I can honestly tell you
I never anticipated experiencing
something like COVID-19 in my career,
but I am honored to lead DHHS through it.
I am also completely amazed at what some of you
in public health do or will do.
There are a variety of places where you may be able
to be employed or you may be continuing with your studies.
As you take this next step,
I want to encourage you all to seek out opportunities
for collaboration as you move forward.
Health departments, healthcare systems
are valued partners,
as our communities, businesses, childcares,
schools, universities, individuals, families
and many others.
I have found them to be a valuable part
of the current response to COVID-19,
as well as over the span of my career.
I assure you that partnerships will be invaluable
as you continue on your path of discovery, problem solving,
and becoming a subject matter expert
in your respective fields,
because we are all part of the response
when it comes to public health.
Whether becoming a prevention strategist
or a germ investigator
as I'd like to call my epidemiologist,
or a policymaker, always remind yourself to be data-driven
and solution oriented.
I truly believe that as a result of the current crisis
we will continue to see an intersection of public policy
and the impacts those policies have on social determinants.
As you aim to influence public health,
be mindful that forming those valuable partnerships early on
will be very instrumental
as you continue forging ahead on your journey.
Mother Teresa once said,
"Don't worry about why problems exist in the world,
"just respond to the people's needs."
Responding to people's needs
is at the root of what public health professionals do.
It's where they find their motivation and what drives them.
When the days get long
and you are hard pressed to recall
why you have chosen this path,
think about how many people's needs
you are responding to each and every day.
Stay focused and don't lose sight of your passion
or your path.
So as I end, I want to express to you
my sincerity and congratulations to the class of 2020.
Go into this world and make a difference
and even more a lasting impression.
Thank you for your wonderful remarks, Ms. Smith.
We're very honored to have you with us
on this memorable occasion.
Now it's my pleasure to begin the awards portion
of our ceremony.
We will begin by recognizing our community
and faculty award recipients.
Each year, the College of Public Health
awards the Chancellor, Robert D. Sparks M.D.
Award in Public Health and Preventive Medicine,
to a person who has shown outstanding innovation and impact
on preventing disease and promoting health
through public health education,
research and practice
with particular attention to the needs of Nebraska
and its citizens.
The selection is based on the degree to which an individual
demonstrates excellence, creativity,
and distinguished collaboration
in advancing effective approaches to preventing disease
and promotion of health through public health education,
research and practice.
This year's recipient is Dr. Adi Pour.
Dr. Pour received her PhD and her master's degree
in toxicology from the University of Nebraska Medical Center
and completed a postdoctoral fellowship
at Creighton University.
Dr. pour is the director
of the Douglas County Health Department
where she oversees a department with 130 employees
and a budget of $16.2 million.
She's been in that position since October 1st, 2002.
As the Director of the Douglas County Health Department,
Dr. Pour has transformed the department into a respected
and recognizable health department
in Nebraska and the region.
An example of one initiative that gained local
and national recognition
is the communities putting prevention to work grant
that established hundreds of miles of bike lands in Omaha.
Currently, Dr. Pour and her team are front and center
in the local fight against COVID-19.
During the past year, Dr. Pour led the reframing
of the Douglas County Health Department.
I'm going to read a small part of the statement
as I believe it demonstrates Dr. Pour's commitment
to public health, prevention and to the people of Omaha
and Douglas County.
"Imagine a place where people from across the community
"have an opportunity to grow healthy and succeed.
"A place where place doesn't matter
"and everyone's human potential is realized.
"That's the goal of the Douglas County Health Department."
Congratulations Dr. Pour.
The Fred and Eve Simon Public Health Impact Prize
was established in honor of Mr and Mrs Fred and Eve Simon.
This award is given to a College of Public Health
faculty member, whose research and service
has significantly impacted Nebraska.
The recipient of this award is Dr. Sharon Medcalf.
Dr. Medcalf is an assistant professor
in the Department of Epidemiology
and the director for the Center for Biosecurity,
Biopreparedness and Emerging Infectious Diseases.
She also serves as the program director
for the certificate and masters programs
in emergency preparedness at UNMC's
College of Public Health.
These programs are the first academic graduate programs
in the region with a focus on the public health
and medical response to a disaster.
Her research interests are in hospital preparedness,
community medical surge, longterm care preparedness
and social media use in disasters.
Dr. Medcalf established the UNMC Student Response Team
in 2014, and serves as the faculty advisor.
Congratulations professor Medcalf.
The Dr. Carruth J. Wagner Faculty Prize in Public Health
is awarded to a faculty member
who has shown promise in research and service,
increases public health awareness
and raises the level of interest in public health careers
among students,
and has developed partnerships or conducted research
impacting tribal communities.
The recipient of the Carruth J. Wagner Faculty Prize
in Public Health is Dr. Regina Idoate.
Dr. Regina Idoate is a citizen
of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma,
and an the assistant professor of health promotion
in the College of Public Health.
Dr. Idoate's research is focused on community based ways
of promoting native American health
and includes specializations in medical humanities,
preventive and societal medicine and spiritual wellness.
She is co-investigator
in the Rural Futures Institute,
funded barriers and opportunities
for promoting health professions careers
among African Americans, Latinex and Native Americans
in Nebraska,
as well as the Youth Enjoy Science
Yes Research Education Grant.
And the indigenous qualitative inquiry
and implementation science
for whole of community systems interventions
involving community hub coalitions
to address existing health disparities related to cancer.
Congratulations professor Idoate.
Our next award is the College of Public Health Excellence
in Teaching Award.
This award is given for excellence in teaching,
including classroom instruction,
innovation and teaching methods,
advising and other activities
that have promoted and expanded
the students' learning experience.
This year's recipients are Dr. Nizar Wehbi
and Dr. JoEllyn McMillan.
Dr. Dr. Wehbi is an assistant professor
in the Department of Health Services
Research and Administration.
He's also the deputy director
of the Center for Health Policy
and the program director for the master of public health
administration degree.
He teaches graduate courses in health administration,
health policy, and human resources management.
Dr. Wehbi facilitate students learning
by creating safe environments for students to learn,
acquire knowledge, ask questions
and discuss current issues.
One of the students says Dr. Wehbi is very smart,
knowledgeable, engaging, nice, supportive, warm,
respective to questions,
always made himself available for questions.
The assignments were especially well-designed
to stimulate deep thinking.
Congratulations professor Wehbi.
Dr. McMillan is an associate professor
in the Department of Environmental, Agricultural
and Occupational Health.
She has enjoyed educating students
on the concepts of toxicology for the past 30 years.
She's course director
for the principles of toxicology course,
a core course for the MPH
environmental health concentration,
and for advanced toxicology,
a core course for the PhD program, toxicology track.
She demonstrates a real commitment
to enhance student learning and engage with her students.
This is reflected in student evaluation comments,
such as, "She helps me a lot in my study.
"Helps me improve my learning skills
"and my communication skills."
And Dr. McMillan did a great job being accessible
and understanding of students.
It gives Dr. McMillan great satisfaction
to see the concepts students learn in her classes
and under her mentorship
be applied in their research and work experiences.
Our last faculty award
is the College of Public Health Faculty Research Award.
This award is given to an assistant professor
who has an active research program
that contributes to the advancement
of public health science and practice.
This researcher must have refereed publications,
research finding and research presentations
at a regional, national or international conference.
The awardee for 2020 is Dr. Michael Wiley.
Dr. Michael Wiley joined the College of Public Health
in 2015 as an assistant professor.
Dr. Wiley and his team set up
next-generation sequencing capabilities
and provide trainings throughout the world,
including Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Peru,
Senegal, Japan, South Africa, and South Korea.
Next-generation sequencing platforms
perform sequencing of millions of small fragments of DNA
within a single day.
Dr. Wiley and his team helped respond
to the two recent Ebola virus disease outbreaks
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
by setting up a genomic center
which enabled a team of local researchers
to sequence genomes from the second outbreak
within five days of the outbreak being detected.
Congratulations professor Wiley.
You've just heard about some of our amazing
community partners and faculty.
Now it's time to turn our attention
to our outstanding students.
The Chancellor Robert D. Sparks Public Health Student
Research Award
goes to a full time College of Public Health students
to find research project
that demonstrates disease prevention and health promotion
through public health, education, research
and or practice,
with particular attention to the needs of Nebraska
and its citizens.
This year's recipient is Jagadeesh Puvvula.
Jagadeesh Puvvula is a PhD student
in the Department of Environmental, Agricultural
and Occupational Health.
His research interests include environmental epidemiology,
water quality, extreme weather events, spatial analytics,
and predictive modeling.
Congratulations Jagadeesh.
All master of public health students
are required to conduct a Capstone project
before they can graduate from the program.
The Outstanding Capstone Award is given to an MPH student
who has demonstrated excellence
in the mastery of public health principles,
values and practice throughout their Capstone experience.
The students project should exemplify
the mission of the College of Public Health,
contribute to the improvement
of the health of a defined population
and make a significant contribution
to the work of the organization,
agency or community in which it is being conducted.
This year's recipient is Jessica Ern, an MPH student
with a concentration in maternal and child health.
Her project is titled,
a statewide needs assessment of perspectives on training
and certification of community health workers in Nebraska.
Congratulations Jessica.
Our next award recognizes the strategic, organized
and interdisciplinary application of knowledge, skills
and competencies necessary to perform
essential public health services
and improve the population's health.
The Distinguished Student of Practice Award
honors a College of Public Health student
who has made outstanding contributions
to the advancement of public health practice.
This year's recipient
of the Distinguished Student of Practice Award
is the College of Public Health Student Response Team.
The mission of the UNMC Student Response Team
is to promote future public health leadership
by providing students with hands on training
and experiences
in outbreak response and emergency preparedness.
The Student Response Team is trained
to assist local health departments
with outbreak investigation and control,
assist public health emergency response coordinators
with mass dispensing or immunization clinics,
and assist in systematic monitoring of social media.
The Student Response Team was called to provide assistance
in early February
to monitor social media sites
and document public sentiment
about the quarantine cruise ship passengers.
Currently, the team is helping public health departments
trace context of COVID-19,
obtain health updates from COVID-19 patients
and provide social media support
for health departments in rural areas across Nebraska.
Congratulations to all the members
of the College of Public Health Student Response Team.
Our final student award
is the United States Public Health Service Excellence
in Public Health Award.
The Public Health Service was founded in 1798
to provide medical care to sailors and merchant seaman
with yellow fever and malaria.
Over the subsequent 220 years,
its mission has broadened to deliver health promotion
and disease prevention programs to all people.
Today, the commission core of the Public Health Service
is dedicated to serving on the front lines
in the nations' fight against disease
and poor health conditions.
This year's recipient of the United States Public Health
Service Excellence in Public Health Award
is Rohan Khazanchi.
Congratulations Rohan.
Next we'll recognize our alumni
and their career achievements.
I would like to welcome Kelly Erickson
of the College of Public Health Alumni Council
to announce this year's alumni awards.
The first award to be given today
is the Early Career Achievement Award.
The College of Public Health Early Career Achievement Award
recognizes achievements of alumni
who have made outstanding contributions
to the field of public health
within the first five years of completing a degree
from the UNMC College of Public Health.
Final determination of the award recipient
is based on an outstanding contribution to public health,
including any of the following categories,
leadership in public health, public health practice,
teaching and scholarship,
research, community and society,
and the College of Public Health.
This year's Early Career Achievement Award recipient
is Dr. Jocelyn Herstein, MPH class of 2016,
PhD class of 2018.
After completing her PhD program in 2018,
Dr. Jocelyn Herstein assumed the position
of co-director of the National Disaster Medical System
Infectious Disease Training Program.
This national three day training program
now held in The Training, Simulation and Quarantine Center
at UNMC, is held twice monthly
for disaster medical assistance teams
from around the United States.
Dr. Herstein served on the leadership team,
co-lead the development of education curriculum
and oversaw a large multidisciplinary team of faculty
and instructors from the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit,
College of Public Health, College of Nursing,
College of Medicine And iEXCEL.
In January 2020, Dr. Herstein moved
into the position of director
for Sub-Saharan Africa Region
for The Global Center of Health Security.
This has offered the incredible opportunity to relocate
to Kumasi, Ghana, for the foreseeable future.
In this role, Dr. Herstain is responsible
for establishing and managing research,
education training collaborations in Ghana,
Nigeria, Liberia and Rwanda,
with an emphasis on programs to support surveillance
and outbreak response efforts.
To date, Dr. Herstein has 25 publications
and three book chapters,
12 of which she has first authored.
Her research team's work has been nationally recognized,
including being awarded the highest honor
in the field of industrial hygiene in 2018.
Dr. Herstein's research has focused
on preparedness infrastructure
for highly hazardous communicable diseases
with an emphasis on training and education.
Congratulations Dr. Herstein.
Our next award is the Distinguished Alumnus Award.
The College of Public Health Distinguished Alumni Award
recognizes the achievements of alumni
who have made significant contributions
to the field of public health.
Final determination of the award recipient
is based on outstanding contribution to public health,
including any of the following categories,
leadership in public health, public health practice,
teaching and scholarship,
research, community and society,
and the College of Public Health.
This year's Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient
is Linda Ohri, MPH class of 2008.
Her nominator commented of her,
"Dr. Ohri has made several significant contributions
"to the field of public health
"during her career as a pharmacist,
"educator and community volunteer.
"Wow, she has passion about immunizations!"
This impression is demonstrated through Dr. Ohri commitment
to community service through her work
in the Immunization Task Force for Metro Omaha, ITF,
and her willingness to partner with UNMC
master of public health students.
She not only exudes passion
but she is a competent practitioner and educator.
Students who have worked with her
have had excellent learning experiences,
and the mentorship that she has provided these students
is above and beyond.
Dr. Ohri is an admirable example of a committed preceptor,
where she has also made an outstanding contribution
to public health.
Congratulations Dr. Ohri.
Congratulations to our alumni award winners
for all their outstanding accomplishments.
We will now recognize the master of public health
graduates with the hooding ceremony.
These students have completed the academic
and practice requirements
to receive a master of public health degree.
The hood is a special part of the academic regalia
that denotes scholarly and professional achievement.
This year, we ask a friend or family member
to place the hood over the head of the graduate
signifying his or her success in completing the program.
The official hood color for public health degree
is a salmon pink.
And the scarlet and cream represent the colors
of the University of Nebraska.
(bright upbeat music)
It is now my pleasure to present
the honorary doctor of science degree
to Dr. Doyt L. Conn.
Vice chancellor Dele Davies will read the citation.
Thank you, chancellor Gold.
Nebraska native and UNMC alumnus, Doyt Conn, M.D.
is honored with the honorary doctorate of science degree
for high distinction,
in the use of his skills in medicine, science and teaching
to serve his fellow men.
Dr. Conn's commitment to medicine and service
is so great
that after his retirement from a 25 year
distinguished career at the Mayo Clinic,
he then soon embarked on a second act.
Following a three year stint
as senior vice president for medical affairs
for the National Arthritis Foundation.
He again became a full time clinician,
scientist and educator
at Emory University of Madison
and Grady Health Systems in Atlanta,
which is the fifth largest public hospital
in the United States.
From there, he threw himself into understanding
the challenges faced by patients
from an underserved population,
who often were on Medicaid
or had no insurance at all.
It was a job he would not have been opt to earlier
in his career, Dr. Conn said,
adding, "The journey from Mayo to Grady
"is as long as any in academic medicine."
Dr. Conn also was involved in providing medical services
during humanitarian crisis
while serving as medical director of AmeriCares
in the 1990s.
He helped establish medical services in Kenya
for Somali refugees
and helped set up a hospital in Rwanda
to serve survivors of the Rwandan genocide.
Dr. Conn is the former director of rheumatology
at Emory, Grady, and the Mayo Clinic.
He's currently professor emeritus
at Emory University School of Medicine,
and he resides in Rochester, Minnesota.
Dr. Conn has published more than 200 papers,
abstracts and book chapters,
and he helped train more than a 100 rheumatology trainees
at Mayo and Emory.
He is a former military surgeon
at the U.S. Public Health Service in Galveston, Texas.
Dr. Conn was born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
He's a proud product of Gering High School,
Nebraska Wesleyan University
and the UNMC College of Medicine.
He has been honored with numerous awards
and is a respected publications editor.
The university is very proud
to confer this honorary degree
to Dr. Doyt Conn.
Chancellor Gold, Dr. Conn qualifies
for the honorary degree doctor of science.
He has been certified by the Nebraska Board of Regents.
It is my honor to present him to you.
Thank you, Dr. Davies.
Dr. Conn, by virtue of the authority vested in me
by the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska,
I hereby confer upon you, Dr. Doyt L. Conn,
the degree doctor of science,
along with all of the rights, the responsibilities
and the privileges associated with this degree.
Congratulations.
Roger Reamer, M.B.A.
is being honored today with the J.G. Elliot Award.
Vice chancellor Dele Davies
will read the award citation.
Roger Reamer is honored today with the J.G. Elliot Award
for his decades of service to his fellow Nebraskans,
notably as a leader
and advocate for healthcare administration,
public health initiatives,
and health science education for rural communities.
Though he has served for more than two decades
as chief executive officer
for Memorial Health Care Systems in Seward, Nebraska,
Reamer's service has reached far beyond his community
and county.
Roger's passion and commitment fuels his dedication
to ensuring excellence in healthcare services
for patients, medical professionals
and communities across Nebraska.
He has respect and a strong understanding
of the vital service rural health care delivers
to smaller communities.
He has provided leadership, direction and development skills
to establish and strengthen rural healthcare,
and is a dedicated advocate
for rural health policy development.
His leadership and collaborative efforts
have helped rural hospitals and healthcare organizations
improve delivery of care
and build effective alliances for longterm sustainability.
He served on the American Hospital Association Board,
Nebraska Hospital Association Board,
State of Nebraska Board of Health,
Four Corners Public Health Department
as well as rural health and health education boards.
During the current COVID-19 public health emergency
Reamer's leadership has been crucial on two fronts,
the hospital side and the district health department.
The J.G. Elliot Award is given annually
to an individual who has made significant contributions
to medicine and health programs for the state of Nebraska.
It is awarded in memory of Jack Elliott,
a former Scottsbluff resident
who served on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents
for 20 years until his death in 1974.
The university is proud to present this award today
to Mr. Roger Reamer.
Congratulations, and thank you for all of your dedication
and your years of service.
Today, we also honor Dr. Anne Hubbard
with the Chancellor's Distinguished Service Award.
Vice chancellor Dele Davies will present the award.
Thank you, chancellor Gold.
Dr. Anne Hubbard, a physician, philanthropist
and a UNMC alumnus
is honored with a UNMC Chancellor's Distinguished
Service Award for her long time commitment to the university
and to ensuring a healthy future for our state.
Dr. Hubbard is now retired from an outstanding career
in academic and clinical medicine
at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
and at her alma mater, UNMC,
and Children's Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha.
She remains very well respected
in her field of pediatric radiology
and fetal and orthopedic imaging.
In her community service role,
she does even more for all Nebraskans
in building upon the groundwork
laid by her parents, Dr. Theodore Hubbard
and Claire Hubbard.
The Hubbards were tremendous supporters of the university,
establishing the Theodore F. Hubbard, M.D.,
Chair of Cardiology and the Theodore F. Hubbard, M.D.,
Endowed Chair of Cardiovascular Research at UNMC.
Through the Claire M. Hubbard Foundation
which honors her mother,
Dr. Hubbard also has supported several organizations
in advancing the education,
research and patient care missions of UNMC.
Under Dr. Hubbard's leadership,
the foundation established
the Claire M. Hubbard Professor of Health and Environment
in the UNMC College of Public Health,
among other initiatives.
Dr. Hubbard is an engaged philanthropist,
often linking multiple organizations
to leverage the impact of the various programs she supports.
She's dedicated to the education
and health of children, underserved communities
and understanding the importance of the environment
and natural resources to human health.
She serves on the boards
of the St. Augustine Indian Mission, in Winnebago, Nebraska,
The Nature Conservancy of Nebraska,
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium,
and the University of Nebraska Foundation Board of Trustees.
Dr. Hubbard grew up in Omaha, and graduated from UNL,
and the UNMC College of Medicine.
She served her internal medicine residency
at the Mayo Clinic,
and her radiology residency at the Medical College
of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.
The university is proud to honor Dr. Anne Hubbard
with the UNMC Chancellor's Distinguished Service Award.
Dr. Hubbard, congratulations,
and thank you for all of your dedication
and all of your years of service.
Dean Ali Khan will now present the candidates
for the post-baccalaureate certificate in public health
and the degree master of public health.
Dean Khan.
On the other end of this video stream
are the candidates for the post-baccalaureate certificate
in public health and the degree master of public health.
Chancellor Gold, I am pleased to present these candidates
for the post-baccalaureate certificate in public health
or the degree master of public health.
The men and women of the master of public health class
were vested with their master hoods.
These candidates qualify
for the degree master of public health.
The candidates for the post-baccalaureate certificate
in public health,
or the degree master of public health
have been certified by the faculty
of the College of Public Health.
It is a true honor to present them to you.
Thank you, Dean Khan.
By virtue of the authority vested in me
by the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska,
I hear by confer upon you the certificate
post-baccalaureate certificate in public health
and the degree master of public health,
along with all of the rights, the responsibilities
and the privilege associated with this certificate
or degree.
Congratulations.
Abdoulaziz Abdoulaye Adily
Adekunle Adebayo Adeyemi.
Rima Mohammed Ahmed Al Balushi.
Alexis Bertacini.
Priyanka Chaudhary.
Anlan Cheney.
Sabrine Chengane.
Bridget Lorraine Claborn.
Jessica Davies.
Sara Donovan.
Jessica Whitney Ern.
Jamie Marie Eske.
Sierra Nicole Garth.
Jacob C. Grothe.
Jessica M. Hart.
Derek Forest Julian.
Meghan Rose Krajicek.
Morgan Claire Harder Kristensen.
Sarah Katherine Larsen.
Fung Jeng Liu.
Ping Liu.
Ada V. Luna.
Suswara Mandala Rayabandla.
Luke Seamus Murphy.
Chacha Josiah Mwita
Victoria Nsubuga Nakibuuka-Muli.
Jessica Pahwa.
Emiliane Lemos Pereira.
Tabitha J. Prochazka.
Sophia Aurea Quintero.
Oliver Ramirez-Gutierrez.
Zackery Dennis Rodriguez.
Dylan James Scoggins.
Sarah Cleone Stanislav.
Patricia Lahoma Wagner.
Tanner J. Wetzel.
Ashton Olivia Wyrick.
Ladies and gentlemen, I now ask all of the members
of the graduating class of 2020 to please rise.
In keeping with the time honored
and centuries old academic tradition at this time
I now ask that all of our graduates
to please move the tassel on your mortar board
from the right to the left.
Ladies and gentlemen,
those of you viewing this special ceremony,
no matter where you are,
please join me in congratulating
the University of Nebraska Medical Center
graduating class of 2020.
Congratulations.
Our graduates here today were helped a great deal by others.
Many are the people watching this ceremony from afar
to share this special occasion.
They also deserve recognition
and they should feel free to stand if they wish
wherever they are,
to receive our recognition and our thanks.
First to be recognized are those who are parents,
brothers, or sisters of one of our graduates.
Second would be the spouses partners or children
of our graduates.
Next, are the grandparents, the aunts, the uncles,
or those who hold some other special relationship
to one of our graduates.
All of you, and I do mean all of you
have been more than just spectators today.
The faculty and our students recognize
the consistent encouragement
and the support that you've given.
We applaud you and acknowledge your enormous contributions
to each of our graduates,
and to what they have accomplished
and what they will accomplish in the future.
Thank you, thank you so very much.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center
is a large, diverse and complex organization.
I would like to take this opportunity to recognize
some of the most dedicated people
that make us survive and thrive.
They, of course, are the individuals
who spent many years with our graduates,
preparing them for lives of continued learning,
dedicated study, and service to others.
The individuals of whom I speak are of course,
our amazing faculty.
Please join me in expressing our most sincere appreciation
to your faculty.
Before we conclude today's ceremony,
I wanna thank the individuals
who have assisted with making this special event happen.
Jessica Sharon, Nicole Kolm Valdivia, Timmery Singh,
Stacey Coleman and Amber Cummins.
I believe in the transformative power of education,
that learning shapes and guides our lives.
There's power in learning,
and this power finds expression in practice.
Students, the good news is earning an advanced degree
in public health has opened a gateway
that you will benefit from your entire career.
What distinguishes you from others
is the creative way you think about and solve problems.
Your opportunities are limited only by your imagination.
There will always be forces of change
that will affect the practice of public health.
We are in fact, right now, experiencing a force of change
with the COVID pandemic.
Have courage.
Public health can be a contact sport.
When public health offends economic or political interests,
they often hit back, stand firm.
When public health succeeds, don't stop,
insist on pushing forward.
As newly-minted public health practitioners,
you will be called on to develop new ways of thinking,
being, and doing,
to meet the many challenges we face today
and the unknown challenges of tomorrow.
To close today's ceremonies,
I'd like to take this opportunity to say
on behalf of the faculty, staff, and administration
of the University of Nebraska Medical Center
and the College of Public Health,
congratulations.
We wish you amazing transformative lives
and adventures filled with inspiration, hard work and joy.
The wonder of working in public health
is every day you will have the power to change lives.
We look forward to hearing about all the great things
you will accomplish.
And now, Sabrine Chengane,
a candidate for a masters in public health
will offer the student initiated benediction.
As this ceremony ends,
we have so much for which we are grateful.
We have been truly blessed for many things,
including the fellowship of our classmates,
the guidance of the faculty
and the love and support of those who have been there for us
through our education.
We ask you to keep us safe wherever our journey may lead.
For these things we pray.
Amen.
 
