Newsletter...Newsletter Medical students whose clinical rotations were disrupted as a result of...
8
Newsletter Medical students whose clinical rotations were disrupted as a result of COVID-19 were able to take advantage of virtual clinical experiences from multiple clinical departments between March and June. One of these adaptations, Internal Medicine 722, was led by David O’Dell, MD, and was a popular four-week elective for students this spring. Co-taught by Dr. O’Dell and Scott Neumeister, MD, the course featured a combination of interactive lectures and small group breakout sessions where students solved clinical cases by ordering tests such as labs, X-rays and others. “[Dr. O’Dell] did something fantastic for the students. It had never been done in this way. It was always done in person, in the classroom. We’re not the only ones doing this but it is a challenge. Still, it was just like doing it in person,” Dr. Neumeister said. Read more about the successful course adaption here. Zooming to Success Faculty and staff in the UNMC College of Medicine have been hard at work to ensure students are supported as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge traditional forms of medical education. As students begin their return to the clinical environment, one of the college’s top priorities is to keep students healthy and safe by making sure they are aware of masking and PPE guidance. Students will receive additional support as they provide care via telehealth while learning using telehealth. Read more about students’ recent return to in-person rotations here. M4 students, whose residency matching process has been heavily impacted by COVID-19, received career counseling from the college. College leaders will meet to discuss each student individually and how they can best support their career aspirations. Plans for additional resources are in the works to assist students in the fall as they prepare for and complete virtual interviews. Additionally, UNMC has requested to be a testing site for the U.S. Medical Licensing Examinations, which have been disrupted by the pandemic. Many students’ exams were cancelled or rescheduled. By applying to be a test site and assisting students with scheduling test dates, the college hopes students know they are working hard to make sure everyone is cared for. These are just a few steps the College of Medicine is taking. Read more about how the College of Medicine will support its students this upcoming academic year here. David O’Dell, MD This newsletter is distributed via email from the UNMC College of Medicine Parents & Family Association. Summer Edition | August 2020 College of Medicine Adapts to COVID-19
Transcript of Newsletter...Newsletter Medical students whose clinical rotations were disrupted as a result of...
Newsletter Medical students whose clinical rotations were disrupted as a result of COVID-19 were able to take advantage of virtual clinical experiences from multiple clinical departments between March and June
One of these adaptations Internal Medicine 722 was led by David OrsquoDell MD and was a popular four-week elective for students this spring Co-taught by Dr OrsquoDell and Scott Neumeister MD the course featured a combination of interactive lectures and small group breakout sessions where students solved clinical cases by ordering tests such as labs X-rays and others
ldquo[Dr OrsquoDell] did something fantastic for the students It had never been done in this way It was always done in person in the classroom Wersquore not the only ones doing this but it is a challenge Still it was just like doing it in personrdquo Dr Neumeister said
Read more about the successful course adaption here
Zooming to Success
Faculty and staff in the UNMC College of Medicine have been hard at work to ensure students are supported as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge traditional forms of medical education
As students begin their return to the clinical environment one of the collegersquos top priorities is to keep students healthy and safe by making sure they are aware of masking and PPE guidance Students will receive additional support as they provide care via telehealth while learning using telehealth Read more about studentsrsquo recent return to in-person rotations here
M4 students whose residency matching process has been heavily impacted by COVID-19 received career counseling from the college College leaders will meet to discuss each student individually and how they can best support their career aspirations Plans for additional resources are in the works to assist students in the fall as they prepare for and complete virtual interviews
Additionally UNMC has requested to be a testing site for the US Medical Licensing Examinations which have been disrupted by the pandemic Many studentsrsquo exams were cancelled or rescheduled By applying to be a test site and assisting students with scheduling test dates the college hopes students know they are working hard to make sure everyone is cared for
These are just a few steps the College of Medicine is taking Read more about how the College of Medicine will support its students this upcoming academic year here
David OrsquoDell MD
This newsletter is distributed via email from the UNMC College of Medicine Parents amp Family Association
Summer Edition | August 2020
College of Medicine Adapts to COVID-19
A Letter from the PFA President Dear Fellow UNMC College of Medicine Parents and Families
Please allow me to introduce (or reintroduce) myself as the president of the College of Medicine Parents amp Family Association This is my second and final year in this position as the parent of a fourth year medical student
My son Kevin is an M4 and is planning to graduate in May of 2021 We continue to be so very proud of him and his hard work and the fact that this will be his final year of medical school is hard to believe It seems as if he just received his White Coat and now he has completed his Step 2 licensing exam and is looking toward interviews and residency matching As I know it has also been for all of you the past several months have been full of uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic Watching our son navigate the completion of his third year and begin his fourth year in the midst of so many unknowns has definitely been a challenge but we also have watched his resolve to be a physician strengthen even more as he works his way toward completion of medical school with flexibility and a willingness to do whatever he needs to do to continue his learning I believe that our childrenspousessignificant others who have chosen medicine as their life path and have the privilege of following that path through UNMC College of Medicine will come through these challenging times stronger more resilient and more compassionate than they ever imagined they could be and for those who are getting ready to start their medical journey rest assured they are in a wonderful place at UNMC
UNMC offers amazing opportunities for our students and with our continued support our students are on the path to success The UNMC College of Medicine Parents and Family Association was established in 2004 to provide a support network and activities for parents family members and students and to enhance communication among students their families and the college We hope you consider supporting the PFA Your tax-deductible donation to the University of Nebraska Foundation directed to the College of Medicine Parents amp Family Innovation Fund is a way to support your student through events and programming we offer including Family Day the M1 picnic M4 Match Day graduation events and the SpousesSignificant Others Reception We also provide support to the Student Wellness center which directly provides wellness support to the medical students
If you have any questions please donrsquot hesitate to contact the UNMC Alumni Relations Office at 402-559-4378 I truly thank everyone who has provided support to our organization in the past and thank you ahead of time for your future support of the UNMC PFA We appreciate it but our students especially do
I look forward to this 2020-2021 school year and working with you to support our students
Sincerely Laurie Hanna
Summer Edition Newsletter August 2020
This newsletter is produced by the Alumni Relations Office at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
Editors Laura Olson Kat Hamilton and Catherine Mello
Photographer UNMC Alumni Relations and Public Relations Staff
For additional copies please contact UNMC Alumni Relations 985200 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha NE 68198-5200
4025594385
wwwunmcedualumni
Newsletter | 2
PresidentLaurie Hanna
TreasurerDan Dudley
Council MembersSheryl AufenkampPaul AufenkampColleen Connely
Jan DudleyJulia Cronin-Gilmore
Alan GilmorePaula Hardin
Mary HegemannJacey Johnston
Joan KeitCarol Lackner
Mary MatisJannelle Pfeifer
Stephanie SaccoCarolyn Schmitz
Newsletter | 3
Make a Gift to the Parents amp Family Innovation FundYou can help support the work of the Parents amp Family Association with a tax deductible gift to the Parents amp Family Innovation Fund at the University of Nebraska Foundation Click here to support the Parent amp Family Association
Thank you for your generous support
2020
-202
1 PF
A AD
VISO
RY C
OUN
CIL
MEM
BERS
Medical Students Enjoy Ice Cream Thanks to PFA SupportM1 Students Celebrate Conclusion of First Year
The College of Medicine Parent and Family Association (PFA) supports many events each year one of which includes the M1 picnic a celebration for students at the end of their first year of medical school Held in May each year the M1 picnic offers a chance for students to relax and share a meal together before they head off for sum-mer break Unfortunately like many other events this year COVID-19 prevented the M1 picnic from happening as normal However after a bit of brainstorming the M1s were still able to enjoy a fun end-of-year treat
Becky Brooks class of 2023 student representative to the PFA led the initiative to collaborate with a local ice cream shop Coneflower Creamery to provide pints of ice cream for M1 students to pick up over a specific time frame Coneflower is located in the Blackstone District near UNMCrsquos campus and it is a popular destination for UNMC students and Omaha residents The Coneflower Pick Up was very popular among the Class of 2023 and approximately 75 of the class participated in the event
M4 Students Enjoy Ice Cream for Stress Relief
A few weeks later the Class of 2021 held a similar oppor-tunity at Mixins a local ice cream shop located in the Old Market in downtown Omaha The event for M4s stemmed from the classrsquo Wellness Chair Kaitlin Hehnke as a way to boost spirits during the uncertain times
ldquoThis event allowed our class to support a locally owned business while also providing students with a tasty stress relief during this difficult timerdquo Hehnke said ldquoIt gave us the opportunity to get out of our homes and enjoy the company of our classmates while remaining socially distanced Our class greatly appreciates the College of Medicine Parent and Family Associationrsquos willingness to support this eventrdquo
Both the Class of 2021 and the Class of 2023 are grate-ful for the support from the PFA that made these events possible
Newsletter | 4
Family Day Goes Virtual
HometownSan Marino CA Program and YearCollege of Medicine Class of 2022
EducationAmherst CollegeBachelor of Arts in Chemistry HobbiesWalking on the Field Club Trail baking and knitting Staying BalancedI am fortunate to have wonderful friends who laugh at each othersrsquo jokes support one another when wersquore down and make medical school a lot more fun Though COVID has disrupted our usual socializing Irsquom proud of all the physically-distant picnics walks and ice cream runs that have kept us safely together
Meet Hannah Tandon
Three things people may not know about me bull My friends and I are back-to-back
intramural curling championsbull Irsquove brought my French horn
with me to four different states and though rehearsals are currently on hold Irsquom glad to be able to keep playing with the Nebraska Medical Orchestra
bull My one act of youthful rebellion was learning French in Southern California where almost 40 of the population speaks Spanish
Each year the College of Medicine Parent amp Family Association (PFA) hosts Family Day for the parents and spouses of incoming medical students This is typically a half-day event filled with speakers from the College of Medicine UNMC and current students and their parents This year the PFA adapted Family Day to a virtual setting by creating a Parent amp Family Resource Page and hosting two StudentParent Panel sessions through Zoom webinar
The Parent amp Family Resource page is filled with information from UNMC faculty staff and students Campus partners including Dr Bradley Britigan Dean of the College of Medicine Dr Sheritta Strong Director of Inclusion Dr Kimberly Schenarts Wellness Advocate and others generously recorded messages for incoming families Additionally M2 student Rebecca Brooks provided a virtual tour of campus specifically curated for COM families
Browse the information and videos on the Resource Page here
2020-2021 College of Medicine Student Calendar
SemestersFirst Semester (M1-M2) August 24 2020 ndash December 18 2020First Semester (M3) June 29 2020 ndash December 18 2020First Semester (M4) July 6 2020 ndash December 18 2020
Second Semester (M1) January 4 2021 ndash May 28 2021Second Semester (M2) January 11 2021 ndash June 30 2021Second Semester (M3) January 4 2021 ndash June 25 2021Second Semester (M4) January 4 2021 ndash May 2 2021
Recesses amp Holidays Labor Day September 7 2020M3 Fall Break September 19-27 2020Thanksgiving November 26-27 2020Winter Recess (M3-M4) December 19 2020-January 3 2021Winter Recess (M2) December 19 2020-January 10 2021Winter Recess (M1) December 19 2020-January 4 2021Martin Luther King Day January 18 2021Spring Recess (M1) March 6-14 2021Spring Recess (M2) March 13-21 2021Spring Recess (M3-M4) March 27-April 4 2021
Special EventsWinter Commencement December 18 2020Deadline for filing for December Graduation October 10 2020Spring Commencement May 8 2021
Newsletter | 5
M1 Words of Wisdom From Daniela Cortes Reyes What is the number one piece of advice you would give to incoming students Be true to your heartmdashif you feel like crying while memorizing ldquohigh yieldrdquo esotericisms then please do Spending your time questioning if everyone is struggling as much as you are is not only defeatist but itrsquos also a disservice to you and your accomplishments No one including yourself has the right to dictate how you study how you process emotions and ultimately how you live PS Everyone is just as clueless as you are
What was your biggest ldquoahardquo moment as a first year medical student Irsquom a firm believer of reclaiming the saying ldquoIt takes a village to raise a childrdquo and replace it with ldquoIt takes a village to raise a doctorrdquo The community supporting me is composed of a mish-mash of characters all of who enrich my life with their own experiences At first I believed it was weak to ask for help in a journey I alone chose to embark I finally found strength when I asked for help from the people who wanted me to succeed the most from asking my family to drop off a meal or taking a zen walk to grab coffee at Dr Schenartsrsquos office with friends
If you could do your M1 year over again what would you do differently I wouldnrsquot waste as much time with my own insecurities What no one explicitly tells you when starting medical school is that itrsquos cruelly similar to high school in that you are afraid you wonrsquot make friends that you wonrsquot impress your professors and that yoursquoll disappoint your family My deepest regret was fearing this experiencemdashmy very own lsquobildungsromanrsquo (coming of age story) I wish I jumped more fearlessly into the unknown said yes to more things and wasnrsquot so afraid that I was ldquotoo strongrdquo of a personality
2020-2021 Events for COM Students Sponsored by the Parents and Family Association or the College of Medicine Alumni Council Spouses Reception PostponedVirtual Family Day August 20-21 2020M4 Interview Skills Workshop TBDMatch Day March 19th 2021M1 Picnic Dependent on COVID guidelines
Newsletter | 6
Newsletter | 7
UNMC Medical Student Finds COVID-19 Disproportionally Affects Vulnerable CommunitiesRohan Khazanchi a fourth-year medical student is the lead author in a research letter published in
the Journal of General Internal Medicine that found COVID-19 disproportionally affects people holding
historically marginalized identities Khazanchi his collaborator and their mentor analyzed COVID-19 case
and death rates at the county level using data compiled by The New York Times from health agency
reports The team based its evaluation of county-level risk characteristics on the Center for Disease Control
and Preventionrsquos validated Social Vulnerability Index
Khazanchi concluded that the increased risk of infection
among minorities is ldquoLess about individual choices
and more about the difficult decisions that folks from
marginalized communities have to makerdquo Read more
about the findings here
Have you heardThe UNMC Alumni Association created a special blog for students The Connections Project where
you can access real-world info from unmcalumni to enhance your time while yoursquore at UNMC
See a new written or video post every Wednesday
Topics that have been covered so far wellbeing personal finance professional skills
organizational tips and so much more
Click here to subscribe to the blog | httpsblogunmcedualumni-association
You can also view posts on social media
UNMC_AA UNMCalum UNMC Alumni Group
Download the UNMC App - click on the Alumni button
Rohan Khazanchi
Newsletter | 8
Contact UsThe Parents amp Family Association Advisory Council gets administrative support from the UNMC Alumni Relations Office For more information contact
Laura Olson Alumni Engagement Coordinator 4025594378 or laurajolsonunmcedu
College of Medicine Parents amp Family Association 985200 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha NE 68198-5200 4025594385
wwwunmcedualumni alumniunmcedu
UNMC Medical Students Provide Support to RefugeesA group of medical students spearheaded by
third-year Seif Nasir have been working to assist
refugees in Lincoln and Omaha in navigating
the COVID-19 pandemic by providing them with
food and toiletry items as well as information on
COVID-19 This initiative ldquoMedical Students United
with Neighbors Across Americardquo or MUNA Box
Project stemmed from Nasirrsquos experience as the
son of Palestinian refugees and his past work with
refugee communities
ldquoHere in Omaha as one of the major refugee resettlement cities in the US we have this population
of people that are often marginalized or not specifically targeted and have needs that are neglected
by a lot of interventionsrdquo he said
The group partnered with community leaders and refugee organizations to determine community
needs as well as to include culturally appropriate food items in the boxes Additionally the group
hopes to work with translators who can assist in providing accessible information about COVID-19
Nasirrsquos mother Arwa Nasir MD division chief of general pediatrics and associate professor in the
UNMC Department of Pediatrics produced the first pamphlet for the group in Arabic
Read more about the MUNA Box Project and their hopes to expand this initiative here
Medical students Paul Witt Alexander Tu David Fu and Seif Nasir packed more than 100 MUNA boxes for a community distribution event in May Photo credit UNMC Public Relations
A Letter from the PFA President Dear Fellow UNMC College of Medicine Parents and Families
Please allow me to introduce (or reintroduce) myself as the president of the College of Medicine Parents amp Family Association This is my second and final year in this position as the parent of a fourth year medical student
My son Kevin is an M4 and is planning to graduate in May of 2021 We continue to be so very proud of him and his hard work and the fact that this will be his final year of medical school is hard to believe It seems as if he just received his White Coat and now he has completed his Step 2 licensing exam and is looking toward interviews and residency matching As I know it has also been for all of you the past several months have been full of uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic Watching our son navigate the completion of his third year and begin his fourth year in the midst of so many unknowns has definitely been a challenge but we also have watched his resolve to be a physician strengthen even more as he works his way toward completion of medical school with flexibility and a willingness to do whatever he needs to do to continue his learning I believe that our childrenspousessignificant others who have chosen medicine as their life path and have the privilege of following that path through UNMC College of Medicine will come through these challenging times stronger more resilient and more compassionate than they ever imagined they could be and for those who are getting ready to start their medical journey rest assured they are in a wonderful place at UNMC
UNMC offers amazing opportunities for our students and with our continued support our students are on the path to success The UNMC College of Medicine Parents and Family Association was established in 2004 to provide a support network and activities for parents family members and students and to enhance communication among students their families and the college We hope you consider supporting the PFA Your tax-deductible donation to the University of Nebraska Foundation directed to the College of Medicine Parents amp Family Innovation Fund is a way to support your student through events and programming we offer including Family Day the M1 picnic M4 Match Day graduation events and the SpousesSignificant Others Reception We also provide support to the Student Wellness center which directly provides wellness support to the medical students
If you have any questions please donrsquot hesitate to contact the UNMC Alumni Relations Office at 402-559-4378 I truly thank everyone who has provided support to our organization in the past and thank you ahead of time for your future support of the UNMC PFA We appreciate it but our students especially do
I look forward to this 2020-2021 school year and working with you to support our students
Sincerely Laurie Hanna
Summer Edition Newsletter August 2020
This newsletter is produced by the Alumni Relations Office at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
Editors Laura Olson Kat Hamilton and Catherine Mello
Photographer UNMC Alumni Relations and Public Relations Staff
For additional copies please contact UNMC Alumni Relations 985200 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha NE 68198-5200
4025594385
wwwunmcedualumni
Newsletter | 2
PresidentLaurie Hanna
TreasurerDan Dudley
Council MembersSheryl AufenkampPaul AufenkampColleen Connely
Jan DudleyJulia Cronin-Gilmore
Alan GilmorePaula Hardin
Mary HegemannJacey Johnston
Joan KeitCarol Lackner
Mary MatisJannelle Pfeifer
Stephanie SaccoCarolyn Schmitz
Newsletter | 3
Make a Gift to the Parents amp Family Innovation FundYou can help support the work of the Parents amp Family Association with a tax deductible gift to the Parents amp Family Innovation Fund at the University of Nebraska Foundation Click here to support the Parent amp Family Association
Thank you for your generous support
2020
-202
1 PF
A AD
VISO
RY C
OUN
CIL
MEM
BERS
Medical Students Enjoy Ice Cream Thanks to PFA SupportM1 Students Celebrate Conclusion of First Year
The College of Medicine Parent and Family Association (PFA) supports many events each year one of which includes the M1 picnic a celebration for students at the end of their first year of medical school Held in May each year the M1 picnic offers a chance for students to relax and share a meal together before they head off for sum-mer break Unfortunately like many other events this year COVID-19 prevented the M1 picnic from happening as normal However after a bit of brainstorming the M1s were still able to enjoy a fun end-of-year treat
Becky Brooks class of 2023 student representative to the PFA led the initiative to collaborate with a local ice cream shop Coneflower Creamery to provide pints of ice cream for M1 students to pick up over a specific time frame Coneflower is located in the Blackstone District near UNMCrsquos campus and it is a popular destination for UNMC students and Omaha residents The Coneflower Pick Up was very popular among the Class of 2023 and approximately 75 of the class participated in the event
M4 Students Enjoy Ice Cream for Stress Relief
A few weeks later the Class of 2021 held a similar oppor-tunity at Mixins a local ice cream shop located in the Old Market in downtown Omaha The event for M4s stemmed from the classrsquo Wellness Chair Kaitlin Hehnke as a way to boost spirits during the uncertain times
ldquoThis event allowed our class to support a locally owned business while also providing students with a tasty stress relief during this difficult timerdquo Hehnke said ldquoIt gave us the opportunity to get out of our homes and enjoy the company of our classmates while remaining socially distanced Our class greatly appreciates the College of Medicine Parent and Family Associationrsquos willingness to support this eventrdquo
Both the Class of 2021 and the Class of 2023 are grate-ful for the support from the PFA that made these events possible
Newsletter | 4
Family Day Goes Virtual
HometownSan Marino CA Program and YearCollege of Medicine Class of 2022
EducationAmherst CollegeBachelor of Arts in Chemistry HobbiesWalking on the Field Club Trail baking and knitting Staying BalancedI am fortunate to have wonderful friends who laugh at each othersrsquo jokes support one another when wersquore down and make medical school a lot more fun Though COVID has disrupted our usual socializing Irsquom proud of all the physically-distant picnics walks and ice cream runs that have kept us safely together
Meet Hannah Tandon
Three things people may not know about me bull My friends and I are back-to-back
intramural curling championsbull Irsquove brought my French horn
with me to four different states and though rehearsals are currently on hold Irsquom glad to be able to keep playing with the Nebraska Medical Orchestra
bull My one act of youthful rebellion was learning French in Southern California where almost 40 of the population speaks Spanish
Each year the College of Medicine Parent amp Family Association (PFA) hosts Family Day for the parents and spouses of incoming medical students This is typically a half-day event filled with speakers from the College of Medicine UNMC and current students and their parents This year the PFA adapted Family Day to a virtual setting by creating a Parent amp Family Resource Page and hosting two StudentParent Panel sessions through Zoom webinar
The Parent amp Family Resource page is filled with information from UNMC faculty staff and students Campus partners including Dr Bradley Britigan Dean of the College of Medicine Dr Sheritta Strong Director of Inclusion Dr Kimberly Schenarts Wellness Advocate and others generously recorded messages for incoming families Additionally M2 student Rebecca Brooks provided a virtual tour of campus specifically curated for COM families
Browse the information and videos on the Resource Page here
2020-2021 College of Medicine Student Calendar
SemestersFirst Semester (M1-M2) August 24 2020 ndash December 18 2020First Semester (M3) June 29 2020 ndash December 18 2020First Semester (M4) July 6 2020 ndash December 18 2020
Second Semester (M1) January 4 2021 ndash May 28 2021Second Semester (M2) January 11 2021 ndash June 30 2021Second Semester (M3) January 4 2021 ndash June 25 2021Second Semester (M4) January 4 2021 ndash May 2 2021
Recesses amp Holidays Labor Day September 7 2020M3 Fall Break September 19-27 2020Thanksgiving November 26-27 2020Winter Recess (M3-M4) December 19 2020-January 3 2021Winter Recess (M2) December 19 2020-January 10 2021Winter Recess (M1) December 19 2020-January 4 2021Martin Luther King Day January 18 2021Spring Recess (M1) March 6-14 2021Spring Recess (M2) March 13-21 2021Spring Recess (M3-M4) March 27-April 4 2021
Special EventsWinter Commencement December 18 2020Deadline for filing for December Graduation October 10 2020Spring Commencement May 8 2021
Newsletter | 5
M1 Words of Wisdom From Daniela Cortes Reyes What is the number one piece of advice you would give to incoming students Be true to your heartmdashif you feel like crying while memorizing ldquohigh yieldrdquo esotericisms then please do Spending your time questioning if everyone is struggling as much as you are is not only defeatist but itrsquos also a disservice to you and your accomplishments No one including yourself has the right to dictate how you study how you process emotions and ultimately how you live PS Everyone is just as clueless as you are
What was your biggest ldquoahardquo moment as a first year medical student Irsquom a firm believer of reclaiming the saying ldquoIt takes a village to raise a childrdquo and replace it with ldquoIt takes a village to raise a doctorrdquo The community supporting me is composed of a mish-mash of characters all of who enrich my life with their own experiences At first I believed it was weak to ask for help in a journey I alone chose to embark I finally found strength when I asked for help from the people who wanted me to succeed the most from asking my family to drop off a meal or taking a zen walk to grab coffee at Dr Schenartsrsquos office with friends
If you could do your M1 year over again what would you do differently I wouldnrsquot waste as much time with my own insecurities What no one explicitly tells you when starting medical school is that itrsquos cruelly similar to high school in that you are afraid you wonrsquot make friends that you wonrsquot impress your professors and that yoursquoll disappoint your family My deepest regret was fearing this experiencemdashmy very own lsquobildungsromanrsquo (coming of age story) I wish I jumped more fearlessly into the unknown said yes to more things and wasnrsquot so afraid that I was ldquotoo strongrdquo of a personality
2020-2021 Events for COM Students Sponsored by the Parents and Family Association or the College of Medicine Alumni Council Spouses Reception PostponedVirtual Family Day August 20-21 2020M4 Interview Skills Workshop TBDMatch Day March 19th 2021M1 Picnic Dependent on COVID guidelines
Newsletter | 6
Newsletter | 7
UNMC Medical Student Finds COVID-19 Disproportionally Affects Vulnerable CommunitiesRohan Khazanchi a fourth-year medical student is the lead author in a research letter published in
the Journal of General Internal Medicine that found COVID-19 disproportionally affects people holding
historically marginalized identities Khazanchi his collaborator and their mentor analyzed COVID-19 case
and death rates at the county level using data compiled by The New York Times from health agency
reports The team based its evaluation of county-level risk characteristics on the Center for Disease Control
and Preventionrsquos validated Social Vulnerability Index
Khazanchi concluded that the increased risk of infection
among minorities is ldquoLess about individual choices
and more about the difficult decisions that folks from
marginalized communities have to makerdquo Read more
about the findings here
Have you heardThe UNMC Alumni Association created a special blog for students The Connections Project where
you can access real-world info from unmcalumni to enhance your time while yoursquore at UNMC
See a new written or video post every Wednesday
Topics that have been covered so far wellbeing personal finance professional skills
organizational tips and so much more
Click here to subscribe to the blog | httpsblogunmcedualumni-association
You can also view posts on social media
UNMC_AA UNMCalum UNMC Alumni Group
Download the UNMC App - click on the Alumni button
Rohan Khazanchi
Newsletter | 8
Contact UsThe Parents amp Family Association Advisory Council gets administrative support from the UNMC Alumni Relations Office For more information contact
Laura Olson Alumni Engagement Coordinator 4025594378 or laurajolsonunmcedu
College of Medicine Parents amp Family Association 985200 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha NE 68198-5200 4025594385
wwwunmcedualumni alumniunmcedu
UNMC Medical Students Provide Support to RefugeesA group of medical students spearheaded by
third-year Seif Nasir have been working to assist
refugees in Lincoln and Omaha in navigating
the COVID-19 pandemic by providing them with
food and toiletry items as well as information on
COVID-19 This initiative ldquoMedical Students United
with Neighbors Across Americardquo or MUNA Box
Project stemmed from Nasirrsquos experience as the
son of Palestinian refugees and his past work with
refugee communities
ldquoHere in Omaha as one of the major refugee resettlement cities in the US we have this population
of people that are often marginalized or not specifically targeted and have needs that are neglected
by a lot of interventionsrdquo he said
The group partnered with community leaders and refugee organizations to determine community
needs as well as to include culturally appropriate food items in the boxes Additionally the group
hopes to work with translators who can assist in providing accessible information about COVID-19
Nasirrsquos mother Arwa Nasir MD division chief of general pediatrics and associate professor in the
UNMC Department of Pediatrics produced the first pamphlet for the group in Arabic
Read more about the MUNA Box Project and their hopes to expand this initiative here
Medical students Paul Witt Alexander Tu David Fu and Seif Nasir packed more than 100 MUNA boxes for a community distribution event in May Photo credit UNMC Public Relations
PresidentLaurie Hanna
TreasurerDan Dudley
Council MembersSheryl AufenkampPaul AufenkampColleen Connely
Jan DudleyJulia Cronin-Gilmore
Alan GilmorePaula Hardin
Mary HegemannJacey Johnston
Joan KeitCarol Lackner
Mary MatisJannelle Pfeifer
Stephanie SaccoCarolyn Schmitz
Newsletter | 3
Make a Gift to the Parents amp Family Innovation FundYou can help support the work of the Parents amp Family Association with a tax deductible gift to the Parents amp Family Innovation Fund at the University of Nebraska Foundation Click here to support the Parent amp Family Association
Thank you for your generous support
2020
-202
1 PF
A AD
VISO
RY C
OUN
CIL
MEM
BERS
Medical Students Enjoy Ice Cream Thanks to PFA SupportM1 Students Celebrate Conclusion of First Year
The College of Medicine Parent and Family Association (PFA) supports many events each year one of which includes the M1 picnic a celebration for students at the end of their first year of medical school Held in May each year the M1 picnic offers a chance for students to relax and share a meal together before they head off for sum-mer break Unfortunately like many other events this year COVID-19 prevented the M1 picnic from happening as normal However after a bit of brainstorming the M1s were still able to enjoy a fun end-of-year treat
Becky Brooks class of 2023 student representative to the PFA led the initiative to collaborate with a local ice cream shop Coneflower Creamery to provide pints of ice cream for M1 students to pick up over a specific time frame Coneflower is located in the Blackstone District near UNMCrsquos campus and it is a popular destination for UNMC students and Omaha residents The Coneflower Pick Up was very popular among the Class of 2023 and approximately 75 of the class participated in the event
M4 Students Enjoy Ice Cream for Stress Relief
A few weeks later the Class of 2021 held a similar oppor-tunity at Mixins a local ice cream shop located in the Old Market in downtown Omaha The event for M4s stemmed from the classrsquo Wellness Chair Kaitlin Hehnke as a way to boost spirits during the uncertain times
ldquoThis event allowed our class to support a locally owned business while also providing students with a tasty stress relief during this difficult timerdquo Hehnke said ldquoIt gave us the opportunity to get out of our homes and enjoy the company of our classmates while remaining socially distanced Our class greatly appreciates the College of Medicine Parent and Family Associationrsquos willingness to support this eventrdquo
Both the Class of 2021 and the Class of 2023 are grate-ful for the support from the PFA that made these events possible
Newsletter | 4
Family Day Goes Virtual
HometownSan Marino CA Program and YearCollege of Medicine Class of 2022
EducationAmherst CollegeBachelor of Arts in Chemistry HobbiesWalking on the Field Club Trail baking and knitting Staying BalancedI am fortunate to have wonderful friends who laugh at each othersrsquo jokes support one another when wersquore down and make medical school a lot more fun Though COVID has disrupted our usual socializing Irsquom proud of all the physically-distant picnics walks and ice cream runs that have kept us safely together
Meet Hannah Tandon
Three things people may not know about me bull My friends and I are back-to-back
intramural curling championsbull Irsquove brought my French horn
with me to four different states and though rehearsals are currently on hold Irsquom glad to be able to keep playing with the Nebraska Medical Orchestra
bull My one act of youthful rebellion was learning French in Southern California where almost 40 of the population speaks Spanish
Each year the College of Medicine Parent amp Family Association (PFA) hosts Family Day for the parents and spouses of incoming medical students This is typically a half-day event filled with speakers from the College of Medicine UNMC and current students and their parents This year the PFA adapted Family Day to a virtual setting by creating a Parent amp Family Resource Page and hosting two StudentParent Panel sessions through Zoom webinar
The Parent amp Family Resource page is filled with information from UNMC faculty staff and students Campus partners including Dr Bradley Britigan Dean of the College of Medicine Dr Sheritta Strong Director of Inclusion Dr Kimberly Schenarts Wellness Advocate and others generously recorded messages for incoming families Additionally M2 student Rebecca Brooks provided a virtual tour of campus specifically curated for COM families
Browse the information and videos on the Resource Page here
2020-2021 College of Medicine Student Calendar
SemestersFirst Semester (M1-M2) August 24 2020 ndash December 18 2020First Semester (M3) June 29 2020 ndash December 18 2020First Semester (M4) July 6 2020 ndash December 18 2020
Second Semester (M1) January 4 2021 ndash May 28 2021Second Semester (M2) January 11 2021 ndash June 30 2021Second Semester (M3) January 4 2021 ndash June 25 2021Second Semester (M4) January 4 2021 ndash May 2 2021
Recesses amp Holidays Labor Day September 7 2020M3 Fall Break September 19-27 2020Thanksgiving November 26-27 2020Winter Recess (M3-M4) December 19 2020-January 3 2021Winter Recess (M2) December 19 2020-January 10 2021Winter Recess (M1) December 19 2020-January 4 2021Martin Luther King Day January 18 2021Spring Recess (M1) March 6-14 2021Spring Recess (M2) March 13-21 2021Spring Recess (M3-M4) March 27-April 4 2021
Special EventsWinter Commencement December 18 2020Deadline for filing for December Graduation October 10 2020Spring Commencement May 8 2021
Newsletter | 5
M1 Words of Wisdom From Daniela Cortes Reyes What is the number one piece of advice you would give to incoming students Be true to your heartmdashif you feel like crying while memorizing ldquohigh yieldrdquo esotericisms then please do Spending your time questioning if everyone is struggling as much as you are is not only defeatist but itrsquos also a disservice to you and your accomplishments No one including yourself has the right to dictate how you study how you process emotions and ultimately how you live PS Everyone is just as clueless as you are
What was your biggest ldquoahardquo moment as a first year medical student Irsquom a firm believer of reclaiming the saying ldquoIt takes a village to raise a childrdquo and replace it with ldquoIt takes a village to raise a doctorrdquo The community supporting me is composed of a mish-mash of characters all of who enrich my life with their own experiences At first I believed it was weak to ask for help in a journey I alone chose to embark I finally found strength when I asked for help from the people who wanted me to succeed the most from asking my family to drop off a meal or taking a zen walk to grab coffee at Dr Schenartsrsquos office with friends
If you could do your M1 year over again what would you do differently I wouldnrsquot waste as much time with my own insecurities What no one explicitly tells you when starting medical school is that itrsquos cruelly similar to high school in that you are afraid you wonrsquot make friends that you wonrsquot impress your professors and that yoursquoll disappoint your family My deepest regret was fearing this experiencemdashmy very own lsquobildungsromanrsquo (coming of age story) I wish I jumped more fearlessly into the unknown said yes to more things and wasnrsquot so afraid that I was ldquotoo strongrdquo of a personality
2020-2021 Events for COM Students Sponsored by the Parents and Family Association or the College of Medicine Alumni Council Spouses Reception PostponedVirtual Family Day August 20-21 2020M4 Interview Skills Workshop TBDMatch Day March 19th 2021M1 Picnic Dependent on COVID guidelines
Newsletter | 6
Newsletter | 7
UNMC Medical Student Finds COVID-19 Disproportionally Affects Vulnerable CommunitiesRohan Khazanchi a fourth-year medical student is the lead author in a research letter published in
the Journal of General Internal Medicine that found COVID-19 disproportionally affects people holding
historically marginalized identities Khazanchi his collaborator and their mentor analyzed COVID-19 case
and death rates at the county level using data compiled by The New York Times from health agency
reports The team based its evaluation of county-level risk characteristics on the Center for Disease Control
and Preventionrsquos validated Social Vulnerability Index
Khazanchi concluded that the increased risk of infection
among minorities is ldquoLess about individual choices
and more about the difficult decisions that folks from
marginalized communities have to makerdquo Read more
about the findings here
Have you heardThe UNMC Alumni Association created a special blog for students The Connections Project where
you can access real-world info from unmcalumni to enhance your time while yoursquore at UNMC
See a new written or video post every Wednesday
Topics that have been covered so far wellbeing personal finance professional skills
organizational tips and so much more
Click here to subscribe to the blog | httpsblogunmcedualumni-association
You can also view posts on social media
UNMC_AA UNMCalum UNMC Alumni Group
Download the UNMC App - click on the Alumni button
Rohan Khazanchi
Newsletter | 8
Contact UsThe Parents amp Family Association Advisory Council gets administrative support from the UNMC Alumni Relations Office For more information contact
Laura Olson Alumni Engagement Coordinator 4025594378 or laurajolsonunmcedu
College of Medicine Parents amp Family Association 985200 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha NE 68198-5200 4025594385
wwwunmcedualumni alumniunmcedu
UNMC Medical Students Provide Support to RefugeesA group of medical students spearheaded by
third-year Seif Nasir have been working to assist
refugees in Lincoln and Omaha in navigating
the COVID-19 pandemic by providing them with
food and toiletry items as well as information on
COVID-19 This initiative ldquoMedical Students United
with Neighbors Across Americardquo or MUNA Box
Project stemmed from Nasirrsquos experience as the
son of Palestinian refugees and his past work with
refugee communities
ldquoHere in Omaha as one of the major refugee resettlement cities in the US we have this population
of people that are often marginalized or not specifically targeted and have needs that are neglected
by a lot of interventionsrdquo he said
The group partnered with community leaders and refugee organizations to determine community
needs as well as to include culturally appropriate food items in the boxes Additionally the group
hopes to work with translators who can assist in providing accessible information about COVID-19
Nasirrsquos mother Arwa Nasir MD division chief of general pediatrics and associate professor in the
UNMC Department of Pediatrics produced the first pamphlet for the group in Arabic
Read more about the MUNA Box Project and their hopes to expand this initiative here
Medical students Paul Witt Alexander Tu David Fu and Seif Nasir packed more than 100 MUNA boxes for a community distribution event in May Photo credit UNMC Public Relations
Newsletter | 4
Family Day Goes Virtual
HometownSan Marino CA Program and YearCollege of Medicine Class of 2022
EducationAmherst CollegeBachelor of Arts in Chemistry HobbiesWalking on the Field Club Trail baking and knitting Staying BalancedI am fortunate to have wonderful friends who laugh at each othersrsquo jokes support one another when wersquore down and make medical school a lot more fun Though COVID has disrupted our usual socializing Irsquom proud of all the physically-distant picnics walks and ice cream runs that have kept us safely together
Meet Hannah Tandon
Three things people may not know about me bull My friends and I are back-to-back
intramural curling championsbull Irsquove brought my French horn
with me to four different states and though rehearsals are currently on hold Irsquom glad to be able to keep playing with the Nebraska Medical Orchestra
bull My one act of youthful rebellion was learning French in Southern California where almost 40 of the population speaks Spanish
Each year the College of Medicine Parent amp Family Association (PFA) hosts Family Day for the parents and spouses of incoming medical students This is typically a half-day event filled with speakers from the College of Medicine UNMC and current students and their parents This year the PFA adapted Family Day to a virtual setting by creating a Parent amp Family Resource Page and hosting two StudentParent Panel sessions through Zoom webinar
The Parent amp Family Resource page is filled with information from UNMC faculty staff and students Campus partners including Dr Bradley Britigan Dean of the College of Medicine Dr Sheritta Strong Director of Inclusion Dr Kimberly Schenarts Wellness Advocate and others generously recorded messages for incoming families Additionally M2 student Rebecca Brooks provided a virtual tour of campus specifically curated for COM families
Browse the information and videos on the Resource Page here
2020-2021 College of Medicine Student Calendar
SemestersFirst Semester (M1-M2) August 24 2020 ndash December 18 2020First Semester (M3) June 29 2020 ndash December 18 2020First Semester (M4) July 6 2020 ndash December 18 2020
Second Semester (M1) January 4 2021 ndash May 28 2021Second Semester (M2) January 11 2021 ndash June 30 2021Second Semester (M3) January 4 2021 ndash June 25 2021Second Semester (M4) January 4 2021 ndash May 2 2021
Recesses amp Holidays Labor Day September 7 2020M3 Fall Break September 19-27 2020Thanksgiving November 26-27 2020Winter Recess (M3-M4) December 19 2020-January 3 2021Winter Recess (M2) December 19 2020-January 10 2021Winter Recess (M1) December 19 2020-January 4 2021Martin Luther King Day January 18 2021Spring Recess (M1) March 6-14 2021Spring Recess (M2) March 13-21 2021Spring Recess (M3-M4) March 27-April 4 2021
Special EventsWinter Commencement December 18 2020Deadline for filing for December Graduation October 10 2020Spring Commencement May 8 2021
Newsletter | 5
M1 Words of Wisdom From Daniela Cortes Reyes What is the number one piece of advice you would give to incoming students Be true to your heartmdashif you feel like crying while memorizing ldquohigh yieldrdquo esotericisms then please do Spending your time questioning if everyone is struggling as much as you are is not only defeatist but itrsquos also a disservice to you and your accomplishments No one including yourself has the right to dictate how you study how you process emotions and ultimately how you live PS Everyone is just as clueless as you are
What was your biggest ldquoahardquo moment as a first year medical student Irsquom a firm believer of reclaiming the saying ldquoIt takes a village to raise a childrdquo and replace it with ldquoIt takes a village to raise a doctorrdquo The community supporting me is composed of a mish-mash of characters all of who enrich my life with their own experiences At first I believed it was weak to ask for help in a journey I alone chose to embark I finally found strength when I asked for help from the people who wanted me to succeed the most from asking my family to drop off a meal or taking a zen walk to grab coffee at Dr Schenartsrsquos office with friends
If you could do your M1 year over again what would you do differently I wouldnrsquot waste as much time with my own insecurities What no one explicitly tells you when starting medical school is that itrsquos cruelly similar to high school in that you are afraid you wonrsquot make friends that you wonrsquot impress your professors and that yoursquoll disappoint your family My deepest regret was fearing this experiencemdashmy very own lsquobildungsromanrsquo (coming of age story) I wish I jumped more fearlessly into the unknown said yes to more things and wasnrsquot so afraid that I was ldquotoo strongrdquo of a personality
2020-2021 Events for COM Students Sponsored by the Parents and Family Association or the College of Medicine Alumni Council Spouses Reception PostponedVirtual Family Day August 20-21 2020M4 Interview Skills Workshop TBDMatch Day March 19th 2021M1 Picnic Dependent on COVID guidelines
Newsletter | 6
Newsletter | 7
UNMC Medical Student Finds COVID-19 Disproportionally Affects Vulnerable CommunitiesRohan Khazanchi a fourth-year medical student is the lead author in a research letter published in
the Journal of General Internal Medicine that found COVID-19 disproportionally affects people holding
historically marginalized identities Khazanchi his collaborator and their mentor analyzed COVID-19 case
and death rates at the county level using data compiled by The New York Times from health agency
reports The team based its evaluation of county-level risk characteristics on the Center for Disease Control
and Preventionrsquos validated Social Vulnerability Index
Khazanchi concluded that the increased risk of infection
among minorities is ldquoLess about individual choices
and more about the difficult decisions that folks from
marginalized communities have to makerdquo Read more
about the findings here
Have you heardThe UNMC Alumni Association created a special blog for students The Connections Project where
you can access real-world info from unmcalumni to enhance your time while yoursquore at UNMC
See a new written or video post every Wednesday
Topics that have been covered so far wellbeing personal finance professional skills
organizational tips and so much more
Click here to subscribe to the blog | httpsblogunmcedualumni-association
You can also view posts on social media
UNMC_AA UNMCalum UNMC Alumni Group
Download the UNMC App - click on the Alumni button
Rohan Khazanchi
Newsletter | 8
Contact UsThe Parents amp Family Association Advisory Council gets administrative support from the UNMC Alumni Relations Office For more information contact
Laura Olson Alumni Engagement Coordinator 4025594378 or laurajolsonunmcedu
College of Medicine Parents amp Family Association 985200 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha NE 68198-5200 4025594385
wwwunmcedualumni alumniunmcedu
UNMC Medical Students Provide Support to RefugeesA group of medical students spearheaded by
third-year Seif Nasir have been working to assist
refugees in Lincoln and Omaha in navigating
the COVID-19 pandemic by providing them with
food and toiletry items as well as information on
COVID-19 This initiative ldquoMedical Students United
with Neighbors Across Americardquo or MUNA Box
Project stemmed from Nasirrsquos experience as the
son of Palestinian refugees and his past work with
refugee communities
ldquoHere in Omaha as one of the major refugee resettlement cities in the US we have this population
of people that are often marginalized or not specifically targeted and have needs that are neglected
by a lot of interventionsrdquo he said
The group partnered with community leaders and refugee organizations to determine community
needs as well as to include culturally appropriate food items in the boxes Additionally the group
hopes to work with translators who can assist in providing accessible information about COVID-19
Nasirrsquos mother Arwa Nasir MD division chief of general pediatrics and associate professor in the
UNMC Department of Pediatrics produced the first pamphlet for the group in Arabic
Read more about the MUNA Box Project and their hopes to expand this initiative here
Medical students Paul Witt Alexander Tu David Fu and Seif Nasir packed more than 100 MUNA boxes for a community distribution event in May Photo credit UNMC Public Relations
2020-2021 College of Medicine Student Calendar
SemestersFirst Semester (M1-M2) August 24 2020 ndash December 18 2020First Semester (M3) June 29 2020 ndash December 18 2020First Semester (M4) July 6 2020 ndash December 18 2020
Second Semester (M1) January 4 2021 ndash May 28 2021Second Semester (M2) January 11 2021 ndash June 30 2021Second Semester (M3) January 4 2021 ndash June 25 2021Second Semester (M4) January 4 2021 ndash May 2 2021
Recesses amp Holidays Labor Day September 7 2020M3 Fall Break September 19-27 2020Thanksgiving November 26-27 2020Winter Recess (M3-M4) December 19 2020-January 3 2021Winter Recess (M2) December 19 2020-January 10 2021Winter Recess (M1) December 19 2020-January 4 2021Martin Luther King Day January 18 2021Spring Recess (M1) March 6-14 2021Spring Recess (M2) March 13-21 2021Spring Recess (M3-M4) March 27-April 4 2021
Special EventsWinter Commencement December 18 2020Deadline for filing for December Graduation October 10 2020Spring Commencement May 8 2021
Newsletter | 5
M1 Words of Wisdom From Daniela Cortes Reyes What is the number one piece of advice you would give to incoming students Be true to your heartmdashif you feel like crying while memorizing ldquohigh yieldrdquo esotericisms then please do Spending your time questioning if everyone is struggling as much as you are is not only defeatist but itrsquos also a disservice to you and your accomplishments No one including yourself has the right to dictate how you study how you process emotions and ultimately how you live PS Everyone is just as clueless as you are
What was your biggest ldquoahardquo moment as a first year medical student Irsquom a firm believer of reclaiming the saying ldquoIt takes a village to raise a childrdquo and replace it with ldquoIt takes a village to raise a doctorrdquo The community supporting me is composed of a mish-mash of characters all of who enrich my life with their own experiences At first I believed it was weak to ask for help in a journey I alone chose to embark I finally found strength when I asked for help from the people who wanted me to succeed the most from asking my family to drop off a meal or taking a zen walk to grab coffee at Dr Schenartsrsquos office with friends
If you could do your M1 year over again what would you do differently I wouldnrsquot waste as much time with my own insecurities What no one explicitly tells you when starting medical school is that itrsquos cruelly similar to high school in that you are afraid you wonrsquot make friends that you wonrsquot impress your professors and that yoursquoll disappoint your family My deepest regret was fearing this experiencemdashmy very own lsquobildungsromanrsquo (coming of age story) I wish I jumped more fearlessly into the unknown said yes to more things and wasnrsquot so afraid that I was ldquotoo strongrdquo of a personality
2020-2021 Events for COM Students Sponsored by the Parents and Family Association or the College of Medicine Alumni Council Spouses Reception PostponedVirtual Family Day August 20-21 2020M4 Interview Skills Workshop TBDMatch Day March 19th 2021M1 Picnic Dependent on COVID guidelines
Newsletter | 6
Newsletter | 7
UNMC Medical Student Finds COVID-19 Disproportionally Affects Vulnerable CommunitiesRohan Khazanchi a fourth-year medical student is the lead author in a research letter published in
the Journal of General Internal Medicine that found COVID-19 disproportionally affects people holding
historically marginalized identities Khazanchi his collaborator and their mentor analyzed COVID-19 case
and death rates at the county level using data compiled by The New York Times from health agency
reports The team based its evaluation of county-level risk characteristics on the Center for Disease Control
and Preventionrsquos validated Social Vulnerability Index
Khazanchi concluded that the increased risk of infection
among minorities is ldquoLess about individual choices
and more about the difficult decisions that folks from
marginalized communities have to makerdquo Read more
about the findings here
Have you heardThe UNMC Alumni Association created a special blog for students The Connections Project where
you can access real-world info from unmcalumni to enhance your time while yoursquore at UNMC
See a new written or video post every Wednesday
Topics that have been covered so far wellbeing personal finance professional skills
organizational tips and so much more
Click here to subscribe to the blog | httpsblogunmcedualumni-association
You can also view posts on social media
UNMC_AA UNMCalum UNMC Alumni Group
Download the UNMC App - click on the Alumni button
Rohan Khazanchi
Newsletter | 8
Contact UsThe Parents amp Family Association Advisory Council gets administrative support from the UNMC Alumni Relations Office For more information contact
Laura Olson Alumni Engagement Coordinator 4025594378 or laurajolsonunmcedu
College of Medicine Parents amp Family Association 985200 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha NE 68198-5200 4025594385
wwwunmcedualumni alumniunmcedu
UNMC Medical Students Provide Support to RefugeesA group of medical students spearheaded by
third-year Seif Nasir have been working to assist
refugees in Lincoln and Omaha in navigating
the COVID-19 pandemic by providing them with
food and toiletry items as well as information on
COVID-19 This initiative ldquoMedical Students United
with Neighbors Across Americardquo or MUNA Box
Project stemmed from Nasirrsquos experience as the
son of Palestinian refugees and his past work with
refugee communities
ldquoHere in Omaha as one of the major refugee resettlement cities in the US we have this population
of people that are often marginalized or not specifically targeted and have needs that are neglected
by a lot of interventionsrdquo he said
The group partnered with community leaders and refugee organizations to determine community
needs as well as to include culturally appropriate food items in the boxes Additionally the group
hopes to work with translators who can assist in providing accessible information about COVID-19
Nasirrsquos mother Arwa Nasir MD division chief of general pediatrics and associate professor in the
UNMC Department of Pediatrics produced the first pamphlet for the group in Arabic
Read more about the MUNA Box Project and their hopes to expand this initiative here
Medical students Paul Witt Alexander Tu David Fu and Seif Nasir packed more than 100 MUNA boxes for a community distribution event in May Photo credit UNMC Public Relations
M1 Words of Wisdom From Daniela Cortes Reyes What is the number one piece of advice you would give to incoming students Be true to your heartmdashif you feel like crying while memorizing ldquohigh yieldrdquo esotericisms then please do Spending your time questioning if everyone is struggling as much as you are is not only defeatist but itrsquos also a disservice to you and your accomplishments No one including yourself has the right to dictate how you study how you process emotions and ultimately how you live PS Everyone is just as clueless as you are
What was your biggest ldquoahardquo moment as a first year medical student Irsquom a firm believer of reclaiming the saying ldquoIt takes a village to raise a childrdquo and replace it with ldquoIt takes a village to raise a doctorrdquo The community supporting me is composed of a mish-mash of characters all of who enrich my life with their own experiences At first I believed it was weak to ask for help in a journey I alone chose to embark I finally found strength when I asked for help from the people who wanted me to succeed the most from asking my family to drop off a meal or taking a zen walk to grab coffee at Dr Schenartsrsquos office with friends
If you could do your M1 year over again what would you do differently I wouldnrsquot waste as much time with my own insecurities What no one explicitly tells you when starting medical school is that itrsquos cruelly similar to high school in that you are afraid you wonrsquot make friends that you wonrsquot impress your professors and that yoursquoll disappoint your family My deepest regret was fearing this experiencemdashmy very own lsquobildungsromanrsquo (coming of age story) I wish I jumped more fearlessly into the unknown said yes to more things and wasnrsquot so afraid that I was ldquotoo strongrdquo of a personality
2020-2021 Events for COM Students Sponsored by the Parents and Family Association or the College of Medicine Alumni Council Spouses Reception PostponedVirtual Family Day August 20-21 2020M4 Interview Skills Workshop TBDMatch Day March 19th 2021M1 Picnic Dependent on COVID guidelines
Newsletter | 6
Newsletter | 7
UNMC Medical Student Finds COVID-19 Disproportionally Affects Vulnerable CommunitiesRohan Khazanchi a fourth-year medical student is the lead author in a research letter published in
the Journal of General Internal Medicine that found COVID-19 disproportionally affects people holding
historically marginalized identities Khazanchi his collaborator and their mentor analyzed COVID-19 case
and death rates at the county level using data compiled by The New York Times from health agency
reports The team based its evaluation of county-level risk characteristics on the Center for Disease Control
and Preventionrsquos validated Social Vulnerability Index
Khazanchi concluded that the increased risk of infection
among minorities is ldquoLess about individual choices
and more about the difficult decisions that folks from
marginalized communities have to makerdquo Read more
about the findings here
Have you heardThe UNMC Alumni Association created a special blog for students The Connections Project where
you can access real-world info from unmcalumni to enhance your time while yoursquore at UNMC
See a new written or video post every Wednesday
Topics that have been covered so far wellbeing personal finance professional skills
organizational tips and so much more
Click here to subscribe to the blog | httpsblogunmcedualumni-association
You can also view posts on social media
UNMC_AA UNMCalum UNMC Alumni Group
Download the UNMC App - click on the Alumni button
Rohan Khazanchi
Newsletter | 8
Contact UsThe Parents amp Family Association Advisory Council gets administrative support from the UNMC Alumni Relations Office For more information contact
Laura Olson Alumni Engagement Coordinator 4025594378 or laurajolsonunmcedu
College of Medicine Parents amp Family Association 985200 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha NE 68198-5200 4025594385
wwwunmcedualumni alumniunmcedu
UNMC Medical Students Provide Support to RefugeesA group of medical students spearheaded by
third-year Seif Nasir have been working to assist
refugees in Lincoln and Omaha in navigating
the COVID-19 pandemic by providing them with
food and toiletry items as well as information on
COVID-19 This initiative ldquoMedical Students United
with Neighbors Across Americardquo or MUNA Box
Project stemmed from Nasirrsquos experience as the
son of Palestinian refugees and his past work with
refugee communities
ldquoHere in Omaha as one of the major refugee resettlement cities in the US we have this population
of people that are often marginalized or not specifically targeted and have needs that are neglected
by a lot of interventionsrdquo he said
The group partnered with community leaders and refugee organizations to determine community
needs as well as to include culturally appropriate food items in the boxes Additionally the group
hopes to work with translators who can assist in providing accessible information about COVID-19
Nasirrsquos mother Arwa Nasir MD division chief of general pediatrics and associate professor in the
UNMC Department of Pediatrics produced the first pamphlet for the group in Arabic
Read more about the MUNA Box Project and their hopes to expand this initiative here
Medical students Paul Witt Alexander Tu David Fu and Seif Nasir packed more than 100 MUNA boxes for a community distribution event in May Photo credit UNMC Public Relations
Newsletter | 7
UNMC Medical Student Finds COVID-19 Disproportionally Affects Vulnerable CommunitiesRohan Khazanchi a fourth-year medical student is the lead author in a research letter published in
the Journal of General Internal Medicine that found COVID-19 disproportionally affects people holding
historically marginalized identities Khazanchi his collaborator and their mentor analyzed COVID-19 case
and death rates at the county level using data compiled by The New York Times from health agency
reports The team based its evaluation of county-level risk characteristics on the Center for Disease Control
and Preventionrsquos validated Social Vulnerability Index
Khazanchi concluded that the increased risk of infection
among minorities is ldquoLess about individual choices
and more about the difficult decisions that folks from
marginalized communities have to makerdquo Read more
about the findings here
Have you heardThe UNMC Alumni Association created a special blog for students The Connections Project where
you can access real-world info from unmcalumni to enhance your time while yoursquore at UNMC
See a new written or video post every Wednesday
Topics that have been covered so far wellbeing personal finance professional skills
organizational tips and so much more
Click here to subscribe to the blog | httpsblogunmcedualumni-association
You can also view posts on social media
UNMC_AA UNMCalum UNMC Alumni Group
Download the UNMC App - click on the Alumni button
Rohan Khazanchi
Newsletter | 8
Contact UsThe Parents amp Family Association Advisory Council gets administrative support from the UNMC Alumni Relations Office For more information contact
Laura Olson Alumni Engagement Coordinator 4025594378 or laurajolsonunmcedu
College of Medicine Parents amp Family Association 985200 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha NE 68198-5200 4025594385
wwwunmcedualumni alumniunmcedu
UNMC Medical Students Provide Support to RefugeesA group of medical students spearheaded by
third-year Seif Nasir have been working to assist
refugees in Lincoln and Omaha in navigating
the COVID-19 pandemic by providing them with
food and toiletry items as well as information on
COVID-19 This initiative ldquoMedical Students United
with Neighbors Across Americardquo or MUNA Box
Project stemmed from Nasirrsquos experience as the
son of Palestinian refugees and his past work with
refugee communities
ldquoHere in Omaha as one of the major refugee resettlement cities in the US we have this population
of people that are often marginalized or not specifically targeted and have needs that are neglected
by a lot of interventionsrdquo he said
The group partnered with community leaders and refugee organizations to determine community
needs as well as to include culturally appropriate food items in the boxes Additionally the group
hopes to work with translators who can assist in providing accessible information about COVID-19
Nasirrsquos mother Arwa Nasir MD division chief of general pediatrics and associate professor in the
UNMC Department of Pediatrics produced the first pamphlet for the group in Arabic
Read more about the MUNA Box Project and their hopes to expand this initiative here
Medical students Paul Witt Alexander Tu David Fu and Seif Nasir packed more than 100 MUNA boxes for a community distribution event in May Photo credit UNMC Public Relations
Newsletter | 8
Contact UsThe Parents amp Family Association Advisory Council gets administrative support from the UNMC Alumni Relations Office For more information contact
Laura Olson Alumni Engagement Coordinator 4025594378 or laurajolsonunmcedu
College of Medicine Parents amp Family Association 985200 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha NE 68198-5200 4025594385
wwwunmcedualumni alumniunmcedu
UNMC Medical Students Provide Support to RefugeesA group of medical students spearheaded by
third-year Seif Nasir have been working to assist
refugees in Lincoln and Omaha in navigating
the COVID-19 pandemic by providing them with
food and toiletry items as well as information on
COVID-19 This initiative ldquoMedical Students United
with Neighbors Across Americardquo or MUNA Box
Project stemmed from Nasirrsquos experience as the
son of Palestinian refugees and his past work with
refugee communities
ldquoHere in Omaha as one of the major refugee resettlement cities in the US we have this population
of people that are often marginalized or not specifically targeted and have needs that are neglected
by a lot of interventionsrdquo he said
The group partnered with community leaders and refugee organizations to determine community
needs as well as to include culturally appropriate food items in the boxes Additionally the group
hopes to work with translators who can assist in providing accessible information about COVID-19
Nasirrsquos mother Arwa Nasir MD division chief of general pediatrics and associate professor in the
UNMC Department of Pediatrics produced the first pamphlet for the group in Arabic
Read more about the MUNA Box Project and their hopes to expand this initiative here
Medical students Paul Witt Alexander Tu David Fu and Seif Nasir packed more than 100 MUNA boxes for a community distribution event in May Photo credit UNMC Public Relations
