Division of Infectious Diseases

🧬 Science, Safari, and Synergy: Highlights from the 2025 NIDS Annual Meeting

The Nebraska Infectious Diseases Society (NIDS) hosted its annual meeting on Friday, August 15th, at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, bringing together infectious diseases professionals from across the state for a day of learning, collaboration, and community.

This year’s theme, One Health, emphasized the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. The program featured a compelling keynote by IDSA Board Member Dr. Trini Mathew, who spoke on the evolving role of ID physicians in advancing One Health initiatives, and Zoo Science and Animal Health VP Dr. Taylor Yaw, who took us on a journey of One Health through the animals’ and zoo personnel’s eyes.

*View of D*r. Trini Matthew’s presentation through the aquarium with fishes listening to the meeting

Attendees explored a wide range of topics, including:

Zoonotic infections and tick-borne disease genomics
Antibiotic resistance in agriculture
The oral microbiome’s impact on systemic health
A US and Nebraska measles update and Medicaid antimicrobial stewardship review

The meeting also showcased outstanding research during the trainee poster session. Dr. Nicholas Mielke and Dr. Natalie Sturd presented top abstracts as oral podium presentations. The poster session was very competitive, and all of the students did well! The winners of the best posters are as follows:

	Research Category Winners	Case Vignette Category Winners
Top Oral	Nicholas Mielke: Differential Uptake of Zoster and COVID-19 Vaccines in a System without Financial Barriers: A Multivariable Analysis of Race, Demographics, and Provider Factors	Natalie Sturd: A Case of KS-IRIS in Advanced HIV: Challenges in Managing Visceral Kaposi Sarcoma and Pericardial Effusion
1st Place Poster	Sarah Chandler: Genomic epidemiology informs transmission dynamics of West Nile Virus outbreaks in Nebraska	Charlie Speelmon: Persistent Diarrhea of Unknown Etiology: Unravelling a Diagnosis Clinicians Should Not Miss
2nd Place Poster	Duncan Works: Analysis of a Learning Needs Assessment Survey Outcomes to Inform Development of the Extension for Community Health Outcomes Model for HIV Training in Midwestern Non-Metropolitan Areas	Calvin Albrecht: Smear Tactics – Unusual Presentation of Fever in a Returning Traveler
3rd Place Poster	Nicole Kusnik: Intended and Unintended Consequences of a Blood Culture Bottle Shortage: Changes in Antibiotic Prescribing, Contamination Rates, and Sepsis Measures at a Large Academic Institution	Scott Stevenson: Sticky Situations – Identification and Management of Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae in Nebraska

Set against the vibrant backdrop of the zoo, the event was a perfect blend of science, networking, and synergy—truly embodying the spirit of collaboration that defines the Nebraska ID community.

Photo gallery showing learners presenting their abstracts as posters or oral presentations.

Congratulations to all of the trainee presenters and winners, thank you to the judges, and thank you to all of the speakers and the NIDS team members who helped to make this year’s annual meeting a huge success! Stay tuned for next year’s 5-year anniversary meeting!

The NICN and APIC NE Symposium: 45 Years of Progress: Advancing Infection Prevention and Control Together

The Nebraska Infection Control Network (NICN and) the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), in partnership with the Nebraska Methodist College Professional Development, are hosting the 45^th Anniversary Infection Prevention Symposium on Friday August 29, 2025. Join NICN and APIC NE for an engaging and informative workshop dedicated to infection prevention and control in all healthcare settings.

The symposium will begin with a welcome and introductory remarks celebrating the 45th anniversary by NICN President Dr. Rick Starlin (Section Chief, Community ID, Medical Director, Employee Health, UNMC) and will feature internationally renowned expert speakers and interactive discussion on infection prevention strategies, leadership development, vaccination promotion, and media interaction skills. Click here for a full list of content & speakers!

Date/Time/Location: Friday, August 29, 2025, 8:00 AM to 3:15 PM, The Holland Center, 1200 Douglas Street, Omaha, NE 68102

Physicians and Nurses can receive Continuing Education credits with participation in the activity. Register here!

Welcoming our New Infectious Diseases Fellows: Dr. Charlie Oertli

We are excited to welcome Dr. Charlie Oertli as a new fellow in our Infectious Diseases program! Read on to learn a little more about him.

Tell us about the position you are starting
I am starting as a combined adult and pediatric infectious diseases fellow at University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). I will start with 2 years of adult infectious diseases, followed by 2 years of pediatric infectious diseases.

Tell us about your background
I am from Dodge Center, Minnesota, a small town in southern Minnesota. My parents are both accountants, so, naturally, I chose a career in medicine. I received both my Bachelor of Science in Biology and Medical Doctorate degrees from Creighton University. I then completed an Internal Medicine and Pediatrics residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Now, I’m coming back to my second home in Omaha to complete my infectious disease fellowship training.

Why did you choose to come work at UNMC
I loved my time in Omaha, and I couldn’t wait to get back to the land of Runza and college sports! My wife and I met at Creighton and have so many fond memories in this city, so we were really excited to match here. When looking for fellowships, I wanted a program with a large variety of patients and services, so I could get exposure to all of the fields that infectious diseases offers. From the transplant and biocontainment unit services, to the general and community infectious diseases services, I felt like I would get excellent training from the rare and unique infections all the way to the common, everyday consultant questions.

What makes you excited about working in ID
Ever since medical school, I have loved the pathophysiology of infectious organisms thriving in our human biome as well as the pharmacology of the antimicrobials that we get to use to combat those infections. But when I really fell in love with ID was when I started working with the patients. We have an opportunity to serve some of the most vulnerable members of our community struggling with circumstances that most people cannot understand, and I feel like that is a huge privilege that we get as infectious disease doctors.

Tell us something about yourself that is unrelated to medicine
I have many passions outside of work including anything Creighton or Minnesota sports related (especially Creighton basketball and Twins baseball), board games, competition reality TV shows, and running. I studied art history in college, so I love a good art museum (shoutout to the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha!). I also love spending time at the lake with my wife, Jen, and our 8-month-old son, Elliot.

image of a family holding a baby, sitting on a boat in a lake, wearing red/white/blue clothing

two people standing wearing twins jerseys in foreground. background building with other people

🧬 Science, Safari, and Synergy: Nebraska ID Society’s Annual Meeting is THIS FRIDAY!

The Nebraska Infectious Diseases Society (NIDS) annual meeting is this Friday, August 15th at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, from 8am-5pm. Join us for a day filled with insightful discussions, networking opportunities, and the latest updates in the field of infectious diseases. The 2025 meeting has a One Health theme and will include talks from our veterinary and dental colleagues.

Click the arrow to see the full list of sessions and presenters

IDSA Leader Keynote: Role of ID physicians for Supporting One Health	Trini Mathew, MD, MPH, FACP, FIDSA. Associate Professor (adjunct) Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and Wayne State University School of Medicine
Emerging Zoonotic Infections	Taylor Yaw, DVM, CertAqV, Dipl. ACZM, Dipl. ABVP (Fish Practice). Vice President of Science and Animal Health, Henry Doorly Zoo
*Using population genomics of Ixodes scapularis* ticks to understand current and future risk of tick-borne diseases in Nebraska**	Joseph Fauver, PhD. Assistant Professor UNMC Department of Epidemiology Roberto Cartiñas, PhD, DVM. Professor of Practice, University of Nebraska School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Antibacterial Resistance in Agriculture and Its Effect on Human Health, an Agricultural State’s Conundrum	J. Dustin Loy, PhD, DVM. Director, Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center
Emerging Infections and the Human/Wildlife interface	Marnee Rountree, PhD. Wildlife Health Program Manager, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission & Liz VanWormer, PhD, DVM. Associate Professor of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska One Health Coordinator
Oral microbiome and fluoridation and the effects on human health	Jessica Meeske, DDS. Clinical Instructor of Pediatric Dentistry, UNMC College of Dentistry & President of the Nebraska Dental Association
Nebraska Measles Update	Syndey Stein, DVM. Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Epidemiologist.
State Level Medicaid Review of Antimicrobial Use and Budget Implications	Jacob Kilgore, MD, MPH, FAAP. Associate Professor of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Marshall University, West Virginia

Trainee Presentations

One of the most anticipated events held during the meeting is the trainee poster session, which continues to grow each year and features fascinating cases and novel research, most of which is led by trainees, residents, and fellows. As usual, the top abstracts in each category will also be presented orally. A huge congratulations to our top abstract winners: Drs. Nicholas Mielke and Natalie Sturd. In addition to these talks, dozens of other fascinating projects will be presented as part of the poster session.

Natalie Sturd, PhD received her PhD from the lab of Dr. Elizabeth Rucks, examining the host-pathogen interactions of Chlamydia trachomatis. She is currently in her 4th year of medical school at UNMC and in her final year of the MD-PhD program and plans to pursue a combined career as a physician-scientist in infectious disease. Dr. Sturd will present her winning clinical vignette abstract: A Case of KS-IRIS in Advanced HIV: Challenges in Managing Visceral Kaposi Sarcoma and Pericardial Effusion.

Nick Mielke, MD is a third-year internal medicine resident at Creighton University whose work focuses on advancing health equity, optimizing vascular access, and leading vaccine-related research at the intersection of clinical medicine and public health. He has contributed to multiple peer-reviewed publications and presented his research at national conferences. Dr. Mielke will present his winning research abstract: Differential Uptake of Zoster and COVID-19 Vaccines in a System without Financial Barriers: A Multivariable Analysis of Race, Demographics, and Provider Factors

Here is a list of our poster presenters. Stay through the end of the meeting to celebrate the winners of the trainee poster competition!

Click this arrow to see the full list.

Poster ID	Poster Category	Poster Presenter	Poster Title
2	Case Vignette	Cima, Sophia	Development of Fungal Retinitis in Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
3	Research/QI	Moreno, Samantha	Early Exposure to Infectious Diseases Specialty Among Undergraduate Students with Interests in Healthcare Careers
4	Research/QI	Works, Duncan	Analysis of a Learning Needs Assessment Survey Outcomes to Inform Development of the Extension for Community Health Outcomes Model for HIV Training in Midwestern Non-Metropolitan Areas
5	Research/QI	Preusker, Jenna	Analyzing Antibiotic Usage Rates Reported to NHSN by Nebraska Hospitals: Insights by Hospital Size and Rurality
6	Case Vignette	Baxter, Emily	CMV Strikes Back: A Viral Awakening Post-Transplant
7	Case Vignette	Shad, Kari	Kaposi Sarcoma and KSHV/HHV8-Associated Multicentric Castleman Disease: A Case Report
8	Research/QI	Dang, Ashley	Community Acquired Pneumonia and MRSA Nasal Screening Protocol: Appropriately Being Used?
9	Research/QI	Kilzer, Anna	Biopreparedness Education in US Medical Schools
11	Case Vignette	Albrecht, Calvin	Smear Tactics: Unusual Presentation of Fever in a Returning Traveler
12	Case Vignette	Starlin, Makenzie	Hoarseness in Immunocompetent Host – A Rare Etiology
13	Case Vignette	Hesseltine, Lydia	A Puzzle of the White Matter: Navigating Diagnostic Uncertainty
14	Research/QI	Chandler, Sarah	Genomic epidemiology informs transmission dynamics of West Nile virus outbreaks in Nebraska
15	Case Vignette	Speelmon, Charlie	Persistent Diarrhea of Unknown Etiology: Unraveling a Diagnosis Clinicians Should Not Miss
17	Case Vignette	Meyer, Matthew	Enteric/Typhoid Fever in a returning traveler: an approach to a thorough medical workup
18	Research/QI	Kusnik, Nicole	Intended and Unintended Consequences of a Blood Culture Bottle Shortage: Changes in Antibiotic Prescribing, Contamination Rates, and Sepsis Measures at a Large Academic Institution
19	Research/QI	Zwiener, jennifer	Detectable HIV Viral Levels in Pediatric Patients on Injectable Cabotegravir and Rilpivirine
20	Case Vignette	Becken, Bradford	A Cavity in the Infectious Differential: An Atypical Lesion
21	Case Vignette	Uhm, Sarah	Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis due to Pasteurella multocida in a Non-Dialysis Patient with Decompensated Cirrhosis
22	Case Vignette	Youngblood, Olivia	Disseminated Tuberculosis in the Setting of Advanced HIV: A Diagnostic Tightrope
23	Case Vignette	Klementiev, Alexander	A Tale of Two Histoplasma Prosthetic Joint Infections
24	Case Vignette	Bristol, Natalie	Unmasking the Hidden Threats: Complications of Lemierre’s Syndrome
25	Case Vignette	Staab, Ellie	Recurrent Mucosal Leishmaniasis in an Immunocompetent Host Due to Leishmania braziliensis
26	Case Vignette	Rhyner, Jordan	Hepatitis B virus reactivation following switch to long-acting injectable ART: A cautionary case
27	Case Vignette	Stevenson, Scott	Sticky Situations: Identification and Management of Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae in Nebraska
28	Case Vignette	Moody, Joanna	Missed in the Margins: Peritoneal tuberculosis Disguised as Malignancy in Advanced HIV
29	Case Vignette	Meyers, Hunter	When Milk is Not Taken Out to Pasteur: A Case Report on Brucella in an Otherwise Healthy Child
30	Case Vignette	Becken, Bradford	Obtaining a Bacteriophage: A Capsid, A Tail, and Reinventing the Wheel
31	Research/QI	Foral, Pamela A	Evaluation of Allergy to Beta Lactams at a VA Medical Center: An Opportunity to Delabel
32	Case Vignette	Shalmali Mirajkar	Multifocal Brain Abscesses Secondary to Streptococcus constellatus Following Histoplasmosis-induced Bronchial Fistulas in an Adolescent
33	Research/QI	Holderjano, Cole	The Papanicolaou Smear, a Novel Frontier for Chlamydial Transcriptomics
35	Research/QI	Green, Evangeline	Turning Crisis into Opportunity: Blood Culture Stewardship and the National Impact of a Blood Culture Bottle Shortage on Clinical Care
36	Case Vignette	Clodfelder, Christian	Rich Rolled: A Case of Mistaken Identity
37	Research/QI	Mack, Jillian	Stewardship Focused Evaluation of Patients Enrolled in an Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy Program Treated with Ceftriaxone for Penicillin-Susceptible Streptococcus spp. Infections

Welcoming our New Infectious Diseases Fellows: Dr. Albert Wu

portrait photo. subject wearing black suit with blue dress shirt and grey tie. wearing glasses and smiling.

We are excited to welcome Dr. Albert Wu as a new fellow in our Infectious Diseases program! Read on to learn a little more about him

Tell us about the position you are starting
Hello everyone! I will be working as an infectious diseases fellow at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). My responsibilities will be centered around the myriads of infections that can affect our health. I will be learning how to diagnose infections, to treat them with antimicrobials, to prevent their spreading in the context of public health management, and more!

Tell us about your background
I was born in Missouri, but I spent most of my life in South Dakota, close to Sioux Falls. I then enrolled in Washington University in St. Louis for my undergraduate education. Afterwards, I took a gap year working as a medical scribe in the emergency department of several hospitals in St. Louis, where I came to love medicine and decided to make it a career. I returned to South Dakota for medical school at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine and completed my residency at the University of Vermont Medical Center.

Why did you choose to come work at UNMC
For infectious diseases, working at UNMC provides a comprehensive curriculum in all its different aspects. The program provides a balance between clinical rotations and research to allow me to hone my skills in both. It also has a multidisciplinary facility that provides medical care to people from all walks of life throughout Nebraska and the surrounding states, ensuring that we will be prepared to handle any situation. In fact, Nebraska has the highest number of refugees in proportion to its population, so we will receive a robust education in global health. UNMC also stands out with its biocontainment facility, which will provide a unique opportunity to learn about pathogens that otherwise would be difficult to safely handle. Finally, all the above would not be possible without the wonderful faculty here! They are dedicated physicians at the forefront of the field of infections diseases, but at the same time, they are incredible teachers who are always happy to impart their knowledge to us.

Outside of work, coming to UNMC also means I can experience Omaha! I feel that it is an ideally sized city – large enough to run the gamut of activities and attractions, but not so large it becomes overwhelming. It’s got college sports (go Huskers!), outdoors areas and parks, a fantastic world-class zoo, and many more. In addition, this is all while maintaining an affordable cost of living. Omaha also shines with respect to its food – I am a foodie and always happy to try new things to eat! There is something for everyone here in Omaha.

What makes you excited about working in ID
For me, working in infectious diseases gives me the chance to make a difference. The field is always changing, and there are always new challenges to tackle, such as new infections presenting themselves, or known infections becoming resistant to treatment. We’ve lived through the swine flu and COVID-19 and all know how terrible these were. These certainly won’t be the last infectious calamities we encounter, so we need to roll with the punches and rise to the challenge. I want to do my part towards helping patients and meeting these challenges so that we will be able to better handle these conditions in the future.

I also believe that variety is the spice of life, and infectious diseases provides plenty of variety. Any body system can develop some sort of infection, so we will have plenty to learn about. It will never get tiresome being able to help out with so many different conditions. Furthermore, infectious diseases also provides an assortment of career opportunities. We can choose between general ID or focus on a specific sub-specialty (transplant, antibiotic stewardship, HIV, etc.), inpatient or outpatient, or clinical and research positions.

Tell us something about yourself that is unrelated to medicine

In my free time, I love running, particularly running outdoors. It’s a wonderful way to just focus on the nature around me and let all my stress melt away. This has been a life saver in getting me through difficult days. I also love to take pictures of the interesting plants and animals that I encounter so I can try to identify them and read about them later! Some of my other hobbies include reading and playing tennis.

background: lake with fall foliage
foreground: subject standing wearing green long-sleeved t shirt and grey jeans, wearing glasses, smiling

background: waterfalls
foreground: subject standing wearing orange t shirt, wearing glasses, smiling

New Leadership transitions in UNMC ID

2025 is a year of leadership transitions for our division. At the beginning of the year, we welcomed our new Division Chief, Dr. Dave Warren, to the division. Recently a few other leadership transitions have occurred starting July 1, and we are excited to share!

New Specialty Care Clinic Leadership: Dr. Fadul–>Dr. Bares

Dr. Nada Fadul is a Professor of Medicine and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs at UNMC. A University of Khartoum graduate, she has been the Medical Director of the Specialty Care Clinic since she came to UNMC in 2018. She leads the Ryan White HIV programs and focuses on health disparities and global health. During her time in this role, Dr. Fadul has guided the clinic through rural expansion through telehealth, COVID-19 and mpox crisis management, implementation of long-acting antiretroviral treatment programs, and comprehensive HIV education programs. After serving in the Medical Director role for the past 7 years, she is stepping away from these responsibilities to focus on her new role as Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs. She will continue to direct the Ryan White program and see patients in her clinic. Dr. Fadul is a published researcher, mentor, and advocate, serving on the Board of the HIV Medical Association, and multiple other local, national, and international organizations.

Dr. Sara Bares is an Associate Professor at UNMC and as of July 1, is the new Medical Director of the Specialty Care Center. A graduate of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, she completed her residency and fellowship training at the University of Chicago. Since joining University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2013, Dr. Bares has been active in patient care, clinical research, and medical education. She specializes in HIV care, especially for Spanish-speaking populations, and founded a Spanish-language HIV clinic. Dr. Bares is an NIH-funded, nationally and internationally renowned researcher whose scholarship focuses on HIV comorbidities and women’s health. She provides education in both the undergraduate and graduate medical education curricula and has received multiple teaching awards throughout her time at UNMC.

Sara Bares, MD, photographed with the Kaneko columns on Medical Center Plaza on Wednesday, October 26, 2022. — Nada Fadul, MD, FIDSA

New Orthopedic Infectious Diseases Service Leadership: Dr. Hewlett–>Dr. Cortes-Penfield

Dr. Angela Hewlett is Professor of Infectious Diseases and George W Orr MD and Linda Orr Chair in Health Security at UNMC. Dr. Hewlett has been at UNMC since 2009. Her areas of expertise include biopreparedness/biocontainment and orthopedic infections. She is the Medical Director of the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, and played a key role in treating patients with Ebola virus disease as well as some of the first COVID-19 patients in the U.S. A UTMB graduate, she is the author of a biopreparedness textbook. She leads education in biocontainment at UNMC and developed a biopreparedness and biocontainment Enhanced Medical Education Track (EMET) program in the medical school. Dr. Hewlett was the founding Medical Director of the Orthopedic Infectious Diseases Service Line, is a past-President of the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS), and is a national and international expert on orthopedic infections.

Dr. Nicolas Cortes-Penfield is an Associate Professor at UNMC and as of July 1, he is the Medical Director of the Orthopedic Infectious Diseases Service Line. He specializes in orthopedic infectious diseases and outpatient IV antibiotic therapy. He has been the Medical Director of the Nebraska Medicine Outpatient Parental Antimicrobial Therapy Program since 2019, leading the expansion of this program and guideline development. A Baylor College of Medicine graduate, Dr. Cortes-Penfield is a national and international expert known for his work on device-related infections and evidence-based practice. He’s a mentor, educator, and award-winning faculty member, active in the IDSA Medical Education Community.

New Leadership Position: Nebraska Biocontainment Unit

Dr. Richard Hankins will be joining the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit (NBU) Leadership team as Associate Medical Director of the NBU. Dr. Hankins is an Assistant Professor at UNMC, and an Associate Medical Director of Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Control at Nebraska Medicine. Dr. Hankins has been a member NBU team for several years. He will be working closely with Dr. Hewlett to continue the success of the NBU.

Congratulations to Drs. Bares, Cortes-Penfield, and Hankins on their new leadership roles, and huge thank you to Drs. Fadul and Hewlett on their outstanding leadership and mentorship of junior faculty to step into their roles.

Mid-Year Accolades! – We are so PROUD of our people!

Congratulations to members of our division for their achievements and recognitions so far this year! These are just a few of the outstanding accomplishments of our division.

Kelly Cawcutt MD, Rick Starlin MD, and Nico Cortes-Penfield MD, are part of the inaugural graduating class of the inaugural Nebraska Medicine Physician Leadership Academy. Sara Bares MD, will join the Physician Leadership Academy this academic year.

Jenn Davis, MD was one of the top-performing reviewers for Clinical Infectious Diseases this quarter. She completed multiple reviews that the editors rated as the highest quality and received a notice of appreciation for this achievement.

Kelly Cawcutt, MD was elected to Fellowship of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA).

Jasmine R. Marcelin, MD was invited as an international faculty member to deliver a career development workshop session as part of the Emory-Nigeria Research Training Program Workshop in Lagos, Nigeria

Angela Hewlett, MD was selected as chair of the inaugural IDSA Outbreak and Pandemic Preparedness Panel

Jonathan Ryder, MD presented a webinar to the Healthcare Association for New York State titled “Stewarding Skin and Soft Tissue Infections”

Andre Kalil, MD was the invited guest for the Critical Matters Podcast, in which he discussed his approach on the management of patients with pneumonia in the ICU.

James Lawler, MD led a Kenyan health delegation through a tour of the Training, Simulation and Quarantine Center, and the National Quarantine Unit.

Jasmine R. Marcelin, MD contributed to a brand-new chapter in the new edition of Mandell’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, focused on Communicating about infectious diseases with the public. This new addition to the textbook highlights the important role infectious disease physicians play in guiding communities through times of uncertainty and crisis. Drs. Mark Rupp, Nico Cortes-Penfield, Jonathan Ryder, Trevor Van Schooneveld and Paul Fey, also authored recurring chapters in this edition of Mandell’s.

Angela Hewlett, MD and Nico Cortes-Penfield, MD were invited delegates at the International Consensus Meeting on Periprosthetic Joint Infection (ICM) in Istanbul, Turkey

Scott Bergman, PharmD received the Commitments to Pharmacy Excellence award from the West Virginia University Hospitals residency program and gave the keynote address at their graduation banquet

Richard Hankins, MD received the Dr. James A. Cottone Research Award from the Association for Dental Safety

Nico Cortes-Penfield, MD was promoted to Associate Professor on July 1

Andrea Zimmer, MD was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honors Society

Trevor Van Schooneveld, MD was an invited speaker in 2 sessions at the ASM Microbe conference in June

Jenn Davis, MD was the faculty lead on an e module titled, “Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Guide to Treatment” for the E learning awards program cohort this year. Dr. Jonathan Ryder, Shawna Sunagawa, and Dr. Richard Hankins also participated from our department. This e-module was the top vote recipient!

Rick Starlin, MD leads the Bronchiectasis and NTM clinics, recently designated as a Bronchiectasis and NTM Care Center Network by the Bronchiectasis and NTM Association

Caroline Song joined as our new ID Fellowship Program Coordinator

Elizabeth Schnaubelt, MD was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Air Force

David Warren, MD joined us as our new Division Chief in January

Mark Rupp, MD became the interim Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine in January

Strong Representation from UNMC Specialty Care Clinic at International HIV Conference

Several representatives of the UNMC/NM Specialty Care Center attended the 20^th anniversary of the Continuum Conference (formerly Adherence Conference) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This is an annual conference hosted by the International Association of Providers in AIDS Care. This year’s theme focused on Reframing HIV Care, with plenary sessions covering the HIV Care Continuum, long acting antiretroviral therapy and differentiated service models, HIV PrEP, quality of life measures in HIV care, implementation science and social determinants of health.

UNMC/NM attendees and speakers include (pictured below L-R):

Maureen Kubat, RN (et al): Long-Acting Injectable ART Preferences Among Midwestern People with HIV Living Remotely from Care Facilities

Dr. Nada Fadul: Building HIV Capacity During Conflict: Insights from the Sudan ECHO Program (oral abstract)

Nikki Regan, APRN (et al): If You Don’t Ask, Will they Tell? Screening for Depression in a Midwest HIV Clinic (oral abstract)

Jen O’Neill, RN (et al): Long-Acting Injectable ART Preferences Among Midwestern People with HIV Living Remotely from Care Facilities

Renae Furl (et al): Increasing HIV Education Access for Midwestern Primary Care Providers: A Digital Approach

Content provided by Nikki Regan, APRN

World Bronchiectasis Day – Raising Awareness, Inspiring Action

Every year on July 1st, the global community comes together to recognize World Bronchiectasis Day—a vital initiative aimed at raising awareness, sharing knowledge, and advocating for better care for those affected by bronchiectasis.

What is Bronchiectasis?

overlaying a dark blue background, is a graphic of a human chest, and overlaying this are a pair of lungs with abnormally widened airways

Bronchiectasis is a chronic lung condition where the airways become abnormally widened, leading to a build-up of mucus and recurring lung infections. It can significantly impact a person’s quality of life, causing persistent coughing, breathlessness, and fatigue. Despite its seriousness, bronchiectasis remains underdiagnosed and often misunderstood.

How You Can Get Involved

Spread the Word: Share information on social media using the hashtag #WorldBronchiectasisDay.
Visit the Official Website: www.WorldBronchiectasisDay.org for educational materials, patient stories, and event listings.
Support Patients and Families: Help connect patients with specialized care by referring them to Nebraska Medicine’s newly accredited Bronchiectasis and NTM clinics, designed to provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary, expert-led evaluation and treatment.

Content provided with review by: Rick Starlin, MD

UNMC Specialty Care Center Co-Hosts Nebraska HIV Prevention and Care Update Conference

The Nebraska HIV Prevention and Care Update on May 8, 2025, brought together healthcare professionals, public health leaders, and community advocates to share the latest developments in HIV care, prevention, and support services. The event emphasized innovation, community-based strategies, and integrated care models. The 2025 HIV Update conference was hosted in person at Mammel Hall at UNO, as well as virtually, and had over 150 attendees in total.

Session Highlights

Co-chairs Andy Dillehay, Gaye Gwion, and Nikki Regan offered opening remarks to set the tone for a collaborative and forward-thinking day focused on improving HIV outcomes across Nebraska. Logan Reynolds (NEDHHS Ryan White Program Coordinator) and Daemon Donigan (AIDS United Specialist) provided updates on the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, HOPWA, and capacity-building efforts. They highlighted funding priorities, service delivery improvements, and strategies to enhance provider training and infrastructure.

Dr. Sara Bares (UNMC Associate Professor) discussed the evolving landscape of HIV treatment, emphasizing long-acting injectable therapy options. Dr. Jenn Davis (UNMC Assistant Professor) followed with updates on integrating HIV care into primary care settings, stressing the importance of patient-centered approaches to address lifelong co-morbidity risks for patients living longer with HIV.

Dr. Josh Havens (HIV program PharmD) introduced next-generation PrEP options, including long-acting injectables and new delivery methods. Dr. Shawna Sunagawa (HIV program PharmD) focused on community-based interventions, highlighting culturally responsive strategies to expand PrEP access, and citing a current outreach effort at One World Community Health Center.

In the foreground, presenter dressed in pink blazer and black slacks standing infront a brown podium with microphone. in background a presentation screen with white background, blue lettering at the top saying "Real World Effectiveness of LA ART". remainder of text not legible in photo. — Dr. Bares presenting on ART updates

Image depicting several people in a classroom setting standing in front of two presentation screens with white backgrounds, text not legible. some people are seated in chairs around a table. — Dr. Bares presenting on ART updates

The lunch hour was a chance for in-person attendees to network with others, including several SCC team members who hosted the inaugural HIV Update Poster Hall. Jen O’Neill and Mo Kubat (SCC Cabenuva nurses/program coordinators) shared a poster highlighting current impacts of the IM-CAPABLE study, to expand long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy to central Nebraska. Emmanuel Essam-Nkodo (SCC Research Coordinator) also shared 2 posters which have been viewed at international conferences, showcasing the impact of Medicaid expansion on HIV outcomes in Nebraska as well as access to COVID-19 treatments for people with HIV in Nebraska.

Melissa Neuenfeldt (RN, COO) and Dr. Dalton Nelsen (UNMC, HEAL CEO) presented HEAL Omaha’s street medicine model, which delivers care directly to unhoused and underserved individuals. Their work demonstrates how mobile outreach can bridge gaps in HIV prevention and treatment.

presentation screen with dark background and white text, in the center is a blurry image with white background and red and blue dots depicting program participation. In the foreground are two presenters dressed professionally, one standing at a brown podium and the other sitting in a chair to his left.

Lance Burwell (SCC Behavioral Therapist) and Renae Furl (SCC Clinical Study Coordinator) explored the intersection of behavioral health and HIV management, advocating for trauma-informed practices to support vulnerable populations and improve engagement in care. They also described the recent successes and lessons learned through the innovative i2TEC project, which supports patients with telehealth based coaching sessions.

Alyssa Maxwell (CenterPointe Program Director) addressed the impact of substance use on HIV transmission and care. She emphasized integrated health teams and supportive services as key to reducing stigma and improving outcomes.

Nikki Regan, Gaye Gwion, and Daemon Donigan concluded the day by reinforcing the importance of collaboration, innovation, and community engagement in the fight against HIV in Nebraska. We thank all our community partners and attendees.

20 people standing on stairs dressed professionally, smiling. in the background outside is a bright day with a blue sky. — Conference Planning Committee

If you are interested in attending future HIV Update conferences, or have suggestions for important topics, please contact Nikki Regan at nregan@nebraskamed.com.

Division of Infectious Diseases

🧬 Science, Safari, and Synergy: Highlights from the 2025 NIDS Annual Meeting

The NICN and APIC NE Symposium: 45 Years of Progress: Advancing Infection Prevention and Control Together

Welcoming our New Infectious Diseases Fellows: Dr. Charlie Oertli

🧬 Science, Safari, and Synergy: Nebraska ID Society’s Annual Meeting is THIS FRIDAY!

Trainee Presentations

Welcoming our New Infectious Diseases Fellows: Dr. Albert Wu

New Leadership transitions in UNMC ID

Mid-Year Accolades! – We are so PROUD of our people!

Strong Representation from UNMC Specialty Care Clinic at International HIV Conference

World Bronchiectasis Day – Raising Awareness, Inspiring Action

UNMC Specialty Care Center Co-Hosts Nebraska HIV Prevention and Care Update Conference

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