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 45th 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!
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.
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
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.
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.
Nada Fadul, MD, FIDSASara Bares, MD
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-Penfieldis 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.
Angela Hewlett, MDNicolas Cortes-Penfield, MD
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.
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
Several representatives of the UNMC/NM Specialty Care Center attended the 20th 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
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?
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.
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.
Dr. Bares presenting on ART updatesLunchtime poster sessionDr. Sunagawa presenting on PrEP
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.
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.
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.
The SHEA Spring 2025 meeting promises to be a vibrant gathering of thought leaders in healthcare epidemiology and infection prevention. Held from April 26-30, 2025, in beautiful Championsgate, FL, the event will feature groundbreaking research, innovative practices, and insightful discussions. We’re thrilled to highlight the brilliant presenters from our division, each contributing to the advancement of healthcare practices:
Posters:
Division Authors:Kate Tyner*, Jody Scebold, M. Salman Ashraf, Dan German, Rebecca Martinez, Josette McConville, Sarah Stream, Mounica Soma, Juan Teran Plascencia (Nebraska ICAP) Presentation: Infection Prevention Program Infrastructure and Implementation of Best Practice Recommendations in Outpatient Healthcare Facilities Times:
Poster session: Wednesday, April 30, 12:00–1:30 PM
Featured in a Science Salon: Monday, April 28, 1:00–1:30 PM (presented by a SHEA SME)
Division Authors:Evangeline (Gigi) Green*, Jonathan Ryder, and Jasmine R. Marcelin Presentation: Turning Crisis into Opportunity: Blood Culture Stewardship and the National Impact of a Blood Culture Shortage on Clinical Care Time: Poster Session: Tuesday, April 29, 12:00–1:30 PM
Division Authors:Miranda Neumann*, Monica Krause, Kelly Goetschkes, Lauren Musil, Mark E. Rupp, Kelly A. Cawcutt Presentation: Knobmanship – A Means to Avoid False Positive Burden of VAE Time: Poster Session: Wednesday, April 30, 12:00–1:30 PM
Division Authors:Richard Hankins*, Miranda Neumann, Elizabeth Grashorn, Kelly Cawcutt Presentation: Evaluation of Healthcare-Associated Infections and Daily Bathing Compliance on BMT Unit after Introduction of 2% CHG Wipes Time: Poster Session: Monday April 28th from 12:00-1:30pm
Division Authors: Jenna Preusker, Juan Teran Placencia,Trevor Van Schooneveld, Scott Bergman, Danny Schroeder, M. Salman Ashraf Presentation: Analyzing Antibiotic Usage Rates Reported to NHSN by Nebraska Hospitals: Insights by Hospital Size and Rurality Time: Poster Session: Monday April 28th from 12:00-1:30pm
Division Authors: Mark Rupp Presentation: Multi-Center, Randomized Study To Evaluate The Efficacy And Safety of Mino-Lok for the management of CLABSI In Hemodialysis Patients Time: Poster Session: Monday April 28th from 12:00-1:30pm
*Presenting Author
Oral Abstracts
Division Presenters:Jonathan Ryder*, Trevor Van Schooneveld, and Kelly Cawcutt Presentation: Are SEP-1 and Blood Culture Stewardship at Odds? Retrospective Review of SEP-1 Failures Pre- and During Blood Culture Shortage Time: Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 8:30–9:30 AM
*Presenting Author
Invited Podium Presentations
Division Speaker: Angela Hewlett Presentation: Approach to Novel Viral Pathogens with Pandemic Potential Time: Monday, April 28, 2025, 11:00–11:30 AM
Division Speaker: Jasmine R Marcelin Presentation: Strategic Stewardship: Essential Skills for Effective Leadership Time: Wednesday, April 30th, 2025, from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM.
Division Speaker: M. Salman Ashraf Presentation: Context: IPC in LTC- where would decolonization fit Time: Wednesday, April 30th, 2025, from 11:33AM to 11:48AM
Panel Speakers
Division Speaker: M. Salman Ashraf Panel: Infection Prevention in Post-Acute Long Term Care Facilities Time: Tuesday, April 29th, 2025, from 10:23AM to 10:34AM
These exceptional presentations showcase the expertise and dedication of our division to pushing the boundaries of infection prevention and clinical care. Be sure to mark your calendar for these sessions—you won’t want to miss the opportunity to learn from these innovative minds!
If you attend one of our sessions, tag us on Bluesky @unmc-id.bsky.social
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