Category: Uncategorized

New residents are ready to get started

On March 18, five first-year residents matched with the UNMC Department of Psychiatry. The new interns bring the number of psychiatry residents to 15. The new residents will arrive in June and start rotations in July. George Blankenau, MD; Jacob Givens, MD; and Harrison Greene, MD, matched after graduating from the UNMC College of Medicine. […]

May 2, 2022

Mark Aksamit, MPAS, PA-C, was named NAPA Physician Assistant of the Year

Mark Aksamit, MPAS, PA-C, was named the Nebraska Academy of Physician Assistants (NAPA) Physician Assistant of the Year. While Aksamit, APP Ambulatory Supervisor for the Department of Psychiatry, admitted he didn’t believe he would win the prestigious award, his colleagues thought he was very deserving. He was nominated by Maggie Emerson, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, who […]

May 2, 2022

Dr. Varun Sharma accepts two new roles

On March 7, 2022, Varun Sharma, MD, was named APP Collaboration Director in the UNMC Department of Psychiatry. This role includes overseeing ongoing professional development for APPs, promoting productive interprofessional relationships, developing efficient workflows, and identifying competencies that tie to levels of supervision and triage.  Dr. Sharma will also co-lead the exploration of, and possible […]

Apr 5, 2022

SPOTLIGHT: Margaret Elmore, RN, BSN

Margaret “Mags” Elmore was born in Georgia and moved to Nebraska in 2017. She graduated from UNMC with her BSN in May 2020. Mags worked in the medical surgical division at the VA before moving on to work inpatient psychiatry at BTNRH. She joined the UNMC/Nebraska Medicine Department of Psychiatry in November 2021. Mags is […]

Apr 5, 2022

UNMC Psychiatry welcomes five new residents

On March 18, five first-year residents matched with the UNMC Department of Psychiatry. The new interns bring the number of psychiatry residents to 15. George Blankenau, MD; Jacob Givens, MD; and Harrison Greene, MD, matched after graduating from the UNMC College of Medicine. Casey Reihe, MD, will join the department after graduating from the University […]

Apr 5, 2022

Dr. Balasanova honored for her work with residents

UNMC Psychiatrist Alëna Balasanova, MD, FAPA, received the 2020‐2021 Irma Bland, MD, Certificate of Excellence in Teaching Residents by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and its Council on Medical Education and Lifelong Learning. The certificate recognizes Dr. Balasanova’s outstanding and sustaining contributions in educating residents. This award was established in honor of the late Irma […]

Apr 5, 2022

Residency Program celebrates accreditation, looks forward to Match Day

On February 11, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) announced that the three-year-old UNMC Department of Psychiatry Residency Program had reached continued accreditation, an important milestone. In 2019, the Department of Psychiatry received provisional accreditation, and, under that status, they matched the initial four interns. For the next match class, the program expanded […]

Mar 2, 2022

Dr. Kelly named Resident of the Year

Matthew Kelly, MD, has been named Lasting Hope Recovery Center’s BHECN Resident of the Year for 2021. Dr. Kelly is a second-year resident with the UNMC Department of Psychiatry. He said he was humbled and appreciative to be recognized with this honor. “I’m especially grateful to be recognized by such knowledgeable faculty at Lasting Hope, […]

Mar 2, 2022

Office of Inclusions plans events for 2022

The UNMC Office of Inclusion, headed by adult psychiatrist Sheritta Strong, MD, DFAPA, has been very busy in early 2022. Dr. Strong said her and her team has not only helped put together events to celebrate February’s Black History Month, it has also been working on ways to celebrate Women’s History Month (March), Asian-Americans and […]

Mar 2, 2022

SPOTLIGHT: Douglas Coffey, RN, MSN

Douglas has worked in many different nursing roles during the past four decades, including as a Staff RN, Charge RN, Unit Director, Director of Support Services, Director of Access and Outpatient Services, Director of Patient Services, CNO and CEO of Behavioral Health Services. Additionally, Douglas has served as a Combat Medic, NCO, OIC, a variety […]

Mar 2, 2022