Psychiatry

First Reba Benschoter Inspirational Leadership awards handed out

On Saturday, Jan. 25, the UNMC Dept. of Psychiatry handed out its first Reba Benschoter Inspirational Leadership awards to five members of the department’s leadership team, who went above and beyond their duties in 2019. Dr. Daniel Gih, Dr. Ken Zoucha, Celeste Akers, Phoebe Gearhart, and Debi Pittock were the first recipients of the award […]

Feb 4, 2020

Five honored with “The Rock” citizenship award

On Saturday, January 25, the UNMC Department of Psychiatry presented the second annual William H. Roccaforte Citizenship awards to members of the staff who exemplify a spirit of service, extraordinary teamwork, and the passion for going above and beyond each day in service of our mission. Dr. Lauren Edwards, Mark Aksamit, Julie Griffin, Robin Peterson, […]

Feb 4, 2020

Spotlight: Julie Griffin

Registered Nurse Julie has worked in psychiatry since 1985 with the last 11 at Nebraska Medicine. The Omaha native was one of five members of the Department of Psychiatry to be awarded the William H. Roccaforte Citizenship Award. Why did you choose to become a nurse? Growing up, my friend’s mother was a night nurse. […]

Feb 4, 2020

Faculty and staff take on new roles in 2019

The UNMC Department of Psychiatry promoted outstanding new leaders in 2019. The year started with interim chair Dr. Howard Liu being named permanent chair on January 23 by Dean Bradley Britigan and CEO Dr. Jim Linder. New clinical leaders in the department included:  David Cates named as Vice Chair of Clinical Services and continuing in […]

Jan 7, 2020

Psychiatric Emergency Services approved by Nebraska Medicine Board

In fall 2020, UNMC and Nebraska Medicine will open an Adult Psychiatric Emergency Service (PES) to help patients experiencing a mental health crisis. The Adult PES will be a separate emergency room staffed by psychiatrists, advanced practice professionals, psychiatrically-trained nurses, psychiatric social workers, and patient care technicians.  The state-of-the-art facility will be a 24/7 and […]

Dec 20, 2019

Spotlight: Barbara Harrison

Barbara Harrison has worked in the UNMC Department of Psychiatry for the last 23 years. Along with her role as a medical scheduler, she also helps organize the annual July picnic and the fall event at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch. What is your role in the Department of Psychiatry? My title/job is Medical scheduler. When I […]

Oct 31, 2019

Emerson co-authors article on eliminating waiting lists

Maggie Emerson, Advanced Practice Practitioners (APPs) Lead for the Department of Psychiatry, co-authored a journal entry on “How a Health Center Eliminated the Waiting List for Psychiatric Services.” Emerson wrote the article with Shannon Kinnan, M.D., John Kern, M.D., and Anna Ratzliff, M.D. The article appears on Psychiatryonline.com. “Improving access to psychiatric care is a […]

Oct 28, 2019

Psychiatry Department receives high marks from Joint Commission

On Oct. 11, Nebraska Medicine, including the Department of Psychiatry, earned Behavioral Health Care Accreditation from the Joint Commission. On Aug. 14, members of the Joint Commission visited the Department of Psychiatry, and a site visitor conducted a detailed review of five cases encompassing the Intensive Outpatient Program and Poynter Hall.  In addition, the visitor […]

Oct 28, 2019

Fighting stigma and building a career treating substance use disorders

When Alëna A. Balasanova, M.D., began her psychiatry residency at Boston University, she encountered patients with SUD the way all too many people do—with judgment: “I wanted to treat patients with depression and anxiety—I didn’t sign up to treat people with a drug addiction, I held some very stigmatizing beliefs.” Over the course of her […]

Oct 10, 2019

Spotlight: Emily Guthrie

Emily was born and raised in Omaha. She graduated from Xenon International with a degree in Cosmetology. Emily joined the Intensive Outpatient Program in 2018 as the IOP’s first medical receptionist. Why did you choose to work for the Department of Psychiatry? I chose to work for psychiatry when my previous employer closed their Omaha […]

Sep 13, 2019