Journeys | Spring 2024

JOURNEYS

Gifts elevate cancer care

After years of planning, and months of construction, April Sampson Cancer Center opens this spring! The bricks and mortar house state-ofthe-art technology, yet it will be caring professionals who fulfill our vision to transform cancer care in our region.

Bryan Imaging Center

Meditation Room

Café

Resource Center

Multidisciplinary and High Risk Clinics

Spa

Certifed Mastectomy Fittings

Conference Center

Tumor Boards

Indoor/Outdoor Rehabilitation Spaces

Complete cancer care

under one roof

Infusion

Oncology Bays overlooking pond

Clinical Trials

Radiation oncology

ON THE COVER

Brenda Zitek, Dr. Aina Silenieks and Cori Sampson Vokoun tell why they’re supporting the April Sampson Cancer Center, which will open this spring.

STAY IN TOUCH

We welcome your comments. For more information about Journeys, contact the Advancement team by calling 402-481-8674.

To learn more about Bryan programs and services, visit us online at bryanhealth.org

Russ Gronewold President & CEO, Bryan Health

John

Eric Mooss President & CEO, Bryan Medical Center

Robert Oakes, MD

Bob

Kevin

“A visually impaired guest was struggling to get breakfast. Kim stopped what she was doing to assist in getting her food.

At lunch I overheard Kim coach her co-workers that there is a guest who has difficulty seeing who will need our help …”

– From the Caring Kind Award nomination for Kim Petrzilka

Kim Petrzilka of Bryan Medical Center is the Caring Kind. And so are the four other employees, representing their respective Bryan Health medical centers, who were nominated for the Nebraska Hospital Association’s annual Caring Kind Award.

They personify what it means to work in health care today — no matter their role, these people show our patients and visitors that it is an honor to be of service. I was proud to stand by them at the October 27 ceremony. And I’m honored to work beside them every day.

As this issue of Journeys reaches mailboxes, we will be within days of opening the April Sampson Cancer Center on our new Bryan South Campus. Literally thousands of Nebraskans have played a role to open these doors for patients who need comprehensive cancer care, close to home. It may be the single best example of what is possible when a shared vision, built on collaboration, lifts the human spirit.

Bryan Health. Forward. Together.

Russ Gronewold President and Chief Executive Officer, Bryan Health

It was my privilege to celebrate the Caring Kind Awards with honorees Ellen Barnes, PA, of Platte Valley Medical Center, Kearney Regional Medical Center (left); Charlotte Barrientez, RN, Grand Island Regional Medical Center; Kim Petrzilka, Bryan Medical Center Nutrition and Dining Services; Kim Wagner, Merrick Medical Center Social Services; and Dr. Jason Hesser, Crete Area Medical Center Family Practice

(not pictured). Bryan

Families’ generosity elevates cancer care

How the April Sampson Cancer Center came to be is a story of donors big and small. Through more than $20 million in charitable gifts, philanthropy has been the cornerstone of making the state-of-the-art facility and innovative programming a reality.

It started in 2020 with a gift: 29 acres of scenic, undeveloped land in south Lincoln. Then came fundraising campaigns to build and equip not only the physical facility — a 140,000-square-foot marvel anchored by massive windows but also the center’s support programs.

Family comes full circle

Seeing the project come to fruition is a full-circle moment, says Cori Sampson Vokoun, whose family donated the land in honor of her mom, April, who died of breast cancer in 2016.

“I feel so much joy when I go into the building. It’s so perfect for the site. It’s perfect for the work that’s going to happen there. I’m really excited about it and really proud of it. The name of it hasn’t sunk in yet,” she says.

For the Sampson Construction team, the new structure is a professional project with personal ties. The Lincoln-based firm is the center’s construction manager, adding to the company’s decades-long history of building and renovating Bryan facilities in Lincoln and beyond.

“Being involved with Bryan as a friend, as a contractor and as a board member, I’ve

always been so impressed with how Bryan has been relentless with getting what’s new and needed to its patients in Lincoln,” says Cori, a Sampson Construction vice president and former member of the Bryan Foundation and Bryan Health boards.

Simplifying complex process

Personal connections to cancer also run deep for donors Dr. Aina Silenieks and Brenda Zitek.

Dr. Silenieks, a retired Lincoln pathologist, spent her career diagnosing cancers — lymphoma, breast cancer, colon cancer, you name it — and coordinating blood trans-

Besides being executives of Sampson Construction Company, Cori Sampson Vokoun and her father, John Sampson, share a love of horses. Cori’s leading her award-winning American Quarter Horse broodmare, Shine Your Pistol (Poppy), in the Buckshot Farms stables near John’s home in south Lincoln.

Cancer histories motivate sharing

fusions as chair of the Community Transfusion Committee.

Dr. Silenieks says giving to the cancer center was “a logical fit” for her and her husband, Lincoln attorney Tyler Sutton. Throughout her life, Dr. Silenieks has seen cancer not only through the microscope but also through the lens of family members fighting for their lives. Her grandfather died of stomach cancer when Aina was a youngster; her great-aunt died of kidney cancer when the future doctor was a teenager. As an adult, Dr. Silenieks’ mother had breast cancer and ultimately died of leukemia.

She suspects — whether consciously or subconsciously — her family history shaped her career choice, and it undoubtedly informed her decision to support the cancer center. Supporting the transfusion area was of particular interest, given her work with the transfusion medicine service. “Cancer patients need to get their transfusions in a nice, safe, clean, calm environment where they feel protected,” she says.

Dr. Silenieks, a longtime Bryan Foundation benefactor who has supported the system’s emerging priorities, learned of the opportunity to give to the center while serving on the foundation board. “I heard about the rationale for it and the potential benefits to people in this part of the state,” she says.

“The idea of simplifying a complex process appeals to me. When you’ve got cancer, you have 100,000 things to worry about, and a blood transfusion should not be one of them.”

Brenda’s husband, Larry Zitek, was a Lincoln entrepreneur who died from brain cancer in 2015.

After Larry Zitek’s diagnosis, Brenda was not only his wife of four decades but also his appointment-organizer, logistics manager, decision-maker and unwavering advocate. The Ziteks sought care locally and in Houston, exhausting every avenue to save Larry’s life, Brenda says.

Similarly, during April Sampson’s battle with breast cancer, “My dad was persistent in seeking the next appointment, getting things scheduled, asking if she could get in sooner,” Cori says of her father, John Sampson, who’s chairman of Sampson Construction. “She was fortunate to have a family member to do that for her. There are people out there who don’t have that. The issue we had was never with the care providers; it was always the complicated system that they worked in.”

Turning pain into purpose

After a long career in the home mortgage and sales industry, Larry Zitek turned 60 in 2014 and was a month into retirement. He had sold his real estate company, Bancwise, and was ready to spend more time on the golf course.

Then, seizures and dizziness started. A diagnosis of glioblastoma — fast-growing, aggressive brain cancer — soon followed. Then came the surgery, the chemo, the radiation and appointment after appointment.

When it became clear that his diagnosis was unbeatable, Brenda, Larry and their two daughters found peace knowing that they had done everything they could. That peace led to clarity that Larry’s battle could provide something good for others.

Around the family’s kitchen table, the

Dr. Aina Silenieks is surrounded by husband Tyler Sutton, their son, Eric Sutton, and daughter-in-law Dr. Elsa Sutton – and their Chesapeake Bay Retriever Stella.

The transfusion area at the center will be named in recognition of the family’s gift and of Dr. Silenieks’ career in transfusion medicine.

Donors happy to see everyone benefit

ever-entrepreneurial Larry fleshed out a new idea, one focused not on profit but rather on philanthropy. They would create an endowment to support patients and their families, and they’d tap their community connections to raise as much money as possible in the limited time he had left.

“He always kept his spirits up,” Brenda says. “Larry never asked, ‘Why me?’”

With the help of local organizations and an influential board of directors, they hosted fundraisers, sought sponsors and raised more than $550,000.

Before Larry died, he saw his final enterprising project materialize: the endowment provided a $5,000 grant to a 22-year-old woman with ovarian cancer. Since then, the fund has supported about 90 recipients and distributed more than $200,000 in grants.

Wanting the endowment to grow even further, the Ziteks transferred the funds in summer 2023 to the Bryan Foundation for management.

“When a diagnosis hits a family without a lot of disposable income, they have to make a decision based in part on money,” Brenda says. “Let us help you get to the April Sampson Cancer Center or your choice of treatment center, so money doesn’t have to be your decision maker. You shouldn’t have to decide whether to get treatment based on, ‘Can my family afford a hotel room or gas or a plane ticket?’

“We want to give everybody the opportunity to get the help they need.”

Paying tribute to donors

The Sampson, Silenieks and Zitek names are among the many that adorn

the cancer center’s walls and programs in recognition of the key role that donors have played in completing the $45 million project.

The transfusion area, at the request of Dr. Silenieks’ husband, will honor her long and dedicated service to transfusion medicine at Bryan Medical Center. The Ziteks’ endowment will be called the Zitek We Care Patient Fund and will provide direct support to patients and families via nurse navigators and social workers.

“With the cancer center, you’re giving to something that everyone from every walk of life will benefit from having in our city,” says Cori Sampson Vokoun. “I’m excited to see how the center will bring access to new services, and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next for cancer care now that they have this great building.” n

To learn how you can support the work of Bryan Health, please contact the Bryan Foundation staff at 402-481-8605.

Brenda Zitek

Lee

Thiesen visited the cancer center construction site last summer, after they created the Zitek We Care Patient Fund.

and daughters Andrea

and Stacia

Physicians stepping up

C“reating this progressive center was only possible in collaboration with really great physicians,” says Bryan CEO Russ Gronewold. “We’re very fortunate to have oncologists, hematologists and radiation oncologists who gave their time to plan every component, along with personally making lead gifts to the campaign.”

Bob Ravenscroft, system vice president and chief marketing and development officer, agrees. “What made this campaign so successful, so quickly, started with Bryan administrators and physicians making personal gifts. That support validated the effort in the eyes of so many and a very generous community took it from there.”

Cancer Partners of Nebraska medical oncologist Joni Tilford, MD, notes, “Our new center is located on a serene, beautiful piece of land and is conveniently located right off the new beltway, making it easy for our patients to find us from all directions.

“We know there is a strong mind/body connection, and when a patient has a positive mindset, they tend to respond better during treatment. Feeling good about what you’re seeing and the environment you’re in can help. This site offers that.”

Nathan Green, DO, another Cancer Partners oncologist, points out, “With this comprehensive community cancer center, we are centralizing care — bringing specialists

together under one roof to improve the patient experience. With an all-encompassing comprehensive community cancer center, they get their treatment here, as well as supportive services.”

Dr. Tilford adds, “If patients need to see a dietitian, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist they’re all here under one roof. There’s also a survivorship program for patients after they have gone through their treatment, that empowers them to live the life they want throughout recovery.

“From a physician’s standpoint, it’s exciting. We’ll have research and treatment on site and colleagues to collaborate with. And this will continue to grow, adding even more subspecialists to elevate the level of care in Lincoln.”

Dr. Green concludes, “Building the April Sampson Cancer Center demonstrates a commitment to providing state-of-the-art care. It has been incredibly helpful for recruiting new health care talent to our community, as well as signifying that local physicians can come together and collaborate to provide the absolute best care for our patients.” n

To learn how you can support cancer care, please contact the Bryan Foundation staff at 402-481-8605.

Physicians have been involved in every phase of the new April Sampson Cancer Center, from breaking ground three years ago to helping plan and personally supporting the project. Donors include Joseph Kam Chiu, MD (left); Joni Tilford, MD; Nathan Green, DO; Steven Dunder, MD; Scott McHam, DO; Mark Stavas, MD; Stacey Knox, MD, and Cary Peterson, MD (not pictured).

Cancer care vision extends to Kearney

Kearney Cancer Center, a joint venture between Cancer Partners of Nebraska and Kearney Regional Medical Center, will be located between the medical center and Yanney Heritage Park. The center will feature:

• Radiation and medical oncology

• Infusion and chemotherapy services

• A state-of-the-art linear accelerator

• National oncology clinical trial access

• Onsite CT and PET diagnostic imaging

• A healing garden

A ceremonial ground breaking was held in October 2023 at the Younes Conference Center. At the event, Dr. Melissa Stade, general surgeon at Kearney Regional Medical Center, and Dr. Michael Finkner, family medicine physician at Harlan County Health, spoke about the increased need for comprehensive oncology and hematology services and how they currently have to refer some patients to Lincoln and Omaha for care.

Modeled after the April Sampson Cancer Center, the new cancer center is designed to help keep care close to home for patients in central/western Nebraska and northern Kansas.

To learn more about the Kearney Cancer Center, visit kearneycancercenter.org.

Dr. Nathan Green of Cancer Partners of Nebraska discusses architectural drawings of the future Kearney Cancer Center.

Cancer Partners executive director Justin Rousek (left) and Mark Stavas, MD, Nathan Green, DO, and Steven Dunder, MD, join KRMC medical affairs director

Scott Smith, MD, interim chief executive officer Danny Van Ranken and ancillary services director Ryan Lukas to break ground.

Francisco Souto’s Poetics of Recognition #7 will be in the style of these drawings — all emphasizing the inspiring geography of the Great Plains.

This story is brought to you by Inpatient Physician Associates.

Souto among 16 artists creating healing art for cancer center

With careful certainty, Francisco Souto is creating special artwork for the April Sampson Cancer Center.

It’s taken only about a year to finish Poetics of Recognition #7, although its theme was decades in the making.

“This will showcase a sensorial awareness,” he says. “Specifically, it’s centered around visual recognition inspired by living in the heart of the Great Plains. The artwork aims to serve as a direct visual interpretation of how we’re influenced by the expansive geography surrounding us. This concept will encapsulate the essence of the Great Plains, offering viewers a unique, intimate and contemplative experience.”

Professor Souto is a Venezuelan-born American artist known for his highly detailed drawings and prints. He’s been on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty for more than 20 years, and this internationally acclaimed artist directs UNL’s School of Art, Art History and Design.

He points out, “The delicate process of creating this piece involved a slow and deliberate approach, mirroring the everpresent feeling of the vast landscape. Over the years I’ve lived here, the pristine emptiness of the sky and the vastness of the prairie became irresistible, haunting images.

“I wanted to capture the sublime beauty found in the everyday, transforming my personal experiences into a compelling testament of a life well lived.”

Final dimensions will be two-foot tall by six feet wide. Souto used graphite pencils for the main drawing, then colored the drawing and frame using an airbrush and stencils.

“The delicate process of making art does take time,” he says. “There’s an inherent power to the process and a symbiotic correlation between the act of making and

the intimacy in the act of looking. This drawing and its vivid color scheme attempt to offer a collective experience of perseverance and optimism.”

The Bryan Art Committee chose Souto and 15 other painters, sculptors and photographers to enliven the new 140,000-square-foot facility. Committee members identified pieces they believe will complement and enhance the curative work being done throughout the cancer center.

In addition to Souto’s artwork, the committee selected works from these artists to be displayed inside the cancer center: Anne Burkholder, Trish Coates, Robert Hillstead, Michael James, Erika Navarrete, Gib Neal, Mike Nesbit, Thomas Prinz, Tom Quest, Joel Sartore, Lance Smith and Lori Thomas. Art by Cliff Hollestelle, Jun Kaneko and Therman Statom will be displayed outside n

To learn how you can support the Bryan Art Committee’s vision to bring uplifting art to the cancer center, please contact the Bryan Foundation at 402-481-8605.

Professor Souto holds a prototype of the frame he created for Poetics of Recognition #7.

Sandra benefits from same-day mastectomy and reconstruction surgery in Grand Island

Sandra Garwood is a semi-retired rancher’s wife, a proud rural Nebraskan, a mom of three and “nana” to 10. She’s also a breast cancer survivor.

Freshly 60 in fall 2019, Sandra went for her annual mammogram at the hospital in Atkinson, a town of 1,300 in north central Nebraska. The radiologist noticed a small mass, and after follow-up evaluations, the spot was biopsied.

The news was daunting.

Dr. Brant Luebbe of Surgery Group of Grand Island meets with Sandra Garwood during a follow-up visit.

“When you get that call, your stomach clenches, your body gets warm and your heart starts beating fast,” Sandra says. “You’re like, ‘OK, this is the new reality for me.’”

Today I found out I have cancer. I have it. But it doesn’t have me. God has me, Sandra wrote in her schedule book on Nov. 19, 2019.

The 7-millimeter mass in her left breast was invasive ductal carcinoma, the most common form of breast cancer. At Stage 1, Sandra’s prognosis was good, and she had a variety of treatment options, but none were available locally.

Holt County is dotted with small towns like Atkinson and O’Neill across nearly 2,500 square

miles of rolling hills, pastures and hay meadows. Like many rural areas, the county of roughly 10,000 residents is served by small hospitals, primary care clinics and traveling specialists.

“I felt completely confident in our local providers, knowing that if and when I needed to further address the issue, they would be wise enough to send me on,” Sandra says. “From there, it was a matter of determining where to go and what surgeon to choose.”

Atkinson is about 2.5 hours’ drive to Grand Island and roughly four hours to Lincoln or Omaha. Sandra recalls “A woman my daughter knew chose to go with Dr. Brant Luebbe for her breast cancer surgery and subsequent care, and she was beyond grateful and appreciated his expertise, advice and direction.”

Dr. Luebbe, a general surgeon with Surgery Group of Grand Island, which is part of the Bryan Physician Network, points out, “Breast cancer is very common, but treatment is very individualized. You have to know what the patient feels comfortable with, what is their goal, what do they want.”

The surgeon, Sandra and her husband of 40 years, Dennis, discussed potential treatments in detail. Though her scans only showed localized cancer in one breast, Sandra says, “I really wanted to only deal with breast cancer one time, if possible. I was actually drawn from the beginning to a bilateral mastectomy.”

In many cases, a surgeon is qualified to either handle the cancer or the reconstruction, says Dr. Luebbe, who’s been practicing in Grand Island since 2005. He’s the only surgeon in the area who is trained in oncoplastic procedures, meaning he can operate on the cancer as well as the aesthetics of the breast.

“My focus is to provide the best possible care, close to home,” Dr. Luebbe says. “I’m in the middle of Nebraska, a long way from breast surgery coverage. Here, local patients can go

home after discharge, avoid a long drive in discomfort, do follow-ups and get set up with ancillary services like oncology, radiation and occupational therapy.”

During a single operation, Dr. Luebbe removed all tissue from both of Sandra’s breasts and inserted implants into her existing skin, maintaining her breasts’ original look and size.

He notes women who prefer or need to have one or both breasts removed may be candidates for same-day mastectomy and reconstruction if they are in good overall health, have not had radiation in their chest and are able to do physical therapy after the operation.

Though Sandra felt very fortunate to have the dual procedure, she points out, “It still was a major surgery, and I don’t want to sugar coat it, as if because it was a ‘one-and-done’ operation, it was easy,” she says. “I remember thinking, ‘Am I ever going to feel normal again?’ I wanted to be able to move without having intense pain.”

After two weeks of recovery at her daughter’s home near Grand Island, Sandra returned to Atkinson and resumed a relatively normal life with reasonable short-term constraints, she says. It’s been four years since her operation, and Sandra remains healthy and cancer-free. She likes to scrapbook, read and plan themed “cousin camp” parties for her grandkids.

She credits her hometown hospital for early detection, God for protection and Dr. Luebbe for his expertise.

“I would describe Dr. Luebbe as a highly skilled master craftsman,” Sandra says. “He is truly gifted in his ability to take something that is a very traumatic experience for any woman and turn it into something that is as positive as it can possibly be.” n

Four years after her successful operation, Sandra is cancer-free and enjoying her life as a mother, nana and rancher’s wife.

Welcome, Dr. Oman

Dr. Zachary Oman enjoys taveling with his wife, Kody, (far right) and their children (clockwise from left) Leah, Hadley, Blake and Avery.

Interventional cardiologist Zachary Oman, DO, of Bryan Heart became interested in medicine after witnessing a life-saving event at the University of Nebraska stadium.

“We were walking through the stadium and came across a person who had collapsed on the floor. A group of bystanders started doing CPR. That sparked my interest in medicine and I became intrigued by how you could save a person’s life,” he recalls.

Dr. Oman continued to pursue that interest. He earned an associate’s degree in Invasive Cardiac Technology from Bryan College of Health Sciences in 2007 — and during his class rotation in Bryan’s cardiac catheterizaion lab, he decided to specialize in cardiology.

“That’s when I realized that a patient’s life could be saved through an emergent procedure,” he says. And he was all in!

Dr. Oman graduated from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience in 2016. Then he completed an internal

medicine residency and fellowship in cardiology at St. Louis University School of Medicine and a fellowship in interventional cardiology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

As an interventional cardiologist in Grand Island, Dr. Oman performs a variety of lifesaving surgeries, but advanced procedures are not always necessary.

“You can avoid a lot of the interventions and procedures if you get aggressive up front as far as diet and lifestyle modifications, weight loss, cholesterol level and functional capacity,” he says.

Dr. Oman and his wife, Kody, both grew up in Nebraska. She is from Bennet and he is from Callaway. Serving patients in their home state is important to Dr. Oman.

“Growing up in a small town, there is a level of genuineness you develop. The respect and caring you have for your patients and that you receive from them is important to me. I chose medicine so I could help people and I want to provide cardiology care to the people I grew up with. Keeping my patients alive and seeing their families happy is the most rewarding aspect of my work,” he says.

Spending time with his own family makes Dr. Oman happy, too.

He says, “When I’m not working, Kody and I enjoy traveling and having adventures with our four kids, Leah, 13, Hadley, 9, Blake, 6, and Avery, 3. n

To watch an introductory video about Dr. Oman, go to bryanhealth.org/DrOman.

Welcome, Dr. Wallace

Cardiac electrophysiologist Grant Wallace, MD, of Bryan Heart wanted to practice medicine from the time he was seven. He says, “My mom’s four brothers are all physicians and my mom is a nurse, so I knew what I was going to do.”

He grew up on a farm in Burt County and attended school in Oakland. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and earned his medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine in Omaha.

He completed an internal medicine and pediatrics residency at Ohio State University and Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus,

and remained in the OSU system for cardiology and electrophysiology training.

As a native Nebraskan, Dr. Wallace was familiar with Bryan Health’s reputation. He says, “Bryan Heart physicians are incredibly friendly, very talented and dedicated to providing outstanding care. It is a dream and an honor to be back home and play my part in elevating the quality of life for Nebraskans alongside fellow providers and staff at Bryan.”

As the fifth electrophysiologist at Bryan Heart, Dr. Wallace is joining one of the largest practices in the region. He treats a broad spectrum of patients experiencing arrhythmic or rhythm diseases. These include palpitations, supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and atrial fibrillation; when necessary, he implants a regulating device such as a pacemaker or performs procedures like ablations to help when heart rhythms are too fast or too slow.

He considers relationships with patients to be team efforts and says, “I’m here to give guidance on the medical aspect, but ultimately it’s going to be a decision between both of us as to how we tackle whatever issue we’re facing. I want my patients to feel they are being heard and to know their problems are going to be addressed.”

He continues, “There is nothing more rewarding in medicine than when someone comes to you sick, afraid and concerned, and you are able to provide comfort and a cure. Electrophysiology is one of the few areas of internal medicine where we have the ability to cure people of certain diseases.”

Dr. Wallace and his wife Stephanie met in 2005 on the East Campus at UNL, where they were undergraduate ag students. They will celebrate their 10th anniversary in May. The couple share Kip, an 11-year-old whippet.

He enjoys spending time with family, golfing, homebrewing craft beer, symphony concerts and cheering on the Huskers. n

To watch an introductory video, go to bryanhealth.org/DrWallace.

Dr. Grant Wallace and Stephanie like to take Kip for walks in their Lincoln neighborhood.

Ask the

Doctor:

Dr. Tara Kirkpatrick provides insights on the causes and treatment of urinary tract infections.

Dr. Kirkpatrick is associated with Urology, PC of Lincoln, 402-489-8888.

What you need to know about urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common conditions urologists see as outpatient referrals. Tara Kirkpatrick, MD, shares tips about prevention, symptoms and risk factors.

Q: What is a UTI?

It’s a bacterial infection of the urinary tract including the bladder, urethra, ureters or kidneys. “Cystitis,” or a bladder infection, is the most common presentation of a UTI.

To define a true infection, patients must present with symptoms and have a positive urine culture.

Q: Who is at high-risk for UTIs?

Post-menopausal women are the largest population of patients I see with recurrent UTIs. This is typically due to loss of vaginal estrogen, which has caused disruption in the normal vaginal flora that protects against more pathogenic organisms.

Loss of vaginal estrogen also contributes to thinning or atrophy of the vagina and urethra, making those tissues more susceptible to infection.

Aging adults typically experience decline of their immune function and often can have other medical conditions, or they may be on medications that place them at higher risk for infection.

Q: What causes a urinary tract infection?

UTIs occur when bacteria enters the urinary system, typically from the skin or rectum, and causes infection of the lining of the urinary tract.

Most urinary infections are limited to

the bladder and typically are not dangerous.

Rarely, the kidneys can become infected causing an infection called “pyelonephritis,” which can cause fevers and severe illness requiring hospitalization.

People assigned female at birth are at a higher risk of infections due to their urethral length and the shorter distance bacteria has to travel from the skin or rectum into the bladder.

Q: What are risk factors for a UTI?

There are multiple factors that make certain groups of people more susceptible.

Some common risks include family or personal history of urinary tract infections, post-menopausal state, anatomic abnormalities (such as kidney stones, prostatic enlargement, blockage of the urinary system or bladder prolapse), chronic constipation or diarrhea, immunosuppression, certain medications, diabetes, chronic urinary catheterization, pregnancy, sexual activity and certain neurological conditions.

Q: What symptoms should we watch for?

Typical symptoms include increased urinary frequency, constant urge to urinate, pain/ pressure in the bladder or urethra, blood in the urine (hematuria) and rarely, low-grade fevers. Foul-smelling urine in the absence of other symptoms is not diagnostic of a UTI.

But consult your health care provider if you notice kidney infections or pyelonephritis present with localized back pain, fevers, chills, nausea/vomiting, fatigue and occasionally confusion.

Mental confusion can be a sign of a severe urinary tract infection, although it also might be a sign of a larger issue.

How is UTI treated?

Typically, it’s a course of antibiotics.

It is important to see your doctor and have your urine cultured if you have symptoms. There are other health issues that can mimic the symptoms of a UTI, including bladder cancer, overactive bladder, prostatic enlargement, pelvic floor dysfunction, constipation, interstitial cystitis and stones.

In the absence of symptoms or an upcoming procedure, it is important that patients are not treated with antibiotics. Treating asymptomatic bacteria in the urine does not decrease sepsis or hospitalization. There is emerging research that some bacteria in the urinary tract actually protects against more aggressive pathogens.

Many patients will have bacteria in their urine and not have symptoms. This is not harmful and should not be treated with antibiotics. Antibiotic stewardship is incredibly important due to the emergence of more resistant organisms.

Q: How can patients prevent UTIs?

Prevention includes drinking plenty of fluids to

flush the urinary tract, treating constipation, urinating after intercourse, ensuring proper hygiene after bowel movements and treating underlying risk factors.

For women, it’s important to avoid products that can disrupt the genital microbiome, such as douching, spermicides and soaps/sprays/powders in and around the vagina and vulva.

According to multiple studies, topical vaginal estrogen replacement has been shown to be the most effective intervention in preventing recurrent urinary tract infections in peri- and postmenopausal women.

For more information, please contact your physician’s office. n

Please note: Many insurance companies require referrals through a patient’s primary care provider, so patients are encouraged to contact their primary provider before reaching out to a urologist.

About Dr. Kirkpatrick

This Lincoln native completed her medical school and urological residency training at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha. She was initially drawn to urology because of the different surgical aspects the specialty offered, including using robotics and minimally invasive techniques to treat cancers of the kidney, prostate and bladder, as well as stones, incontinence and BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia, a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate).

“I enjoy being able to help patients improve what can sometimes be a sensitive aspect of their health in a way that is meaningful to them and impacts their daily lives,” she says. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, running, biking and cooking. n

Welcome these physicians to the Bryan medical community

Colby Argo, MD, ophthalmology surgery, has joined Eye Surgical Associates, 402-484-9000.

Dr. Argo graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, in 2018.

He completed a medical and surgical internship at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, an ophthalmology residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and a fellowship in cornea and external disease at the Cincinnati Eye Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Hailey Artz, DO, family medicine, has joined Bryan Primary Care, which is part of the Bryan Physician Network, 402-483-3755.

Dr. Artz graduated from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, Kansas City, Missouri, in 2018.

She completed a family medicine residency at the Community Hospital East, Indianapolis, Indiana.

John Bader, MD, ophthalmology, joined Dotson, Mota, Thurber and Bader, 402-486-3132.

Dr. Bader graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, in 2019.

He completed an internship in internal medicine and a residency in ophthalmology at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington.

Jenna Berg, MD, otolaryngology, has joined ENT Specialties, 402-488-5600.

Dr. Berg graduated in 2018 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, where she completed an internship in otolaryngology and a residency in otolaryngology head and neck surgery.

Michael Blaha, MD, anesthesiology, has joined Associated Anesthesiologists, 402-489-4186.

Dr. Blaha graduated in 2019 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, where he completed a residency in anesthesiology.

Christopher Buckley, MD, internal medicine, is a hospitalist with Inpatient Physician Associates, 402-481-8566.

Dr. Buckley graduated in 2019 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, where he also completed a residency in internal medicine. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Daniel Crespo Artunduaga, MD, neurology, has joined Bryan Neurology, which is part of the Bryan Physician Network, 402-483-8534.

Dr. Artunduaga graduated from Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in 2014.

He completed a residency in neurology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, and a fellowship in

multiple sclerosis at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

He is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Bethany Feis, MD, internal medicine, has joined Inpatient Physician Associates, 402-481-8566.

Dr. Feis earned her medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, in 2019, and completed an internal medicine residency at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire.

She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Toby Free, MD, family medicine, has joined Bryan Primary Care, which is part of the Bryan Physician Network, 402-483-3755.

Dr. Free graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, in 1998. He completed an accelerated family practice program residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, followed by a family practice rural procedural fellowship.

Dr. Free was associated with the University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Family Medicine before joining Bryan Primary Care.

He is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

Brett Grieb, MD, hematology-oncology, has joined Cancer Partners of Nebraska, 402-420-7000.

Dr. Grieb earned his medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, in 2017, and completed an internal medicine residency and a fellowship in medical oncology and hematology at the Mayo Clinic of Medicine and Science, Rochester, Minnesota.

He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Noah Hammond, MD, hospitalist, has joined Inpatient Physician Associates, 402-481-8566.

Dr. Hammond earned his medical degree in 2019 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, where he also completed an internal medicine residency.

Taylor Harms, MD, radiology, has joined Lincoln Radiology Group, 402-420-3500.

Dr. Harms graduated in 2016 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, where he completed an internship in internal medicine. He completed a diagnostic radiology residency at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, Iowa City, where he is completing a fellowship in abdomen-pelvis imaging.

Melissa Johnson, MD, palliative care, has joined Bryan Palliative Care, which is part of the Bryan Physician Network, 402-481-1111. She graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, in 2000 and completed an emergency medicine residency at the University of Arizona, Tucson.

She is board certified in emergency medicine, as well as in hospice and palliative medicine.

Sheridan Jost, MD, pediatric hospitalist, is associated with Lincoln Pediatric Hospitalists, 402-955-4495.

Dr. Jost graduated from UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, in 2016, then completed a pediatric residency program at the University of Colorado, Aurora, then a pediatric hospital medicine fellowship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha.

Dr. Jost is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in pediatric hospital medicine.

Sally Knooihuizen, MD, gastroenterology, has joined Gastroenterology Specialties, 402-465-4545.

Dr. Knooihuizen graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, in 2017 and completed an internal medicine residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and a gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.

She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Anna Linder, MD, obstetrics and gynecology, joined Bryan Women’s Care Physicians, which is part of the Bryan Physician Network, 402-483-8630.

Dr. Linder earned her medical degree in 2019 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, and completed an obstetrics and gynecology residency.

Dr. Linder is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

James Markman, MD, general surgery, joined Surgical Associates, 402-441-4760.

Dr. Markman earned his medical degree at Michigan State College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, in 2017. He completed a general surgery residency at Mount Carmel Health System, Grove City, Ohio, and a colorectal surgery fellowship at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania.

He is certified by the American Board of Surgery.

Theodore Pham, DO, pediatrics, has joined Complete Children’s Health Salt Creek, 402-465-5600.

Dr. Pham graduated from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, Pennsylvania in 2017, then completed a pediatrics residency at the State University of New York Downstate Medical College, Brooklyn. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.

Austin Reilly, MD, pain management, has joined Nebraska Pain Institute, 402-488-7246. He graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, in 2018. He completed an internship at the Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix, and an anesthesia residency at University of Chicago Medicine,followed by an interventional pain fellowship at University of Chicago Hospitals.

Rachel Schmitt, MD, pediatrics, has joined Lincoln Pediatric Group, 402-489-3834.

Dr. Schmitt graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, in 2020, then completed a pediatrics residency at Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri.

Sharon Stoolman, MD, pediatrics, is associated with Lincoln Pediatric Hospitalists, 402-955-4495.

Dr. Stoolman graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, in 1999, then completed a general surgery internship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and a pediatrics residency at Creighton-UNMC, Omaha. She is certified in pediatrics and pediatric hospital medicine by the American Board of Pediatrics.

John Strand, MD, pediatrics, has joined Lincoln Pediatric Hospitalists, 402-955-4495.

Dr. Strand graduated from Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Missouri, in 2016, then completed a pediatrics residency at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, Stony Brook, New York, and a fellowship in pediatric hospital medicine at LSU Health New Orleans, Louisiana. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.

Laura Vance, DO, gastroenterology, joined Gastroenterology Specialties, 402-465-4545.

Dr. Vance graduated from Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center in 2016. She completed an internal medicine residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, and a fellowship in gastroenterology at Creighton University, Omaha.

She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Grant Wallace, MD, cardiology, has joined Bryan Heart, 402-483-3333.

Dr. Wallace graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, in 2014 and completed an internal medicine/pediatrics residency at the Ohio State University and Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, then fellowships in cardiovascular medicine and cardiac electrophysiology.

He is board certified in cardiovascular disease and pediatrics.

Benjamin Wiese, MD, pulmonology, joined Nebraska Pulmonary, 402-483-8600.

He graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, in 2017, then completed an internal medicine residency at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, and a pulmonary and critical care fellowship at Indiana University, Indianapolis.

Dr. Wiese is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Welcome these APPs

These advanced practice providers are working within the Bryan Health system:

Ellie Andreasen, PA-C, Prairie Orthopaedic and Plastic Surgery

Richard Brunmeier, APRN-NP, Inpatient Physician Associates

Mallory Buck, APRN-NP, Bryan Heart

Abby Cabrera, CRNA, Associated Anesthesiololgists

Erin Cornelius, PA-C, Neurology Associates, part of the Bryan Physician Network

Jamie Craft, APRN-NP, Children First Pediatrics

Jeffrey Dynek, PA-C, Bryan Heart

Maggie Goltz, PA-C, Surgical Associates

Amy Graham, CRNA, Associated Anesthesiologists

Elleree Guy, PA-C, Bryan Medical Center Interventional Radiology/Neurological and Spinal Surgery

Teresa King, APRN-NP, April Sampson Cancer Center Survivorship Clinic

Anna Kuehn, CRNA, Associated Anesthesiologists

Kurtt Kuhl, CRNA, Associated Anesthesiologists

Eric Loos, PA-C, Nebraska Hematology Oncology Cancer Center

Jonna Lynch, APRN-NP, Heartland Neonatology Associates, part of the Bryan Physician Network

Lorri Niemeyer, APRN-NP, Heartland Neonatology Associates, part of the Bryan Physician Network

Erin Nissen, APRN-NP, Capitol Foot and Ankle, part of the Bryan Physician Network

Skylar Nowka, PA-C, Beatrice General Surgery

Kathryn Palu, PA-C, Bryan Breast Surgical Specialists, part of the Bryan Physician Network

David Paprocki, CRNA, Associated Anesthesiologists

Andee Pauley, CRNA, Associated Anesthesiologists

Linda Reimers, APRN-NP, Heartland Neonatology Associates, part of the Bryan Physician Network

Kristin Schmidt, APRN-NP, Inpatient Physician Associates

Emily Schnase, APRN-NP, Inpatient Physician Associates

Ryan Stagemeyer, CRNA, Associated Anesthesiologists

Shelby Sullivan, CRNA, Associated Anesthesiologists

Huy Anh Tran, PA-C, Plaza West Psychiatrists, part of the Bryan Physician Network

Joshua Vogel, APRN-NP, Nebraska Emergency Medicine

We remember long-time Bryan physicians

Neonatologist Lawrence Bausch, MD, FAAP, died August 10 at age 82. He was born in Omaha in 1941. Dr. Bausch graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine in 1968 and completed a residency at Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha. His distinguished 44-year medical career began in 1971 with the Lincoln Pediatric Group of Dr. Dale Ebers, Dr. Tom Calbert and Dr. Charles Erickson.

He belonged to the medical staffs of both Bryan Memorial Hospital and Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center. In 1977, he was instrumental in establishing Lincoln’s first neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Saint

Eli Chesen, MD, was a psychiatrist and, according to his family, an artist, author, inventor, audiophile and genuine phenom, with boundless imagination and energy.

Dr. Chesen was born in 1944 in Sioux City. He died October 25 at age 79.

He graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, in 1969 and completed a psychiatry residency at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. During this residency, he published Religion May be Hazardous to Your Health and President Nixon’s Psychiatric Profile

He served as chief of psychiatry at Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, until 1974 when he moved to Lincoln.

Dr. Chesen was a member of the Bryan Medical Staff from 1974 until 1999, and he also specialized in forensic psychiatry. He was a

Elizabeth, where he worked until 2011, when he became associated with Bryan NICU.

Dr. Bausch received the Distinguished Service to Medicine Award from the Nebraska Medical Association in 2007 in recognition of his contributions to the medical profession. He retired in 2015 but continued teaching to faculty and medical students around the country until 2020.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Janet, and his parents, and is survived by his sister Janeen Ryan; children Christopher Bausch (Kameron), Timothy Bausch (Jennifer), Tracy Herreros, Krista Maxson (Evan) and Jay Taylor.

board-certified psychiatrist and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

In 1988 he published his third book, The Fitness Compulsion. He pursued a love for all things creative, automotive and electric. He combined his interest in science, architectural design and do-it-yourself projects in his paintings and sculpture and won a juried art competition for his favorite work in oil, “Hi-Fi 1964.” He also invented a pool heater that transfers waste air conditioner heat into swimming pool water and created numerous low-voltage halogen light fixtures and mixed media pieces.

Dr. Chesen is survived by his wife, Peggy, their daughters Chelsea Hollman (Michael) and A. Berkley Chesen; two granddaughters; his sister Susan Hawkins (Gary) and brothers Jerry Chesen and Edward Chesen (Debbie).

Dr. Eli Chesen

Dr. Lawrence Bausch

Frederic Kiechel III, MD, died December 3 at age 81.

Dr. Kiechel was born in Tecumseh and attended high school in Auburn, where he was a four-sport athlete, 1960 class president and valedictorian. At age 12, he was America’s youngest Scout to achieve the Eagle rank.

His family notes Dr. Kiechel led a life of integrity, curiosity, kindness, dedication and great fun. A proud Nebraskan, he traveled the world but never lost his humility and sense of wonder.

He graduated from the University of Virginia medical school and, as Major Kiechel, cared for children of airmen at the Dover, Delaware, Air Force Base.

Dr. Kiechel returned to Nebraska in 1975 to open Allergy, Asthma, Immunology and Associates in Lincoln with Dr. Melvin Hoffman. As the only board-certified allergists between Denver and Omaha, they made it their mission to help children and adults suffering with asthma and allergies. The practice grew to include a network of satellite offices in Nebraska and Iowa to serve patients in rural areas.

Dr. Kiechel is survived by his wife, Vivian, and their children, Katherine “Lee” Koles (Ford) and Frederic “Buck” (Lisa) Kiechel IV; five grandchildren; brothers Stephen Kiechel (Julia) and John Kiechel (Laurel); sister Meg Paolacci (John) and extended family.

Urologist Sushil Lacy, MD, FACS, age 87, died December 6.

He was born in 1936, in Patna, India. He graduated from Christian Medical College in Vellore and completed a general surgery residency at King George’s Medical College in Lucknow, India. He came to Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina in 1963 for a vascular surgery fellowship, then completed a urology residency at Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, North Carolina.

In 1970, he joined the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha and helped start the first urology residency program in the state. Dr. Lacy joined Urology, PC in Lincoln in 1980 and continued to be on the clinical faculty at UNMC.

Dr. Lacy was president of the Nebraska Urological Association and president of the South Central Section of the American Urological

Association (AUA). He also served on the American Association of Clinical Urologist’s (AACU) Board of Directors and was a Past President and Historian of this organization.

He was elected President of the American Urological Association in 2011 and served on several committees over the years. He was a mentor to AUA Leadership Classes and was extremely proud of the achievements of his mentees. In 2019, he was awarded the AUA Presidential Citation for exemplary service.

He was an avid traveler and photographer. Dr. Lacy is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jane Gose Lacy; their children Rani Robinett of Kansas City, Missouri, and Suzy (Bryant) Gourdie of Barrington, Illinois, and three grandchildren. He also is survived by his sister, Priti Lacy, PhD, of Des Moines, Iowa, sister-in-law Patricia Gose of Columbus, Ohio; a niece and two nephews and their extended families.

Dr. Sushil Lacy

Dr. Frederic Kiechel

Former Bryan Vice President Glen Lau, MD, family practice, died August 25 at age 93.

Dr. Lau was born in Norfolk; when the family moved to Clearwater, third-grader Glen met the love of his life, classmate Elba (McGee). They were in the same high school graduation class and married in 1951.

He served in the U.S. Marines from 19511953 during the Korean War.

Dr. Lau later decided to pursue a future in medicine and began a 25-year career as a respected family practice physician. He retired from primary care to begin his work as Bryan Medical Center’s first Vice President of Medical Affairs.

Dr. Lau continued to use his medical skills after retirement by volunteering to help the homeless and uninsured at various clinics in Lincoln, and he worked with community leaders

General and peripheral vascular surgeon James Styner, MD, age 89, died January 22, 2024.

Dr. Styner was born in 1936 in Los Angeles. He graduated from the University of California at Irvine medical school.

In 1976 Dr. Styner, his wife and four children were in a plane crash; sadly his wife died. This life-changing event spurred the idea for Dr. Styner to establish a fully integrated trauma

to expand the medical assistance program. For his service, he received the 2007 Harold E. Williamson Volunteer Award from the COPIC Medical Foundation.

Throughout his 93 years, he enjoyed traveling the world, building remote-controlled aircraft, reading western books and listening to Big Band music. Above all, Dr. Lau’s number one priority was spending time with his family, and he will be forever remembered for his loving bear hugs.

Dr. Lau was preceded in death by his wife, Elba; his sister Carolyn Thompson; and his brother Ronald Lau.

He is survived by his daughter April Lau; sons Dr. Steve (Dr. Beth) Lau and Scott (Jody) Lau; two grandsons and great-grandchildren; sisters Judy Meyer and Veryle Riggert; and brother-inlaw Clair Thompson and sister-in-law Jan Lau.

center at then-Lincoln General Hospital.

Dr. Styner and his colleagues in the Lincoln medical community played a critical role in developing Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), which revolutionized how trauma physicians are trained worldwide.

He is survived by his wife Lily; his sons, Chris, Rick and Randy; his daughter Kim; and grandsons James and Tobin.

Dr. Glen Lau

Dr. James Styner

Dr. Nora is Nebraska’s Physician of the Year

An expert in infectious diseases and one of the top voices in the Nebraska health care community during the COVID-19 pandemic, infectious diseases specialist James Nora, MD, is the Nebraska Medical Association’s Physician of the Year for 2023.

Chosen by his peers, the physician from Consultants in Infectious Disease in Lincoln was completely surprised by the award.

“While it’s nice to be recognized, the whole

COVID response in Nebraska was such a collaborative effort by so many great people,” he says.

A Colorado native, Dr. Nora’s journey in medicine spans over 26 years. His parents and sisters are all physicians, as well.

“I always liked math and science, but when I attended a seminar at the University of Colorado about the nature of infectious disease and vector-borne illnesses, it really ignited a passion for that type of work,” he explains.

Following graduation, he completed his residency and fellowship in Iowa, where he also met his wife, a psychiatrist from Nebraska.

“I married into the Husker family!” he says with a smile. “I’m now a proud Nebraskan and love the opportunity to make a difference here.”

His contributions during the pandemic were pivotal. Providing critical interpretations of ever-changing guidelines, Dr. Nora worked to help community and health care officials navigate the risks. Like many health care workers, he witnessed firsthand the transformation of hospitals.

“At one point, 80 percent of the patient care units at Bryan were converted into COVID units,” he recalls. “It’s surreal to think about it, even now.”

Dr. Nora says this collaborative effort simply reinforced the “one team, one purpose” ethos of Bryan Health. He also praised Bryan’s own in-house microbiology lab, which was crucial during COVID’s early phases.

While much of the world has moved on, Dr. Nora reminds us to be careful and learn from what we experienced.

“It’s important that we actually stop, pause and reflect on the COVID crisis and our response,” he advises. “We will continue to see new diseases emerge. It’s critical that we learn from each one.”

Outside the hospital, Dr. Nora enjoys spending time with his family, running, cycling and being outdoors. He also enjoys Lincoln’s wilderness trails and parks, a testament to his love for the community he serves. n

During the first two years of the COVID pandemic, Dr. James Nora was a frequent speaker during Bryan’s informational podcasts, and he interacted with regional media, such as the NET television network.

Blood pressure

initiative recognized for improving patients’ lives

Bryan Health’s ambulatory clinics embarked on a system-wide approach to control high blood pressure. It’s the most prevalent, modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease in the United States. In Nebraska, one in four people have high blood pressure.

“Controlling blood pressure saves lives,” says Bryan Health Chief Medical Officer John Trapp, MD. “It’s important we measure each patient’s blood pressure accurately so our clinicians can optimally manage the diagnosis of hypertension, which contributes directly to a patient’s risk for heart attack, stroke, organ failure and even death.”

Some clinic patients participated in a home/self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) program. It provides a loaner device if the patient does not already have one, education on proper measurement, and regular check-ins with a registered nurse to review measurements. The RN is in regular contact with the patient’s pharmacist and/or provider to give updates and discuss concerns.

“I’ve had patients, even couples, use the SMBP program to track their pressures and log them in MyChart. This has enabled our

providers to more efficiently determine the need for medications and track their effectiveness,” notes Bryan Physician Network care navigator Sherrilyn Hill, RN.

This work has been recognized by multiple organizations and Bryan has been awarded the Nebraska Hospital Association’s Quest for Excellence Award for the clinical division for increasing the percentage of patients with controlled blood pressure from 66.2 percent in 2022 to 77.1 percent in 2023.

Bryan Heart, Bryan Physician Network, Crete Area Medical Center and Merrick Medical Center all achieved Gold+ status from the American Heart Association, which requires blood pressure control rates of greater than or equal to 70 percent.

“Through a system-wide focus on process improvement, our Bryan Performance Excellence team was able to come alongside our clinicians and clinic leaders to redesign our processes to more accurately measure hypertension,” Dr. Trapp adds.

“This allows us to react more quickly to control high blood pressure, which ultimately improves the lives of our patients.” n

Teammates accepting the Quest for Excellece Award included Dr. John Trapp (left), Grand Island Regional Medical Center

CEO Drew Waterman, Merrick Medical Center

interim CEO Julie Lacy, Crete Area Medical Center

CEO Stephanie Boldt, Bryan Health clinical improvement consultant Lynne Nelson, Bryan Medical Center senior performance excellence consultant Scott McClurg and Bryan Medical Center performance excellence and continuous improvement director Brian Gruber.

Bryan entities earn praise for exceptional care

Newsweek recognized Bryan Medical Center as one of America’s Best-In-State Hospitals for 2024 and named the rehabilitation department at Bryan West Campus as one of America’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers in 2023.

The Best-In-State Hospital ranking identifies top hospitals at the state level, according to research conducted by Statista.

Programs on Newsweek’s 2023 national list represent the top rehabilitation centers across the country.

Bryan Medical Center’s Advanced Primary Stroke Center received recertification from the Joint Commission. The survey, which occurs every two years, was conducted in September 2023.

Bryan Medical Center received Blue Distinction (BDC+) redesignation for maternal care.

These are some of many accolades

earned by Bryan entities in recent months.

Grand Island Regional Medical Center achieved Level IV trauma certification from the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma. This certification means all of the Bryan Health entities have certified Trauma Centers, including Bryan Medical Center (Level II), Kearney Regional Medical Center (Level III), Crete Area Medical Center (Level IV), and Merrick Medical Center (Level IV).

Crete Area Medical Center received the Rural Provider Excellence in Quality Award from the Nebraska Department of Health. and Human Services.

CAMC was recognized during the Nebraska Critical Access Hospital and Rural Health Clinics Quality Conference. The award honors overall performance among 63 critical access hospitals.

DAISY Awards go to Kroeker and medical/renal team

Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit manager Lauren Kroeker, RN, is this year’s DAISY Leader Award winner.

The staff of the Medical/Renal patient care unit on Bryan West Campus received the annual Team DAISY Award. They were

recognized for special attention given to a severely ill patient whose condition was not expected to improve. The staff helped comfort the widow and find a new home for her two dogs. n

IPA participates in study

Inpatient Physician Associates participated in a study which identified discharge barriers for hospitalized patients. Lori Overbeek, RN, Pam Shelbourn, MSN, and Lisa VerMaas, RN, of IPA were among the authors of a report published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine. n

Pejsar Snelling, Dostal, Sowl write for professional journals

Bryan Medical Center clinical education and professional development manager Rachel Pejsar Snelling, RN, co-wrote “Driving Value in a Nurse Residency Program: Emphasizing Organization and Economic Impact.” with representatives of Bryan Health’s partner Vizient. The article was published in the

Journal for Nurses in Professional Develop-

ment

Heidi Dostal, RRT, Neonatal Pediatric Advanced Practitioner at Bryan Health, was featured in an interview in The Journal of Perinatology-Neonatology. John Sowl, Nutrition and Dining Services Technician at Bryan Medical Center helped author an

abstract on nutrition status screening for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

This was published in the September 2023 edition of the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. n

Guard salutes Oneil and Ellenwood

Bryan Medical Center managers Lil Oneil, RRT, Pulmonary Services, and Jayne Ellenwood, MHA, Laboratory, were recognized by the Nebraska National Guard with its Patriot Award.

This award goes to managers who support citizen warriors with flexible schedules, time off before and after deployment, caring for families and granting leaves of absence when needed. n

Dr. Trapp leads NMA

John Trapp, MD, Bryan Health’s Chief Medical Officer, became president of the Nebraska Medical Association at the organization’s annual membership meeting and awards luncheon in August 2023.

Bryan Health is proud to have Dr. Trapp lead the NMA, an organization that advocates for physicians and the health of al Nebraskans. n

Harms begins AMIM term

Bryan Medical Center Radiology Director Sharon Harms, CRA, FAHRA, was elected to the Board of Directors of the Association for Medical Imaging Management.

New officers were installed at the organization’s annual meeting in July in Indianapolis. n

Anderson and Merry among Inspire finalists

Bryan College of Health Sciences

Provost Kelsi Anderson, PhD, and Bryan Medicaal Center Pharmacy manager Jolyn Merry, PharmD, were finalists for the Lincoln Journal

Star’s 2023 Inspire Awards.

Anderson was nominated in the Excellence in Education category.

Merry was nominated in the Excellence in Health Care category. n

NNA salutes Kennedy and Wiese

The Nebraska Nurses Association and the Nebraska Organization of Nursing Leadership recognized Bryan College of Health Sciences faculty members Ashley Kennedy, RN, and

Jackie Weise, RN, 2023 40 Under 40 awards at the organization’s annual convention in October. n

Lana embraces her volunteer roles

Every Thursday, retired elementary school principal Lana Daws drives from Seward to Lincoln to help bring comfort to patients ranging from some of our very youngest to others nearing the end of their respective journeys.

She spends her morning cuddling infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and in the afternoon escorts patients and visitors around the hospital as a wayfinder.

Only established volunteers may apply to be cuddlers — a role that seems ideal for Lana.

“My career involved 17 years as an elementary teacher and 19 as a principal,” she recalls. “I’ve always enjoyed younger children, and I really like helping with the babies. They’re such bundles of joy,” says Lana.

“When I talk about being a cuddler, people say it sounds wonderful — and it is! You’re sitting in a quiet room, holding a cute little peanut of a person. Usually they just sleep, but they snuggle right in.”

She points out she had a full circle moment recently, when the mother of an infant Lana was holding re-entered the room — and realized that years before she had been one of Lana’s students.

“To become a volunteer nine years ago was one of the best decisions I ever made, and I talk about it all the time with my friends and family. Everybody is so nice here and treats us so well,” Lana continues. “My day is fulfilling here, and I like that!”

Her good works don’t end when her weekly shift is over.

Lana’s a member of the Bryan Volunteers and Customer Care Advisory

Board, and she’s active in the TeamMates program and Make-A-Wish, and she’s on the board of Memorial Hospital in Seward.

Husband Jim still runs Daws Trucking Incorporated, the company they established almost 30 years ago, and the firm’s growth over the years allows this couple to help their community today. For example, she and Jim made a gift to the April Sampson Cancer Center that will support the physician/care team work room in memory of their parents.

“For Jim and me, why would you not want to give back to things that are so important to others? Whether it’s cuddling a baby or escorting an elderly person or contributing to the new cancer center, that’s who we are and what we like to do,” she concludes. n

Every day, Bryan volunteers bring compassion, embodying the values of empathy, kindness and selflessness. There are 470 active volunteers, serving in nearly 30 service areas at five Lincoln locations Bryan East Campus, Bryan West Campus, LifePointe Campus, the warehouse and the Firethorn Campus.

Interested in volunteering? Visit the volunteer page on the Bryan Health website, or call 402-481-3032 for more details.

Opportunities also are available at

• Crete Area Medical Center, 402-826-6581

• Grand Island Regional Medical Center, 308-675-4424

• Kearney Regional Medical Center, 308-455-3738

Lana talks softly to baby Flynn Eastep, son of Abby and Mitch Eastep, who’s a critical care RN at Bryan East Campus.

Caps off to our newest grads!

It was an evening for capturing memories, including class portraits –such as of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing alumni at left – and informal selfies such as in the picture above.

Sixty Bryan College of Health Sciences graduates received diplomas December 15 during commencement. Here, Paige Silverberg helps BSN classmate Nathan Geis adjust his academic regalia.

Faculty Senate Chair Kay Crabtree, PhD, leads the procession of faculty and grads into Saint Paul United Methodist Church.

Grand opening shows off nursing school’s Hastings location

Mary Lanning Healthcare

CEO Eric Barber cuts the ribbon September 26 to signify the medical office building is officially open. Students Emily Smith and Bailee Welsh are next to him.

Bryan College of Health Sciences and Hastings College are focused on meeting the needs of students who will become Nebraska’s future workforce.

That’s why Bryan’s BSN program opened a second location – at Mary Lanning Healthcare in Hastings. Top floor classrooms are dedicated to Bryan College of Health Sciences nursing classes.

Nursing students Kendra Burke and Sydney Rainforth greet visitors to Bryan College of Health Sciences nursing skills lab, Simulation Center and study spaces. In photo at right, guests and staff listen to presentations before taking tours of the new building.

Our college logo is prominent on the third floor of the facility that connects to Mary Lanning Healthcare.

Mural radiates hopefulness, salutes our team’s response to pandemic

University of Nebraska Professor Eddie Dominguez (below) created a mural at Bryan East Campus this fall. Generous community donors funded this art to honor the sacrifices and dedication of Bryan employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Employees provided the words incorporated in the multi-story mosaic.

Hanna Theobald, RN, checks out the new mural shortly after it was unveiled this November at Bryan East Campus.

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