Omaha Magazine - January/February 2020 - The Healthy Issue

EDITING OUT HUMAN DISEASE // BEST DOCTORS // DR. OLEG MILITSAKH // NURSE OF THE YEAR

J A N U A RY / F E B R U A RY 2020 U.S.

THE

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FROM THE EDITOR // LETTER BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN, MANAGING EDITOR

QUIT SMOKING? LOSE WEIGHT? Health and Wellness in the New Year

D

ouble-digits. Like many, I’ve been saying, “I can’t believe it’s 2020.” It’s a new year, a time to better oneself.

The most common resolution is to become healthier—45% of resolution-makers decree that they will lose weight. Many of those people will drop the resolution, not the weight. A study conducted by University of Scranton stated that only 8% of people achieve their New Year’s goals.

The people mentioned in our lead story may or may not have made a New Year’s resolution about their health, but they certainly achieved weight loss—to the tune of nearly 400 pounds. One person gave up alcohol, then smoking, then started exercising. One person worked with doctors at the Bariatrics Center at the UNMC. One person started a keto diet to help alleviate pain. A fourth had surgery and continued their weight-loss journey afterwards.

While they lost weight, they also helped their blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and more. The three aforementioned issues are also risk factors for stroke, a condition that affects more than 795,000 per year, according to the CDC. The majority of those people are over age 65—but around 15% are under 45. We interviewed three women around age 45 who experienced strokes when relatively young. Their strokes brought them together, and they have been advocates and friends—calling themselves the Stroke Homies (aka Stromies)—since.

The Stromies, fortunately, all live in the Omaha area and were able to receive medical treatment in a timely manner.

Those who live in rural areas may not be able to arrive at medical treatment in time to prevent major brain damage, or even death. The University of Nebraska is helping to alleviate this problem through its Rural Health Opportunities Program, a collaboration between several smaller state schools and UNMC. Makayla Brockhaus of Creighton, Nebraska, is one person who is using this program in hopes of becoming a health professional in a rural area.

Hopefully, by the time Brockhaus and her fellow students graduate from medical school, a few debilitating diseases will be reduced or perhaps eliminated.

Dr. Channabasavaiah B. Gurumurthy of the UNMC found an easier way to study genes and has been shaking the scientific world, collaborating with genome experts from Stanford to Oxford. His method is finding genes that are responsible for diseases from sickle cell anemia to certain cancers.

One reason this research is exciting is because, as Jackson Parks said, “The hospital isn’t everybody’s favorite place to be.” This Creighton pre-med student devotes his hours outside of school to helping others, particularly those at CHI Bergan Mercy Hospital. He answers phone calls and questions in person, and sometimes goes above and beyond by helping feed patients or going on walks with them.

With Parks’ people skills, he is likely going to have a great bedside manner, such as that of Dr. Oleg Militsakh, a plastic surgeon in Omaha. Militsakh is a specialist among specialists, and his work at Methodist Health Systems concentrates on those people who have experienced problems with basic functions such as swallowing or speaking.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY

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2020

Because this is our medical issue, nearly all our articles focus on health in some way. Our chef profile is about Dan Hamilton, head cook at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, and his struggles with Guillain-Barré. He was diagnosed with this paralyzing condition in May 2019, and with hard work, he retrained his fingers to do everything from use his mobile phone to chop vegetables. It took five months for him to be able to work again.

That is about half the time it took Robert Chandler to go back to his passion of diving. This champion who has dived everywhere from Nebraska to South Korea misgauged a maneuver in early 2014 and hit his skull. Doctors said he would never walk again, but less than a year after becoming paralyzed, he not only walked onto, but jumped off of, a diving board.

None of these stories would be possible without the help of, and training by, the best doctors and nurses in the area. In this issue we also bring readers the Best Doctors 2020 list, and the 2019 Nurse of the Year winners.

This is 2020: A time to start anew. We hope these stories inspire you to exercise more, quit smoking, lose weight, volunteer, or anything else you resolve to do this year. * Note: The hotel edition of Omaha Magazine has a different cover and does not include all of the editorial content included in the magazine’s full city edition.

Get your diagnosis doublechecked. It could save your life.

When you have concerns or doubts about a diagnosis, treatment, or surgery, Best Doctors can help. Our world-renowned medical experts can give you the peace of mind you deserve by providing an in-depth review of your diagnosis to either confirm it or recommend a change.

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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TAB L E of CON T E N T S THE USUAL SUSPECTS 001 From the Editor

Quit Smoking? Lose Weight?

006 Between the Lines 008 Calendar of Events 036 History

Strange Weight Loss Methods

038 Adventure

Winterfest at the Amana Colonies

105 Obviously Omaha

Worst Winter Driving Spots

129 Explore!

134 Not Funny

The Evolution of a Sports Fan

135 Instagram A R T S + C U LT U R E 018 Music

David P. Murphy

022 Visual

Zach Willard

050

F E AT U R E S

048 050 056 060 // 4 //

ALLEVIATING PAIN AND PRESSURE Program Increases Rural Health Care Practitioners

ISN’T IT STROMANTIC

How Three Death-Defying Women Formed a Persisterhood

USING CUT-AND-PASTE TO EDIT OUT HUMAN DISEASE UNMC Scientists at Front of Science Fiction-Worthy Technology

LOSING WEIGHT, GAINING PERSPECTIVE Different Methods, Different People

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

026 Author

Kassandra Montag

030 Performance

Michael Johnson

GIVING 080 Calendar 086 Profile

Rose Rutherford

PE O P L E 040 Gen O

Jackson Parks

042 Profile

Dr. Oleg Militsakh

046 Sports

Robert Chandler

60PLUS IN OMAHA

DISCOVER VIDEOS AND ONLINE EXTRAS

089 Opener

for select content in this issue.

090 Prime Time DINING 106 Review

The Hunger Block

112 Feature

The Grove Juicery

116 Chef Profile

Dan Hamilton

119 Dining Guide SPECIAL SECTIONS 062 Best Doctors 074 Nurse of the Year Awards

A B O U T T HE COV E R

Keto or vegan? With the new year starting, many people will be thinking about their health. For this cover shot, Omaha Magazine sourced a steak from Wohlners.

The cover photo was styled and executed at food stylist Sarah Hunt’s firebarn.

377 trees have been reforested

due to the printing of our last round of publications.

Learn more at printreleaf.com

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THE LINES A LOOK AT FOUR OMAHA MAGAZINE TEAM MEMBERS LEO ADAM BIGA—Contributing Writer Biga is an old lion of Omaha journalism. In a 36-year career he’s reported on the arts and culture scene, and on social justice issues in his hometown. He’s known for writing about the AfricanAmerican, Latino, Jewish, and senior communities. Biga’s special interests in cinema, sports, and literature has given him the opportunity to interview and profile many filmmakers, athletes, and authors. He has organized film events, and taught film history and appreciation classes. His life partner, Pamela Jo Berry, is an artist and writer. Her daughter, Beaufield Berry, is a playwright.

Biga's proud to be part of one of Omaha's first writing families.

VIRGINIA KATHRYN GALLNER—Contributing Writer Gallner is a folk-rock musician and writer based in Omaha. Her songs stand at the crossroads of folk, blues, and jazz. She has participated twice in the Silkroad Ensemble's Global Musician Workshop, as well as Richard Thompson's Frets & Refrains Songwriting Camp. Gallner has volunteered with Omaha Girls Rock for three years as a guitar instructor, band coach, and after-school instructor. She has been nominated for Best Blues and Best Folk/Americana by Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards. Her debut album, Vintage Sepia, is available on all streaming services. Gallner is finishing her first novel, beginning a graduate program, and continuing work on her second album (while occasionally sleeping). Visit virginiakathryn.com to see her work.

GWEN LEMKE —Senior Sales Associate Omaha Magazine’s resident mother and grandmother, Lemke has been with the publication as senior sales associate and contributing editor for 60-Plus almost as long as she was in her previous career in real estate. She owned a real estate company and was active in the real estate association. Gwen and her husband, Raymond, raised four amazing sons—RL, Todd (the magazine’s publisher), Brad, and Tyler. The family now includes nine grandchildren. Gwen enjoys meeting with people, often making friends as she works with them on their marketing needs.

SEAN ROBINSON—Contributing Writer Growing up, Robinson’s family always agreed on one thing: Sean never shuts up. Years later, he’s still talking—but he’s made a career of it as a copywriter and communications specialist.

From startups and Fortune 500 companies to nonprofits and PR firms, he’s told brand stories for myriad companies across the metro. He really gets to talking when discussing his uber-naughty boxer dog Frank, the joys of being an active runner who chooses to never do a marathon, or his Oscar predictions. Readers: you’ve been warned.

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 VOLUME 37 // ISSUE 8

EDITORIAL Managing Editor

DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN Senior Editor

TARA SPENCER Associate Editor

LINDA PERSIGEHL Editorial Interns

BRYAN VOMACKA · REBECCA WEIS Contributing Writers

HANNAH AMROLLAHI · KAMRIN BAKER · LEO ADAM BIGA TAMSEN BUTLER · VIRGINIA KATHRYN GALLNER · CHRIS HATCH GREG JERRETT · SARA LOCKE · SANDRA MARTIN · SEAN McCARTHY TOM McCAULEY · SUSAN MEYERS · NIZ PROSKOCIL SEAN ROBINSON · KARA SCHWEISS · CARIELLE SEDERSTEN SARAH WENGERT · DOUGLAS “OTIS TWELVE” WESSLEMANN

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Jan. 17 –Feb. 9 On sale now!

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Feb. 28 – March 22 On sale Jan. 7!

Creative Director

MATT WIECZOREK Senior Graphic Designer

DEREK JOY Graphic Designer II

MADY BESCH Contributing Photographers

KEITH BINDER · COLIN CONCES · SCOTT DRICKEY WILLIAM HESS · SARAH LEMKE

SALES Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing

GIL COHEN

6915 Cass St. | (402) 553-0800 | OmahaPlayhouse.com

Senior Branding Specialist

MARY HIATT Senior Sales Executive & 60PLUS in Omaha Contributing Editor

GWEN LEMKE Publisher’s Assistant & OmahaHome Contributing Editor

SANDY MATSON Senior Sales Coordinator

ALICIA HOLLINS Branding Specialists

DAWN DENNIS · GEORGE IDELMAN Digital Sales Manager

JILLIAN DUNN

Whether it is day or night, inside or out, Joslyn has so much to offer.

FREE GENERAL ADMISSION

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THURSDAYS: Open ‘til 8 pm!

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402.884.2000 Omaha Magazine Vol 37 Issue 8, publishes monthly except February, April, August, November, December, totaling 8 issues by Omaha Magazine, LTD, 5921 S. 118 Circle, Omaha, NE 68137. Periodical postage at Omaha, NE, and additional offices and additional mailing offices.

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Joslyn Art Museum features works from antiquity to the present with an emphasis on 19th- and 20th-century European and American art. A fun, relaxing, and artful destination for the whole family. Open Tuesday–Sunday, 10 am–4 pm. Conveniently located in downtown Omaha. Café, Museum shop, and free parking.

2200 Dodge St. | Omaha, NE | (402) 342-3300 | www.joslyn.org JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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» Exhibitions « FRIDA KAHLO’S GARDEN

Through Jan. 4 at El Museo Latino, 4701 S. 25th St. Frida Kahlo is one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century. The garden at her home in Mexico City was the creative inspiration of most of her work. Admission: $5 general admission, $3.50 for senior citizens and children under 5. 402.731.1137.

—elmuseolatino.org

HOLIDAY CULTURAL TREES DISPLAY

Through Jan. 5 at Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. A showcase of how cultures from around the world celebrate the holiday season. Each tree is decorated by a local Omaha ethnic society and is accompanied by interpretative text explaining the meaning behind the various decorations and unique traditions of each culture. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $7 children (3-12), free for children under 2 and members.

402-444-5071.

—durhammuseum.org

HOLIDAY POINSETTIA SHOW

Through Jan. 5 at Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Lauritzen Gardens gets into the holiday spirit with a display of thousands of poinsettias and a 20 ft. tall poinsettia tree at the center of it all. Admission: $10 adults, $5 children ages six to 12, free for children under six. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 402.346.4002.

—lauritzengardens.org

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

RACE: ARE WE SO DIFFERENT?

Through Jan. 5 at Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. This exhibit takes an unprecedented look at race through biological, cultural, and historical points of view. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $7 children (3-12), free for children under 2 and members. 402.444.5071.

—durhammuseum.org

MONA2OMAHA: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTOGRAPHER JOEL SARTORE’S PHOTO ARK

Through Jan. 5, 2020, at Gallery 1516, 1516 Leavenworth St. Photo Ark is an effort to document species before they disappear and record the world’s biodiversity. Sartore has spent the last 25 years documenting approximately 12,000 species from around the world.

To date, he has completed portraits of 9,000 unique species. Admission: free. 402.305.1510.

—gallery1516.org

THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN AND AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE MILITARY

Th rough Jan. 18 at Great Plains Black History Museum, 2221 N. 24th St. The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of African-American military pilots that fought in the second World War. Learn more about them at this exhibit. Admission: free. 402.932.7077.

—gpblackhistorymuseum.org

WORD AND IMAGE: THE SAINT JOHN’S BIBLE

Through Jan. 19 at Joslyn Art Museum. 2200 Dodge St. Th is ticketed exhibit features 76 pages from the first handwritten illuminated bible. Tickets: $10 adults, $5 college students with ID, free for members and ages 17 and under. Admission to the museum itself is free.

402.342.3300.

—joslyn.org

LOUDER THAN WORDS: ROCK, POWER & POLITICS

Through Feb. 2 at Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. From civil rights to feminism to war and peace, rock music has influenced large parts of our society.

Th is interactive exhibit explores how rock music has effected our society and features artifacts from famous musicians. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $7 children (3-12), free for children under 2 and members.

402.444.5071.

—durhammuseum.org

LISA BANG HOFFMAN/TERRY KOOPMAN

Through Feb. 7 at Fred Simon Gallery, 1004 Farnam St. Hoff man uses traditional gelatin-silver photography to evolve from the history of the medium and respond to the contemporary. Koopman is a 40-year veteran photographer who started with fi lm and has evolved to digital. Admission: free. 402.595.2122.

—artscouncil.nebraska.gov

RICHARD IBGHY AND MARILOU LEMMENS PROJECT

Through Feb. 15 at Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, 724 S. 12th St. Th is exhibit explores the communication of birds and the possibility of communication between different species of animals. Admission: free.

402.341.7130.

—bemiscenter.org

DIGGIN’ DINOS

Through April 11 at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. Th is exhibit features life-sized animatronic dinosaurs and a digging and building area to transport your kids into another world. Admission: $14 age 2 and up, $13 seniors age 60+, free to members and children under 24 months. 402.342.6164.

—ocm.org

AREA HIGH SCHOOL ART EXHIBITION

Jan. 2-Feb. 2 at Artists Cooperative Gallery, 405 S. 11th St. Some of the best young artists in the area will be showcased in this exhibition. The intention of this special show is to promote the art of high school artists and provide insight on how to put on a professional show at a public gallery. Admission: free. 402-342-9617.

—artistscoopomaha.com

ORIGINS: NEW WORK BY GRACEANN WARN, MICHAEL JAMES, EDGARD CAMACHO, JASON PAPENFUSS AND JAMES FREEMAN

Jan. 3 through Feb. 28 at Modern Arts Midtown, 3615 Dodge St. Th is exhibit features contemporary works by listed artists and additional work by local abstract artists. Admission: free. 402.502.8737.

—modernartsmidtown.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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January 18 April 19, 2020 SPONSORED BY:

OPEN now

The Sherwood Foundation American Muslim Institute

through

april 11, 2020

This is a first-of-its-kind exhibition for children and families to celebrate the diversity of Muslim cultures in America and around the world through art, architecture, design, music, travel, trade, and more!

Presented by:

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OF BUSINESS omahamagazine.com/subscribe

St. Frances Cabrini The spiritual home of the Little Italy and Old Market neighborhoods since 1857.

stcabriniomaha.org 10th and Williams Street

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR

100 PEOPLE

Jan. 17 through Feb. 22 at UNO Art Gallery, 6505 University Drive South. Artist Watie White’s project consists of wood carvings of local people who he admires. Admission: free.

402.554.2796.

—unomaha.edu

OEAA WINTER VISUAL ARTS SHOWCASE

Feb.

7-22

AMERICA TO ZANZIBAR: MUSLIM CULTURES NEAR AND FAR

Jan. 18 through April 19 at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. Th is first-of-its-kind exhibit is designed for children to learn about the diversity of Muslim culture throughout the world. Different sections of the exhibit will focus on art, architecture, travel, and trade. Admission: $14 age 2 and up, $13 seniors age 60+, free to members and children under 24 months.

402.342.6164.

—ocm.org

Feb. 7-22 at Roberta and Bob Rogers Gallery, 1806 Vinton St. The folks behind Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards will celebrate their visual arts nominees with this arts display.

Admission: free.

—oea-awards.org

PULITZER PRIZE PHOTOGRAPHS

Feb. 22 through May 3, 2020 at Durham Museum.

801 S. 10th St. Photography plays an important role in documenting history. Th is exhibit will feature over 80 large-format photographs that won the Pulitzer Prize.

Descriptions of how the photographer captured the moment will also be on display for a unique perspective on the images. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $7 children (3-12), free for children under 2 and members. 402.444.5071.

—durhammuseum.org

INFLUENCE

Through Aug. 20, 2020, at KANEKO, 1111 Jones St. Influence displays the creative work of KANEKO founder and Japanese ceramist Jun Kaneko and how his work, teaching, and creative philosophy has impacted the Omaha community and beyond. Admission: free.

402.341.3800.

—thekaneko.org

» Performances « LES MISÉRABLES

Jan. 14-19 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. One of the most popular productions in theater history, this is the story of former convict Jean Valjean’s life in 19th-century France. Tickets: $40-$125. Times vary.

402.661.8501.

—ticketomaha.com

A RAISIN IN THE SUN

Jan. 17 through Feb. 9 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. Set in South Side Chicago, this show follows the Younger family as they fight against poverty and racism. An unexpected insurance check could lead to a better life, but how should they use it? Tickets: $24+ adults, $16+ students. Times vary.

402.553.0800.

—omahaplayhouse.com

CIRQUE MECHANICS

Jan. 21 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Aerialists soar up to 42 feet in the air in this modern take on a traditional circus. Tickets: $18-$35. 7 p.m. 402.661.8501.

—ticketomaha.com

MARY ZICAFOOSE, IKAT: THE ESSENTIAL HANDBOOK TO WEAVING RESIST-DYED CLOTH

Jan. 24-March 6 at Lied Art Gallery, 2500 California Plaza. Mary Zicafoose’s work is displayed throughout the world and her knowledge of weaving is self-taught.

Admission: free. 402. 280.2509.

—creighton.edu

SPONTANEITY: 10 NEBRASKAN ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISTS

Feb. 28-May 24 at Gallery 1516, 1516 Leavenworth St. Th is exhibition features artwork by 10 abstract and abstract expressionist artists from Nebraska. Admission: free. 402-305-1510.

—gallery1516.org

IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?

Jan. 26 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. The orchestra is sick and they need the audience to help them feel better. Tickets: $15. 2 p.m.

402.345.0202.

—ticketomaha.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR

WOMEN LAUGHING ALONE WITH SALAD

NATIVE GARDENS

WAKEY, WAKEY

THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD

Jan. 27 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. A staged reading by award-winning playwright Sheila Callaghan about the oppressive and unrealistic cultural expectations that women face in society. This event is free and open to the public. 7 p.m. 403.553.0800.

—omahaplayhouse.com

Jan. 30-Feb. 23 at Bluebarn Theatre, 1106 S. 10th St. Th is show talks about time, gratitude, childhood, and the million miracles at work in the world. It includes pictures, music, and cake. 7:30 p.m. most days, Sundays vary. $35 general admission; $30 seniors, educators, military members. 402-345-1576.

—bluebarn.org

Feb. 14-Mar. 15 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. A minor disagreement about property lines escalates into a much bigger battle between two neighbors. Tickets: $36+ students, $18+ students. Times vary. 402.553.0800.

—ticketomaha.com Feb. 15-Mar. 8 at Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. The timeless tale of believing in yourself comes to the stage in a show for all ages. Tickets: $12 non-members, $10 members. Times vary. 402.345.4849.

—rosetheater.org

HOWIE D: BACK IN THE DAY

BLOOD AT THE ROOT

Feb. 19-22 at UNO, 6001 Dodge St. Feb. 28-29, Mar. 1 and 6-8 at The Union for Contemporary Art, 2423 N. 24th St. Th is performance recounts the story of the Jena Six and looks at racial double standards in America. Tickets: $16. Times vary.

402.554.7529.

—unomaha.edu

THE CRYSTAL

Feb. 21-22 & Feb. 28-29 at the Apollon, 1801 Vinton St. Th is interactive theatrical performance explores space and time. 7 p.m. Tickets: $25, includes dinner.

402.884.0135.

—apollonomaha.com

CAMILLE A. BROWN & DANCERS

Feb. 21 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Broadway choreographer Camille A. Brown blends hip-hop, ballet, and tap in this performance. Tickets: $20-$38. 7:30 p.m. 402.661.8501.

—ticketomaha.com

Jan. 31-Feb. 16 at Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. Howie Dorough explores what life was like as a middle schooler trying to fit in-long before he became a member of the Backstreet Boys. Tickets: $25 non-members, $12 members. Times vary. 402.345.4849.

—rosetheater.org

TODD BARRY

Feb. 1 at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. International comedian and actor Todd Barry visits Omaha and brings his unique brand of standup with him. Tickets: $20 advance, $25 day of show. 8 p.m. 402.345.7569.

—theslowdown.com

OPERA OMAHA: ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO

Feb. 7 and 9 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Th is comedic, yet ultimately tragic, opera is the story of two men rescuing their lovers from a Pasha’s harem.

Tickets: $19-$99. 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 7 and 2 p.m. on Feb. 9. 402.661.8501.

—ticketomaha.com

A BRONX TALE

Feb. 11-16 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. An energetic show about a young man who finds himself caught between his love for his father and the mob in the Bronx in the 1960s. Tickets: $32-$90. Times vary.

402.661.8501.

—ticketomaha.com

MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000

Feb. 18 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Creator Joel Hodgson embarks on his final tour, complete with movie riffing robots. Tickets: $30-$300. 7:30 p.m.

402.661.8501.

—ticketomaha.com

BUZZING ABOUT BUGS!

Feb. 23 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. An original work by 11-year-old Winston Schneider of Omaha, presented in partnership with Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. Tickets: $15. 2 p.m. 402.345.0202.

—ticketomaha.com

SHEN YUN

Feb. 25 & 26 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Combining ancient legends and modern technology, this troupe brings a unique performance of Chinese dance to the stage. Tickets: $80-$165. 7:30 p.m. 402.661.8501.

—ticketomaha.com

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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Best of Omaha 2020

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

// 13 //

OMAHA MAGAZINE | CALENDAR

ONCE

NEBRASKA’S OWN: JAMES BARNETT

PET ROCK

THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK

HOTEL DESPERADO

THE ANNIVERSARY

Feb. 28-March 22 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. An Irish musician falls in love with a Czech immigrant. Based on the Oscar-winning fi lm.

Tickets: $24+ adults, $18+ students. Times vary.

402.553.0800.

—ticketomaha.com

Feb. 28-March 15 at Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. A live stage performance of the story of Anne Frank.

Tickets: $20 non-members, $12 members. Times vary.

402.345.4849.

—rosetheater.org

STOMP

Feb. 28 & 29 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Traditional instruments make way for matchboxes, wooden poles, garbage cans, hubcaps and more in this inventive performance.Tickets: $25-$85. 7:30 p.m. 402.661.8501.

—ticketomaha.com

Jan. 12 at Presbyterian Church of the Cross, 1517 S. 114th St. The second annual Nebraska’s Own concert features pianist James Barnett. Admission: free. 5:30 p.m. 402.333.7466.

—vesperconcerts.org

Jan. 17 at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. These popular performers are a tribute band to the Eagles. Tickets: $12 advance, $15 day of show. 8:30 p.m. 402.345.7569.

—theslowdown.com

HAYSTAK

Jan. 17 at the Lookout Lounge, 320 S. 72nd St. Th is Southern hip-hop legend is coming to Omaha with a host of guests, including Bad News Bobby and Mr Lyd. Tickets: $15 advance. 7 p.m. 402.391.2554.

—lookoutomaha.com

THE PARTY AFTER

Jan. 17 at the Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. The rock band from Omaha released their first single in February 2019. Tickets: $10. 9 p.m. 402.884.5707.

—reverblounge.com

Jan. 25 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Hear music from The Eagles, E.L.O, Styx, and other ’70s bands performed by one of Omaha’s most popular tribute bands. Tickets: $70-$105. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202.

—ticketomaha.com

Jan. 29 at the Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. The Anniversary was formed in Kansas in the late ’90s and has consistently toured the Midwest region in the years since. Tickets: $20 advance, $25 day of show. 8:30 p.m. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS AND THE DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND

Jan. 30 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. These bands combine swing, funk, jazz, and blues for a unique sound. Tickets: $25-$40. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202.

—ticketomaha.com

PIANO POWER: RHAPSODY IN BLUE

Jan. 17 & 18 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Louis Schwizgebel and Xiayin Wang perform several classic works on piano. Tickets: $19-$75.

7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202.

—ticketomaha.com

MARK & MAGGIE O’CONNOR » Concerts « KEEP PUSH’N

Jan. 4 at the Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Th is REO Speedwagon tribute band formed from a Beatles tribute band. Tickets: $10. 8 p.m. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

DIRTYSNATCHA

Jan. 18 at Omaha Conservatory of Music, 7023 Cass St. Grammy-winning violinist Mark O’Connor and his wife, Maggie, are performaning with Omaha Conservatory of Music strings students. A Th ree-time Grammy Award winner and three-time Grand Master Fiddler Champion, Mark has composed music for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Tickets: $10. 402-932-4978.

—omahacm.org

YOUR SMITH

Jan. 4 at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. The slowdown hosts an EDM dance party with Dirtysnatacha and Space Wizard. Tickets: $12-$15. 9 p.m. 402.345.7569.

—theslowdown.com

Jan. 19 at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Caroline Smith makes music that is inspired by a combination of her hometown Minneapolis and Los Angeles. Tickets: $10-$12. 8 p.m. 402.345.7569.

—theslowdown.com

RIFF RAFF: CRANBERRY VAMPIRE TOUR

COLD WAR KIDS

Jan. 9 at the Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. The 37-year-old rapper makes a stop in Omaha on his Cranberry Vampire Tour. Tickets: $20. 9 p.m.

402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

RECAPTURED

Jan. 10 at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. The Journey tribute band is one of the most popular in the region.

Tickets:$12-$25. 9 p.m. 402.345.7569.

—theslowdown.com

STRAVINSKY’S PULCINELLA

Jan. 12 at Witherspoon Theater, 2200 Dodge St. Omaha Symphony performs Stravinsky’s entire ballet, one that is both elegant and whimsical. Prior to the show, Joslyn curators will give a talk about the museum’s Degas statue, “Little Dancer Aged Fourteen.” Tickets: $35. 2 p.m. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

// 14 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

Jan. 23 at the Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. The band’s latest album, LA Divine, is inspired by how weird and strange the city of Los Angeles is. Tickets: $32. 8 p.m. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

STEVIE STONE

Jan. 23 at Lookout Lounge, 320 S. 72nd St. Th is hiphop artist is signed to the same label as Tech N9ne. His music combines intense bars with gravelly melodies.

Tickets: $15 advance. 8 p.m. 402.391.2554.

—lookoutomaha.com

UNO FACULTY SHOWCASE

Jan. 24 at Strauss Performing Arts Center, 6305 University Dr N. A showcase of renowned musicians who are also committed to teaching students across the country. Tickets: $15 general admission, $8 students, seniors, military. 6:30 p.m. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

CHRIS JANSON

Jan. 31 at Ralston Arena, 1200 Douglas St. This country singer is known for hits such as “Fix a Drink,” “Buy Me a Boat,” and “Drunk Girl.” Tickets: $29.50-$49.50.

7 p.m. 402.934.6291.

—ralstonarena.com

SINATRA & BEYOND

Feb. 1 & 2 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Singer/songwriter/pianist Tony DeSare puts his own style on Sinatra classics. Tickets: $19-$82. 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 1 and 2 p.m. on Feb. 2. 402.345.0202.

—ticketomaha.com

RUN RIVER NORTH

Feb. 5 at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. The band released their third studio album, Monsters Calling Home, Vol. 1, in May 2019. Tickets: $15-$18. 8 p.m.

402.345.7569.

—theslowdown.com

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

// 15 //

OMAHA MAGAZINE | CALENDAR

BIG HEAD TODD AND THE MONSTERS

Feb. 19 at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. The Colorado jam band is known for their hits like “Bittersweet,” and “Blue Sky.” Tickets: $29.50-$44.50. 7:30 p.m.

402.345.7569.

—theslowdown.com

BRAHM’S SYMPHONY NO. 1

Feb. 21 and 22 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Brahm’s Symphony No. 1 features a fantastic fi nale. Tickets: $19-$73. 7:30 p.m.

402.345.0202.

—ticketomaha.com

FLOYD

Feb. 21 at the Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. A tribute band to Pink Floyd intent on delivering the most authentic performance possible. Tickets: $12. 8:30 p.m. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

CURLY MARTIN & FRIENDS

EDDIE PALMIERI AFROCARIBBEAN JAZZ SEXTET

Feb. 6 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Omaha native Curly Martin performs in his hometown with several other locally-known jazz artists in this popular concert. Tickets: $19-$40. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202.

—ticketomaha.com

Feb. 11 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Since the 1950s, Eddie Palmieri has mixed American jazz and Afro-Caribbean rhythms into his own unique sound. Tickets: $20-$50. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202.

—ticketomaha.com

INGESTED, VISCERAL DISGORGE, CABAL, OPPRESS THE TYRANT, BA’AL BERITH

OTIS MURPHY

Feb. 6 at Lookout Lounge, 320 S. 72nd St. Th is show features performances from several bands, including the headliner, a death metal band from the UK. Tickets: $17. 6-11 p.m. 402.391.2554.

—lookoutomaha.com

Feb. 13 at Strauss Performing Arts Center, 6305 University Dr N. An internationally renowned musician, Otis Murphy has played at some of the largest concert halls in the world and will visit the University of Nebraska at Omaha for their International Concert Series. Tickets: $15 adults, $8 students, seniors, military members. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

JASON ALDEAN: WE BACK TOUR

Feb. 7 at CHI Health Center, 455 N. 10th St. Following the release of his ninth album, the country music superstar makes a stop in Omaha on his latest tour.

Tickets: $51-$325. 7:30 p.m. 402.341.1500.

—chihealthcenteromaha.com

THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS

Feb. 13 at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. The Canadian indie rock band, known for their single “High Ticket Attractions,” released their eighth album, In the Morse Code of Brake Lights, in 2019. Tickets: $30. 8 p.m.

402.345.7569.

—theslowdown.com

CODY JINKS

Feb. 7 at CHI Health Center, 455 N. 10th St. Th is singer of “I’m Not the Devil” and “Lifers” is coming to Omaha. Tickets: $29-$154. 402.934.6291.

—ralstonarena.com

THE RUSH TRIBUTE PROJECT

Feb. 7 at the Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. A tribute band for Rush performs their biggest hits. Tickets: $15 advance, $20 day of show. 9 p.m.

402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

BOB MARLEY BIRTHDAY BASH

Feb. 8 at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Award winning band Rhythm Collective performs Bob Marley and other reggae songs in honor of the late singer. Tickets: $10-$12, $20 VIP. 8 p.m. 402.345.7569.

—theslowdown.com

IMANI WINDS: THE BEAUTY OF STRIFE

Feb. 10 at at Presbyterian Church of the Cross, 1517 S. 114th St. The Grammy-nominated group aims to connect with their audience in every performance and will make their first stop in Omaha. 7 p.m. 402.333.7466.

—vesperconcerts.org

GRAYSCALE

Feb.

13

Feb. 13 at the Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Grayscale has been building momentum since their 2011 beginnings with music influenced by everything from nineties rock to modern pop.

Tickets: $16 advance, $20 day of show. 7 p.m.

402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

KOE WETZEL

Feb. 14 at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Country singer Koe Wetzel infuses hints of punk in his songs.

Tickets: $22-$25. 8:30 p.m. 402.345.7569.

—theslowdown.com

BATMAN (1989)

Feb. 15 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Experience one of the first big screen adaptions of the caped crusader while the Omaha Symphony performs the fi lm’s score live. Tickets: $19-$79. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202.

—ticketomaha.com

THE TOASTERS

Feb. 16 at Lookout Lounge, 320 S. 72nd St. The Toasters perform in Omaha as part of their “4 Decades in Ska” tour. Tickets: $10-$12. 7 p.m. 402.391.2554.

—lookoutomaha.com

// 16 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

MOTHERFOLK

Feb. 22 at the Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. The indie rock band released their third studio album, Family Ghost, in October 2019. Tickets: $10. 9 p.m.

402.884.5707.

—reverblounge.com

WATCH WHAT CRAPPENS

Feb. 22 at the Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. “The creators of “Watch What Crappens” are taking their show on the road. The podcast is a discussion of Bravo TV shows and stars. Tickets: $25 advance, $80 advance VIP, $28 day of show. 8 p.m. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

THE GLORIOUS SONS

Feb. 23 at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Th is Canadian band captures the confusion and chaos of young adulthood in their new album, Young Beauties and Fools.

Tickets: $20-$99. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.7569.

—theslowdown.com

COLT FORD

Feb. 27 at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Ford is known for his hits “Sleep Without You,” “Like I Loved You,” and “Mercy.” Tickets: $25-$30. 8:30 p.m. 402.345.7569.

—theslowdown.com

BRETT YOUNG WITH SPECIAL GUEST MATT FERRANTI

Feb. 27 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. The rising country music star is known for his platinum hits like “Sleep Without You,” “Like I Loved You” and “Mercy.”

Tickets: $35-$225. 8 p.m. 402.661.8501.

—ticketomaha.com

STEFON HARRIS & BLACKOUT

Feb. 28 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Harris combines jazz and R&B for a unique sound. Tickets: $19-$40. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202.

—ticketomaha.com

» Family & More « MIRACLE ON FARNAM

Th rough Jan. 1 at Midtown Crossing, 30th and Farnam Streets. Miracle on Farnam is a unique tradition where families and friends can browse decorated storefront displays created by local artists and non-profits. Times vary.

—midtowncrossing.com

OMAHA MAGAZINE | CALENDAR

KWANZAA 2019

Through Jan. 1 at Great Plains Black History Museum, 2221 N. 24th St. Kwanzaa is a celebration of family, community and culture. Th is event will feature the traditional elements of Kwanzaa. 1-2 p.m. 402.932.7077.

—gpblackhistorymuseum.org

WINTERFEST, THE 2020 KROC WINTER GAMES

Jan. 11 at The Kroc Center, 2825 Y St. Th is event is fun for the entire family and includes Indoor Snowball Fights, Bounce houses, snacks and crafts, superheroes, a winter Olympic training ground obstacle course, floor hockey, and live entertainment. Admission: Free.

402.905.3500.

—omahakroc.org

BEE THRERE OR BEE SQUARE

NEBRASKA CHINESE ASSOCIATION NEW YEAR’S GALA

Feb. 3 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Th is year’s annual gala includes a rare and exclusive opportunity to see world renown performers from some of China’s top song and dance troupes. Tickets will also be available for a VIP Dinner featuring traditional Chinese banquet cuisine. 402-345-0606 —omahachinese.net

15TH ANNUAL DADDY/ DAUGHTER DATE NIGHT

Feb. 6 at Papillion Landing Community Center, 1046 W. Lincoln St. Th is annual date night is a special night for fathers or father-figures and their daughters. The event includes dinner, dancing, pictures, and more.

Semi-formal attire requested. Registration is required

by Jan. 31. Tickets: TBA. 402.597.2041 —papillion.org

Jan. 17 at Nebraska Extension Office, 8015 W. Center Road. Dr. Jody Green will speak about attracting bees and other polinators to gardens. She will also discuss THE OMAHA HOME AND GARDEN EXPO how to build and maintain a “bee hotel” for the Feb. 6-9 at CHI Health Center, 455 N. 10th St. planet’s polinating friends. 9 a.m. Admission: The 54th annual Omaha Home and Garden Expo $5. 402.444.7804 features items and ideas for the inside and outFeb. —events.unl.edu side of your house. There is also a special focus on eco-friendly ideas. Tickets: $9 adults, $4.50 ages 5-12, free for children under 5. Times vary.

PHEASANTS FOREVER —showofficeonline.com

6-9

PRESENTS RIVER CITY HUNTING, FISHING, BOAT & RV EXPO

Jan. 17-19 at Mid-America Center, 1 Arena Way. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy this show, which features more than 100 exhibitors showcasing hunting, fishing, and archery equipment; plus boats, ATVs, and campers.

Times vary. Tickets: $10 adults, $3 children 15 and under, and free to children under age 3. 712-323-0536 —caesars.com/mid-america-center

MISS NEBRASKA LATINA 2020-CORONATION NIGHT

Jan. 18 at Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. Miss Nebraska Latina is the state’s largest beauty contest for Latinas. A winner will be crowned on this night.

Tickets: $25. 6-8 p.m. 402.345.4849.

—rosetheater.org

2020 MIDLANDS INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW

Jan. 23-26 at CHI Health Center, 455 N. 10th St. Th is event features some of the finest cars in the world. There is something for every car fan out there, as cars, trucks, and SUVs will be on display. 402.341.1500.

—chihealthcenteromaha.com

MAC & CHEESE BINGE

Jan. 25 at Midtown Crossing. The fourth annual Mac & Cheese Binge features $3 mac & cheese samplers from participating restaurants. Participants can also vote on their favorites. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

—midtowncrossing.com

BASH & BRAWL 2020

Jan. 25 at The Bunker, 9006 Maple St. Omaha Roller Derby is hosting a holiday mini co-ed tournament. Get in the game, or take a seat and cheer on your favorites.

Admission: $5. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

—omaharollergirls.org

35TH ANNUAL CATHEDRAL FLOWER FESTIVAL

Jan. 25-26 at St. Cecilia’s Cathedral, 701 N. 40th St. Forty of Omaha’s fi nest floral designers join the Cathedral Flower Guild in this celebration of the coming spring season. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

Cost: free. 402-551-2313.

—cathedralartsproject.org

OPERA & ENTREES

Feb. 7 at Monarch Prime, 316 S. 15th St. Before seeing “Abduction from the Seraglio,” opera-lovers can eat hors d’oeuvres and a three-course meal put on by the Opera Omaha Guild before the performance. In attendance will be the conductor, who will present a pre-dinner lecture about the production. Tickets: $75. 5 p.m.

402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

ASICS PRESIDENTS’ DAY CLASSIC

Feb. 15-17 at CHI Health Center, 455 N. 10th St. Up to 450 of the best Junior Olympic volleyball teams from around the nation will be competing in this weekend of aces, digs, and spikes. Tickets: $10 for single-day pass or $25 for three day pass. Ages 6 and under are free. 402.341.1500 —chihealthcenteromaha.com

14TH ANNUAL OMAHA ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS AWARDS

Feb. 16 at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Th is awards show recognizes some of the most talented artists and entertainers in the Omaha area in the categories of visual arts, performing arts and live music. 6 p.m. cocktails, 7 p.m. show. Tickets: $30-$60.

—oea-awards.org

2020 OMAHA BOAT SPORTS AND TRAVEL SHOW

Feb. 20-23 at CHI Health Center, 455 N. 10th St. The 73rd year of this event features a wide variety of items for those who love the outdoors. Fishing, hunting, camping, and boating equipment will be on display and experts will be there to assist those looking for more information. Tickets: $10 adults, $5 students 18 and under, free for children 5 and under. Times vary.

402.393.3339.

—omahaboatsportsandtravelshow.com

14TH ANNUAL EXTREME PRESENTED BY BEERTOPIA

Feb. 22 at Ralston Arena, 7300 Q St. Extreme is an event featuring over 300 beers including rare, new release, and seasonal flavors. 21+ only. 2-7 p.m. Tickets: $38-$65. 402-345-1708.

—beercornerusa.com

SNOW SCULPTING COMPETITION

OMAHA FASHION WEEK

OMAHA WHISKEY FESTIVAL

RESTORE NEBRASKA CONFERENCE

SECOND ANNUAL TATTOO ARTS CONVENTION

OMAHA ROYAL PRINCESS BALL

Feb. 7-9 at 2610 N. Main St. in Elkhorn This event will show beautiful snow sculptures from professional exhibitions across the nation local teams. Competitors will sculpt in sanctioned events for a chance at going to the 2021 national competition. The event will also feature Nebraska’s only Ice Bar. Admission: Free. 402-216-7812.

—mainstreetstudios2610.com/snowsculpting

Feb. 8 at Embassy Suites, 555 S. 10th St. Whiskey distillers, master blenders, and other whiskey experts who will be in attendance. The event will showcase a selection of single malt and blended Scotch, Irish, bourbon, rye, Tennessee, Japanese, Canadian, and craft-distilled whiskies.

—omahawhiskeyfest.com

Feb. 14-16 at Mid-America Center, 1 Arena Way. Tattoo fans will appreciate this convention, which celebrates all things ink. Special guests include Ink Master contestants James Vaughn, Kyle Dunbar, and Al Fliction. Tickets: $20 day or $40 for a three-day pass.712-323-0536.

—caesars.com/mid-america-center

Feb. 23-29 at Omaha Design Center, 1502 Cuming St. The fifth-largest fashion week in the nation returns for another round of great clothes and great fun. Local designers are a big part of this event, which also includes a cancer survivors night and shopping. Tickets: $25$45. 402.937.1061.

—omahafashionweek.com

Feb. 28-29 at Metropolitan Community College, 5300 N. 30th St. Restoration Exchange is offering another weekend of public education and motivation to restore, revive and preserve older homes and buildings. The two day event opens Feb. 28 with an evening sneak peek tour of the restoration of the former Blackstone Hotel.

Times vary. 402-933-3104.

—restorationexchange.org Feb. 29 at Courtyard by Omaha Mariott Bellevue, 3750 Raynor Parkway. Princesses in training (and their parents) will get to participate in princess games, story time sing along, ballroom dancing, and more. Children will meet their favorite princesses, such as Cinderella, Beauty, the Snow Sisters, and more. Tickets: $25-$40.

402-408-5300.

—bellevueeventcenter.com

HIBERNATE & CREATE RETREAT

Feb. 15-16 at Hot Shops Art Center, 1301 Nicholas St. Guests can participate in this two-day event of fun and creativity, featuring optional classes, meals, and a dedicated space to create in any medium of their choosing. Registration required. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $200. 402-342-6452.

—hibernateandcreate.com

Event times and details may change.

Visist omahamagazine.com for complete listings.

Check with venue or event organizer to confirm.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

// 17 //

// A+C MUSIC // STORY BY VIRGINIA KATHRYN GALLNER

DAVID P. MURPHY IS A MASTER,

AND JACK, OF ALL TRADES

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

JANUARY/FEBRUARY

// 19 //

2020

// A+C MUSIC // torch songs such as “Violet is the New Blue,” he elevates the melodies with key changes and modulations. With influences ranging from Randy Newman to Joni Mitchell, he has developed a voice all his own.

self-described creator of “original songs and gibberish,” David P. Murphy is a jack of all trades—and master of them all.

Writing is writing, Murphy insists.

Listening to the torch songs, tributes, and satirical asides that characterize his albums, it’s incredible to imagine that the same individual could make such seemingly different works of art.

Murphy began with music.

He started playing the piano at age 5 and was writing music by age 9. His teacher wanted him to play strictly what was on the page, but he wanted to take it to the next level and create his own accompaniments.

“Quite frankly, sheet music is not that good,” Murphy said.

“It doesn’t have all the colors.”

Murphy has found many opportunities to collaborate with area musicians as a producer, arranger, and accompanist. He engineered, arranged, and co-produced Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards Outstanding Jazz nominee Camille Metoyer Moten’s album Classic, which was also nominated for an OEAA in September 2019 for Album of the Year.

Classic is the culmination of a 10-year collaboration. Their relationship is an “almost telepathic thing,” in Murphy’s words.

“in A sterEo wOrld, it’s hArd tO be mOnO”

Shrugging, he explained, “It’s a left/right brain thing, really. It needs to be expressed by the composer in a certain way or there’s nothing to memorialize the composition.”

As a younger man, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue songwriting. His band David Murphy and the Storks performed in many places that have since shuttered their doors. In his opinion, the best club in L.A. was At My Place, where Bobby Caldwell and various smooth jazz singers used to perform.

“It was a remarkable time,” he said.

“I want things to sound timeless,” he said.

Moten’s rich vibrato reaffirms the timelessness of the songs.

The album includes two songs penned by Murphy, “Totally Blue” and “I Can Barely Think About the Spring.”

Murphy also produced, recorded, and arranged the single “Stand by Me” for Julie Baker, a local jazz vocalist.

Baker said, “[David] has this incredible gift of taking a song and making it new again. So many times, I will take a song to a rehearsal and he will say ‘let’s mess with this,’ which is code for ‘we are going to make it our own.’ He wants to get it right and does not cut corners.”

Even in the production process, it always comes back to the writing. “Everything serves the song [and] grows organically from there,” Murphy said. “I want things a certain way, as any writer does. It poses a challenge.”

Throughout all of Murphy’s albums, including his collaborations, a narrative thread binds together the different genres—perhaps owed to his experience writing prose fiction and satire.

After living in LA for 25 years, Murphy returned to Nebraska. “Out there where the west begins,” as he sings. The Midwest seems to have inspired many of his songs. “Long Lake,” for example, is an instrumental piece that opens with bird calls, evoking early morning walks by a lake. Specifically, for Murphy, Long Lake in Park Rapids, Minnesota.

“I was tainted [by satire] from a young age,” he said with a laugh, referencing inspirations such as Mad Magazine, National Lampoon, and Monty Python.

Murphy uses diverse instrumentation in his songwriting: birdsong, backup harmonies, and horn sections, as well as the standard guitar, bass, and drums. In

Murphy’s SoundCloud page is peppered with fake ads. One of the “sponsors” for his SoundCloud is deadflowers.com, originally made for his friend Dave

Wingert, a morning DJ on AM/FM Boomer Radio.

He contributed “Moby Dick and Jane,” a piece he described as “mash-up satire,” to McSweeney’s, a popular satire website.

His five published books include Zombies for Zombies: Advice and Etiquette for the Living Dead, a motivational guide for the recently (un)deceased.

Murphy takes many things in life with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

He has a genetic predisposition for high blood pressure. Nearly five years ago, it manifested suddenly and without warning, destroying the optic nerve in his left eye in what is known as an ocular stroke.

The first sign something was wrong was a change in temperament. The normally genial Murphy became cranky. He said he knew he had high blood pressure, but never knew this version of a stroke existed.

Losing half of his vision changed a lot of things for Murphy.

As with most things, Murphy approaches his loss of sight with a sense of humor.

“In a stereo world, it’s hard to be mono,” he quipped.

Even the most difficult obstacles seem easier with a laugh.

“It’s a lot harder to find things around the house,” he admitted. “Darkness is not my friend.”

Within two years of having his stroke, he met three people with the same condition.

He said it’s “like when you get a new car and you start to see the car [everywhere.]”

It has been five years, and he tries his best to keep a positive attitude.

“We can all get lulled into a false sense of security about what we do and who we are,” Murphy said. “I know other people who have situations far worse than mine.

You move on, you be grateful for what you got.”

Talking about these life changes, he got goosebumps. “Music means more [now]. It’s like some kind of bold underscore.”

Visit davidpmurphy.com for more information.

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A+C VISUAL // STORY BY GREG JERRETT PHOTOGRAPHY

BY BILL SITZMANN DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

no WEApons reQUIreD Art Conquers All in Fight

Against a Dangerous Narrative JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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s t c e f f a s s e n l l i As much as his finds the d r a l l i W , e f i l n s i e h e w t e b n o i t c e nn o c d e z i c i t n a m ic. t o a r m e l b o r p y t i v ti a e r c d n a s s e n l l i

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Warranted or not, creative ability and mental illness are viewed as traveling companions.

Since Lord Byron’s day, many literary critics have leaned into a poetic notion connecting “genius” and “madness.”

Many artists have been posthumously diagnosed with everything from severe depression to schizophrenia based on hearsay and work product. Jack Kerouac, Vincent Van Gogh, Virginia Woolf, and others fall into an often-romanticized category of mentally ill geniuses.

In 2014, Harvard lecturer Shelley Carson said in James Kaufman’s The Shared Vulnerability Model of Creativity and Psychopathology: “In general, research indicates that creative people in arts-related professions endorse higher rates of positive schizotypy than non-arts professionals.” Perhaps. After all, art is about communicating to an audience a different perspective from the everyday.

One is more likely to present a view of life outside the mainstream if they see the world in a way that others do not, and illness can certainly do that.

Zach Willard, 28, is an Omaha multimedia artist who goes by the handle ZWIAN (@Zach.W.is.a.Nerd). He works and experiments with video art, animated gif art, glitch art, mixed media, lenticular prints, woodburning, apparel, zines, and humor. He has also lived with mental illness for much of his life.

“I’m a definite jack-of-all-trades, master of none. Someday, I think it’d be nice to switch up and be a jack of a few trades and master of some, but I haven’t struck that balance yet,” Willard said. “Being a multimedia artist is like saying a person is a Renaissance man who knows how to work a computer.”

Ten years ago, Willard was diagnosed with manic depression, now more commonly referred to as bipolar disorder. In 2018, he was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and situational anxiety disorder.

“Generally, situations make me anxious,” Willard said. He has also suffered from undiagnosed chronic abdominal pain for much of his 20s, which became acute in the last three years.

In 2018, a scan showed a nodule on Willard’s adrenal gland, causing a cancer scare. Fortunately, he was was diagnosed quickly at the renowned Mayo Clinic and found that he was cancer-free.

“Unfortunately, the cause of my pain is still a bit of a mystery. I had to leave a job I really enjoyed working for—my parents’ business, Willard Auto Machine,” he said. “I did lots of physical labor, but due to my physician’s recommendation, I had to switch back to an office job.”

Willard uses art to distract from his illness, as well as to amuse himself and others. At a showing of his work at The HideAway art gallery in Benson, he used various images of digital glitches others might ignore.

Willard captures them in screenshots or photographs them for examination.

Old videos others throw out are a goldmine of analog artifacts. He layers a variety of images culled from garage-sale VHS tapes with screen-capped digital glitches and images from his own life, such as animated pastiche set on a loop and projected on the wall or displayed on old television sets.

As much as his illness affects his life, Willard finds the romanticized connection between illness and creativity problematic.

“It’s bulls---. Everyone has the ability to ‘see the world in a novel and original way,’” he said. “It’s a matter of establishing an original perspective.”

Dr. Albert Rothenberg noted in a 2015 Psychology Today article, “Creativity and Mental Illness,” that the titular conditions are both nonnormative behaviors with similarities. Euphoria, mania, anxiety, and depression can be signs of mental illness as well as normative aspects of a healthy Janusian creative process.

Rothenberg said that mental illness can be a hindrance to creativity, and often the most productive artistic periods for afflicted artists happen when their mental illness is best controlled. As one example, Jackson Pollock suffered from alcoholism and bipolar disorder, but ushered in abstract expressionism during a time of great personal improvement in his condition.

“The idea that creative ability doesn’t already belong to everyone is unnecessarily exclusive in an effort to elevate people who are neurologically different rather than accepting that everyone is different in the first place,” Willard said. “To ‘literally see things that others cannot’ is psychosis.

That is not a blessing nor an enhanced capacity, it’s an affliction that is harmful to look at through a rose-tinted lens.”

Willard said he does not believe that creativity or art are “Newtonian.”

“Every creative action in life doesn’t cause an equal or opposite reaction,” Willard said, adding that crediting mental illness for creativity “weaponizes” it. “Inspiration can certainly come from any form of hardship, but it isn’t a requirement. Weaponizing mental health can be a dangerous narrative. Even if I personally thought my worst mental health moments somehow influenced the best things I make, it wouldn’t make it a net positive or worth experiencing. An unexpected result or creation may be a silver lining to me having to deal with my health issues, but that doesn’t make it worth the clouds in the first place.”

Willard stressed the importance of keeping the number for The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on hand: 1-800-273-8255.

“People should program the number in their phones and share it,” he said. “Even if it seems like something you’ll never need yourself. It’s important for removing the stigma around reaching [out] for help.”

Visit zachwisanerd.com for more information.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

A+C AUTHOR // STORY BY LEO ADAM BIGA

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Nebraska writer Kassandra Montag grew up with a strong sense of home.

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She spent her Arcadian childhood outside Kearney playing in nearby woods and beside a creek. She built campfires and rafts, and stitched clothes together. Adventure stories fed her imagination and the outdoors offered a canvas to reenact these dramas.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

m o t h e r h o o d

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Wr i t i n g i s s u c h a n i s o l a t i n g c a r e e r. Yo u n e e d t h a t c o m m u n i t y a n d s u p p o r t . I t i s h a r d t o f i n d .

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“To me, it was a sanctuary because I love to be outside, I love nature,” Montag said. “It brought me a lot of comfort.”

Even as a child she expressed herself in writing.

“I wrote journal after journal. When you are a writer, you’re making a whole world from your mind. There’s this thing about creative people and the way we pay attention to the world around us and are able to transform that raw material into an experience for someone else. It’s part observation, part intuition.”

Then there’s the feeling of “having something inside you that you have to get out.” At 18, while a student at University of Nebraska at Kearney, she found a kind reader in the Nebraska poet Don Welch.

They began a correspondence. “I would drop off some poems in his mailbox and he would write notes on them, critique them, and encourage me,” Montag recalled. “It was incredibly nurturing and uplifting. It meant the world to have someone who believed in me and also challenged me. He was that perfect mentor.”

Working on her master’s at Creighton University, she found another mentor in poet Susan Aizenberg. “Writing is such an isolating career. You need that community and support. It is hard to find.”

That support emboldened Montag to start submitting to literary journals.

After a decade of having her poetry and short stories published, she wrote her debut novel, After the Flood. The book tells a post-apocalyptic tale of a mother’s search for a place to call home.

Within two weeks of mailing queries and sample chapters, she landed a literary agent. “It’s incredibly rare,” said junior literary agent Jessica Spivey on behalf of Montag’s agent, Victoria Sanders. “Within two weeks we are usually just beginning to read a manuscript, not giving an offer.”

William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins, secured the publishing rights at The London Book Fair. The screen rights sold at a Hollywood auction to Chernin Entertainment. “It was really exciting and overwhelming. It’s especially fulfilling to share it with family and old friends because they know where I’ve come from,” Montag said. “They’ve supported and believed in me the whole way.”

There’s little chance Montag will develop a big head.

“Myra is such a force of nature. She doesn’t give up, she perseveres. She’s willing to take risks. I admire that courage. The writing of the book became a journey of finding out more about these characters and what this mother would do in this dilemma. It became a quest of the mother to see her missing daughter by joining a ship of people searching for a safe haven.”

Montag said she did three major drafts before it was ready.

It paid off. “The story itself is captivating right from the start,” Spivey said. “Her prose is lush and beautiful. It’s a really timely story as well.”

Montag’s turn from poetry to prose took her far afield.

“This was a huge departure from my previous work of domestic realism poetry and short stories,” Montag said. “This was an epic saga of a family in crisis in a future flooded world. It felt more daring and scary to do. I’d never attempted a project of this scope and quite this action-packed.”

In another sense, she said, it was liberating. “Writing this felt like returning to my childhood love of pure adventure storytelling.

It felt really freeing. I felt like breaking away from having to be purely realistic.”

Still, she endeavored to ground her fictional story in fact, balancing her research between survival guides, for practical details, with historical accounts of life before technology.

“I felt like I also carried this memory of what it feels like to fend for one’s self outdoors. My childhood taught me to really pay attention to small changes in the natural world. That led to me being able to write a book in which environment plays such a large role.”

The journals she began as a child sparked a lifelong practice of jotting things down, including inspirations for her novel.

“I love journaling—both as a way to reflect on my own life and to explore influences and new ideas. I’m not as religious about it as I used to be. Now my writing time is spent working on my next book.”

That next book, she says, is a murder mystery set in the Nebraska Sandhills. “I love the Sandhills. It’s a very beautiful, haunting, eerie setting. I knew I wanted to set a book there at some point.

I like to write characters with that gritty Midwestern work ethic and perseverance.”

“I have two young boys who never let me get ahead of myself.

They keep me very grounded.”

Even with the novel selling well, she says a writer’s lot “is knowing you’ll fail most of the time.” Forget security when rejection is a returned manuscript away.

The idea for the book came after she and her husband Andrew Baumgartner, a geriatric psychiatrist, returned from The Netherlands, where he’d been studying on a Fulbright scholarship.

“You don’t know if you’ll spend two or three years of your life on a book that never sells. But I guess it’s motivating that you always have to hustle.”

“I started having these recurring pregnancy nightmares of a wave of water coming across the Nebraska prairie,” she said. “I had this image in my mind’s eye of a mother living in this future flooded world on a small boat with her young daughter and her other daughter in danger being held somewhere.”

Montag felt she heard the strong, assertive voice of the mother, Myra. “I felt like I knew her personality just from the quality of her voice.”

She believes many readers, like herself, can identify with Myra’s fierce, maternal mettle.

“So much of the novel is about Myra contending with losses.

I think that’s universal. We’ve all lost something or someone. All of us deal with how can we be courageous in the face of loss.”

Visit kassandramontag.com for more information.

A+C PERFORMANCE // STORY BY KAMRIN BAKER

downtown MICHAEL JOHNSON TAKES FLIGHT

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disruptor PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

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// A+C PERFORMANCE //

M

ICH A EL JOH NSON SAT I N A N A BST R ACT, R ED A N D W H I T E BI R D COST UM E AS A N AU DI E NCE GAT H ER ED A ROU N D. BLU E A N D PI N K ST R E A M ERS A N D A N “I T’S A BOY” BA N N ER H U NG I N CON F I DE N T F EST I V I T Y. JOH NSON R EV E A LED A N EEDLE; T H IS WAS T H E DAY T H EY BEGA N HOR MON E R EPL ACE M E N T T H ER A PY.

Johnson is a transgender artist who splits their time between Omaha and Des Moines—and is a self-proclaimed expert in “goofy gay s---.”

Essentially, this means Johnson creates artwork—painting, drawing, design, performance, and more—to highlight queer and transgender identities, as well as arts accessibility.

The aforementioned baby shower was a show called Pluck at Petshop gallery in Benson in June 2019.

In terms of identity, Johnson is upfront and knowledgeable, but seemingly most sure of themselves through the lens of the Wiggle Bird, an autobiographical fictional character born in 2016. It first appeared as drawings and paintings, and is now a performance art costume.

“MY

Johnson decided to start hormones while building the Wiggle Bird costume. They started walking around downtown Omaha in the seven-foot-tall bird suit that “kind of looks like a dolphin” to some.

if I called them zines, people would look at my little comics,” Johnson said. “So zines have been really great to just keep me making. And they’re not just a creative outlet, they’ve also helped me meet so many amazing people.”

Exploring transhumanism through soft sculpture was incredibly freeing, Johnson said, adding an explanation in a follow-up email.

The income generated from this project goes directly towards Johnson’s top surgery, which is planned for late 2020.

For Johnson, top surgery will be more than simple breast removal, because in addition to removing breast tissue, the surgeon will also sculpt the chest to create a masculine shape.

“Transhumanism is the idea that humans can physically transform, alter, or otherwise better themselves through science and technology. For me as a trans person, transhumanism means using hormones and surgery to change my body in ways that make me feel happier and more at home in my own skin. It means taking

Many people—in their different, glorious, confusing forms—are sure to see the message in Johnson’s work.

E NTI R E LI F E, I HAVE ALWAYS E NJ OYE D MAK I N G LITTLE C O M I CS, AN D I LEAR N E D THAT I F I CALLE D TH E M Z I N ES, P EO P LE WO U LD LO O K AT MY LITTLE C O M I CS.”

“The Wiggle Bird pretty much functions for me like a little bit of a diary,” Johnson said. “It’s been a really powerful tool of self-reflection, and a way to admit what I am really feeling to myself. The Wiggle Bird has been really instrumental in me coming to terms with my identity and eventually making the decision to start hormone replacement therapy—which I ended up kind of memorializing through Pluck.”

Johnson said the response to Pluck was “phenomenal.” The performer was pleased with the turnout at the gallery, moved by the support of the art community, and felt safe in a climate of openness and acceptance.

However, Johnson’s art doesn’t hinge on a single personal celebration or communal bonding, but rather, through constant disruption.

“The idea of art sometimes scares people because it’s seen as this very fancy thing that you need a degree to make and understand, and a disruption is just, like, walking around a mall with a traffic cone on your head,” Johnson said. “I love art that doesn’t take itself seriously, that is silly, that involves other people, that calls people out of the routine that they walk through every day.”

initiative and ownership of the way I exist in the world.” As an artist, Johnson extends the concept to costumes, using the wearable, soft sculpture to change body shape, abilities, and perception.

As a trans person, passing as one’s identified gender is stressful—including during simple acts such as walking around in public.

“So, it’s a really radical act to build this bird costume and say ‘OK, this is my new body,’” Johnson said. “In the same way that I may be freaked out walking around downtown and not knowing how I am being perceived by others, now all of a sudden, these people whose gazes might otherwise scare me—now they’re freaked out.”

“I do make art about my identity, and I don’t necessarily try to make really positive work, but I think that’s mostly how I feel about myself, and that is what I feel compelled to make,” Johnson said. “It’s deeply, impossibly gratifying when people see being trans as a casual, positive, sexy thing.”

Johnson would like to know more trans/ masculine performance artists and role models in the community, adding that “A support group would be nice.” Seeing those representations earlier in life could have brought Johnson more peace and understanding a lot more quickly.

“I don’t see the things that I make and I don’t see the things I feel or experience represented in art nearly as much as I’d like to,” Johnson said. “That is a driving force about why I am so upfront about things that are so personal. I want to challenge people, and even here in the Midwest, people are really starting to wake up.”

The baby shower, bird costume, portraits, zines, and beyond are simply extensions of Johnson’s wingspan, reaching as far as possible.

While personally bold and inventive, Johnson produces subtle and routine daily work as a graphic designer for Hatchlings in Des Moines, Iowa. The artist also creates a monthly zine for their Patreon patrons, a loving flock called the Wiggle Bird Mailing Club.

“It’s cliché, but we’re all human,” Johnson said. “We should all be building bird costumes, you know? I think everybody should build a new body for themselves.

Try it out.”

“My entire life, I have always enjoyed making little comics, and I learned that

Visit artstoragejohnson.wixsite.com/portfolio for more information.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY

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2020

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VENUS VEIN CLINIC THOSE WHO HEAR the words “vein disease” may not be thinking of something as common as leg discomfort, swollen ankles, bulging veins, and restless legs. But that is precisely the misconception VENUS Vein Clinic is addressing. Dr. Kelly Schroeder, a board-certified vein and lymphatic specialist, and her team are combatting these myths that vein disease happens when people wear high heels too much, or as an inevitability of aging.

“Vein disease in our community is not well addressed,” says Dr. Schroeder, who is bringing awareness to the ways vein disease treatment can enable patients to live healthier and feel less pain. Because vein and lymphatic specialty clinics are a relatively newer service, especially in Omaha, these treatments were historically only available via vascular surgeons, who, with our aging population, may be now elsewhere focused on other more urgent patient problems. At VENUS, veins and lymphatics is all they do.

Client experience is central to the goal of VENUS Vein’s mission. Finding relief for problems like varicose veins led to relief from a 12-year struggle for Lana Bartos.

For Lana, it wasn’t just the treatments that made the experience so enjoyable, it was the

warm and inviting office environment that made her feel she’s not just another patient.

“Vein disease is easily treatable, covered by medical insurance, and requires no downtime or sedation,” said Dr. Schroeder, adding, “At VENUS Vein Clinic we dispel the myth that people must live with achy, swollen, or discolored legs. We strive to make the treatment process as comfortable as possible.”

For clients like Doug Roberts, who was told by previous specialists that his genetic vein disease was untreatable, VENUS Vein worked with Doug to vastly improve his vein circulation and the pain he was experiencing.

“Everyone at VENUS Vein is very professional and the treatments are an enjoyable experience; it’s like walking into this very fun atmosphere and everyone is so welcoming and nice and the follow-through is just amazing.”

VENUS Vein Clinic stands out in the Omaha metro area as the only vein clinic run by a board-certified vein and lymphatic specialist. Dr. Schroeder’s passion is to develop an individualized treatment

plan that is comfortable, easy, and requires no downtime. “You will feel better and be able to go right back to activities,” Dr. Schroeder said. Helping teachers, mail carriers, and more, Dr. Schroeder loves that she is able to help her patients perform their jobs better, sleep better, and live healthier lifestyles by addressing the root cause of symptoms like restless legs.

“From start to finish, we take care of our patients like family,” said Amy Hovaldt, RVT. Extraordinary patient care isn’t the only thing that sets VENUS Vein Clinic apart—the results are also extraordinary.

“I hear every day that people become more active and can now reach their fitness or weight loss goals after vein treatment,” said Dr. Schroeder. “They no longer have discomfort in their legs during the day or restless legs that keep them from sleeping at night. Knowing that our work together is helping them live better lives is what keeps us going.”

9202 West Dodge Road, Suite 303 Omaha, NE 68114 402.979.VEIN(8346) venusveinclinic.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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Design & Illustration by Matt Wieczorek

HISTORY

story by Tom McCauley

What’s rare is beautiful. Drop Chris Hemsworth back in Shakespeare’s day, and no matter the Australian hunk’s 21st-century attractiveness, 16th-century folks would probably consider him plain. Everyone was ripped back then because everyone was starving. Fatter was better. Fatter signaled wealth and power. Fatter was hot AF.

Eventually, the pendulum of idealized beauty swung toward leanness, giving rise to a checkered health-and-fitness industry that has brought us a buffet of bizarre, silly, and dangerous ways to lose weight.

Omaha Magazine has gathered some of the weirdest, worst weight-loss techniques developed over the years. Those who are sighing over that bowl of post-holiday lettuce salad with boiled egg or dragging themselves to their new live-streaming machine for the third time this year can be grateful they are not doing any of the following (hopefully).

Oscillo-manipulator, or Belt Vibrator The granddaddy of dubious exercise devices, the oscillomanipulator (also known as the belt vibrator, the belt exerciser, or the belt machine) shakes your body violently while you stand there looking cool. Invented in 1850 by Swedish physician Dr. Gustav Zander, the belt machine operates on the principle that vibrating the body knocks harmful toxins and fat cells loose, like a jackhammer on concrete.

You may have seen these machines in old movies. The oscillomanipulator gained popularity in the early 1900s, fell out of favor in the 1930s, and experienced a resurgence from the 1950s through the 1970s, according to the Kansas Historical Society website. Of course, as exercise science (and anyone who has ever used one) could tell you, they don’t work. They might make you feel like your bones are buzzing, but they won’t shape you up.

Sadly, companies are still trying to push the concept of vibrational exercise. A recent analysis of Amazon search results conducted by the writer of this article features 47 vibrating platforms for sale, all paired with the words “fitness,” “exercise,” “slimming,” and/or “workout.” These machines range from $75 to $4,000. There’s even a portable “heated slimming belt” for the truly gullible.

Mechanical Horse Unlike the belt machine, the mechanical horse might actually help a person get fit by strengthening their core. It didn’t do President Calvin Coolidge any favors.

When word got out that he rode a mechanical horse for exercise three times a day, his political opponents and the press savaged him, according to the Washington Post.

Eventually, Coolidge grew tired of the horse, and ditched the device for a gizmo the Hartford Courant called an “electrical

vibration machine claimed to reduce the waistline,” which should sound familiar. A modern version of the mechanical horse is sold today as the Equicizer, possibly the cleverest name of all time, but it ditches the weight-loss claims and instead purports to help horseback riders stay in horse-riding shape during the off-horse season.

Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) In 1761, scientist Luigi Galvani discovered that electric current can activate skeletal muscle, and people are still talking about it.

The EMS machine uses electrodes to deliver ostensibly fat-burning electricity into your body. That’s the idea, anyway, but it’s not so great in practice. According to the FDA website, the agency has received reports of shocks, burns, bruises, skin irritation, and pain associated with EMS devices, as well as potentially lethal interference with pacemakers and defibrillators. If getting into shape is (at least partly) about looking good, perhaps one would be wise to skip this machine. Burns and bruises are not a good look for anyone.

The Tapeworm Diet The tapeworm diet works by swallowing a pill that has a tapeworm egg inside.

When the egg hatches, the tapeworm will grow inside your body and eat whatever you’re eating.

This diet started in the Victorian era, a time when women so desired to be thin, they broke their ribs and wore corsets to bring their waistlines down to less than 20 lines around. It’s no wonder, then, that they thought a ingesting a parasite was a fine idea. A tapeworm can attach itself to other organs or tissues outside your digestive tract and cause serious damage, not to mention the unpleasant side effects of nausea and diahhrea that help with the weight loss. There are some people who still subscribe to this diet.

The Wine and Egg Diet Feeling bored and want to ruin the next three days? Limit yourself to a 5 oz. grilled steak, three hard-boiled eggs, a half-pot of coffee, and one bottle of wine per day. With the Wine and Egg Diet, you can expect a loss of consciousness, five pounds, and possibly your job. It may not be the healthiest program in the world, but it is accurately named.

This dizzying diet first appeared in Helen Gurley Brown’s 1962 classic Sex and the Single Girl, an otherwise farsighted book advocating women’s financial independence and sexual empowerment. Vogue reprinted the regimen in 1977. It went viral last year in meme form.

Any weight lost from this extremely calorie-restricted and dehydrating diet likely comes from muscle glycogen, water, delirium, and perhaps a small amount of body fat.

Aside from the obvious toll that eating like this will take on your health, no one knows why Gurley Brown thought the Wine and Egg Diet would help increase women’s agency.

It’s hard to destroy the patriarchy when you’re jittery, buzzed, and starving all day.

Slapping Machine The slapping machine, or mechanical slapping massage device, was purportedly located in the Battle Creek, Michigan, sanitarium of late 19-century health guru John Harvey Kellogg; the same inventor of a variety of breakfast cereals. It appears to have involved straight-jacket belts and an elaborate pulley system to slap the user at various places around the body. That is all we need to know about it—some of the best art defies explanation.

There you have it, a few of the oddest weight-loss methods of the past century.

Diet and exercise regimens will always contain fads, so those who are thinking of ingesting a tapeworm or cotton balls today may want to think about what research will think about this method tomorrow.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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ADVENTURE // STORY BY HANNAH AMROLLAHI // PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTED BY AMANA COLONIES // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

WINTERFEST

in the Amana Colonies A RECOMMENDED CURE FOR JANUARY DOLDRUMS

Complaining about winter can be an advanced sport in Omaha. Bemoaning shoveling snow, potholes lying in wait under salted roads, or long drives to ski country can be a comforting bond between Midwesterners just trying to get through the weather.

Fortunately, adventure is not about getting through, and neither is Winterfest in the Amana Colonies, located about 20 miles east of Iowa City.

“Yeah, it’s winter in Iowa,” said David Rettig, executive director of Amana Colonies Convention and Visitors Bureau, “but you need to embrace it, and you can have fun in the cold and snow.”

Winterfest’s tongue-in-cheek atmosphere belies a successful free festival nearing its 10th year.

Adventurers can test their mettle against popular Winterfest games such as the Winter Wreath Toss, Great Amana Ham Put, Nagelhauen, Pork Chop Slap Shot, Log Sawing Competition, Ice Cube Launch, or Best Beard Competition.

here’s a pull quote

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

With something for the athletes and the foodies, Winterfest rounds out its offerings with family-friendly activities. Ice or wood sculpture demonstrations, ornament and cookie decoration, an “ice fishing” game with a guaranteed catch, scavenger hunt, and nine-hole mini golf course have been offered by businesses and the festival board for free or nominal fees.

“It’s unbelievable to see some of these beards,” Rettig said. “Some are so thick and some so long.”

Competitive participants can heed Rettig’s advice to loosen one’s arm before throwing a five-pound ham and watch teams in the log sawing to gain understanding of the technique.

The logs are collected by members of the Amana Forestry Department, who carefully notch each log for consistent depth.

A traditional two-person crosscut saw is provided and requires teamwork over brawn for speed. The winners are celebrated by an appropriate wooden trophy.

“Come with the attitude that you are going to have fun, because you are going to have fun,” Rettig said.

Athletes can participate in the Amana Freezer 5K run/walk, which loops from Amana to neighboring East Amana and back.

“Some people take it very serious and are out like a shot,” Rettig said, “and some people are out for the run.”

In years past, 300 runners have registered and run the 5K, which is organized by the Amana Trail Association.

Contributing funds support the race costs, shirts, and maintenance and expansion of the Amana Bike Trail.

For snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, the Amana Nature Trail, known as the Kolonieweg, is a 3.2 mile loop around Lily Pond and is open year-round. It is dog-friendly and one can expect winter conditions.

Winterfest has another popular walk, which, according to Rettig, “has nothing to do with athletics.” An inexpensive punch card ($2 in past years) can be redeemed at local wineries and Millstream Brewing Co. for seasonal tasters during the Wine and Beer Walk.

Dating back to 1884, Millstream is one of the region’s oldest breweries and boasts award-winning European-style beers.

If this active schedule has worked up one’s appetite, the Amana firemen offer open-fire chili with proceeds going towards the Amana Fire Department. Local restaurants offer plenty of options. Popular places include Chocolate Haus Dessert and Coffee Cafe, Hahn Hearth Oven Bakery, Ox Yoke Inn, Ronneburg Restaurant, and Millstream Brau Haus.

“Just regular Amana fair,” Rettig said.

“Everything is Amana.”

Rettig can trace his family tree to the original German settlers who immigrated to the Buffalo, New York, area in 1842, and then to Amana in 1885 as their community grew. From the late 1800s to the early 1930s, the Amana colonies housed a communal society that offered its members education, health care, and shared essentials, including food and shelter.

The modern villages have adapted to changing economies and modern sensibilities while valuing a more insulated past.

“We are Americans, but we have the unique community,” Rettig said.

This community can be seen in the local Amana residents found volunteering or working throughout the festival. With a schedule that typically starts at 11 a.m. and ends late at night with the snowball dance, the games alone can fill someone’s day. There are weather-dependent activities such as the “mush” sledding races, but the festival has never been put off by the weather, even with below freezing temperatures.

“It is Winterfest, so you just never know what you are going to get, but you adapt to it,” Rettig said.

Visit amanacolonies.com for more information.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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GEN O // STORY BY BRYAN VOMACKA // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

Beyond the Front Desk Jackson Parks Takes Volunteering to a New Level

Jackson Parks is a sophomore at Creighton University with a passion for volunteering.

“He has completely rewritten what our volunteer jobs are,” said Michaela Kanoski, Volunteer & Guest Services manager at CHI Bergan Mercy Hospital.

Parks volunteers at CHI Bergan Mercy Hospital, where answering phones and giving people directions at the front desk are two of his main responsibilities. He occasionally delivers mail and participated in a “mock casualty incident” where volunteers learned how to respond to incidents where people are injured. He learned how to react in that situation and transport patients to safety.

These may seem like simple tasks, but Parks takes pride in his work and knows that these small things make a difference to people.

“The hospital isn’t everybody’s favorite place to be,” Parks said. “When they come in, they’re not having a great day, just to take that extra moment to really care for them and make sure they get to their destination or listen to what’s going on, let them know that you’re there and you’re thinking of them and kind of changing their day is what makes it worth it.”

His passion for volunteering started as a preteen, when he worked with local soccer clubs, food pantries, and his church. In high school, Parks transitioned to volunteering for hospitals.

Parks’ dad, Alan Parks, D.O., is a surgeon and his mom, Heather, is a health coach. When he started thinking about his future, Parks was inspired by listening to his parents talk about their jobs. This, in turn, made him realize being a doctor aligned with his interests, morals, and values.

When Parks told his dad he was thinking about working in the medical field, his dad suggested volunteering at a hospital in order to gain experience in that environment. Parks started volunteering at Midlands Hospital as a junior in high school and transitioned to CHI Bergan Mercy Hospital in college. // 40 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

“Volunteering is kind of a time for me to relax and just clear my head,” Parks said.

“So any stress that’s going on, you know, homework, test, any of that stuff just kind of lifts when I’m a volunteer.”

Kanoski, however, describes what a difference he has made at CHI Bergan Mercy.

“His energy has been really positive for our campus, he has been a breath of fresh air for us,” Kanoski said. “The amount of things that this kid has taken on has been amazing.”

Parks advocated for volunteers to do as much as they can for patients. Hospital employees often find Parks assisting patients whenever possible. Although volunteers are not licensed to do specific bedside care, Parks has been known to go above and beyond, such as the time he hand-fed a quadriplegic patient.

“We didn’t know, he didn’t tell us,” Kanoski said.

Other times, Parks will say he is simply going for a walk with a patient, when in reality he will push the patient in a wheelchair across the hospital campus.

“There [was] a patient [who had] been inside for a few months and hadn’t really gotten to experience the outside air,” Parks said.

Parks took the patient out and was with the person during their first moments of fresh air in months.

“When he or she went outside and was able to just kind of breathe in the air, you know, it was really meaningful to them,” Parks said.

Being able to spend time outside reminded the patient of childhood. These experiences make volunteering worthwhile for Parks.

“Hearing different life stories and stuff like that, it kind of changes me. It challenges me to grow,” Parks said.

Volunteering at the hospital has become an integral part of Parks’ life. He moved back and forth between Omaha and Ohio while his dad was studying to be a doctor, but he has always considered Omaha his home. His motivation for volunteering comes from wanting to give back to the community.

“At the hospital, it’s a supporting experience for others, but it really kind of helps me,” Parks said. “Volunteering means the world to me, it’s a chance for me to go out and give back to the community.”

Kanoski said that Parks’ passion and desire to help every person he can has set a tone for other volunteers at CHI Bergan Mercy.

“He is so willing to make every patient’s experience a good one,” Kanoski said.

Knowing that he makes a difference in others’ lives is incredibly important to Parks and a hospital is the perfect place for him to make an impact.

“His energy has been really positive for our campus, he has been a breath of fresh air for us, the amount of things that this kid has taken on has been amazing.”

-Michaela Kanoski

PROFILE // STORY BY SEAN MCCARTHY // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

AS SECOND-NATURE DR.

OLEG

as Swallowing MILITSAKH

MENTION THE TERM PL ASTIC OR RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY, AND IMAGES OF CHER , BOTOX INJECTIONS , AND LIPOSUCTION TO COMBAT THAT EXTR A 20 POUNDS THAT CAN ’T BE WORKED OFF COME TO MIND.

The procedure tends to be thought of as a luxury-ticket item. But in the field of otolaryngology (commonly known as ear, nose, and throat), plastic and reconstructive surgery has been used to give back basic functions such as swallowing or speaking.

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

RECONSTRUCTS

“There’s been a lot of negativity in regard to plastic surgery, but plastic surgery has tremendous effects on the patient’s overall psyche, and when it comes to head and neck-related plastic surgery, we can actually restore a patient’s livelihood,” Dr. Oleg Militsakh said.

Militsakh is an otolaryngology surgeon at Methodist Health Systems. He’s also an associate professor of surgery in the department of Surgery at Creighton Medical Center. He performs surgeries on cancerous and noncancerous tumors in the head and neck areas, and sometimes handles reconstructive surgeries

BASIC

FUNCTIONS

that are needed because of such invasive operations. The challenges of his field, such as navigating through complex, dense areas of nerves within a small area, were a key reason why Militsakh chose this specialty.

“One single nerve can stop movement of your vocal cord, or tongue, or some other important vital structure,” Militsakh says.

Militsakh was born in the former Soviet Union in Minsk, the capital of what is now Belarus. He emigrated to the United States with his family in 1993 when he was 17. His parents were engineers in the

After graduating with his M.D., he studied otolaryngology, and head and neck surgery, at University of Kansas City Medical Center for five years.

He still was not done training. He spent one year in Charleston, South Carolina, where he studied microvascular and advanced head and neck reconstructive surgery under the direction of Dr. Terry Day, later the president of the American Head and Neck Society. The combination gave him a dual skill set that put him in demand. Offers for jobs came from North Carolina, Missouri, Kentucky, and other states, including Nebraska.

S H O R T LY AFTER HER S U R G E R Y, MILITSAKH TOLD [SHAPIRO] T H AT THEY HAD S U C C E S S F U L LY REMOVED THE TUMOR, A N D S H E WA S CANCER FREE

Soviet Union. His mother’s focus was economics, his father’s was chemical engineering. In the United States, his parents first ended up taking minimum wage jobs. His family moved to Louisville, Kentucky, because other family members already lived there.

“There’s only one thing I knew about Kentucky: Jim Beam. I didn’t know about the Kentucky Derby. I didn’t know about bluegrass,” Militsakh says.

Militsakh studied at the University of Louisville and earned his undergraduate degree in chemistry and pre-med. He completed his medical degree at the University of Lexington in Kentucky.

Methodist was one of the hospitals that Militsakh visited in 2007. During the visit, he struck a rapport with doctors William and Daniel Lydiatt. Militsakh found the brothers and medical professionals to be knowledgeable, trustworthy, and dedicated to their patients.

“What made the Omaha position different is that there were these extremely personable surgeons that have concentrated their efforts on very specific populations and by doing this without diluting their area of expertise, they became super experts in their field of practice and that resonated well with what I wanted to accomplish,” Militsakh said via email. “[I] wanted to continue to promote excellence in the field.”

Another reason for choosing Methodist was because the hospital’s signature blue matched the color of his beloved Kentucky Wildcats, Militsakh joked.

“That is the perfect blue,” Militsakh said.

Militsakh has performed thousands of thyroid and parathyroid surgeries.

His focus also includes microvascular surgery, which involves transplanting tissues from other parts of the body to a patient’s head and neck areas. In one pediatric case, Militsakh used part of the bone of a boy’s fibula (the lower leg bone) to reconstruct his mandible (lower jaw).

Some surgical reconstructions wouldn’t have been possible 20 years ago. One of Militsakh’s favorite modern tools is an ultrasonic bone knife. The knife’s vibrations are so rapid that it enables surgeons to cut specific designs out of a person’s bone, almost like a jigsaw.

“It vibrates so when you touch the bone, it will cut the bone like a butter knife,” Militsakh says.

Before being referred to Dr. Militsakh, Sherry Shapiro lived with a tumor in her throat for almost 30 years. She guesses the most likely cause for her tumor was that when she was young, doctors radiated her tonsils to shrink them. In 1989, she met with Dr. Trent Quinlan, also from Methodist. For more than two decades, Shapiro underwent surgeries to debulk, or “cut away” the tumor. However, in 2016, after Quinlan performed yet another surgery, he determined he could no longer go down that path of care. Shapiro needed a total laryngectomy, surgical removal of her larynx.

The removal of Shapiro’s vocal cords wasn’t the only thing that concerned her: this surgery would be done by another physician (Militsakh). After such a long relationship with Quinlan, Shapiro was nervous about meeting her new physician.

After her first meeting with Militsakh, she felt reassured.

“I just felt at peace. I knew he was going to take care of me,” Shapiro said. She noted that he was kind, “but he doesn’t sugarcoat the situation,” and she didn’t feel rushed when she was talking to him.

The surgery took more than seven hours.

During the surgery, Militsakh used tissue from Shapiro’s thigh to “rebuild” her larynx. She was hospitalized for seven days with a feeding tube. After her release, she was on a liquid diet for a few weeks.

This March marks the third anniversary of her surgery. Today, she only sees Militsakh for an annual follow-up.

Every three months, she goes in for a 15-minute procedure where her speaking valve is replaced.

“My voice sounds better now than before the surgery,” Shapiro said.

The time that would have been spent on additional surgeries is now spent working out (she exercises six days a week) and spending time with her grandchildren.

Shortly after her surgery, Militsakh told her that they had successfully removed the tumor, and she was cancer free.

After explaining the results to Shapiro, Militsakh spent a few minutes talking about the procedure to her grandson.

“I later asked him about that [conversation], he was such a busy man.

[Militsakh] said ‘that could be a future doctor,’” Shapiro said.

Visit bestcare.org for more information.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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WELCOME TO

Springfield, Missouri Springfield is home to the Grandaddy of All Outdoor Stores®, the original Bass Pro Shops® Outdoor World®.

It’s the perfect place to gear up before you explore the epic trails and rivers of the Ozarks.

SpringfieldMo.org/BassPro // 44 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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SPORTS // STORY BY CHRIS HATCH // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

Diving In

ROBERT CHANDLER’S STORY OF PERSEVERANCE

A

moment before Robert Chandler completes a dive—inches and milliseconds before his fingers break the surface tension and he slips between air and water—the doubts and uncertainty of his own limitations snap to silence and quiet confidence fills the void.

Then he’s in. Swimming back up, catching two lungfuls of adrenaline as he paddles back to land. Air. Water. Win. Repeat.

He has won 17 gold, seven silver, and six bronze medals—from the Cornhusker State Games in his own backyard to world championships in places as far away as Gwangju, South Korea—establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with on the Masters diving circuit.

“ WHEN I HIT, I HEARD A CRUNCH AND THINK I BLACKED OUT. I REMEMBER OPENING MY EYES TO DARKNESS AND SCREAMING.”

Any good diver will say the entry is only as good as the approach. The penultimate step of the approach, before a diver catapults themselves into their complex, choreographed motions of the dive, is called the hurdle.

It’s more than a name for Chandler. He’s been clearing hurdles on the board and off nearly every day since Feb. 22, 2014.

That was the day he launched himself off a specialized board during dry-land training at a local gymnastics facility with a little too much strength.

“I over-rotated a front somersault to a front 1½ somersault,” Chandler said.

He landed head first, suffering a compression fracture of the C4 vertebrae and a fracture to the C5 spinal bone.

“When I hit, I heard a crunch and think I blacked out,” Chandler said. “I remember opening my eyes to darkness and screaming.”

He was rushed to the hospital, paralyzed from the neck down.

There, he received X-rays and CT scans, and the kind of stomach drop that only a grim medical prognosis can supply.

Medical experts weren’t sure if he would be able to walk again.

Chandler first thought of his family. His 11-year-old son, so determined to be by his side that he refused to leave the hospital. His daughter, sleeping fitfully in the hospital chair next to him when he awoke in the darkened hospital room.

“I went through a lot of emotions that went from anger, [to] depression, [to] wondering how and why I survived,” he said. “Thinking, how was I going to take care of my wife and kids?”

Then, he thought of the water…the board…the freedom. He thought of the controlled chaos that he loved from the

first time he flipped off of a springboard at age 6 in Crystal, Minnesota.

He thought of winning.

“All I remember, being pushed down the hall to surgery, was telling the doctors and nurses that I will compete in the next world championships.”

When he went into his emergency surgery, however, his surgeon, Dr. Guy Music with MD West One, cautioned against such lofty championship dreams.

“The initial prognosis was that my C4 was completely crushed, leaving me paralyzed and I was told that even with the surgery, there was no guarantee I would walk again. That I could come out a quadriplegic, paraplegic, or it could even be fatal if the surgery didn’t work.”

The doctors deemed the surgery a success, and Chandler started a long, slow recovery process.

He was angry, confused, leaning heavily into his belief in a higher power. But like the precision of his winning dive, he found hope in the process. Purpose in the details.

First came rehab. A grueling slate of drills and minutiae to inch him closer back to health.

“Going every day to physical therapy and pushing myself a little harder each day,” Chandler said of his goals at this time in his life. “I was getting strength back and balance back.”

He walked within a few short days, and was elated to be recovering, but itched for more.

“When Dr. Music took off the neck collar, he said my head would feel like a bowling ball on a wet noodle, which it truly did,” Chandler said. “Rebuilding the strength back gave me the feeling that I can do this.”

Chandler’s diving coach, Mike Retelsdorf, visited him in the hospital. Retelsdorf is a longtime instructor who coaches at the collegiate, professional, and club levels.

“At no time did I believe he would ever recover to where he is now,” Retelsdorf said. “He structured himself differently after the accident. I don’t think anyone could have told him what not to do.”

As a diver, Chandler needed to be all fulcrums and hinges. Bendable. Balanced.

Fully in control of so many moving parts.

Parts that needed to be recalibrated.

After months of pushing himself to the brink, he was ready. Not just to walk and function and go about his everyday life, but for more.

“Dr. Music called from his own cell phone, saying that the X-rays were where he wanted them and said he would clear me back to training and diving,” he said.

Eleven months after his accident, Chandler was back on the board.

He stood there for a minute, his toes gripping the familiar 20-inch-wide surface. “I walked down the board to my hurdle, it felt like I was in slow motion,” he said. “When I left the board, my brain was a little freaked out being back in the air again, but I felt so free.”

He dove in, baptized in that chlorinated water, and emerged with a smile on his face.

“His desire to get back was so strong, that I didn’t know what to do,” Retelsdorf said, chuckling. “I let the actions speak for themselves.”

And Chandler’s actions have done just that.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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“

Alleviating Pain and Pressure DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

FEATURE // STORY BY KARA SCHWEISS

“F

RHOP PROGRAM INCREASES RURAL HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS or a person who’s ill with something serious, there’s a feeling of desperation,” said Greta Eckstrom, who lives about a mile outside of Stanton, Nebraska.

Eckstrom stated that she and her husband did not think about the length of time to get to a hospital when they moved to Stanton nearly 20 years ago, as they were younger and relatively healthy. Her husband’s steady job and their ties to the community make moving impractical.

The small town in the northeast part of the state has a population of around 1,600. There are no providers practicing exclusively in Stanton, and that is a pain for any townsperson with a pain.

Eckstrom has multiple chronic health conditions, and said she can find some of the medical care she needs in Norfolk, which is 12 miles away. Yet even in Nebraska’s eighth-largest city (population 24,000), receiving necessary care sometimes means waiting for a specialist to stop in the community on a rotation among multiple towns in the region.

“Rural community members do need and deserve good health care,” Wayne State College junior Makayla Brockhaus said.

She’s from Creighton, a city of around 1,100 people near the South Dakota border. “We have great PAs [physician assistants] and nurse practitioners there, but we lost that sense of security when the doctor left. It’s 45 minutes to a [large] hospital.” The town does have Avera Creighton, but that hospital has less than 75 beds and the only specialist is an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Patients in rural areas also find themselves relying on available care for a diagnosis or treatment plan. “There’s no second opinion,” Eckstrom said. If the patients are not happy with their providers, well, they often learn to hold their tongues. “It would be nice if you could have at least a couple to choose from, but there aren’t other options.”

Brockhaus is pre-med and unsure of her future specialty, but she is sure about her intent to practice medicine in a rural community, possibly her hometown.

She made that commitment as a high school senior when she was accepted as a participant in the Rural Health Opportunities Program.

Omaha’s big-city facilities may be a workable solution for some, but it’s not easy when someone’s health problems make traveling challenging. All things considered, Eckstrom said she’s delayed or forgone care at times, especially follow-up or maintenance care that may be deemed less critical. With a husband who works as a medical professional, money or insurance is not necessarily the concern—distance is.

She’s not alone. According to the Nebraska Rural Health Association, rural hospitals across the state are struggling, and they often cut costs by reducing services. That has a negative effect on the physical health of community members as well as the economic health of the community.

“The Rural Health Opportunities Program is…a pathway program for rural communities across Nebraska to identify those students who are interested in a health profession and get them into an undergraduate institution with a guaranteed admission into one of nine needed health professions across the state,” said Nicole Carritt, director of rural health initiatives for the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Students are guaranteed admission to UNMC if they meet program requirements and complete their pre-professional studies at Wayne, Chadron, or Peru state colleges, or the University of Nebraska at Kearney (through Kearney Health Opportunities Program, or KHOP). The professional fields available include dental hygiene, dentistry, medical laboratory science, medicine nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, and radiography.

“Students who are accepted into this program do not pay tuition during their undergraduate years, and we support them in being successful throughout the academic process,” Carritt said.

“It’s so exciting that as a senior in high school you’re already accepted into med school,” Brockhaus said.

Scottsbluff native Alisha Huynh, an RHOP participant in her junior year at Chadron State College, agrees.

“I feel like everyone has our best interests in mind,” Huynh said. “They want us to succeed.”

RHOP participants must be from a rural community, Carritt said, adding that applicants go through a rigorous interview process. “We want to make sure we are selecting the students who have the best potential to be successful in the program.”

Students are not required to sign a contract committing them to a future rural medical practice, but Carritt said the numbers are good so far. Nearly half of the students who’ve graduated from the UNMC rural pathway programs are practicing in rural Nebraska.

“A lot of them are going back home,” Carritt said. “And health care providers who have gone through the program and have gone back to practice [in rural communities] are huge advocates for the program. They also realize they may not have been able to fulfill their dreams of becoming a health care provider and practicing in their community if it hadn’t been for the RHOP program.”

RHOP is part of a long-term solution, as the state’s population distribution increasingly shifts to cities, the proportion of seniors increases as Baby Boomers age and people live longer, and health care providers retire or move to larger communities. continued on page 78

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

// 49 //

FEATURE // STORY BY SARA LOCKE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

ANGIE JORGENSEN

SARAH CONAWAY

TAMSEN BUTLER

ISN’T IT STROMANTIC? HOW THREE DEATH-DEFYING WOMEN FORMED A PERSISTERHOOD #stromies

“YOU TAKE YOUR MESS, AND YOU MAKE IT YOUR MESSAGE.” - The Stromies

MANY 34-YEAR-OLD WOMEN ARE STARTING TO SEE NOT-AS-SMOOTH SKIN AROUND THEIR EYES OR AN UNWANTED HAIR OR TWO IN UNSIGHTLY PLACES. Sarah Conaway saw her life flash before her eyes in a way most won’t until they are 65 or older. She also sees life through one eye—a stroke at age 34 left her with half of her vision.

Conaway was one of few people to suffer a stroke at a young age, but she wasn’t alone. Not in the U.S., not in Omaha.

The CDC reports that 34% of people who suffered a stroke were under age 65—but in the age group of 45 and under, that statistic drops to anywhere between 10% and 15%.

Conaway survived an ischemic stroke followed by a hemorrhagic conversion, and these days, she can be found with her Stromies—two friends she found through the commonality of being young stroke survivors. She, along with Angie Jorgensen and Tamsen Butler, have created a personal support group and an online support group that boasts 1,000 followers on Facebook and more than 1,500 on Instagram.

The three women arrive in a ceremonious fashion, whether they’re stopping for coffee or preparing to present at a gala.

The energy is rich and the mood is high, and with a bright and confident smile on each of their luminous faces, they talk about the time they almost died.

It may be a bit macabre to think about, but they each insist that their strokes come with an upside, if only a partially working left side.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

// 51 //

From left: Angie Jorgensen, Tamsen Butler, and Sarah Conaway

// 52 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

FEATURE // STROMIES

POLLY-ANGIE

“I’ve always been a Pollyanna,” insists Jorgensen, “I need to find the one good thing every day and write it down. Even in the darkest moments, and there were a lot of dark moments.”

She could be talking about any of the moments since her initial stroke in 2012, living on bypass and dialysis, or rehab, but she’s speaking specifically about dying. Twice.

“They did everything. CPR, a helicopter ride to a better equipped hospital, machines to keep me alive. I was in a coma for five days before they knew why.”

But those five days aren’t the ones Jorgensen is counting. She’s counting the 2,549 that have passed since. The 61,176 hours she shouldn’t have had. Her borrowed time.

“I may have lost some of my physical strength, but I gained so much spiritual strength and gratitude. I knew that I had to find a way to share that, but figuring out how didn’t come together until I met Tamsen and Sarah.”

YOU HAD ME AT HELLO Meeting Butler came about with a mutual girl-crush and a bit of cyber stalking.

“I’d seen Tamsen giving a speech at the Go Red for Women event and I was just amazed,” Jorgensen said. “Her story and the way she told it was so vulnerable and honest and strong. I knew immediately I wanted to find a way to connect with her.”

What Jorgensen didn’t know was that Butler already had her eye on the fellow fitness instructor.

“I was seated near Angie during a different event and I couldn’t stop staring at her calves,” Butler said. “She was so strong. I wanted to walk up and ask her for her leg routine, but there wasn’t an easy way to do it.”

Jorgensen had already faced death, there was no way she was going to let a few nerves get in the way of pursuing what she anticipated could be a powerful partnership. She looked up Butler on Facebook and sent her an invitation to meet.

“The day we met for coffee I was nervous, still feeling all of my deficits and wondering if Angie was going to notice them,” Butler said. “She just breezed in looking fabulous, held up a finger for me to wait, and opened her laptop and a set of notes.

She pointed at the first note and looked up at me and said ‘hello.’ She had a note to remind herself to start with hello. I knew I had found a member of my tribe.”

FIT TO FIGHT

Butler was an award-winning author, freelance journalist, copywriter, and fitness professional before July 22, 2015. As she stood in the kitchen putting away groceries that day, some of them slipped from her hands. Before long, her 11-year-old daughter, Monet, was standing over her asking if she should call 911.

“It seemed silly,” Butler said. “911? I just wanted to go lie down for a bit.”

But when Butler couldn’t formulate the thought into words, Monet called her father, Scott, who called an ambulance as he raced home from work.

“The EMT kept urging me ‘stay with us’,” Butler said. “All I could think about were my kids. I couldn’t leave them.”

After months of rehab and recovery, she knew that just continuing to live wasn’t enough for her.

“I wanted to do more, and I wanted to get the information that saved my life out to anyone who would listen,” Butler said. “I had a platform, and I needed to get well enough to use it.”

And using it put the title “award-winning writer” back under her name, post-stroke.

The women first set out to write a book about their experiences overcoming a stroke, but fate had other plans.

“It’s probably good that we didn’t know right away just how big this was going to become,” Butler said. “If someone had told us, we wouldn’t have believed them, or we would have just been too intimidated.”

Once they found their missing piece in Sarah, there was no more room for fear. All that was left was a resolution to make a difference.

Butler found that writing helped her get back to normalcy.

That intention to get back to a normal life created a blog, which created the “stromies” community.

SEE LIKE SARAH

If you could see through Conaway’s eyes, you’d be kinder, more patient, and more faithful.

The first thing Conaway had in common with her future Stromies was that she was young and healthy when nature struck unexpectedly. The second thing was that being a survivor wasn’t enough. She was determined to become stronger than before, and to show others that they could come back from anything.

“My daughter woke up at 3 a.m., crying with an earache,” Conaway said of that night she suffered her first stroke. “I hurried her in to Children’s and as we sat in the emergency room filling out paperwork my right side just gave out. I couldn’t lift the pen. For the next three days I was in and out of consciousness. If it hadn’t been for my mother being there to speak for me when I couldn’t do it for myself, pushing for more testing, they wouldn’t have found that I’d had a second stroke [while in the hospital]. My brain would have continued bleeding and that would be it.”

Conaway said surrounding herself with people who will relentlessly advocate for her, push her, and give her a safe place to rest and heal meant the difference between accepting her deficits and fighting for a new, stronger woman.

“It’s easy to think that the stroke is the one bad thing that happens and then you get to have an amazing life,” Conaway said.

“An amazing life comes from deciding to have an amazing life, no matter what.

Sometimes, that ‘no matter what’ gets tested in ways you don’t expect. But every day you just think of what you’ve already survived, and remember that you can survive this, too. At least I don’t have to do it alone.”

Conaway has faced the unthinkable, the unexpected, and the unfair, but she does it all with a charm and grace that belie the circumstance that brought her to her tribe.

Butler found that writing helped her get back to normalcy. That intention to get back to a normal life created a blog, which created the “stromies” community. This community of survivors offers one another support that meets them where they are today. Some people in the community are still in the surgery stage, others have graduated to canes or walkers, and some have deficits only evident to those who knew them prestroke. The Stromies know that the need for support doesn’t have an expiration date, and as long as they have a voice, they’re going to use it to tell others that they are never alone.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

// 53 //

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FEATURE // STROMIES

The women have used the bars lowered by brain trauma, permanent damage, and physical limitations to build a ladder, taking them to heights they hadn’t imagined.

“We didn’t expect the reach to be worldwide,” Jorgensen said. “We have made friends and collected stories from all around the globe, and to be trusted to tell these stories is really meaningful. There are days when we look at what’s going on in our own lives, sometimes really frustrating or even devastating things, and we remember what we’ve already overcome. As long as we’re still breathing, we can overcome any bad day.”

After you’ve had a stroke, your definition of a ‘bad day’ changes dramatically. When the women say they deal with frustrations, it’s a bit more existential than a bad hair day. Each of the women can wistfully name a handful of people they lost after their own strokes.

“It was shocking…the statistics on divorce after a stroke,” Conaway said.

“You think of your ‘in sickness and in health’ vow and you realize that not everyone thought that part through.

Some people aren’t strong enough to love you after you’ve survived something like this. You become a reminder of mortality. Of just how close we all are to needing to be taken care of.

We’ve all lost friends, family, a partner. Someone who just wasn’t strong enough to be there. We want to make sure that other survivors know that they won’t lose us. No matter who walks out on them, this community is going to be there. In sickness, health, speech impediment, shaking hands, and whatever else they can throw at us.”

And no matter what life throws at these incredible women, they sum it up by simply stating: “You take your mess, and you make it your message.”

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FE ATURE // STORY BY SUSAN MEYERS

W

hat if we could remove or correct the genes in humans that are responsible for chronic genetic diseases such as sickle cell anemia or cystic fibrosis?

Or snip out genes of infectious disease agents like HIV? What if we could introduce cancer-fighting genes into the body’s immune cells to eradicate cancer? The possibilities are enormous.

Those possibilities now appear to be within reach with the introduction of some of the latest ground-breaking advancements in gene editing happening in Omaha.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY

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2020

// FE ATURE // gene editing technology called CRISPR was first demonstrated in 2012-2013 by UC-Berkley and MIT/Harvard. The next year a comprehensive protocol paper on editing a mouse using the CRISPR tool was published by the UNMC Mouse Genome Engineering Core Facility.

Mice are the primary model with genome research as its genome is similar to humans.

The technology has medical implications worthy of the movies. A person has approximately 20,000 genes that are part of human DNA located within cells that control everything from hair and eye color to athletic prowess and susceptibility to disease. Some people, however, are born with genetic mutations that are responsible for inherited disorders like cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, color-blindness, or certain genetic cancers.

CRISPR was groundbreaking, allowing scientists to “cut” individual genes from a genome. But it was inefficient and expensive to use. In 2014, Channabasavaiah B. Gurumurthy, MVSC, Ph.D., Exec. MBA, began looking into ways to advance CRISPER technology. In 2017, he succeeded when he and Masato Ohtsuka, Ph.D., of Japan’s Tokai University co-invented the efficient additions with ssDNA inserts (Easi)-CRISPR. Easi-CRISPR is now used by researchers worldwide and is speeding up genetic research by leaps and bounds, as it allows researchers to create animal models faster and less expensively than before.

Scientists have been using traditional genetic engineering technologies to develop custom animal models that mimic diseases and understand the function of each gene. Such models have enabled scientists to learn gene functions, to understand mutations in human diseases, and to explore the use of developing new drugs to control or cure genetic diseases.

A

“Genome editing represents a new era in medicine,” said Howard Gendelman, M.D., chairman and professor of the Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neurosciences at UNMC. Gurumurthy works under Gendelman.

“We are in the earliest stages of this new technology, but it is gaining momentum and beginning to explode. There is no question that Dr. Gurumurthy is a trailblazer in this area.”

The CRISPR tool consists of two components: a GPS system that finds the specific spot or mutation in the genome and scissors to make the cut. The tool allows scientists to engineer genes more elegantly; to repair a gene mutation by adding, removing, or altering the mutated gene. The problem, however, was delivery of the new gene to replace the mutant copy.

genes in the human body.

The introduction of CRISPR has expedited the process, and with Easi-CRISPER, Gurumurthy estimates scientists should be able to identify the function of the remaining genes (at least 1/3 have been identified) within the next few years.

The advanced technology is improving medicine. There are a growing number of clinical trials being approved for use in terminally ill patients who have no other treatments available, said Gurumurthy.

Several of these trials involve immunotherapy modalities in which Easi-CRISPR could become a valuable tool that allows researchers to add new genes back in the human genome.

In a recent trial for people with sickle cell anemia, a patient in the trial who was born with the disease appears to be successfully “Efficiency was so poor that it took a treated. The disease is year or more to make one mouse model, caused by a genetic defect which could be used to identify a gene,” that turns red blood cells Gurumurthy said. into hard, sticky, sickle-shaped cells that don’t The Easi-CRISPR system can complete carry oxygen well, clog the the mouse model process in less than bloodstream, damage organs, and cause The technology shook the scientific world, two months; it’s like cutting and pastextreme pain. The experimental treatespecially that of genetics research. ing in a word-processing document, ment involves removing the stem cells Gurumurthy explained. from the patients’ bone marrow, modi“Dr. Gurumurthy’s expertise fying a gene in the defective has been attracting collabocells and then returning SCIENTISTS ALSO APPEAR TO BE ON THE BRINK ration from scientists around them to the patient in hopes OF CURING CHRONIC DISEASES LIKE HIV... the world,” said Dr. Jeffrey P. that the corrected cells will USING A CRISPR EXCISION TOOL, Gold, chancellor of UNMC produce red blood cells that and UNO. “Some of the top will prevent the production of THE RESEARCHERS WERE ABLE TO ELIMINATE universities in the world are sickle cells.

THE VIRUS FROM THE HUMAN GENOME. currently collaborating with UNMC’s team for their gene Scientists also appear to be editing needs. These universities include Easi-CRISPR system uses a sinon the brink of curing chronic diseases Harvard…as well as Oxford in England gle-stranded DNA that is inserted into like HIV. In a highly touted study and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.” the sliced genome; previous CRISPRusing CRISPR technology, Gendelman, based methods relied on double-stranded a lead investigator working together Gurumurthy’s studies have been so sigDNA. “The new Easi-CRISPR method is with Kamel Khalili, M.D., at Temple nificant that in late August 2019, he was 100% successful at some genes, comUniversity in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, awarded a $2.5 million grant ($500,000 pared to the old method which was demonstrated that HIV can be elimiper year for 5 years) from the National only successful 1 to 10% of the time,” nated from nine of 23 infected humanInstitutes for Health to continue to Gurumurthy said. ized mice. In this study, the immune improve technologies for biomedical system of the animals were replaced research that will accelerate advances in Study of the human genome has been with their human counterpart and then genetic engineering. around for more than 40 years, and infected with HIV. The infected mice scientists are determining, one by one, were next treated with an anti-retroviral the function of the approximately 20,000 drug cocktail to suppress viral growth. // 58 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

Dr. Channabasavaiah B. Gurumur thy

Using a CRISPR excision tool, the researchers were able to eliminate the virus from the human genome.

“This is the first time that anyone has been able to eliminate virus from a live animal,” Gendelman said. “It provides proof of concept that it can be achieved and may eventually be applied to other infectious agents such as hepatitis C or herpes.”

“We couldn’t be more proud of Dr. Gurumurthy and his team,” said Gold. “They are a perfect example of how UNMC is leading the world.

Nebraskans should be thrilled that this kind of life-changing expertise is right here in Omaha.”

While scince has made great strides, there are still many obstacles to overcome, Gurumurthy said. Curing genetic diseases involving mutations in multiple genes or diseases where a large number of cells need to be treated pose more challenges. Some conditions, like liver disease, affects billions

and trillions of cells.

The engineered genes have to be injected into a large number of cells. The problem, Gurumurthy said, is that the gene copy is not stable.

THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS RIGID REGUL ATIONS IN THIS FIELD THAT RESTRICT GENE EDITING TECHNOLOGY FOR HUMAN ENHANCEMENT AS WELL AS FOR USE ON EGGS, SPERMS, EMBRYOS, AND EVEN ADULTS.

There are also ethical considerations with gene editing. Could someone genetically modify an embryo to eliminate undesirable genes, perhaps those for a specific eye color, and add preferred genes? The United States government has rigid regulations in this field that restrict gene editing technology for human enhancement as well as for use on eggs, sperms, embryos, and even adults.

“We just don’t know the side effects of genetic editing and how it will affect future generations,” Gurumurthy said.

Although Hollywood makes gene editing for human enhancement appear feasible, Gurumurthy said, “There is no magic bullet for any single biologic function.” Editing genes for certain traits or human functions

is more complex. Oftentimes, there are several genes or multiple genes responsible.

The impact on medicine, however, looms large.

“Learning the functions of all of our genes and using this knowledge to cure diseases are two areas where genetic engineering has the ability to make the most impact in the future,” Gurumurthy said. “While there are still obstacles to overcome, gene editing has the ability to change how we treat diseases in the future,” he said. “In the next five to 10 years, I anticipate we will have 50 to 100 diseases in clinical trials.”

Visit UNMC.edu for more information about Gurumurthy’s work.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

// 59 //

FEATURE // STORY BY SEAN ROBINSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

Losing Weight, Gaining Perspective

Different Methods Different People

From left: Michelle Kaiser, Marq Manner, and Becky Grey

// 60 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

Fibromyalgia. Fatty liver disease. Seizures. Depression. Raynaud syndrome. Walking pneumonia.

These ailments plagued Michelle Kaiser day in and day out for a decade. Even her resting hours were disrupted by back spasms. It was enough to make her wish she were dead.

“I

was in so much pain I thought, ‘I’m not going to make it anymore,’” Kaiser said. “I refused to live like that.

So, I planned it. Dec. 31 was going to be my last day on Earth.” Suicide, however, wasn’t the answer. Her cure wasn’t some magic pill or get-better-quick scheme.

Multiple doctors had failed to help her and use of prescription medication wasn’t much more successful. It was time to take matters into her own hands.

Since July 2018, Kaiser has lost an astonishing 100 pounds. The Omaha woman who once donned a size 24 now wears a size 12. Her shoe size dropped. By following the keto diet, Kaiser found her solution—weight loss.

MICHELLE KAISER “I’m finally free of all the pain, the illnesses, and the confinements of who I want to be,” Kaiser said.

Even after refocusing her life to the gospel that is the ketogenic diet, Kaiser still has to stare down cake, brownies, and other delectable desserts all day every day. She is the gourmet maker behind every delicious morsel at The Omaha Bakery.

As the owner and founder of her own confectionery, Kaiser evolved her business to satisfy her keto cravings. Shoppers can still purchase the sweet eats they’ve come to know and love, but now there are approximately 40 other goodies offered that are low in carbs and sugar free.

Almost immediately, she faced her first challenge—her husband. While she altered her nutrition and even began intermediate fasting, allowing herself only a four-hour window every day in which to eat, he sat on the sofa with ice cream in hand. When he saw her frustration, he joined her on the journey and lost 60 pounds in less than six months.

“You can feel like you’re going without. It sucks,” Kaiser said. “Everyone else is eating fries with ketchup, or burgers with buns. Having my family on board really made a difference.”

Now she’s dedicated to making a difference in others’ lives. Beyond whipping up ketofriendly treats to sell, she speaks to small groups about the benefits and is writing a book that’ll be part autobiography, part recipes.

The prevalence of obesity affects more than 90 million U.S. adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These rates continue to rise and so do the number of Americans looking to reverse their weight gain, especially around the beginning of each year.

“I’ve been told, ‘Your business is going to close because this is just a fad,’” Kaiser said. “Nope. We’ve grown 40 percent since I embraced this lifestyle with seven out of 10 customers looking for keto.”

“I just want to inspire others to believe in themselves,” Kaiser said. “Anybody can lose weight—that’s not the key. I’ve been a bakery owner for 30 years. The hard part was changing everything I learned. I embraced a lifestyle, then turned my business into a profit.”

What separates the resolutioners from the success stories is rarely the same. There’s Atkins, South Beach, Jenny Craig, Paleo, Weight Watchers—and that’s just dieting.

Shedding the pounds is a numbers game, but there’s no math formula to follow.

Everyone is different. The secret to weight loss? There isn’t one.

Kaiser’s love for the low-carb, high-fat diet began when she started following it in July 2018. Two months prior, she suffered a seizure in her bakery as a side effect to medication treating her fibromyalgia. An autoimmune specialist and neurologist were at a loss for how to further treat her. She felt hopeless, until she heard about keto from a speaker at her networking group.

MarQ Manner is at Benson’s Krug Park with a drink in hand. It’s straight from the tap, super smooth, and—most importantly— super comforting. This is not typical of someone who stopped drinking almost two years ago.

Four people in the Metro reveal there is no one right way to trim down. Trial and error, sweat (a lot of it), counting calories, and regimented schedules don’t even unite them. The only commonality is they’re all losing it and loving it.

She then joined a Facebook group about the keto diet, on which other users shared their stories. As she discovered the way ketogenic works, she made sure to follow the diet to the letter.

"I JUST WANT TO INSPIRE OTHERS TO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES. ANYBODY CAN LOSE WEIGHT-THAT'S NOT THE KEY...THE HARD PART WAS CHANGING EVERYTHING I LEARNED. I EMBRACED A LIFESTYLE." -MICHELLE KAISER

MARQ MANNER

“Nitro coffee on tap is my go-to now,” Manner said. “It comes out in a real glass, looks and tastes good, plus nobody is eyeing you. I get to still look like a real adult.”

Manner is a regular of the Omaha bar and music scenes. From downtown and Benson to neighborhood haunts and holes in the wall, he’s not picky. However, you won’t see him pounding shots or getting blitzed—anymore.

“I was a heavy drinker, and I was very adamant about it,” Manner said. “At the very end of my drinking, it became a chore to maintain that alcoholism or whatever it is.

It was no longer fun.”

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

// 61 //

FEATURE // LOSING WEIGHT, GAINING PERSPECTIVE

ONE BLOCK BECAME TWO, TWO BECAME A MILE, A MILE SOON BECAME EIGHT OR NINE. When he put down the bottle, he expected improved energy or a happier liver. A trimmer figure was never in the plan. But tighten and trim he did. To the tune of 75 pounds to be exact.

The music columnist and manager of Homer’s was inspired to trade cocktails for coffee by a Christmas photo with his nephews and nieces. After seeing the picture, he felt embarrassed and wanted to quit drinking to do better by himself.

So, he quit. Cold turkey. No A A, no relapses, no looking back. Living next to a mix of bars in Benson didn’t even prove a challenge.

He quit drinking soda at the same time, as his favorite way to drink it was mixed with alcohol. Six months later he quit smoking—bye-bye to three packs a day.

“I became a lump on the bar stool. I felt like crap all the time.”

No longer drinking away his most recent hangover, Manner soon had the energy and time to start walking as exercise.

One block became two, two became a mile, a mile soon became eight or nine.

He started biking too, and in winter he walks around the mall.

“With my age, it’s my chance to do things differently,” said the 46-year-old Manner.

“It’s exciting and fun. I still go out a lot, but I don’t go all out. The money is adding up, too. I can spend on dinners, presents, different things.”

And these days, those Christmas photos look even better.

PATTI PETERSON Little ones in Patti Peterson’s life gave her the push she needed.

“As the grandmother of three, I found myself spending a lot time on the f loor, putting together puzzles, building towers, and laying train tracks,” Peterson said. “Getting down on the f loor was easy. Getting up? Not a particularly pretty picture.”

When her own two sons left home and started families of their own, life changed for Peterson and her husband.

They began eating out more often, with calories becoming an afterthought. At age 64, she decided enough was enough.

That’s when her internist recommended the New Direction System, a weight control program through the Nebraska Medical Center.

the Medical Center. Many of the meal replacements are soups and shakes, meaning the satisfaction of chewing food is gone. This phase lasts up to 16 weeks and is followed by an adapting phase where Peterson was able to buy normal food at the grocery store.

“Hooray! I made it to my goal weight.

Although, really the journey continues,” Peterson said. “I attend meetings twice a month, continue to use some products, and eat regular, generally healthy meals.”

As a practicing attorney and partner at Kutak Rock LLP, Peterson is no stranger to hard work and discipline. No alcohol or coffee? Done. Consuming 800 calories a day? Check. Gallons of water? Bring it on.

“I am an official water drinker now,” Peterson said. “I have my little Camelback that I go nowhere without.”

The purpose of New Direction is twofold: weight loss and education. The belief is only by instilling permanent changes in nutrition and exercise through weekly classes can a healthier lifestyle be maintained.

Like anybody, she’s not perfect. Peterson’s philosophy is to not deny herself everything and to cheat only when the cheating is good. Ted & Wally’s ice cream is still a vice, but potato chips aren’t worth the calories.

As with other weight-loss programs, this one is not for everyone. In fact, this one is only for those who meet the medical requirements, which include having a body-mass index of 30 (or 27 with certain conditions such as high cholesterol).

“I hosted a tailgate this fall and had a chip for the first time in a year and a half,” she said. “it didn’t even taste good anymore.”

In summer 2018, Peterson went all in.

She followed a very low-calorie diet that places the body in ketosis, which is a fancy way of saying her body burned fat as a source of energy due to restricted intake of calories. A medical team helped guide her through each of the program’s phases, and eight months later, she had lost 75 pounds. Phase one, reducing, required consuming four high quality, high protein, low carbohydrate meal replacements per day—and nothing else except water. The meal replacements are purchased through

With more energy, exercise for Peterson today looks like the occasional bike ride, planting f lowers, scooping snow, and maintaining her home. Then, there’s keeping up with the grandkids. That’s a workout regimen in and of itself.

“They are a year older, a year more active, and they love to be outside,” Peterson said. “I used to not be the first one to put on my sneakers. Now, I’m laced up and ready to go.” continued on page 88

"HOORAY! I MADE IT TO MY GOAL WEIGHT. ALTHOUGH, REALLY THE JOURNEY CONTINUES, I ATTEND MEETINGS TWICE A MONTH, CONTINUE TO USE SOME PRODUCTS, AND EAT REGULAR, GENERALLY HEALTHY MEALS." -PATTI PETERSON // 62 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

B These lists are excerpted from The Best Doctors in America® 2019-2020 database, which includes close to 40,000 U.S. doctors in more than 450 medical specialty/ subspecialty combinations. The Best Doctors in America® database is compiled and maintained by Best Doctors, Inc. For more information, visit www.bestdoctors.com or contact Best Doctors by telephone at 800-675-1199 or by e-mail at research@bestdoctors.com. Please note that lists of doctors are not available on the Best Doctors Web site.

Best Doctors, Inc., has used its best efforts in assembling material for this list, but does not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate, and does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person or other party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

ROKEN A BONE? Caught the flu? Omaha Magazine wishes all

our readers good health, but for those who need medical care and don’t know who to visit, look no further than the following pages.

This list has been curated by The Best Doctors in America and represents physicians from all areas of medicine—from allergy specialists to vascular surgeons.

plagues@bestdoctors.com with any questions. For more information or to order visit usplagues.bestdoctors.com or call 617-963-1167.

BEST DOCTORS, THE BEST DOCTORS IN AMERICA, and the Star-in-Cross Logo are trademarks of Best Doctors, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries, and are used under license.

Founded in 1989 by Harvard Medical School physicians, Best Doctors is a global benefits provider and medical information services company that connects individuals facing difficult medical treatment decisions with the best doctors, selected by impartial peer review in over 450 medical specialty/subspecialty combinations, to review their diagnosis and treatment plans.

Copyright 2019, Best Doctors, Inc. Used under license, all rights reserved. This list, or any parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without written permission from Best Doctors, Inc. No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without the permission of Best Doctors, Inc. No fees may be charged, directly or indirectly, for the use of the information in this list without permission.

Best Doctors’ team of researchers conducts a biennial poll using the methodology that mimics the informal peer-topeer process doctors themselves use to identify the right specialists for their patients. Using a polling method and proprietary balloting software, they gather the insight and experience of tens of thousands of leading specialists all over the country, while confirming their credentials and specific areas of expertise.

Best Doctors, Inc. is the only authorized source of the official Best Doctors in America® plaque and other recognition items. Best Doctors does not authorize, contract with or license any organization to sell recognition items for Best Doctors, Inc. Please contact Best Doctors at

The result is The Best Doctors in America® List, which includes the nation’s most respected specialists and outstanding primary care physicians in the nation. These are the doctors that other doctors recognize as the best in their fields.

They cannot pay a fee and are not paid to be listed and cannot nominate or vote for themselves. It is a list which is truly unbiased and respected by the medical profession and patients alike as the source of top quality medical information.

Best Doctors is a part of Teladoc Health, Inc., the global leader in virtual care successfully transforming how people access and experience healthcare. Teladoc Health partners with the world’s leading employers, health plans, and health systems to offer patients across the globe access to care for a broad spectrum of needs.

As part of Teladoc Health, Best Doctors focuses on improving health outcomes for the most complex, critical and costly medical issues. More than a traditional second opinion, Best Doctors delivers a comprehensive evaluation of a patient’s medical condition—providing value to both patients and treating physicians. By utilizing Best Doctors, members have access to the brightest minds in medicine to ensure the right diagnosis and treatment plan.

Through its global network of Best Doctors and other critical services, Teladoc Health is expanding access to high quality healthcare, lowering costs and improving outcomes around the world. The company’s award winning services are inclusive of telehealth services, expert medical services, mental health services, integrated clinical solutions, and platform and program services.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 2020

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ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY

ANESTHESIOLOGY

JAINE BROWNELL

Boys Town National Research Hospital Downtown

Midwest Allergy and Asthma Clinic 16945 Frances St. Omaha, NE 68130 402-397-7400

LINDA FORD

CYNTHIA ANN FERRIS Department of Anesthesiology 555 N. 30th St. Omaha, NE 68131 531-355-6540

VINCENT POMPILI

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Cardiovascular Center Durham Outpatient Center, Suite 2310 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8888

THOMAS R. PORTER

The Asthma & Allergy Center

KENT HUTTON

RUSSELL J. HOPP

Department of Anesthesiology 8303 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-8888

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Cardiovascular Center Durham Outpatient Center, Suite 2310 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8888

JOHN C. PETERSON

MICHAEL D. WHITE

3503 Samson Way, Suite 108 Bellevue, NE 68123 402-592-2055

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Pulmonary and Allergy Clinic 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-5570

KEVIN R. MURPHY

Boys Town National Research Hospital Pacific Street Clinic 14080 Boys Town Hospital Road Boys Town, NE 68010 531-355-7676

JEFFREY S. NELSON

Midwest Allergy and Asthma Clinic 16945 Frances St. Omaha, NE 68130 402-397-7400

THOMAS C. NILSSON

Midwest Allergy and Asthma Clinic 16945 Frances St. Omaha, NE 68130 402-397-7400

JILL ADAIR POOLE

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

JAMES M. TRACY

Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Associates 2808 S. 80th Ave., Suite 210 Omaha, NE 68124 402-391-1800

MARK C. WILSON

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Pulmonary Medicine Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Second Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-6404

// 64 //

Methodist Hospital

Methodist Hospital Department of Anesthesiology 8303 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-8888

SASHA K. SHILLCUTT

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center Department of Anesthesiology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4081

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE VENKATA M. ALLA

CHI Health Clinic Cardiology 7500 Mercy Road Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-0717

MICHAEL G. DEL CORE CHI Health Clinic Cardiology 7500 Mercy Road Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-0717

ARTHUR R. EASLEY

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center

Cardiovascular Center Durham Outpatient Center, Suite 2310 4400 Emile St..

Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8888

DENNIS J. ESTERBROOKS

CHI Health Clinic Cardiology 7500 Mercy Road Omaha, NE 68124 402-398-5880

SYED MAQDOOM MOHIUDDIN

CHI Health Clinic Cardiology 7500 Mercy Road Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-0717

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

CHI Health Clinic Cardiology 7500 Mercy Road Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-0717

JOHN WINDLE

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Cardiovascular Center Durham Outpatient Center, Suite 2310 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8888

COLON AND RECTAL SURGERY GARNET J. BLATCHFORD

Colon and Rectal Surgery

9850 Nicholas St., Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 402-343-1122

MANIAMPARAMPIL SHASHIDHARAN

Colon and Rectal Surgery

9850 Nicholas St., Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 402-343-1122

CHARLES A. TERNENT

Colon and Rectal Surgery

9850 Nicholas St., Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 402-343-1122

ALAN G. THORSON

Colon and Rectal Surgery

9850 Nicholas St., Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 402-343-1122

CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE KRISTINA L. BAILEY

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

BERNARD TIMOTHY BAXTER

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center Vascular Surgery Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Second Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7300

DARYL R. GRESS

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center Neurological Sciences Clinic 412 S Saddle Creek Road 4242 Farnam St..

Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8600

DANIEL W. JOHNSON Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center Department of Anesthesiology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4081

STEVEN JAY LISCO

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center Department of Anesthesiology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4081

LEE MORROW

CHI Health Clinic Pulmonary Medicine

DEBRA J. ROMBERGER

CHAD E. BRANECKI

JOSEPH H. SISSON

TIMOTHY J. LARSEN

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6241

SUSANNA GERTRUDE VON ESSEN

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

TAMMY OLESKEVICH WICHMAN

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

DERMATOLOGY

7710 Mercy Road, Suite 3000 Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-9600

MARY TRICIA FINNEGAN

AMOL N. PATIL

ANTHONY J. GRIESS

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

ANDREW J. PATTERSON Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4081

CRAIG ARNOLD PIQUETTE

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

7911 West Center Road Omaha, NE 68124 402-390-0333

Dermatology Specialists of Omaha

909 N. 96th St., Suite 201 Omaha, NE 68114 402-330-4555

KRISTIE DENISE HAYES

Methodist Physicians Clinic - Regency 10060 Regency Circle, Third Floor Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-1315

JILL S. NELSON

Dermatology Specialists of Omaha

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center Department of Emergency Medicine 4305 Dewey Ave. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6637

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center Emergency Services at Hixson-Lied Center 4345 Dewey Ave. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-6637

ROBERT MUELLEMAN Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center

Department of Emergency Medicine 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4020

MICHAEL WADMAN

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center

Department of Emergency Medicine 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6948

RICHARD A. WALKER

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center Emergency Services at Hixson-Lied Center 4345 Dewey Ave. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-6637

ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM ROBERT J. ANDERSON CHI Health Clinic Endocrinology 5002 Underwood Ave. Omaha, NE 68132 402-717-0785

CLAIRE BAKER

Methodist Physicians Clinic Diabetes and Endocrine Associates 7831 Chicago Court Omaha, NE 68114 402-561-2740

909 N 96th St., Suite 201 Omaha, NE 68114 402-330-4555

BRIAN BOERNER

EMERGENCY MEDICINE

Diabetes Center Specialty Services Pavilion, First Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8700

AARON BARKSDALE

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center Department of Emergency Medicine 4305 Dewey Ave. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6637

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center

CYRUS VICTOR DESOUZA Omaha Division - VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System Red Clinic - Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism 4101 Woolworth Ave..

Omaha, NE 68105 402-346-8800

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Diabetes Center Specialty Services Pavilion, First Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8700

AMY S. NEUMEISTER

ANDJELA T. DRINCIC

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center

Diabetes Center Specialty Services Pavilion, First Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68131 402-559-8700

WHITNEY SEARS GOLDNER

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Diabetes Center Specialty Services Pavilion, First Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8700

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Diabetes Center Specialty Services Pavilion, First Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8700

VIJAY SHIVASWAMY

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Diabetes Center Specialty Services Pavilion, First Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8700

FAMILY MEDICINE GREG J. BABBE

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Family Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Third Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

SARAH B. KONIGSBERG Methodist Physicians Clinic Diabetes and Endocrine Associates 7831 Chicago Court Omaha, NE 68114 402-561-2740

JENNIFER L. LARSEN

LYNN R. MACK

J. RUSS BOWEN

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Diabetes Center Specialty Services Pavilion, First Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8700

CHI Health Clinic - Lakeside Family Medicine 16909 Lakeside Hills Court, Suite 300 Omaha, NE 68130 402-758-5400

JAMES DOUGLAS DUNNING

CHI Health Clinic MDVIP

Lakeside Medical Office Building 1, Suite 300 16909 Lakeside Hills Court Omaha, NE 68130 402-717-8338

WILLIAM P. FITZGIBBONS

KIMBERLY JEAN JARZYNKA

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Family Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Third Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

PAUL M. PAULMAN

MARK E. MAILLIARD

MICHAEL A. SITORIUS

TIMOTHY M. MCCASHLAND

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Family Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Third Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

Skyline Medical Center

WILLIAM ANTHONY LOWNDES

DONALD R. FREY

13315 West Center Road, Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68144 402-717-9490

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Family Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Third Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

MONTY S. MATHEWS

JOHN LLOYD SMITH

1908 N. 203rd St., Suite 2 Elkhorn, NE 68022 402-289-4031

CHI Health Clinic Family Medicine 2412 Cuming St., Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-0380

MARK D. GOODMAN

CHI Health Clinic Family Medicine 2412 Cuming St., Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-0380

DAVID HARNISCH

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Family Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Third Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

JEFFREY HARRISON

Nebraska Medicine Bellevue Family Medicine Clinic 2510 Bellevue Medical Drive, Suite 200 Bellevue, NE 68123 402-595-2275

CHI Health Clinic Direct Primary Care

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Family Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Third Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Family Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Third Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

PAUL H. MEISSNER

DOUGLAS H. WHEATLEY

Arbor Heights Family Medicine 8720 Frederick St., Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68124 402-397-0700

DEBRA E. MOSTEK

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Home Instead Center for Successful Aging 730 S. 38th Ave. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-9600

LAETH NASIR

CHI Health Clinic Family Medicine

2412 Cuming St., Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-0380

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Family Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Third Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

GASTROENTEROLOGY ALEXANDER T. HEWLETT

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Department of Gastroenterology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

JOHN CHARLES MITCHELL II

Midwest Gastrointestinal Associates

8901 Indian Hills Drive, Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68114 402-397-7057

MICHAEL SCHAFER Midwest Gastrointestinal Associates

8901 Indian Hills Drive, Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68114 402-397-7057

RENEE L. YOUNG

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

Congratulations to our Best Doctors Mark J. Domet Pediatrics

Jane Emanuel Ear, Nose and Throat Institute

Kevin R. Murphy Allergy, Asthma, Immunology & Pediatric Pulmonology

Robert J. Schwab Internal Medicine

Charles J. Sprague Pediatrics

Jon A. Vanderhoof Gastroenterology

Nancy L. VanderSluis Pediatrics

Heather L. Zimmerman Pediatrics

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 2020

// 65 //

GERIATRIC MEDICINE

HAND SURGERY

DONALD R. FREY

SARA H. BARES

CHI Health Clinic Family Medicine

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Division of Infectious Diseases Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8650

2412 Cuming St., Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-0380

BRENDA KELLER

Methodist Physicians Clinic - Regency 10060 Regency Circle, Third Floor Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-1378

WILLIAM L. LYONS

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Home Instead Center for Successful Aging 730 S. 38th Ave. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-9600

TIMOTHY RAYMOND MALLOY

JOHN A. “JACK” MCCARTHY MD West One

17030 Lakeside Hills Plaza, Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68130 402-390-4111

RICHARD MURPHY

Omaha Orthopedic Clinic and Sports Medicine

11704 West Center Road, Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68144 402-691-0500

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Family Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Third Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

HEATHER M. MORGAN CHI Health Alegent Creighton Clinic

Lakeside Family Medicine 16909 Lakeside Hills Court, Suite 300 Omaha, NE 68130 402-758-5400

JAMES V. ORTMAN

7823 Wakeley Plaza Omaha, NE 68114 402-397-7040

JANE F. POTTER

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Home Instead Center for Successful Aging 730 S. 38th Ave. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-9600

REBECCA L. REILLY

Think Whole Person Healthcare 7100 West Center Road, Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68106 402-506-9110

SUSAN G. SCHOLER

Think Whole Person Healthcare 7100 West Center Road, Fourth Floor Omaha, NE 68106 402-506-9115

INFECTIOUS DISEASE

BRADLEY EDWARD BRITIGAN

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

DIANA F. FLORESCU

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8650

ALISON GAIL FREIFELD

JEFFREY J. TIEDEMAN MD West One

17030 Lakeside Hills Plaza, Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68130 402-390-4111

HEPATOLOGY MARK E. MAILLIARD

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

TIMOTHY M. MCCASHLAND

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

SANDEEP MUKHERJEE CHI Health Clinic Gastroenterology 7710 Mercy Road, Suite 2000 Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-9800

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8650

GARY L. GORBY

Omaha Division - VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System Gold Clinic - Division of Infectious Disease 4101 Woolworth Ave. Omaha, NE 68105 402-346-8800

ANGELA HEWLETT

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8650

ANDRE KALIL

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8650

LAUREL C. PREHEIM

CHI Health Clinic Infectious Disease

7710 Mercy Road, Suite 3000 Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-0759

MARK E. RUPP

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

SUSAN SWINDELLS

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Specialty Care Center Division of Infectious Diseases 804 S. 52nd St. Omaha, NE 68106 402-559-2666

TREVOR C. VAN SCHOONEVELD

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8650

RENUGA VIVEKANANDAN

CHI Health Clinic Infectious Disease 7710 Mercy Road, Suite 3000 Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-0759

INTERNAL MEDICINE STEVEN T. BAILEY

Methodist Physicians Clinic - HealthWest 16120 West Dodge Road Omaha, NE 68118 402-354-0550

JOEL BESSMER Members MD

11810 Nicholas St., Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68154 402-779-8400

TERENCE MICHAEL COONEY

Methodist Physicians Clinic - Indian Hills 8901 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-8600

MICHAEL H. DAVIDIAN CHI Health Clinic Internal Medicine 5002 Underwood Ave. Omaha, NE 68132 402-717-0785

MICHAEL DOMALAKES

Methodist Physicians Clinic - Regency 10060 Regency Circle, Third Floor Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-1378

BRUCE L. HOUGHTON

CHI Health Clinic Internal Medicine 7800 Mercy Road Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-0800

// 66 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

ANNA MAIO

CHI Health Clinic Internal Medicine 7710 Mercy Road, Suite 3000 Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-0800

KATHERINE I. MCLEESE Methodist Physicians Clinic - Regency 10060 Regency Circle, Third Floor Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-1378

J. SCOTT NEUMEISTER

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

DEVIN R. NICKOL

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

LINDSAY NORTHAM

Methodist Physicians Clinic - 192 Dodge 717 N. 190th Plaza, Suite 3200 Omaha, NE 68022 402-815-1980

DAVID V. O’DELL

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

MARK E. OBERLIES

16909 Lakeside Hills Court, Suite 111 Omaha, NE 68130 402-810-9700

JAMES V. ORTMAN

7823 Wakeley Plaza Omaha, NE 68114 402-397-7040

RICHARD K. OSTERHOLM

Think Whole Person Healthcare 7100 West Center Road, Fifth Floor Omaha, NE 68106 402-506-9111

JENNIFER PARKER

Nebraska Medicine Fontenelle Clinic Division of General Internal Medicine 5005 Ames Ave. Omaha, NE 68104 402-559-0282

JOANN L. PORTER

Omaha Division - VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System Red Clinic - Department of Internal Medicine 4101 Woolworth Ave. Omaha, NE 68105 402-346-8800

CHAD READE

Methodist Physicians Clinic - HealthWest 16120 West Dodge Road Omaha, NE 68118 402-354-0550

ROBERT L. RECKER

Think Whole Person Healthcare 7100 West Center Road, Fourth Floor Omaha, NE 68106 402-506-9112

HENRY SAKOWSKI

CHI Health Clinic Internal Medicine

7710 Mercy Road, Suite 3000 Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-0800

SUSAN G. SCHOLER

Think Whole Person Healthcare 7100 West Center Road, Fourth Floor Omaha, NE 68106 402-506-9115

ROBERT J. SCHWAB

Boys Town Internal Medicine

Boys Town Medical Campus - Pacific Street Clinic 14080 Boys Town Hospital Road Boys Town, NE 68010 402-392-7600

LYNN SCOTT

Methodist Physicians Clinic - Regency

10060 Regency Circle, Third Floor Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-1378

JOSEPH F. SHEHAN

Think Whole Person Healthcare 7100 West Center Road, Fifth Floor Omaha, NE 68106 402-506-9118

MATTHEW ALEXANDER SHEHAN

Methodist Physicians Clinic 8019 Cass St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-1250

WILLIAM A. SHIFFERMILLER

Methodist Physicians Clinic - HealthWest 16120 West Dodge Road Omaha, NE 68118 402-354-0550

DAVID P. STEARNES

Methodist Physicians Clinic - HealthWest Internal Medicine 16120 West Dodge Road Omaha, NE 68118 402-354-0550

THOMAS GERALD TAPE Nebraska Medicine Midtown Clinic Department of Internal Medicine 139 S. 40th St. Omaha, NE 68131 402-595-3939

EDWARD J. TAYLOR

Methodist Physicians Clinic - Indian Hills 8901 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-8600

CHAD W. VOKOUN

Nebraska Medicine Midtown Clinic

MEDICAL GENETICS

ROBERT M. LANGDON, JR.

OMAR A. ABDULRAHMAN

Nebraska Cancer Specialists 8303 Dodge St., Suite 250 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-8124

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Munroe Meyer Institute Genetics Clinic 412 S Saddle Creek Road Omaha, NE 68131 402-559-6418

MEDICAL ONCOLOGY AND HEMATOLOGY JAMES O. ARMITAGE

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center 505 S. 45th St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-5600

PHILIP J. BIERMAN

Division of General Internal Medicine 139 S. 40th St. Omaha, NE 68131 402-595-3939

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center 505 S. 45th St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-5600

JOHN ARNOLD WOODRUFF

MARGARET BLOCK

7100 West Center Road, Fourth Floor Omaha, NE 68106 402-506-9122

Midwest Cancer Center – Legacy 17201 Wright St., Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68130 402-334-4773

Think Whole Person Healthcare

INTERNAL MEDICINE/ HOSPITAL MEDICINE MICAH W. BEACHY

Nebraska Medical Center-Midtown Clinic Department of Internal Medicine 139 S. 40th St. Omaha, NE 68131 402-595-3939

ERIC C. RICE

CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs

Division of Hospital Medicine 800 Mercy Drive Council Bluffs, IA 51503 712-328-5000

KENDRA E. SWANSON Methodist Hospital Department of Internal Medicine 8303 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-2360

CHAD W. VOKOUN

Nebraska Medicine Midtown Clinic

Division of General Internal Medicine 139 S. 40th St. Omaha, NE 68131 402-595-3939

Nebraska Cancer Specialists

KENNETH H. COWAN

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center 505 S. 45th St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-5600

APAR KISHOR P. GANTI

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center 505 S. 45th St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-5600

RALPH JOSEPH HAUKE Nebraska Cancer Specialists

Midwest Cancer Center – Legacy 17201 Wright St., Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68130 402-955-2990

SARAH A. HOLSTEIN

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center 505 S. 45th St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-5600

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

ABRAHAM PHILIP MATHEWS

Hematology and Oncology Consultants 6901 N. 72nd St., Suite 2244 Omaha, NE 68122 402-572-3535

ELIZABETH C. REED

RICHARD J. LUND

Omaha Nephrology

NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Neurological Sciences Clinic Clarkson Doctors Building North, Suite 650 4242 Farnam St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8600

KENNETH A. FOLLETT

HARRIS A. FRANKEL

1111 N. 102nd Court, Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68114 402-502-2747

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Neurological Sciences Clinic Clarkson Doctors Building North, Suite 650 4242 Farnam St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8600

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Division of Hematology and Oncology Lied Transplant Center 4315 Emile St., Third Floor Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-5600

STEFANO R. TARANTOLO Nebraska Cancer Specialists

Midwest Cancer Center – Legacy 17201 Wright St., Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68130 402-334-4773

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Stanley M. Truhlsen Eye Institute 3902 Leavenworth St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-2020

GEORGE GREENE

OrthoNebraska Clinics Oakview Medical Building, Suite 110 2725 S. 144th St. Omaha, NE 68144 402-637-0800

CHI Health Clinic Nephrology 7710 Mercy Road, Suite 3000 Omaha, NE 68124 402-343-8650

ROBERT W. DUNLAY

CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center Bergan Mercy Division of Nephrology 7500 Mercy Road Omaha, NE 68124 402-343-8650

MARIUS C. FLORESCU

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

DAVID C. GOLDNER

Omaha Nephrology 1111 N. 102nd Court, Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68114 402-502-2747

DANIEL LYNN MURMAN

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Neurological Sciences Clinic Clarkson Doctors Building North, Suite 650 4242 Farnam St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8600

SANJAY P. SINGH

CHI Health Immanuel

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center 505 S. 45th St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-5600

KHALID BASHIR

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Neurological Sciences Clinic Clarkson Doctors Building North, Suite 650 4242 Farnam St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8600

SACHIN KEDAR

JULIE M. VOSE

NEPHROLOGY

PIERRE B. FAYAD

Neurological Institute 6901 N. 72nd St., Suite 2400 Omaha, NE 68122 402-717-0070

DOUGLAS J. LONG MD West One

8005 Farnam Drive, Suite 305 Omaha, NE 68114 402-390-4111

DANIEL L. SURDELL

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Neurological Sciences Clinic Clarkson Doctors Building North, Suite 650 4242 Farnam St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8600

WILLIAM E. THORELL

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Neurological Sciences Clinic Clarkson Doctors Building North, Suite 650 4242 Farnam St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8600

NEUROLOGY JOHN M. BERTONI

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Neurological Sciences Clinic Clarkson Doctors Building North, Suite 650 4242 Farnam St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8600

OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY CRAIG ALAN BASSETT

Methodist Physicians Clinic - 192Dodge Women’s Center Medical Office Building, Suite 1100 717 N. 190th Plaza Omaha, NE 68002 402-815-1700

TERESA GRACE BERG Olson Center for Women’s Health at UNMC

Division of Maternal and Fetal Medicine Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4500

PAIGE CHARLESTON

Methodist Physicians Clinic - 192Dodge Women’s Center Medical Office Building, Suite 1300 717 N. 190th Plaza Omaha, NE 68022 402-815-1700

DAVID CROTZER

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

Midwest GYN Oncology 8303 Dodge St., Suite 300 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-5250

CAROLYN DOHERTY

Reproductive Health Specialists

Medical Office Building, Suite 2500 717 N. 190th Plaza Omaha, NE 68022 402-815-1915

LANETTE M. GUTHMANN Methodist Physicians Clinic - Indian Hills Women’s Center 8901 West Dodge Road, Suite 200B Omaha, NE 68114 402-815-1700

CAROLEE JONES

Methodist Physicians Clinic - 192Dodge Women’s Center Medical Office Building, Suite 1300 717 N. 190th Plaza Omaha, NE 68022 402-815-1700

PETER C. MORRIS

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

Midwest GYN Oncology 8303 Dodge St., Suite 300 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-5250

STEVEN W. REMMENGA

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center 505 S. 45th St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-5600

ANDREW ROBERTSON

Methodist Perinatal Center

Medical Office Building, Suite 2400 717 N. 190th Plaza Omaha, NE 68022 402-815-1970

KERRY J. RODABAUGH

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center 505 S. 45th St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-5600

KENT H. SIEMERS

Mid-City OB-GYN

7205 West Center Road, Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68124 402-397-6600

ANN MEISSNER SJULIN Mid-City OB-GYN

7205 West Center Road, Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68124 402-397-6600

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 2020

// 67 //

CARL V. SMITH

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Olson Center for Women’s Health Durham Outpatient Center, Fourth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6150

TIFANY SOMER-SHELY

Methodist Physicians Clinic - 192Dodge Women’s Center Medical Office Building, Suite 1100 717 N. 190th Plaza Omaha, NE 68022 402-815-1700

RICHARD H. LEGGE

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Stanley M. Truhlsen Eye Institute 3902 Leavenworth St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-2020

PETER J. WHITTED

Midwest Eye Care 4353 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68131 402-552-2020

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY

CHRIS A. CORNETT

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Lauritzen Outpatient Center 4014 Leavenworth St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-8000

RONALD R. KRUEGER

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Stanley M. Truhlsen Eye Institute 3902 Leavenworth St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-2020

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation Lauritzen Outpatient Center 4014 Leavenworth St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-8000

KEVIN O’MALLEY

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation Lauritzen Outpatient Center 4014 Leavenworth St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-8000

MD West One

17030 Lakeside Hills Plaza, Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68130 402-390-4111

KIRK S. HUTTON

SCOTT T. MCMULLEN

Oakview Medical Building, Suite 212 2725 S. 144th St. Omaha, NE 68144 402-637-0800

17030 Lakeside Hills Plaza, Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68130 402-390-4111

OrthoWest

Methodist Physicians Clinic - 192 Dodge

OPHTHALMOLOGY

SEAN V. MCGARRY

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Lauritzen Outpatient Center 4014 Leavenworth St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-8000

KEVIN L. GARVIN

SUSAN A. WESTCOTT

Women’s Center Medical Office Building, Suite 1100 717 N. 190th Plaza Omaha, NE 68022 402-815-1700

CURTIS W. HARTMAN

DAVID E. BROWN OrthoNebraska Clinics

Oakview Medical Building, Suite 212 2725 S. 144th St. Omaha, NE 68144 402-637-0800

Douglas J. Long, MD

Best in Neurological Surgery

MATTHEW A. MORMINO

BEAU S. KONIGSBERG MARK E. GOEBEL

OrthoNebraska Clinics

Oakview Medical Building, Suite 110 2725 S. 144th St. Omaha, NE 68144 402-637-0800

Jack A. McCarthy, MD Best in Hand Surgery

Scott T. McMullen, MD

Best in Orthopedic Surgery

(402) 390-4111

MD West One

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation Lauritzen Outpatient Center 4014 Leavenworth St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8000

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Durham Outpatient Center, Second Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8000

Kevin O'Malley, MD

Best in Orthopedic Surgery

Samuel P. Phillips, MD

Best in Orthopedic Surgery

SAMUEL P. PHILLIPS MD West One

17030 Lakeside Hills Plaza, Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68130 402-390-4111

Jeffrey J. Tiedeman, MD Best in Hand Surgery

Mark J. Puccioni, MD

Best in Pediatric Neurological Surgery

18+ Locations Across Greater Omaha

mdwestone.com

Hand & Wrist | Shoulder & Elbow | Hip & Knee | Foot & Ankle | Sports Medicine | Neurosurgery | Spine | Pediatric Neurosurgery // 68 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

JUSTIN C. SIEBLER

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Durham Outpatient Center, Second Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8000

WILLIAM M. LYDIATT

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Clinic 8303 Dodge St., Suite 304 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-5048

BRITT A. THEDINGER Ear Specialists of Omaha

9202 West Dodge Road, Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68114 402-933-3277

PATHOLOGY TIMOTHY GREINER MICHAEL C. THOMPSON OrthoNebraska Clinics

Oakview Medical Building, Suite 212 2725 S. 144th St. Omaha, NE 68144 402-637-0800

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Department of Pathology and Microbiology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4186

CHRISTINE P. HANS

OTOLARYNGOLOGY DAVID A. DENMAN ENT Specialists 720 N. 129th St. Omaha, NE 68154 402-397-0670

Methodist Hospital Pathology Center 8303 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-4540

STEVEN H. HINRICHS

JANE EMANUEL

Boys Town National Research Hospital Downtown 555 N. 30th St. Omaha, NE 68131 402-498-6540

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Department of Pathology and Microbiology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4186

SHANE K. KOHL

Methodist Hospital

DANIEL D. LYDIATT

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Clinic 8303 Dodge St., Suite 304 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-5048

AUDREY LAZENBY

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Department of Pathology and Microbiology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4186

SAMUEL PIRRUCCELLO

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Department of Pathology and Microbiology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4186

STANLEY J. RADIO

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Department of Pathology and Microbiology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4186

PHYLLIS I. WARKENTIN

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Departments of Pathology and Pediatrics Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6781

WILLIAM W. WEST

CHI Health Lakeside Department of Pathology 16901 Lakeside Hills Court Omaha, NE 68130 402-717-8174

Pathology Center 8303 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-4540

JAMES L. WISECARVER

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Department of Pathology and Microbiology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4186

PEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY JAINE BROWNELL

Midwest Allergy and Asthma Clinic 16945 Frances St. Omaha, NE 68130 402-397-7400

RUSSELL J. HOPP

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Pulmonary and Allergy Clinic 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-5570

PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIOLOGY

RACHEL A. SPITZNAGEL

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Anesthesiology 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4385

PEDIATRIC CARDIAC SURGERY Kim F. Duncan

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, First Floor 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4360

JAMES MARTIN HAMMEL Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, First Floor 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4360

DENISE MARIE DRVOL

PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY

Department of Anesthesiology 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4385

DAVID A. DANFORD

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

JANE KUGLER

Boys Town National Research Hospital Downtown Department of Anesthesiology 555 N. 30th St. Omaha, NE 68131 531-355-6540

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Pediatric Cardiology 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4339

JEFFREY W. DELANEY

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Pediatric Cardiology 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4339

CHRISTOPHER C. ERICKSON

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Pediatric Cardiology 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4339

SCOTT FLETCHER

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Pediatric Cardiology 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4339

ROBERT L. SPICER

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Pediatric Cardiology 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4339

ANGELA T. YETMAN

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Pediatric Cardiology 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4339

PEDIATRIC CLINICAL GENETICS ANN HASKINS OLNEY

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation 412 S. Saddle Creek Road Omaha, NE 68131 402-559-6418

Journey On Getting back to what you love after an injury is a journey.

Start your journey today - with the area’s largest, most comprehensive provider of orthopaedic care.

OrthoNebraska.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 2020

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PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE

JON A. VANDERHOOF

KARI A. SIMONSEN

MOHAN R. MYSORE

Boys Town Medical Campus - Pacific Street Clinic 14080 Boys Town Hospital Road Boys Town, NE 68010 402-778-6820

Infectious Diseases Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Fourth Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4005

Boys Town National Research Hospital - West Division of Critical Care Medicine 14000 Boys Town Hospital Road Boys Town, NE 68010 531-355-5333

PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY JILL S. NELSON

Dermatology Specialists of Omaha, NE 909 N. 96th St., Suite 201 Omaha, NE 68114 402-330-4555

PEDIATRIC DEVELOPMENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS

Boys Town Gastroenterology

PEDIATRIC GENERAL HEPATOLOGY RUBEN E. QUIROS

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Clinic 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-5700

PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGYONCOLOGY

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

PEDIATRIC MEDICAL GENETICS OMAR A. ABDUL-RAHMAN

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Munroe Meyer Institute Genetics Clinic 412 S. Saddle Creek Road Omaha, NE 68131 402-559-6418

PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation 412 S. Saddle Creek Road Omaha, NE 68131 402-559-6418

PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE DAVID M. TOLO

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Urgent Care Center 110 N. 175th St., Suite 1000 Omaha, NE 68118 402-955-8300

PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGY RICHARD E. LUTZ

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Specialty Pediatric Center

Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-559-8638

PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY RUBEN E. QUIROS

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Clinic 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-5700

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center 505 S. 45th St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-5600

BRUCE GORDON

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center 505 S. 45th St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-7257

PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE H. DELE DAVIES

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Infectious Diseases Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Fourth Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4005

SHIRLEY F. DELAIR

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Infectious Diseases Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Fourth Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4005

STEPHEN K. OBARO

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Infectious Diseases Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Fourth Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4005

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Orthopaedic Surgery Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Fourth Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-6300

BRIAN HASLEY

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Orthopaedic Surgery Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Fourth Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-6300

SUSAN A. SCHERL

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

PEDIATRIC OTOLARYNGOLOGY MARK J. PUCCIONI MD West One

8005 Farnam Drive, Suite 305 Omaha, NE 68114 402-390-4111

PEDIATRIC NUTRITION PATRICIA SEIVERT

Children’s Physicians - UNMC

DEBORA WITIAK GOEBEL ENT Specialists 720 N. 129th St. Omaha, NE 68154 402-397-0670

DWIGHT JONES

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-5208

Durham Outpatient Center, First Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-8125

RYAN K. SEWELL

PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY

PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY

DONNY WON SUH

JOHN L. COLOMBO

Ophthalmology Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Third Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-5440

Pulmonary Medicine Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Second Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-5570

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

ROBERT TROIA

Pediatric Ophthalmology Associates 515 N. 98th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-399-9400

SEBASTIAN TROIA Pediatric Ophthalmology Associates 515 N. 98th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-399-9400

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PAUL ESPOSITO

Orthopaedic Surgery Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Fourth Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-6300

DON W. COULTER

HOWARD W. NEEDELMAN

PEDIATRIC ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY

ENT Specialists 720 N. 129th St. Omaha, NE 68154 402-397-0670

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

MARK C. WILSON

ZAHI E. ZEIDAN

Pulmonary Medicine Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Second Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-6404

Division of Neonatology 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-6140

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

PEDIATRIC RHEUMATOLOGY ADAM L. REINHARDT

Boys Town National Research Hospital Pacific Street Clinic 14040 Boys Town Hospital Road Boys Town, NE 68010 531-355-6800

PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST/CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY SHASHI K. BHATIA

CHI Health Clinic Psychiatric Associates 7101 Newport Ave., Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68152 402-572-2916

PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST/ NEONATALPERINATAL MEDICINE ANN L. ANDERSON-BERRY

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Division of Neonatology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6750

NICOLE D. BIRGE

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Division of Neonatology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-6140

JOHN WESLEY SPARKS

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Division of Neonatology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-8125

LYNNE D. WILLETT

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

JEFFREY S. NELSON

Division of Neonatology 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-6140

16945 Frances St. Omaha, NE 68130 402-397-7400

TERENCE L. ZACH

Midwest Allergy and Asthma Clinic

PAUL H. SAMMUT

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Pulmonary Medicine Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Second Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-6404

CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center Bergan Mercy Division of Neonatology 7500 Mercy Road Omaha, NE 68124 402-280-1231

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST/ PEDIATRIC METABOLIC DISEASES WILLIAM BRADLEY RIZZO Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Metabolic Management Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Second Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4199

PEDIATRIC SURGERY ROBERT A. CUSICK

Boys Town National Research Hospital

Pediatric Surgery Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Fourth Floor 14000 Boys Town Hospital Road Omaha, NE 68114 531-355-7400

STEPHEN C. RAYNOR

Boys Town National Research Hospital

Pediatric Surgery Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Fourth Floor 14000 Boys Town Hospital Road Omaha, NE 68010 531-355-7400

PEDIATRIC UROLOGY FERNANDO FERRER

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Urology Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Third Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4002

JOHN H. MAKARI

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Urology Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Third Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4002

PEDIATRICS/ GENERAL JOHN ANDRESEN

Dundee Pediatrics

5018 Underwood Ave., Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68132 402-991-5678

KATHERINE ANGLIM

Children’s Physicians - Eagle Run 13808 West Maple Road, Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68164 402-955-3000

ALKA DESAI

Children’s Physicians - Eagle Run 13808 West Maple Road, Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68164 402-955-3000

MARK J. DOMET

Boys Town Pediatrics Boys Town Medical Campus - Pacific Street Clinic 14080 Boys Town Hospital Road Boys Town, NE 68010 402-778-6900

DAVID FINKEN

Children’s Physicians - UNMC Durham Outpatient Center, First Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-8125

DAWN GARY

Children’s Physicians - Embassy Park 9202 West Dodge Road, Suite 101 Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-7500

FRANCIS J. HARRISON

Children’s Physicians - Val Verde 9801 Giles Road, Suite 1 La Vista, NE 68128 402-955-8400

DAVID KAUFMAN

Children’s Physicians - Eagle Run 13808 West Maple Road, Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68164 402-955-3000

JILLYN KRATOCHVIL

Children’s Physicians - Dundee 4825 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68132 402-955-7676

KARI A. KRENZER

Children’s Physicians - Village Pointe 17617 Burke St. Omaha, NE 68118 402-955-5437

KENT KRONBERG

Children’s Physicians - Eagle Run 13808 West Maple Road, Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68164 402-955-3000

GARY STEPHEN LERNER

TINA SCOTTMORDHORST

Children’s Developmental Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Second Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4160

1938 East Highway 34 Plattsmouth, NE 68048 402-955-7150

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

ERIN A. LOUCKS

Children’s Physicians - Dundee 4825 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68132 402-955-7676

MARY JANE FITZGIBBONS MIKULS

Children’s Physicians - Village Pointe 17617 Burke St. Omaha, NE 68118 402-955-5437

JOHN C. MOORE

Children’s Physicians - Village Pointe 17617 Burke St. Omaha, NE 68118 402-955-5437

MICHAEL J. MOORE

Children’s Physicians - Dundee 4825 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68132 402-955-7676

ARWA K. NASIR

Children’s Hospital and Medical Center

Department of Pediatrics 825 N. 90th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-8125

LAURA NIELSEN

Children’s Physicians - Village Pointe 17617 Burke St. Omaha, NE 68118 402-955-5437

JENNIFER PARKER

Nebraska Medicine Fontenelle Clinic Division of General Internal Medicine 5005 Ames Ave. Omaha, NE 68104 402-559-0282

SHERYL L. PITNER

Children’s Physicians - UNMC Durham Outpatient Center, First Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-8125

CHANDRIKA RIZAL

Children’s Physicians - Mission Village 16909 Q St. Omaha, NE 68135 402-955-7575

Children’s Physicians - Plattsmouth

PATRICIA SEIVERT

Children’s Physicians - UNMC Durham Outpatient Center, First Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-8125

GREGORY C. SEVERSON Methodist Physicians Clinic - Hawthorne Court 17675 Welch Plaza Omaha, NE 68135 402-354-7630

CHARLES J. SPRAGUE

Boys Town Pediatrics Lakeside Clinic 16929 Frances St., Suite 101 Omaha, NE 68130 402-758-5125

BETSY STEPHENSON

Children’s Physicians - Mission Village 16909 Q St. Omaha, NE 68135 402-955-7575

JOSEPH STRALEY

Children’s Physicians - Eagle Run 13808 West Maple Road, Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68164 402-955-3000

NANCY L. VANDERSLUIS Boys Town Pediatrics Boys Town Medical Campus - Pacific Street Clinic 14080 Boys Town Hospital Road Boys Town, NE 68010 402-778-6900

JOHN N. WALBURN

Children’s Physicians - UNMC Durham Outpatient Center, First Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-8125

ELIZABETH A. WALENZ

Methodist Physicians Clinic - Regency 10060 Regency Circle, Second Floor Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-1325

ROBERT D. WOODFORD Methodist Physicians Clinic - Regency 10060 Regency Circle, Second Floor Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-1325

HEATHER L. ZIMMERMAN

PERRY JOHNSON

Boys Town Medical Campus - Pacific Street Clinic 14080 Boys Town Hospital Road Boys Town, NE 68010 402-778-6900

17617 Burke St. Omaha, NE 68118 402-596-4000

Boys Town Pediatrics

PEDIATRICS/ HOSPITAL MEDICINE JOSEPH T. SNOW

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Hospital Medicine & Inpatient Care 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-5400

SHEILAH J. SNYDER

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Village Pointe Aesthetic Surgery

JASON J. MILLER

Village Pointe Aesthetic Surgery 17617 Burke St. Omaha, NE 68118 402-596-4000

PSYCHIATRY SHASHI K. BHATIA

CHI Health Clinic Psychiatric Associates 7101 Newport Ave., Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68152 402-572-2916

MARK H. FLEISHER

Hospital Medicine & Inpatient Care 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-5400

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Department of Psychiatry Poynter Hall, Fifth Floor 510 S. 42nd St. Omaha, NE 68131 402-552-6007

SHARON R. STOOLMAN

THOMAS M. MAGNUSON

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Hospital Medicine & Inpatient Care 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-5400

PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION CHRISTOPHER W. ANDERSON

CHI Health Back & Spine Care

7500 Mercy Rd, Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-2225

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Home Instead Center for Successful Aging 730 S. 38th Ave. Omaha, NE 68105 402-552-6007

WILLIAM A. MARCIL

CHI Health Clinic Psychiatric Associates

Medical Office Building 3, Suite 207 7101 Newport Ave. Omaha, NE 68152 402-711-4673

ASHISH SHARMA

Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Department of Psychiatry Poynter Hall Building, Fifth Floor 510 S. 42nd St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-552-6007

PLASTIC SURGERY

PULMONARY MEDICINE

STEVEN M. DENENBERG

KRISTINA L. BAILEY

SAMUEL M. BIERNER 17500 Burke St. Omaha, NE 68118 402-401-3540

Facial Plastic Surgery 7640 Pacific St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-391-7640

JOHN J. EDNEY

Aesthetic Surgical Images

8900 West Dodge Road Omaha, NE 68114 402-390-0100

RONALD R. HOLLINS Village Pointe Aesthetic Surgery 17617 Burke St. Omaha, NE 68118 402-596-4000

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

ZACHARY S. DEPEW

CHI Health Clinic Pulmonary Medicine 7710 Mercy Road, Suite 3000 Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-9600

JOHN D. DICKINSON

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

CANDACE A. HUEBERT

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-5600

BRYAN J. KRAJICEK

CHI Health Clinic Pulmonary Medicine 7710 Mercy Road, Suite 3000 Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-9600

LEE MORROW

CHI Health Clinic Pulmonary Medicine 7710 Mercy Road, Suite 3000 Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-9600

PETER JAMES MURPHY

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

CRAIG ARNOLD PIQUETTE Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

DEBRA J. ROMBERGER

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

JOSEPH H. SISSON

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6241

HEATHER STRAH

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 2020

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AUSTIN B. THOMPSON

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

SUSANNA GERTRUDE VON ESSEN

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

TAMMY OLESKEVICH WICHMAN

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

RADIATION ONCOLOGY CHARLES A. ENKE

DEREK BURDENY OrthoNebraska Clinics

Oakview Medical Building, Suite 118 2725 S. 144th St. Omaha, NE 68144 402-609-1800

MATT J. DEVRIES

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center

Department of Radiology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-1010

SUZANNE H. HRUZA CHI Health Immanuel

Radiology Consultants of the Midwest 6901 N. 72nd St. Omaha, NE 68122 402-572-2324

MARK D. KEIPER

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center

Department of Radiology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-1010

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center 505 S. 45th St., First Floor Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-5600

RICHARD A. KUTILEK

WEINING “KEN” ZHEN

ANGEL MIRONOV

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Department of Radiation Oncology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-552-3844

Methodist Hospital

Department of Radiology 8303 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-4400

CHI Health Immanuel

Radiology Consultants of the Midwest 6901 N. 72nd St. Omaha, NE 68122 402-717-0070

RADIOLOGY

KEVIN L. NELSON

JOSEPH C. ANDERSON

Department of Radiology 8303 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-4344

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Department of Radiology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-1010

KIMBERLY ANN APKER

Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center Department of Radiology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-1010

BRUCE BARON CHI Health Immanuel

Radiology Consultants of the Midwest 6901 N. 72nd St. Omaha, NE 68122 402-717-2222

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Methodist Hospital

JOSEPH M. STAVAS

CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center Bergan Mercy

MATTHEW L. WHITE

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center Division of Neuroradiology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-1010

RHEUMATOLOGY DEBORAH K. DOUD OrthoNebraska Clinics

Oakview Medical Building, Suite 110 2725 S. 144th St. Omaha, NE 68144 402-609-1200

ALAN R. ERICKSON

Omaha, NE 68114 402-991-3393

BERNARD TIMOTHY BAXTER

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center

Vascular Surgery Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Second Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7300

SAMUEL CEMAJ

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center

Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Clinic 8303 Dodge St., Suite 304 Omaha, NE 68114\ 402-354-5048

JAMES MARTIN HAMMEL

ARU PANWAR

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Clinic 8303 Dodge St., Suite 304 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-5048

JON S. THOMPSON

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center General Surgery Clinic Lauritzen Outpatient Center 4014 Leavenworth St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4075

LYNELL W. KLASSEN

ANDREW M. COUGHLIN

CHANDRAKANTH ARE

Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Clinic 8303 Dodge St., Suite 304 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-5048

Lied Transplant Center 505 S. 45th St. Omaha, NE 68106 402-559-5600

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

TED MIKULS

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

JAMES R. O’DELL

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

WILLIAM R. PALMER

CRAIG W. WALKER

SLEEP MEDICINE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 2020

10506 Burt Circle

THORACIC SURGERY

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

Division of Trauma and Critical Care Surgery 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4017

Westroads Rheumatology Associates

Department of Radiology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-1010

GARY J. ANTHONE

WILLIAM M. LYDIATT

Division of Rheumatology 8604 Giles Road La Vista, NE 68128 402-559-0000

Nebraska Medicine Brentwood Village

Radiology Consultants of the Midwest 7500 Mercy Road Omaha, NE 68124 402-280-4170

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center

SURGERY

10170 Nicholas St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-391-3800

MICHAEL O. SUMMERS Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center

Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6142

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

ROBERT J. FITZGIBBONS, JR.

CHI Health Clinic General Surgery 7710 Mercy Road, Suite 3000 Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-4900

TIMOTHY K. KINGSTON Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center General Surgery Clinic Lauritzen Outpatient Center 4014 Leavenworth St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-4075

ALAN N. LANGNAS

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center Lied Transplant Center 4315 Emile St., Third Floor Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-4988

ROBERT H. LINDAU III

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Clinic 8303 Dodge St., Suite 304 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-5048

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center

GEORGE W. DITTRICK

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

Surgical Oncology Clinic 8303 Dodge St, Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-5150

ROBERT H. LINDAU III

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Clinic 8303 Dodge St., Suite 304 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-5048

BRIAN W. LOGGIE

CHI Health Clinic Surgical Oncology

7710 Mercy Road, Suite 2000 Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-0090

JAMES A. REILLY

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

Breast Care Center 8303 Dodge St., Suite 302 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-3090

ALAN G. THORSON

Colon and Rectal Surgery 9850 Nicholas St., Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 402-343-1122

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, First Floor 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4360

RUDY PAUL LACKNER Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center 505 S. 45th St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-4389

MICHAEL J. MOULTON Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center Cardiovascular Center Durham Outpatient Center, Suite 2310 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8888

JOHN Y. UM

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center

Department of Surgery Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4424

VASCULAR SURGERY BERNARD TIMOTHY BAXTER

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center

Vascular Surgery Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Second Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7300

NITIN GARG

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center

Vascular Surgery Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Second Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7300

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NURSE OF THE YEAR COMMITTEE Teresa Hultquist UNMC-College of Nursing Chrissy Wilber Boys Town National Research Hospital Cindy Mirfield Methodist Women’s Hospital Judy Timmons Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

®

Julie Lazure Nebraska Medicine Kris Stapp VNA Wendy Muir Bryan Health Judy Thomas Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Lisa Strasheim CHI Health Melissa Schmaderer Madonna Nicole Caswell Immanuel Medical Center Sue Nuss Nebraska Medicine Susie Ward Methodist College Anne Thallas Methodist Melanie Tuamoheloa Nebraska Medicine - Bellevue Pam Jacobsen Methodist College

INTRO BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

Nursing is one of the largest professions in health care.

According to a survey by the Nebraska Center for Nursing, Douglas County has 10,202 registered nurses, or 19 RNs per 1,000 people. These professionals work tirelessly, with more than half of them working over 40 hours per week (9% of those work more than 50 hours per week). They also predominately enjoy their jobs, as 97% of them say they are satisfied and 87% of them would recommend others choose nursing as a career.

On November 14, 2019, the March of Dimes hosted the Nurse of the Year Banquet to thank those vital professionals taking vital signs, and Omaha Magazine proudly sponsored that event.

Nominations are blinded, then scored by the volunteer committee. Scores were based on credentials, certifications, their proudest outcomes, leadership, professional associations, and achievements. The Nurse of the Year is determined by the nurse with the highest overall score.

NURSE OF THE YEAR WINNERS NURSE OF THE YEAR Joanna Smith CHI Health

Smith’s heart lies in advocating for women who experience disparity in the health care system. She is fluent in Spanish and often takes extra time to visit with those women who are Spanish- speaking. Smith is passionate about insuring that all patients have an amazing experience. She was able to showcase some of her great work by presenting “Healthcare, Design on a Dime” at last year’s national Becker’s Healthcare Conference in Chicago. She is an avid Disney lover and uses their guest philosophy in designing a patient experience. The linens are folded a certain way, the washcloths are folded into swan shapes, she has a comfort cart and every baby has a hand-knitted Minnie or Mickey hat. Her entire team has this guest philosophy and those outcomes have been seen in great patient experience scores for her unit.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

ADVANCED PRACTICE

Kari Wade Nebraska Methodist College

CLINICAL EXCELLENCE

Theresa Diederich Nebraska Medicine

EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE

Angela Vasa Nebraska Medicine

LEADERSHIP

Shannon Engler Bryan Health

FAMILY CHOICE

Jennifer Baumert CHI Health Lakeside Hospital

PEDIATRICS Rachelle Heser CHI Health

ADVOCACY

Stacey Sanders Nebraska Medicine

PEDIATRICS Lindsay Hegemann Children’s Hospital and Medical Center

Mellisa Renter Children’s Hospital and Medical Center

RISING STAR Tiffany Whitney Nebraska Medicine

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

// 75 //

SPIRIT OF NURSING Meghan Falke Nebraska Medicine

Christine Woell Children’s Hospital and Medical Center

Dawn Straub Nebraska Medicine

Ellen Stuva Nebraska Medicine

Amanda Hunnel CHI Health Lakeside Hospital

Christy Todd CHI Health Immanuel

Paige Hardy Nebraska Medicine

Melisa Paradis Children’s Hospital and Medical Center

STUDENT NURSING

Priscilla Petsch Bryan College of Health Sciences

Jocelyn Ramos Clarkson College

Olivia Koontz Creighton University

Michael Griffith Nebraska Methodist College

Payden Hunke UNMC College of Nursing Kearney Division

Monica Arens UNMC College of Nursing Northern Division

Mallory Woods UNMC College of Nursing Omaha Division

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

NURSE OF THE YEAR NOMINEES BOYS TOWN NATIONAL RESEARCH HOSPITAL Rachelle Ambler Karen Conboy Morgan Swanda

BRYAN HEALTH Michaela Dean Shannon Engler Cindy Essay Michelle Frederick Kaitlin Hall Jamie Hatch Kelsey Jara Janet Koerner Taylor Mowinkel Stephanie Yoder Yvette Yoder

CHI HEALTH Nicole Brinker Tiffany Chadwick Haley Drent Jade Florang Jodi Hayes Rachelle Heser Leah Julian Jacqueline Liess Frank Manning Loree Mort Mindy Ryan Joanna Smith Shelli Stuhr Danielle Turner

CHI BERGAN Melissa Balhorn Katie Bianchi Tammi Bias Elizabeth Eveland JoLynn Keplinger Tara Kiichler Jenna Lockhorn Diane Rakestraw

CHI ST. ELIZABETH Lori Birdzell Brittany Brockman Andres Andie” Davis” Sarah Haney Leah Harrington Elizabeth Jacobs Fitzgerald Denise Kopp Brittany Leif Melissa Wilson Christa Worwick

CHI ST. FRANCIS Deena Schaeffer Emily Warriner

CHILDREN’S HOME HEALTH CARE Lora Lea Brennan

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL & MEDICAL CENTER Ashley Foral Jessica Frain Patricia Gobel Lindsay Hegemann Jill Jensen Kate L’Heureux Katherine McCollough Jessica Meyer Elizabeth Morse Melisa Paradis Deborah Raven Mellisa Renter Amanda Shapland Nicole Southworth Christine Woell

Theresa Diederich Julie Dukes Stacie Ethington Meghan Falke Paul Foreman Katie Fuhrman Jane Grandi-Andersen Caitlin Hagen Paige Hardy Alexa Johnson Cassandra Kaczmarek Karen Kafka Annabeth Kirker Megan Kleckner Melissa “Missy” Kneifl Theresa Liebentritt Sheila Lynch-Sully Kate Malouf Megan McMorran Jen Mueller Aly Novotny Erin O’Rourke Becky Parks Kari Pierson Lori Poldberg Stacey Sanders Sally Shields Jackie Siebels Dawn Straub Ellen Stuva Amanda Sucha Dana Van Scoy, BSN, RN Angela Vasa Abigail Wawers Sandy Wells Tiffany Whitney Kathleen Wilwerding

CHILDREN’S PHYSICIANS, KEARNEY

NEBRASKA METHODIST COLLEGE

GREAT PLAINS HEALTH

ORTHO NEBRASKA

Karri Damratowski Stephanie Wright

HARLAN COUNTY HEALTH

RICHARD YOUNG BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Karen Wright

Jessica Sawyer

CHI IMMANUEL

METHODIST FREMONT HEALTH

VNA OF THE MIDLANDS

METHODIST HOSPITAL

Kaylen Veteicher

CHI GOOD SAMARITAN

Monica Boomgaarn Nicole Caswell Katherine “Katie” Fricke Mandy Iverson Mandolyn Klinkhammer Carrie Meyer Christy Todd

CHI LAKESIDE HOSPITAL Jennifer Baumert Erin Fye Megan Gerdes Amanda Hunnel Kylee Kemper Ashley Knobbe Michelle Leinen Kortney Parks Morgan Schulz Erinn Steffen

CHI MERCY COUNCIL BLUFFS DeAnn Dooley Beth Guerreiro CHI Health Midlands Candace Fike Pamela Simmons

Sheryl Ohrt Billie Fear Jamie Sosa

Tonia Steel

Kari Wade

Paul Inserra

Amanda Matthew

NO WORKPLACE LISTED

Melissa Allen Kathryn M. Anderson Mary Kay Gamble Lindsey Scott Kelly Stenwall Karissa Thompson Kimberly Tomei Bri Washka Methodist Women’s Hospital Jenny Mather Erica Meier Kendra Ross

NEBRASKA MEDICINE Gina Batten Josh Beerman Monica Bentzinger Emily Bokowski Nandi Bruns Amanda Butcher Sandra Carney Margie Chartrand Tami DeBonis

Congratulations to Amanda Matthew, VNA Hospice Clinical Manager, and our nominee for March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Awards!

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

// 77 //

FEATURE // ALLEVIATING PAIN AND PRESSURE

COUNSELING CONNECTIONS & ASSOCIATES continued from page 49 Medical training at UNMC considers the natural evolution of models of care as new technologies and channels emerge to create more options like telemedicine, she adds.

“Right now I’m thinking about becoming a family physician but I want to keep an open mind going into medical school because I know there are so many different routes and possibilities,” Brockhaus said. “I’m hearing about new things every day.”

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OMAHA MAGAZINE it’s about all of us.

We publish stories about interesting people who live next door and fascinating former Omahans. Read stories about the arts, the food, the music, and the events that make Omaha the cultural epicenter of the Midwest.

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// 78 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

“I’m not sure of specialty at this time but I’m leaning toward working with women and children,” Huynh said. “I would like to connect with my patients on a more personal level.”

The program depends on the commitment of the students, and the support of rural Nebraska high schools, the educational institutions providing the undergraduate programs, the UNMC health professions faculty, and the rural Nebraska medical community. With the rural health care shortage continuing, RHOP recruitment efforts are increasing. Although many Nebraska schools already participate, the recruiters are actively reaching out to every high school in Nebraska this academic year to ensure the schools’ staffs know about the program and are making eligible students aware of it.

“It continues to be a popular program,” Carritt said. “We’ve seen the interest either remain steady or increase over the years, but we anticipate that with some of our enhanced efforts this year we’ll see the interest increase dramatically.”

All this means that patients like Eckstrom may soon be able to receive necessary medical care, perhaps even specialty care, closer to home.

Visit unmc.edu for more information.

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GIVING

CALENDAR JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2 0 2 0

Feb.

29

Left to right: Barb Farho, Amee Zetzman, and Kelly Schlott

Left to right: Tom Frette, Enid Schonewise, Marzia Puccioni Shields, and John Jeanetta Feb. 29

DESTINATION LOVE: THE CARNIVAL OF LOVE GALA Location: Embassy Suites-La Vista

There is an extra day in February this year, and several area organizations, including Lutheran Family Services, are using that day to spread extra love in the metro. This annual event will be chaired by Susan Pedersen, with honorary chairs being Polly and Jack Struyk. Individual tickets are $150 each, and the proceeds go to LFS’ programs that help vulnerable individuals, children, and families in the community.

Jan. 9 (5:30-8:30 p.m.)

Jan. 23

Benefitting: Angels Among US Location: Buildertrend

Benefitting: SCORE Mentors of Omaha Location: Riverfront Place

BIRDS AND BEER BASH FOR YPS

GRAPES OF GRATITUDE

—myangelsamongus.org

—omaha.score.org

Jan. 15 (6-9 p.m.)

Jan. 24 (2 p.m.) and Jan. 25 (2 p.m.)

Benefiting: National Foundation for Infectious Diseases Location: Hilton Omaha

Benefiting: Parkinson’s Nebraska Location: UNMC Ice Rink

OUTLAND TROPHY AWARD DINNER —nfid.org

Benefiting: Nebraskans Embracing Life Location: DC Centre Banquet Facility —nebraskansunitedforlife.org

Jan. 18 (6-11 p.m.)

Benefiting: The Alzheimer’s Association Location: A View on State

Jan.

24

VICTORY BOXING CLUB BANQUET

Location: Bellevue Christian Center Benefitting: Victory boxing Club —victoryboxingclub.org

Jan. 25 (5-9 p.m.)

NEBRASKA SCOTTISH SOCIETY’S ROBERT BURNS DINNER

—midlandscommunity.org

—scottishriteomaha.org

Benefiting: Scottish Society of Nebraska Location: Scottish Rite Masonic Center

Jan. 18 (6-10 p.m.)

Jan. 25 (7-10 p.m.)

Benefitting: Black Student Leadership Council and Sickle Cell Anemia Location: Omaha Design Center

Benefitting: Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart Location: Mariott Capitol District

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

—100blackmenofomaha.org

—parkinsonsnebraska.org

MIDLANDS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION REFLECTION BALL

WAKANDA GALA

Benefitting; 100 Black Men of Omaha Location: North High Feb. 1 (9 a.m.-3 p.m.)

Jan. 24 (5-8 p.m.)

Benefiting: Midlands Community Foundation Location: Embassy Suites La Vista

20TH ANNUAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY CHALLENGE

UNMC SKATE-A-THON FOR PARKINSON’S

Jan. 16 (6 p.m.)

CELEBRATION OF LIFE BANQUET

Feb. 1 (4 p.m.)

CONGE

—duchesneacademy.org

ULTRA CHIC BOUTIQUE AND THE DRESS FLIP —maxiwalker.com/ucb

Feb. 5 (6-9 p.m.)

TOYO! 2020

Benefitting: Omaha Jaycees Location: Scott Conference Center —omahajaycees.org

// GIVING CALENDAR //

ody Rep to B air Au

Feb. 6 (5:30-9 p.m.)

SMILE CELEBRATION DINNER

Benefitting: Nebraska Mission of Mercy Location: Shadow Ridge Country Club

THANK YOU

—nebraskamissionofmercy.com

Feb. 6 (5-9 p.m.)

GLOW 2020

Benefiting: Essential Pregnancy Services Location: Embassy Suites La Vista

FOR VOTING US 1ST PLACE 15 STR AIGHT YEARS!

—friendsofeps.org

Feb. 7 (5:30-10:30 p.m.)

MARIANFEST 2020: MAHALO MARIAN

Benefiting: Omaha Marian High School Location: Omaha Marriott Downtown —marianhighschool.net

Feb. 8 (6:30-10 p.m.)

ROCKIN’ ROSIE

Benefitting: The Rose Theatre Location: Omaha Mariott Capitol —rosetheatre.org

Feb. 8 (6:30-10 p.m.)

WINGS OF HOPE WINTER FUNDRAISER Benefiting: Wings of Hope Location: Mid-America Center —wingsofhope.org

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Feb. 8 (11 a.m.-1 p.m.)

OMAHA POLAR PLUNGE

Benefiting: Special Olympics Nebraska Location: Zorinski Lake Park —sone.org

Feb. 9 (5-10 p.m.)

MOM PROM

Benefitting: Creighton Prep Location: CHI Health Center —creightonprep.creighton.edu

Feb. 13 (5-8 p.m.)

SPORTS NIGHT 2020

Benefitting: Nebraska Greats Foundation Location: Embassy Suites-La Vista —nebraskagreatsfoundation.org

Feb. 13

GIRLS NITE OUT

Benefitting: Girls Inc. Location: Hilton Omaha —girlsincomaha.org

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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// GIVING CALENDAR //

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Feb. 14 (6-11 p.m.)

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SWING UNDER THE WINGS

Benefiting: Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum Location: Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum —sacmuseum.org

Feb. 15 (6-9:30 p.m.)

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CURLY TAILS & COCKTAILS

Benefitting: Pug Partners of Nebraska Location: Arbor Hall —@pugpartners on Facebook

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Feb. 15 (7 a.m.)

TREK UP THE TOWER

Benefiting: WELLCOM Location: First National Bank Tower —trekupthetower.org

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Feb. 15 (10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)

HEART BOMBING

Benefiting: Restoration Exchange Omaha Location: TBA —restorationexchange.org

Feb. 22 (6 p.m.)

23ND ANNUAL JDRF PROMISE GALA

Savor the experience

Benefiting: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Location: CHI Health Center Omaha —jdrf.org/omaha

Feb. 23 (1-5 p.m.)

ART & SOUP

Benefiting: Visiting Nurse Association Location:Embassy Suites La Vista —vnatoday.org

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// GIVING CALENDAR //

Feb. 27

Feb.

BAGS AND SWAG

Benefitting: Sarpy County Housing Location: Beardmore Event Center

29

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ELEGANCE

REIMAGINED

Feb. 29 (4:30 p.m.)

FIESTA 2019

Benefiting: Mercy High School Location: Omaha Marriott Downtown —mercyhigh.org

Feb. 29 (6-9 p.m.)

CARNIVAL OF LOVE GALA

Benefiting: Heartland Family Service Location: Embassy Suites La Vista —heartlandfamilyservice.org

Feb. 29 (7-11:30 p.m.)

OMAHA MOM PROM

Benefitting: Nebraska Red Dawgs Location: Soirée Room —creightonprep.creighton.edu

Event times and details may change.

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Check with venue or event organizer to confirm.

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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GIVING PROFILE // STORY BY SANDRA MARTIN AND DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

WELDER, PAINTER, GLASS BLOWER ROSE RUTHERFORD KNOWS THE SHOW “Getting 50 artists to agree on anything is like herding cats,” said artist John Prouty.

Rose Rutherford is an expert at getting artists to agree—she’s even able to get them to agree to a reduced rate for themselves.

Rutherford is not a sales shark, not in any sense of the word. She’s known throughout the community as a kind, enthusiastic art lover. She’s the artist chair for the Visiting Nurse Association’s fundraiser, Art+Soup, where area artists sell a variety of original art.

Rutherford, who has worked in the medical field (she has Emergency Medical Technician training) was sought out 12 years ago by a friend who was on the committee.

Rutherford proved to have a winning skillset for this event. Along with having medical training, she devotes her time to art. She previously worked in mixed media, but focuses now on jewelry made with natural gemstones.

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

Carole Patrick, vice president of Development and Communications at VNA, attributes Rutherford as being a huge part of the success of Art+Soup. “Being an artist herself, along with her medical background, she is the perfect person to lead our event. We are thrilled with her strong commitment and of course her expertise in the art field. In fact, if I had to write a job description of a volunteer to lead an event, I couldn’t come up with a better example than Rose.”

It’s a big responsibility with a discerning audience. The event boasts dedicated attendees who’ve never missed it. “Some have had to be plowed out of a snowstorm to get here,” Patrick said. “We have over 1,000 people walking through our doors every year,” she points out, “so it’s a tremendous opportunity for [the artists] to market themselves.”

Rutherford has been artist chair for the past five years. Her responsibilities include making sure there’s a good mix of art in price range and medium, coordinating the judges, determining artist placement on the floor, and managing art sales with coordinating VNA employees.

The event takes a year to organize. “We start working on next year’s event as soon as the current one is over,” Rutherford said.

The 2018 event garnered $148,500 for the organization. All money raised from the event goes to support VNA’s Shelter Program, which is part of their large nonprofit sector. “We’ve been able to put a nurse in every shelter in the Omaha and Council Bluffs area,” Patrick said proudly, continuing that Rutherford is also enthusiastic about the cause.

The artwork process begins with a call for entries several months in advance, and it’s a prestigious honor to be shown at the event. In order to ensure a wide range of art, new artists make up about half of the chosen entrants, and some top-selling artists from previous years are asked to resubmit their work. Wellknown local artists such as Thomas Mangelsen have also exhibited at the event. Artists must send in three to five images, the size, and the retail price of each piece they wish to submit.

Submitted images are voted on in a blind jury by two professional artists from Joslyn Art Museum, only bringing in Rutherford in case of a tie. “We usually limit our selected pieces to about 50,” she added, “or it gets too crowded.”

Some artists want to be in the event, but don’t make it because their art isn’t as desirable to the patrons.

“That’s a hard thing to do,” said Prouty, a longtime friend of Rutherford’s as well as a former VNA board member. “To tell someone, your stuff is lovely but it didn’t sell.”

Once the pieces are selected, Rutherford communicates with the artists to keep everyone interested in being in the show.

Each artist who shows must donate a minimum of 50 percent of the selling price of their artwork to VNA. “When she’s talking to artists and she’s telling them that they will donate half the proceeds, it’s not always an easy sale,” Patrick said. “But that really is a driving force of the success of this fundraiser.”

Rutherford is often able to motivate people to be a part of the group by acting as an unofficial cheerleader for VNA, sometimes calling people personally if they don’t respond to her to make sure they are still interested. She also works with some artists to make sure their prices are on point. She might suggest a higher price to a younger artist who doesn’t understand the value of their supplies, or suggest a lower price to someone who has overestimated the amount people are willing to pay for an item. That comes from the 12 years of experience working with Art + Soup.

Artist placement on the floor is important, she said. “We always mix the mediums up, so the display is varied and pleasing to the eye,” Rutherford said.

Prouty said Rutherford also does an excellent job with arranging the floor displays.

“Someone has to have the corner table. Rose gets some of the kickback from that.”

In one instance, he explained that an artist a few years back did not like her spot and claimed she wasn’t ever going to come back.

Due to Rutherford’s enthusiasm for the event and people skills, the artist came back the next year.

Floor placement involves more than making sure the display is varied. Prouty, for example, is a welder, and wants to be placed close to another welder, a friend of his who often shows at the event, so they can share an assistant.

The two welders would likely be located next to different artists, but their areas will be back-to-back. It is important to keep the art mixed on the floor so everyone has something interesting to view.

“If you have jewelry, for example, and you had a bunch of jewelry all in one spot, a lady might want to look at the jewelry while her spouse would want to hurry her along,” Prouty said. “You want to have something nearby for the spouse to look at, too.”

Add to this the fact that anyone who has gotten an award the previous year gets a prime location in the center of the room the following year. “It’s our way to recognize his or her talent,” Rutherford explained.

Then there are personality conflicts.

Rose tries to keep everyone happy. She knows the artists well enough to know which two not to put next to one another and which to put together. It’s a giant abstract jigsaw puzzle with corner pieces consisting of large, freestanding artwork (often sculptures) and few edge pieces.

She also communicates with the hotel staff in regard to the art, making sure they are within the boundaries of what they can and cannot do at the show.

The day before the show, Rutherford becomes the floor director, straightening out where the artwork is set up and taking care of the artists’ needs.

“Everyone wants to get in at the last minute,” Prouty said. “That’s handled very well.

Here’s all these trucks and vans coming in.

They have it set up where freestanding stuff comes in through the back door.”

By the time the event comes around, Rose’s hard work has paid off.

“As I walk around the day of and thank them all for being there, they talk about Rose and her excitement,” Patrick said. “They talk about how she takes care of them. Because she’s one of them, she knows their needs.

She has the respect of these artists who have joined the cause for that.”

Rutherford likely isn’t around to hear that.

She’s still making sure everyone is OK. “She’s so happy and smiley, but she’s just running,” Prouty said. “Sometimes she’ll come over to me and say, ‘I’ve got to get out of these heels,’ and I will say, ‘well, go sit down, Rose.’”

Eventually, she listens. But not before she is sure she is not needed somewhere by an artist. In the end, Rutherford even helps arrange the details of a sale.

“The artists don’t sell their own work, so we handle all the paperwork when a piece is sold,” she explained.

Although Rutherford puts in a lot of work, it is a labor of love. “The reason I am excited that she’s there, she…has this passion and chooses high-quality art for the event,” Patrick said.

VNA’s 2020 Art+Soup gala will be held on Sunday, Feb. 23, at Embassy Suites in La Vista.

Visit VNAtoday.org/artandsoup for more information and to purchase tickets.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

// 87 //

FEATURE // LOSING WEIGHT, GAINING PERSPECTIVE

continued from page 62

BECKY GREY “Lifting is a mind f---.”

This coming from a woman who can leg press 1,000 pounds and bench 160 pounds.

Becky Grey is a hairstylist, wife, mother, and super woman. She has transformed herself, losing 140 pounds and beating the boys at an activity the boys claim to do best.

“My highest record weight was 298 pounds.

I was unhappy about that number,” Grey said. “Now I’m lifting weight that’s heavier. It makes me feel accomplished, strong, happy.”

It was Todd Smith Fitness that then took Grey from a woman with a fighting chance to being a fighter.

“When I first went in, I was legit skin and bones,” she said. “I had no shape to me whatsoever. Now, I’ve put on 20 pounds of muscle.”

Before working with Smith and his team of trainers, Grey solely focused on cardio.

Now a typical workout still starts on the treadmill, but it doesn’t end there. There’s the 20-minute warmup, followed by an hour lifting to tone either upper or lower body, then a half hour of jabs, and 30 more minutes of cardio on the stepper. She’s basically #beastmode incarnate.

Don’t get it twisted, though. She’s always felt confident. Grey never tied her selfworth to her physical appearance, but knew she could be healthier. So, she tried it all. A Weight Watchers here, a Jenny Craig there. Nothing worked—until gastric bypass surgery in 2014.

Though she’s been pumping iron with Smith for four years, she said her muscles are constantly tender due to routines regularly switching. The best workouts make her want to use a walker the next day.

“I kept quiet about it for a while because there’s a stigma that people think it’s cheating.” Grey said. “Regardless if I have a smaller stomach or not, I still have to make the smart choices. The salads, proteins…I make that choice, nobody else does it for me.”

Grey believes results are about more than the amount she can lift above her head or what she sees in the mirror. It’s those everyday victories that matter most. She can cross her legs, go to a movie theater and not worry about getting stuck in the seat, or ride a roller coaster with her son.

Grey credits gastric for giving her a fighting chance, losing a pound a day. Then she, too, joined the keto craze. The medical team behind her gastric bypass surgery advised that she jump on keto right after getting the procedure done. They told her if she didn’t stay way from carbs and sugar, and adopt a high protein diet, then gastric would not be successful. Thus, she started following keto almost immediately after the operation. Like Kaiser, she doesn’t subscribe to any one author.

“I put myself in a prison,” Grey said. “I didn’t realize it until I was out.”

Grey calls it dirty keto, as she still eats beans and corn sparingly. Kaiser may even have some competition as Grey bakes her own healthy treats, albeit on a much smaller scale.

// 88 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

It’s a crisp October afternoon, and Grey is getting her afternoon pick-me-up in the form of a Starbucks cold brew. The teenage cashier gushes over her brilliant purple hair.

“I just really, really love your look.”

What a look it is. There’s the satiny button-up shirt almost in the same hue as her hair, the widely f lared jeans, and nails bedazzled and blinged-out in celebration of her birthday week.

“It’s a lot. I get it,” Grey said. “As a plussize person, I always stuck out a little more.

Now I feel better. I still want to stick out.

Just differently.”

Looking good (and feeling good) is one small motivator for her. It’s true, weight loss is as simple as waging war against the scale. For many—including some of the people mentioned in this article—it goes beyond numbers. It’s deeply personal.

“You don’t love yourself enough to change?

That’s fine. Find someone you love enough to do it for,” Grey said. “My driving force is my kid. I can’t let him down. You have to find out who, not what, is your why.”

"YOU DON'T LOVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TO CHANGE? THAT'S FINE. FIND SOMEONE YOU LOVE ENOUGH TO DO IT FOR. MY DRIVING FORCE IS MY KID. I CAN'T LET HIM DOWN. YOU HAVE TO FIND OUT WHO, NOT WHAT, IS YOUR WHY." -BECKY GREY

// 60 PLUS //

T

Image by Arnold Clark Photography

HIS IS THE THIRD YEAR for “Prime Time,” and do we ever have beautiful, handsome, and fun people in the issue—ranging from 62 to 93 years old.

These Omaha people are stylish, active, and living life to the fullest.

We at Omaha Magazine want to thank all the participating models, and hope you had as much fun with this special edition as we did. Thanks to my granddaughter (Tyler’s daughter) Sarah Lemke, who photographed everyone shown.

When we get older we have stories to tell and have lived interesting lives. We’ve known love, suffered losses, and had successes and failures. We remember the past but look to the future. It has been amazing to work on this each year, as it gives me the chance to meet new people and renew friendships.

I say this each year, but it is worth repeating: I do believe that 80s are the new 60s, and 60 is the new 40.

Just take a look!

You can see additional pictures from this year’s photo shoots on our website, omahamagazine.com.

These bonus photos include Marian Leary with her bright blue eyes, still driving in her snazzy blue convertible; Edwin Jochim, who is still working, standing on his monstrous Caterpillar; and the Kerrs with the city of Omaha’s big “O” that Tom designed. There are great additional photos of everyone.

You can also view the 2017 and 2018 “Prime Time,” featured in the January/ February issues, at omahamagazine.com.

Contributing Editor JANUARY/FEBUARY 2020 • 60PLUS

// 89 //

As a breast cancer survivor, I am fortunate to not have any health limitations and I thrive on staying busy and seeking new adventures.

I maintain a strong physical acumen and look for activities that challenge me physically, such as scuba diving and the Tree Rush Adventures obstacle course at Fontenelle Forest. I walk 20,000 steps a day (over eight miles), ride my bicycle, and weight train. Which is all good, but I have developed an addiction to my FitBit.

Kathy Cain, 67 // Pg. 94 “If you hit a wall, climb over it, crawl under it, or dance on top of it.’

-Unknown Two-three, cha-cha-cha, two-three, four and one.

I’ve had a passion for ballroom dancing since taking my first tango lesson at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in 1982. I was a marketing director for ConAgra pet products, but private dance lessons and showcases were still very expensive and not in my budget.

However, my mantra has always been ‘there has to be a way.’ When you are confident, you can move mountains. I must have a bit of Scarlett O’Hara in me.

I read that Arthur Murray Dance Studio was starting an instructors’ training class; I applied with no experience in dancing or teaching.

Whether it was my knowledge of political persuasion or theater training I’ll never know, but I convinced the Arthur Murray dance director to take a chance and train me to be a dance teacher—I was paid to dance. I then worked two jobs, my ‘real’ one at ConAgra by day and as a ballroom dance instructor at night. I’ve had to pack away my dance shoes from time to time, because of divorce and to raise my daughter, but I hope to realize my dream of competitive dancing again.

My family moved to Omaha from Southern California in 1963, and Omaha remained my home following college. I first majored in political science, later transferring to theater arts, eventually graduating with a degree in broadcast journalism…I’ve always been a bit of a showman.

I’ve worked for, and learned from, Omaha’s best entrepreneurs at Richman Gordman, Pamida, Mangelsen's, and Borsheims. Now, as vice president of Maun-Lemke, a locally owned health care speaking and consulting company, I work with post-acute care providers across the country.

I was blessed with a hardy Irish heritage and endless energy. At 67, I don’t let my age define who I am or deter me from anything. // 90 //

60PLUS • JANUARY/FEBUARY 2020

I am the second of the ‘three Kathleens,’ my mother Kathleen being the first, my daughter Kathleen the third. Along with my two sisters Heather and Diane, we are a family proud of our Irish heritage. There is nowhere in the world as welcoming, mystical, and beautiful as Ireland.

This past brisk and misty March we visited our Irish family in the ethereal countryside painted with rolling fields of green and stone fences. The Cliffs of Moher, sleeping in a haunted castle, and the Aran Islands were highlights. I had hoped to see the Fairies, maybe on my next visit.

Thomas Riley Murnan, 68 // Pg. 95 I went to grade school at St. John’s, near Creighton University, and later went to Creighton Prep before attending the university.

To pay for college, I worked as a garage door installer at the family business, Omaha Door & Window Co. I later received a master’s degree in clinical psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and worked at two state hospitals.

My father, Leo, asked me to return home to work with the family. I started in January 1979, after taking two and a half months off to tour Europe. In January 2020, I will have been at the company for 41 years.

Currently I am the co-president of Omaha Door & Window Co, along with my evil twin, Steve.

He hunts big game, so therefore is the evil twin for killing things. My advocation is wine tasting, so I am the good twin.

Being a second-generation business owner has been challenging yet satisfying. The company was started in 1959. Currently, our biggest challenge is getting good, qualified help, but this is the case throughout the country.

I am an empty nester along with my wife, Mary.

Together we raised two fine kids. Our son works at Omaha Door & Window as a third-generation family member. Our daughter is a personal trainer in Ohio.

My passion/hobby is food and wine. Wine is an inexhaustible subject. The more you know, the more you want to know. Every bottle of wine is an adventure. You never know exactly how it will taste because food changes it.

Mary and I have been to numerous wine growing areas: California (Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles, Amador County), France (Alsace and Champagne), and Portugal (Port, Madeira).

Bordeaux is next on the list.

Food is also an important part of the equation.

My attitude is, if God gave us such fantastic ingredients, then we should prepare them in imaginative ways to keep things interesting.

Lynne M. Purdy, 62 // Pg. 96 I am 62, but I feel like I am 42. I was born in Omaha and grew up near the now closed St. Richard’s Catholic School in North Omaha, until my parents moved the family to Papillion my freshman summer of high school.

I moved back to Omaha after I married my best friend, Michael. We have been married 40 years, and they have been the best years of my life. We have two amazing and successful boys, who I am very proud of. Bryan is an anesthesiologist and Keith is an architect.

My family is the most important part of my life.

Raising my boys was always my first job, and I took it very seriously.

My husband started the company Purdy & Slack Architects 37 years ago. For 30 years, I was in and out of the office working with him.

It was the perfect job, because I could still be a volunteer mom at school and at church.

After the boys were out of the house, I wanted to show my creative side, so I got a job in fashion retail. I loved my work. Each time my customers came in the store I wanted them to feel their most beautiful when they left.

I stopped working seven years ago to assist my aging parents and be a grandparent to my identical twin granddaughters. These two tasks amounted to a full-time job. I now have three beautiful granddaughters and am always hoping for more.

The way I stay young is to have a positive attitude, stay busy, and have fun with my family and friends. Keeping my body fit and strong is important. I work out four days a week, two of which are strength training.

It is important to keep your life balanced: God first, then family, work, your passion, and moderation or temperance. Stay active and engaged, and above all, have fun.

I believe staying social is a big part of living life.

I have a circle of friends, and we have several couples we love to spend time with. Everyone brings something different to the table, so it keeps it fun and interesting.

I think it is important to keep busy, especially with something that you love.

Another part of staying young is that I take off my makeup and do my skin-care routine every night—no excuses. It pays off. In the morning I

get up, shower, do my hair, put my makeup on, and look my best every day. We all have bumps in our lives and if you take care of yourself, they are easier to handle.

Mike and I love to sit on our deck and catch up on each other’s day. We frequent our favorite restaurants, spend time with friends, and travel when we can.

The first thing I do every morning and the last thing I do at night is spend some time alone to be thankful for all my many blessings. If I keep God in the center of my life, everything else will fall into place.

Edwin Jochim, 80 // Pg. 97 I am 18 years older than my 1957 T-bird.

I’m a “steady Eddie,” meaning I don’t cuss, smoke, or drink. What you see is what you get.

I’m a hard worker who is still working hard with no plans to retire. I’m about 90% work and 10% play. If the sun is out, I’ll be working. On Sunday, if the weather is bad, I’ll be in church.

I’ve always liked machines, from tractors to construction equipment to fast cars. I was 18 when I got my first car, a red 1957 T-bird convertible. I have the same style now, and that T-bird still gets more attention on the street than my new Corvette.

The 1960s were a great decade for muscle cars.

My 1961 Ford Starliner was rated the fastest drag racer in Nebraska. I paid $4,614 for a '63 ½ Galaxy 500 lightweight from McFayden’s Ford that had a 22-4 record. That car is in Jay Leno’s garage. My 1966 Plymouth Hemi is in the Speedway Motors Museum. (Ed is now a candidate for the Nebraska Racing Hall of Fame.)

I started Jochim Precast Concrete in 1972.

The equipment isn’t fast, but it’s big. The biggest is a Caterpillar D-11 Dozer weighing 80 tons. Success is sweet, but there was a lot of sweat involved.

Working hard and liking it helps keep you young. Helping others keeps you positive.

During the week, it’s brown work pants and a lime green safety vest. I enjoy dressing up, though I never think about fashion. I just like what I like, and I’m a big fan of Elvis Presley.

So, I’m 90% brown work clothes, 10% dressy with a touch of Vegas.

Bill Bucy, 71 // Pg. 98 I am 71 years old–or as Jack Benny might say, “39 for 32 years.” Most of those years I have been a dentist serving the outstanding farming community of Auburn, Nebraska–a place brimming with good folks.

“Who am I?” is a question we should be asking ourselves often. I am a son, brother, husband, friend, father, dentist, and, overall I hope, a responsible and compassionate human being who, in my own bumbling way, attempts each day to make the world a tiny bit better.

Presently I am simply and wonderfully a grandfather to five beautiful spirits, ranging in ages from 3 to 8 years–all of whom, by the way, are exceptionally gifted.

The accomplishment that has brought happiness into my life, beyond that which I deserve, was convincing my wife to marry me.

No question–love is what brings me the greatest happiness. You gotta have love. And then there is pizza and red wine, followed by more love.

My advice for living life is this: When it rains do not seek cover, Get smack in the middle of it.

Put your face to the sky, And savor each drop.

Let it soak you to the bone.

Live!

George Perlebach // Pg. 98 I’m old enough to remember when the Huskers were awful and how long it took Bob Devaney to win us a National Championship in 1970.

(Not to mention how painful it was!)

Fortunately, I also remember the time when a Nebraska loss was a rare occasion, and how the entire state would be in mourning for weeks when one did occur.

Hopefully, I’m young enough to see us return to the glory days.

After graduating from UNMC, I practiced medicine in Omaha for 20 years until I “retired” at age 45 to pursue an alternative career in senior care consulting, which afforded me more time for travel and toy management.

The accomplishment I’m most proud of is helping raise two happy successful adults, who think I’m pretty cool in spite of my not always being a perfect role model.

My words of advice for a happy life?

“Relax…always be yourself. Unless you can be a pirate–then obviously, be a pirate.

Gil Cohen, 60 // Pg. 99 I am 59 and 418 days, as of writing this.

Born in Pennsylvania and raised in New Jersey, I spent 13 great years with Marriott Corp. after graduating from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Having had the opportunity to live in many cities, I left Marriott in 1992 to move back to Omaha. Currently, I am executive vice president of sales and marketing for Omaha Magazine. I have been fortunate to have had a few careers, not all related to one another–from hotel manager to riverboat director to marketing director for the Omaha Symphony and a Christmas light company. Each of these positions afforded me the opportunity to work with some terrific people and learn about sales, marketing, and management.

One professional accomplishment I am particularly proud of is having opened the 100th Courtyard by Marriott hotel. At the time, I was 25 years old, the youngest general manager in the Marriott chain of hotels at the time.

Some accomplishments in the nonprofit sector include serving on various boards, such as Cystic Fibrosis, B’nai B’rith, Greater Omaha Chamber, Omaha Symphony Governing Board, and a few others over the years. Being able to give back to our community is a fulfilling opportunity and I have enjoyed all the organizations I have worked with.

I have been fortunate to be very successful at work as well. Omaha Magazine has afforded me the opportunity to succeed in sales and, with the help of my awesome assistant, Alicia Hollins, attain some of the highest sales numbers in the history of the company.

There is no one thing that can bring you happiness. It has to be a combination of what you are doing in life, the people you share your life experiences with, the folks you work with, and involvement in your community. Of course a nice ruby port and a fine cigar help, too.

My advice for living life? Drink plenty of water and at least two glasses of wine a day, stay away from carbs, and surround yourself with friends who are active.

I certainly don’t feel like I am 60, but I said that about 50 as well.

Kathy Anthes, 70 // Pg. 99 My name is Kathy Anthes. At age 70, I’m a retired educational therapist with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a masters in educational psychology. I taught behaviordisordered children for 36 years at Immanual Mental Health Center. I also taught at Phoenix Academy for four years and tutored dyslexic students in my home. I have served on the board of the Nebraska Dyslexia Association for eight years.

Some may be surprised to learn I have a black belt in Taekwondo and was a competitive bodybuilder with 25 trophies. I competed for 13 years and won several first place trophies, specifically in the Ms. Omaha and Ms. Nebraska bodybuilders competitions. »

JANUARY/FEBUARY 2020 • 60PLUS

// 91 //

« My happiness comes with weightlifting and cardiovascular workouts at the gym, spending time with my boyfriend, a good movie, traveling, concerts, family vacations and Holidays. Also, being involved in my church, spirituality, and volunteer work are rewarding.

I am a member of Omaha Sports Club, where I enjoy playing darts and billiards.

As far as advice goes, ”Age is only a frame of mind.” A balanced diet, keeping in shape, and stretching are also key to aging gracefully.

Spencer Jacobs, 75 // Pg. 99 My name is Spencer Jacobs, and I am a man of few words.

If I had to describe myself, I would say I’m a retired teenager–one who doesn’t have to go to school.

I’m proud to say I’ve lived a successful life, and I have plenty of stories to tell.

I find happiness in simply being around the people I love, being a part of the Vesparados… and participating in fantasy football.

My advice for living life and aging gracefully is to be good to those who are good to you. Also, don’t be afraid to express yourself. If you’re pissed off, show it. Sometimes it feels great to hold a grudge.

Hal and Mary Daub // Pg. 100 The chance to be a bit philosophical is, in and of itself, challenging. Mary and I have a great marriage. We are each other’s best friends. We share everything. At ages 78 plus and 73-plus–for 23 years plus–we’ve enthusiastically embraced life, opportunity, adversity, and success. We believe Omaha is a special place that has afforded not only our families, but so many people before us, a place for harmony, success, and fun (As it will for people in the future.)

Good health underpins a positive perspective.

Eight hours of sleep every night, eight glasses of water every day, and laughing a lot are the three keys to our life together. There is no substitute for companionship. It is the valuable glue to relationships that are long-lasting. Working hard and playing hard are both fun–and life needs to be fun.

Be active and engaged. Every person I have ever met has had something special they could contribute to bettering their life, the lives of their family members and friends, their colleagues, our city, our state, and our great nation.

Mary has had a long, fulfilling history of community engagement–from Junior League to Joslyn Art Museum to Children’s Hospital–and great professional careers of teaching public school and real estate. // 92 //

60PLUS • JANUARY/FEBUARY 2020

My good fortune has been to be a successful attorney and real estate investor, and to have been privileged to have been elected to public service as a member of the United States Congress, mayor for our city, and as a regent for the University of Nebraska. I have also had many participation and leadership opportunities, serving on boards for Boy Scouts of America, The Salvation Army, and CHI Health. Other organizations I have had the pleasure of working with include Rotary, Optimists, Scottish Rite Masons, American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Helping to raise needed funds for these worthy organizations that add strength and stability to our community has been rewarding.

Can anyone imagine Omaha without the CHI Health Center, our living room for conventions, sports, and concerts? Or the Holiday Lights traditions and the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District trails and lakes? The list of developments and achievements goes on.

All of this work has been possible thanks to the type of community efforts that make this such a great place to be. We are blessed to have many true friends.

See the good and promote it–reject the negative and be willing to stand publicly against it.

The best way to learn is to listen. Respect all differences. Tolerance and patience are prized virtues. The opposite are counterproductive and make for an unhappy life.

Age indeed, is just a number.

Marian Leary, 93 // Pg. 101 A few years back, I asked my doctor what his advice would be for growing old and staying healthy. He smiled, and, quoting an old bromide said, “Choose your parents wisely.” Which may have been amusing, but wasn’t all that helpful.

Well, now I’m 93, and I’m in good health. I don’t deny the occasional aches and pains and forgetting people’s names, but I can’t complain.

Life is good.

I credit a few things for my happy longevity, one of which would be the 14 golden retrievers I’ve had in the 59 years since I first married.

These dogs, with their wagging tails and sweet, trusting faces, are not to be denied a daily walk.

Over the years, it didn’t matter if the weather was crummy or I just wasn’t in the mood, they usually won. I’ve also done yoga twice a week for five years, so let’s say exercise is important.

My years of study with voice coaches have also been important to me. In 1950, when I left my job as an airline attendant with Braniff International Airways to marry a wonderful young Omaha lawyer, Penn Leary, I also left my

studies at the Kansas City Conservatory of Music.

My voice coach there advised me to go to Omaha and start an opera company–probably sensing that a great singing career was not in my future.

I didn’t manage that, but I did take with me many lessons from voice training, among which was the importance of good posture. I’ve since learned that good posture can be a deterrent to a lot of problems as one gets older.

While there was not (yet) an opera company in Omaha, there was a well-established symphony orchestra when I got here. In 1952, I was on the board of directors of the Omaha Symphony, where I stayed for 20 years, serving as president for two. I was also part of efforts to start The Omaha Symphony Guild and the Symphony Debutante Ball.

My singing is now reserved for the church choir, and until my 70th birthday I sang every Sunday at Trinity Cathedral, my beloved church. I still sing–but only in the shower and my church pew at Trinity.

I also spent five years on the Joslyn Art Museum’s Board of Trustees, during times of real transition for the institution, and was a tour guide for a number of years before that, which was an education in itself, and a lasting enrichment to my life.

But the real joy in my life has been my family.

Sadly, Penn died in 2005. He was an immensely talented lawyer, writer, inventor, and loving husband and father. My son Brian, his wife Donna, and their son Ian live in Denver. My daughter Shawn, her husband Michael Considine, and their children, Annie, Nora, and Christopher live in Lenox, Massachusetts, which I visit every summer for the Tanglewood Music Festival.

Brian’s twin sister, Erin, lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. A great sadness in our lives was the death of her husband Gary Wence two years ago. Their son Charlie lives in Chicago. One may wonder if there is anyone left in Omaha?

The answer is yes—Erin’s daughter Emily and her husband, Adam Langdon. And I am very grateful for the fun and love they have shared with me.

A testament to the old adage, “It ain’t over till it’s over,” was my relationship with Dick Holland in the last five years of his life. How special such friendships can be, when the cast of characters are in their 80s and 90s, when most anything in your life has been dealt with, good or bad, and magically you’re left with the sweet ripe fruits of your long life.

I like to think that my health has been, in some mysterious way, the result of the happiness my family, friends, and dogs have given me.

Joe Taylor, aka Mr. Memories, 84 // Pg. 102 I was born March 20, 1935, which makes me 84 at the time of writing this.

My hometown is Middleton, New York, but four years in the Air Force brought me to the Midwest–Minnesota and North Dakota–in 1956.

My wife was a Wisconsin girl whom I met in Rochester, Minnesota, while she was in nursing training. We married in June, 1958.

I worked for West Bend Co. for 11 years following my time in the service, and when the company changed owners we moved to Omaha, Nebraska, in 1969 to manage a music store.

That was the start of my long journey to becoming a professional entertainer at the age of 57.

My dream to become a professional singer started at a young age, but after getting married and starting a family it faded away.

After working several jobs and starting several businesses in an attempt to support my wife and six children, the old dream started to come alive again.

I never did stop to think that I was getting too old to follow my dream. Now, at 84, I have played over 5,000 shows and put out seven albums. I am, as they say “Living the dream.”

I still perform more than 20 shows a month, on average, and I enjoy meeting so many new faces and seeing new places every year.

When will I retire? When it isn’t fun anymore.

You need a reason to get up and get going every day, if you want to live a long and exciting life.

Find out what your passion is and go for it.

Anna Wintour of Vogue in the elevator was a common occurrence, as well as S.I. Newhouse, who didn’t wear shoes when he traveled in the elevator for meetings with all his magazines.

Lastly, I worked at Departures Magazine, a property of the American Express Publishing Group sent only to the Platinum Card members as one of the perks of being a card holder at what was then the highest level of the American Express group of charge cards.

All these jobs came with the expectation of luxurious “wining and dining” clients, attending Broadway shows, and travelling. All of which a young woman from the Midwest normally only dreams of doing.

Then I met my husband, Tom Kerr, in NYC. We married and along came our daughter. At that point, all the wonderful entertaining that was required several evenings a week was no longer what I wanted to do, so Tom and I made a lifestyle decision to return to our Midwest roots.

We were able to get jobs at the local newspaper, raise our daughter in the “kindler gentler” Midwest, and become active members of the Omaha community. My job had flexible hours and a short commute from our house. I could schedule my days to fit meetings in for some committees or boards that I served on, and be at our daughter’s school to bring in the Halloween cupcakes.

Ultimately, Omaha was the more exciting place to be: to raise our daughter, serve the community, and enjoy all the perks the Midwest has to offer.

Tom Kerr, 69 // Pg. 103

Visit mrmemories.com for more information about Taylor

Writing the answer to this question, I’m immediately taken back to the caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland, smoking his hookah on a mushroom. For a child growing up in the ‘60s, it boggles the mind. Let’s put Timothy Leary to bed and answer the question.

Mary Kerr, 69 // Pg. 103

I’m an artist and storyteller. I’m a husband. I’m a proud father.

I was born and raised in Omaha and couldn’t wait to go away to college and experience something different and more exciting than home.

I had two years in Washington, D.C. and two in Fort Collins, Colorado.

I have spent the better part of my life working in positions that allow me to align with three essential things: creativity, children, and service.

If fun is attached to it, all the better.

When I returned after college, I worked for a couple of years and then had an opportunity to move to New York City, where I began a career in the retail business in a buying office, then in the garment district as a showroom manager, and finally found my real calling: advertising sales.

I was fortunate to get an entry-level sales position at Mademoiselle Magazine, then on to Glamour Magazine, and Brides Magazine, all properties of Conde Nast Publishing Co. Seeing

The creativity itch is scratched through my cartooning, caricatures, painting, portraiture, writing, book illustrating, design, and sculpting.

If I get to draw with kids, so much the better.

Want someone to read to the class? I’m your guy.

Want someone to draw in the class? Let’s do this.

I’m a huge proponent of a sound education, so that’s a big part of me.

I have served on the boards of The Rose Theater, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands, Merrymakers, and Magdalene Omaha, and have worked with United Way, UNO, and Salvation Army among others.

As far as challenges go? The biggies? Divorce, losing my job with the New York Post, and leaving the newspaper industry.

I recall the dean of students during freshman year orientation saying that one of his wishes for all of the eager collegians was that we fail a course. At the time I was shocked, but it’s not so much how we deal with success but failure that really shows our mettle. I have learned to be flexible and resilient. I also have an amazing partner that tempers the bad, so you have to throw in grateful.

Some accomplishments I am most proud of: 1. I married the best.

2. My daughter (It’s a joint accomplishment, and a beautiful work in progress.)

3. In Australia , I created and animated a character called “Daddies” which was used during cricket broadcasts. It is still well-known to cricket lovers down under.

4. I designed Scruff, and drew McGruff the Crime Dog for about 10 years, doing website illustration, comic books, and posters for the National Crime Prevention Council.

5. I created the “O!” for the city of Omaha.

6. I bumped into the Queen of England (not really an accomplishment but it rounds out the list).

What brings me happiness? See No. 1.

My advice for aging gracefully is this: Picture the final scene of Dr. Strangelove in which the B-52 pilot played by Slim Pickens climbs aboard THE BOMB and rides it toward earth like it’s a bucking bronco. That’s how I’d like to do it.

It’s more like living with gusto in the hopes that some grace falls my way.

One final note: if you feel good you look good.

If you feel like crap, try to fake it.

My interest in working with children goes back to working as a camp counselor. After college, I taught for nearly a decade and also worked with WhyArts! here in Omaha. As a bonus, I have loved illustrating children’s books. I have also worked on the Boys and Girls Club board, Avenue Scholars Foundation, and gone into the classroom to teach basic drawing.

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Tom Murnan JANUARY/FEBUARY 2020 • 60PLUS

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Lynne Purdy // 96 //

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From left: Bill Bucy, George Perlebach Gil Cohen, Kathy Anthes, Spencer Jacobs // 98 //

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Marian Leary JANUARY/FEBUARY 2020 • 60PLUS

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Joe Taylor // 102 //

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Mary & Tom Kerr JANUARY/FEBUARY 2020 • 60PLUS

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Amy Chadwell DDS 16909 Lakeside Hills Plz #111 Omaha NE, 68130

R O E D E R M O R T UA R Y. C O M eral Home Fun

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OBVIOUSLY OMAHA // STORY BY SARAH WENGERT // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

Worst Winter Driving Spots W

inter in the Midwest can be a feast for the senses: the comforting taste of hot cocoa by a warm fireplace, the sight of fresh snow on evergreen trees as picturesque as a Bob Ross painting, the laughter of children whizzing down alabaster hills on their sleds. This time of year also brings ice scrapers shrieking against frozen windshields, tires spinning in vain, and white-knuckled motorists trying to reach the top of a snow-packed hill—then trying to successfully stop at the bottom. All Omahans have their least favorite spots for winter driving, but there are some common locales so infamous they may as well be marked with caution tape come snowy days.

01. EASTBOUND ON FARNAM STREET

APPROACHING 42ND STREET

This one’s a double-whammy of steep hill and sharp curve where Farnam Street morphs into Harney Street. Ice and snowpack can make it tricky to stay in a lane as the road esses and the grade steepens.

Just beyond the traffic light at 42nd Street is the remaining hill between there and 40th Street—a beast if the road is even remotely slick.

02. SOUTHBOUND ON 78TH STREET

APPROACHING PACIFIC STREET

Another steep hill, but a decline as opposed to an incline. On some roads, it’s OK to slide or spin out a bit because there’s nothing much to run into. At this treacherous spot, the scariest possibility is that drivers may be unable to stop and can slide into five lanes of traffic on perpetually busy Pacific Street.

03. WESTBOUND ON BLONDO STREET

APPROACHING 90TH STREET

This mega hill is no fun for drivers headed downhill to the east, but it’s worse for those heading west uphill. Those driving straight west on Blondo have a fighting chance, especially when they hit a green light right at the bottom of the hill crossing 85th Street; but good luck to those who turn westward off 85th and need to generate momentum. Cars routinely get stuck all the way up to 90th Street as this road shows no mercy in snowy times.

04. EASTBOUND ON CALIFORNIA STREET

APPROACHING 40TH STREET

This ultra-steep incline is well known as a mettle-tester for every manual-transmission driver in Omaha. Those who drive up this hill and achieve the perfect balance of clutch and gas without rolling back too far or killing the engine on a summer day have officially mastered manuals. Add winter road conditions and, even in an automatic, it’s an incredible feat for any driver to make it up the hill and through the intersection.

If the light turns red here on an icy or snowpacked day, drivers should pray.

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2020

05. WESTBOUND ON STATE STREET AT

MILITARY AVENUE

State Street slopes up here so that coming to a full stop at the stop sign likely means drivers won’t make it through the intersection. But, in true quagmire fashion, failing to stop at the stop sign is also quite dangerous.

06. HARRISON STREET BETWEEN 42ND

AND 48TH STREETS

The consecutive hills throughout this stretch make it like riding a wave—but not a fun, beachy, summer one. This “wave” of hills makes for a tricky stretch and more than a few people have gotten stuck here several times.

DINING REVIEW // STORY BY NIZ PROSKOCIL // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

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2020

Patacon sandwich Pab e

llon

Cr io

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Arepitas

C

arlos Mendez co-owns Au Courant a popular Europeaninfluenced restaurant in the Benson neighborhood. Before that, he ran two eateries that specialized in Spanish cuisine. But for his latest venture, the Omaha restaurateur went back to his roots and opened a Latin American spot that serves many of the dishes he grew up eating in Venezuela.

eja P aisa Ba n d // 108 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

// DINING REVIEW //

M

endez and business partner Rognny Diaz, also from Venezuela, opened The Hunger Block in May 2018 in Rockbrook Village.

It’s housed in the space formerly occupied by Little España, which Mendez operated from 2014 to 2018. The Hunger Block offers an interesting, diverse, and, for the most part, tasty lineup of Venezuelan favorites, as well as food from other South American countries, including Colombia, Argentina, and Peru.

The menu includes appetizers, salads, and main courses, plus classic Venezuelan street fare commonly found in bustling food-filled areas called “la calle del hambre,” which translates to “the hunger street.”

Arepas—grilled or fried flatbread made from corn flour—are enjoyed day and night in Venezuela, Colombia, and other Central and South American countries. They can be eaten plain, but they’re often split in half and filled with meat, cheese, vegetables, and other ingredients.

The Hunger Block serves arepas stuffed with shredded beef, chicken, beans, cheese, and more. A vegan version boasts avocado, black beans, sweet plantains, and slaw.

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co Pata

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arep

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// DINING REVIEW //

p Em

My dining partner and I tried mini arepas, or arepitas, listed under the appetizer section. The simple yet palate-pleasing dish features five small discs of deep-fried arepas, crispy and golden on the outside and soft inside. The arepitas are accompanied by a wedge of queso fresco, sliced avocado, and Salvadoran crema (similar to sour cream).

Other shareable appetizers include nachos, tequeños (fried cheese sticks), and Peruvianinspired ceviche (citrus-marinated raw fish).

The street food section of the menu includes tacos, patacon (a sandwich that uses fried green plantains instead of bread), burgers, and empanadas. Many cultures have their own variations on the empanada, a hand pie plump with sweet or savory fillings.

The restaurant’s chicken empanada features a shredded chicken filling tucked inside a flaky pastry pocket in the traditional half-moon shape. The pastry was crisp and golden, but the chicken needed more seasoning and was a bit dry. Two aromatic house-made condiments—a white garlicky sauce and a zesty avocado-and-cilantro sauce—enhanced the flavor of every bite.

Pabellon criollo is a traditional Venezuelan dish of shredded beef, black beans, rice, and fried sweet plantains. The entree is among the restaurant’s most popular. Although nicely seasoned, the beef was on the tough

side, and the texture of the plain rice was more firm than fluffy. Slightly sweet, caramelized, and tender plantains—similar to a banana but bigger and starchier—were my favorite part of the dish.

Forget counting calories here. Portions are big, and most dishes are starchy and filling.

But there are options for health-conscious diners and those who prefer vegetarian, vegan, or low-carb meals. Gluten-free offerings are available, too. Arepas, for instance, are made from corn and thus naturally gluten-free.

Those who order the bandeja paisa should come hungry: it is a hefty platter of red beans, rice, ground beef, smoky sausage, sweet plantains, fried pork belly, avocado, an arepa, and a fried egg. A popular meal in Colombia, it’s a belly-busting dish that may put a person in a food coma.

Many menu items pair well with a glass of fruity, refreshing sangria, made with red or white wine. Other cocktails include Peruvian pisco sour, margaritas, and mojitos. The dining room is bright and cheerful, with lowand high-top tables, wood finishes, brick accents, and fun touches such as colorful wall murals. Service the night we visited was friendly and attentive, and food arrived fast.

Appetizers run from $3 to $14, arepas are $8, and entrees are in the $15 range.

a

We didn’t have room for dessert, but diners who do can tackle massive chocolate and vanilla milkshakes big enough for three or four people. The restaurant has gained a following for the towering, totally Instagram-worthy treats, which are topped with everything from doughnuts and ice cream sandwiches to cookies and cake, plus a mountain of whipped cream, Nutella, and sprinkles.

The Hunger Block’s casual, laid-back atmosphere is enjoyable and, for the most part, the food is too. Although some dishes could be tweaked, the restaurant excels in showcasing the rich flavors of Latin cuisine and adds to the diversity of Omaha’s dining scene.

Visit thehungerblock.com for more information.

THE HUNGER BLOCK 11036 ELM ST. | 402.557.6738 FOOD SERVICE AMBIANCE PRICE OVERALL

$$ 5 STARS POSSIBLE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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DINING FEATURE STORY BY CARRIELLE SEDERSTEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

RAINBOW COLORS

FEED THE MIND, BODY, AND SOUL

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ven those who haven’t been to The Grove Juicery have likely seen photos of it.

Its snapfriendly aesthetic and decor— combining modern elements of white walls and a navy velour sofa with the organic element of fresh flowers and indoor plants—have made it a popular place for devout foodie Instagrammers.

The Grove Juicery is a popular wellness cafe founded in 2018 by Meghann Schense, with a mission of providing nourishment for a sharp mind, glowing body, healthy heart, and happy soul.

Schense is subtly stylish in a French way. She lived in Paris for more than two years.

During that time, she basically lived out of her suitcase, working with fashion designers in Canada and Europe to bring them to the U.S. fashion market.

She was constantly in different time zones, staying out late to grab dinner with clients, and her schedule was all over the place. Her lifestyle then wasn’t the model for optimal health it is today.

“When I was on the road I found…I was seeking places like this [The Grove Juicery] out,” Schense said. “I was always looking for a health cafe or a juice bar or anything that could kind of help balance out the craziness in my life at the time.”

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// DINING FEATURE //

She became a huge consumer of cold-pressed juice to combat jet lag, improve her energy, and stay healthy during her travels.

Regularly consuming a product doesn’t lead everyone to open a business centered on that product, but in Schense’s case, that’s exactly what happened.

After asking herself what she wanted to do with her life and what she was passionate about, she knew it had to be in the health and wellness field. She also knew it had to be in Omaha.

Every time she came back to visit, she asked her friends, family, and all of her Uber drivers if they knew what cold-pressed juice was, and the resounding answer was yes. However, they didn’t have access to it.

Schense thought carefully about the location of The Grove Juicery, which is near 24th and Farnam streets. It was important to her to be accessible to downtown, South O, North O, and Midtown because she believes those areas are food deserts.

She wants to give people living in these neighborhoods and the rest of Omaha who may not have access to fresh food the opportunity to take control of their health the way she has.

“I really want people to understand that they have the power to make these choices and really take care of themselves and heal themselves from within,” Schense said.

She believes people need to get away from the idea of always

looking for a quick fix for their health and return to eating real food. “The more colorful your diet is from natural foods, the better,” she said.

will empower change. These issues are really important, and they go hand-in-hand with our health care and our health industry.”

The Grove Juicery makes it easy and fun to add more color to what people eat and drink.

Their products include the Yonce—short for Beyoncé—a bright yellow cold-pressed juice made with lemon, jalapeno, sea buckthorn, alkaline water, and maple syrup; or a reddishpurple acai bowl topped with house-made granola, banana, or coconut; or a pastel-pink ginger and beetroot beauty latte that make up all the vibrant colors of the rainbow (and some not often seen in the sky).

Schense thinks the reason people are so wasteful is that fast food teaches us not to value food, because it’s not nutritious and it’s cheap enough that if it’s left out, people buy more. This conditioning results in people not valuing themselves and their health—something Schense would like to help change.

The juicery uses organic fruits and vegetables as often as possible and sources local produce whenever it’s available.

Schense said sourcing organic produce, especially locally, is one of her biggest challenges.

During the summer and fall, The Grove Juicery is a vendor at the Omaha Farmers Market, and Schense uses the opportunity to connect with local farmers and get their perspective on the agriculture industry. She said she keeps hearing the same chilling story about the high use of crop duster planes applying chemicals to crops and fields. She said a lot of farmers don’t feel as though they have a choice in using it and aren’t proud of the food they’re growing.

“We wonder where cancers are coming from and where some of these diseases and illnesses are coming from,” she said. “I think…when people realize what they put into their body really matters, that will empower people and that

“It starts with self-worth and feeling like you deserve this valuable, good food, and you should have that,” she said.

Some of the most rewarding moments for her is when people come in and experience her products for the first time.

“When we give them samples, you can just see their face kind of light up—that they are remembering what some of these things [foods] actually taste like,” Schense said.

they know how few [food manufacturers] you can actually trust on the market today; to seasoned, rural farmers talking about toxic pesticides being sprayed all day, every day, over thousands of miles of crops. Not to mention the shattering floods and fires, affecting food tremendously. All essentially revolving around the same issue—climate change and our health.”

Schense said whatever inspires someone to move in that direction, she believes there are only positive results.

“Whether it’s your health, or the climate, or performing at your best, I think these are all things people are really starting to understand and feel.”

Visit thegrovejuicery.com for more information.

Schense sees her business as more than a way to impact the lives of people. She views it as a way to impact the planet. Schense said the food industry, particularly animal products, has a large impact on the environment—from what it does to our water, to our soil, to our air. But there is a growing number of people making the switch to a plant-based lifestyle specifically because of climate change.

“A lot of the time…conversation tends to swirl around the same topic,” she said. “From innercity kids without access to real, quality food and exposed to various city pollution; to young suburban couples who grow their own food because

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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GB CHEF PROFILE // STORY BY TAMSEN BUTLER

S

DAN HAMILTON: LIVING WITH GUILLAIN-BARRÉ

“It was weird.” That’s how Dan Hamilton describes what it was like to suddenly lose the ability to do things he took for granted such as walking, talking, and swallowing food. In May 2019, he was working two cooking jobs, one at Waubonsie Station in Tabor, Iowa, and the other at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center. A regular day would include standing for most of the shift, being around a hot stove, and plenty of knife work—dangerous work if you’re not careful. “I was stressed and under pressure to make ends meet for my family.”

The weekend before Memorial Day he was driving home from his second job when he noticed something was wrong. “My glasses were hurting my eyes and I had double vision,” he said. Instead of seeking out medical care the next morning, he headed into work.

“I drove…with my hand over one eye so I could see,” he remembered. He wondered if he should call in sick, but forged ahead to Children’s Hospital.

Once he arrived, he said, “My limbs felt like Jell-O, like I had just worked out. There was lots of fatigue.”

He got through the day by taking frequent breaks to sit down but left an hour early. “I knew something wasn’t right.”

Upon returning home, Hamilton told his wife, Kim, he wasn’t feeling right. She insisted they visit an urgent care facility together. They had both felt under the weather for around three weeks, but these were new symptoms. At the facility, Kim was diagnosed with walking pneumonia and Hamilton was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection. “That sounds about right,” he thought. “I started antibiotics and steroids, ate dinner, and then went to bed.”

“I woke up the next morning and tried to get out of bed but I fell forward—my legs weren’t working.” Hamilton struggled to stand and made his way up the stairs to the living room by holding onto the walls. “I had a really difficult time walking up the stairs. My motherin-law, who was staying with us since being evacuated from the floods in Pacific Junction, said, ‘What’s going on there Dan?’ I collapsed onto the couch.” His wife took one look at him, then they headed to the ER.

// CHEF PROFILE //

H

amilton was given a CT scan, an MRI, and a spinal tap at the hospital.

“They thought it was meningitis, but I didn’t have a fever. While they were checking off all the boxes, one doctor in the room said, ‘It could be Guillain-Barré.’” After some further tests, a physician turned to Hamilton’s wife and said, “Don’t Google it.”

She did, of course, and was shocked by what she found.

“I hope it’s not Guillain-Barré,” she said to Hamilton. “I asked her what the internet said, and she wouldn’t tell me,” Hamilton said.

Guillain-Barré involves the body’s immune system attacking portions of the nervous system, resulting in varying levels of paralysis. The disorder presents in different ways for different people. Some notice problems with coordination, others experience complete paralysis, and some die from the disorder.

By the next day, he couldn’t move his arms or legs. “I was paralyzed from the neck down,” he said. He received the Guillain-Barré diagnosis and began treatment. He received a transfusion of antibodies from donors and was transferred to UNMC.

// 118 //

It was a week before he could use his fingers again. With use of his fingers, he used his smartphone to research his diagnosis. “I researched and found there’s no cure,” he said. “I got emotional thinking about my wife, my kids, and my job.”

Hamilton spent most of June at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital. “I had to relearn everything—texting, swallowing, and speaking correctly.” He worked hard to retrain his body. “Now, I feel pretty good,” he said. He encounters weakness and decreased stamina, and notices he is more emotional now. “I’m more impatient.”

Nowadays, “I can breathe, swallow, drink, and use my hands,” Hamilton said. “I don’t have two jobs anymore. Having just one job makes a big difference.”

He returned to work in September 2019, but needed to modify his work schedule because of his decreased stamina.

He started by working shorter, five-hour shifts, but said that only lasted a week before he was back to a regular 40-hour week. “Children’s Hospital was very gracious. They offered me a chair to work in and allowed me to take extra breaks. They were very accommodating.” In true service industry fashion, he’s now working full shifts without additional accommodations.

“I RESEARCHED AND FOUND THERE’S NO CURE, I GOT EMOTIONAL THINKING ABOUT MY WIFE, MY KIDS, AND MY JOB.”

Recovery was slow. “I needed a lot of help with everything. I could only eat chicken broth and ice cream,” Hamilton said. His senses were disturbed—foods he normally loved tasted bad, he was incredibly sensitive to touch, and spent days in his hospital bed wearing sunglasses because the sun shining through the window was too much. “They explained to me that my neurons were hypersensitive,” explained Hamilton.

He can’t know if he’ll experience another flare-up of paralysis.

Guillain-Barré affects people differently, so there is no way to know what to expect in the future. “It seems the only thing everyone with Guillain-Barré have in common is stress—pushing through, trying to make that money to pay those bills,” he said. “The bottom line is, I need to take care of my body. I didn’t pay attention to what my body was saying.”

It was particularly strange for Hamilton, whose cooking career already spanned 22 years, to not be able to taste food correctly. He is a self-taught cook with no formal culinary training, so to hold the position of head cook at Children’s Hospital—yet suddenly not be able to taste food correctly—proved problematic.

He said the experience put everything in a different perspective. “Value loved ones more. Work and paying the bills isn’t everything. Enjoy life and the people around you. I thought I was dying. It’s a scary thing to think and feel.”

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

“I’m very blessed to live to tell the tale,” Hamilton said.

“I’m happy I’m here.”

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SECTION // NAMES

Bakery

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

rotellasbakery.com

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Friday & Saturday 9-11pm $1 OFF TACOS, $3 MEX BEERS, $5.50 MARGS 735 N 14th St. Omaha, NE 68102 402.933.4222 | hookandlime.com

To Book Your Event, Email: gm@barchenbeer.com

402.502.9902 6209 MAPLE ST. • BENSON BARCHEN BEER.COM

BEER GARDEN & BEER H A L L

Bringing Italy to Omaha Since 1919

Take a Taste of Italy Home Today!

Tues-Thurs: 8:30am-8pm Friday: 8:30am-8:30pm Saturday: 7:30am-8pm Sunday: 7:30am-6pm

Walking Distance to CHI Health Center Omaha & TD Ameritrade Park CLEAR BAG POLICY IS IN EFFECT

402.346.9116 | 501 N. 13th Street | theMattOmaha.com /the old mattress factory omaha

@Matt_factory

An Omaha favorite for over 100 years (1919-2019)

402.345.3438 621 Pacific St, Omaha NE orsibakery.com

Pasta

THANK YOU FOR VOTING OUR PASTA

NUMBER #1

Rockbrook Village (108th & Center) 402.391.2585 www.pastaamore.com We can accommodate parties of 30 or more, by reservation only Catering Available

DINNER HOURS // Mon-Thur: 4:30-9PM, Fri & Sat: 4:30-10PM

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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Omaha

DINING GUIDE I TA L I A N LA CASA PIZZARIA - $$

45th and Leavenworth streets 402.556.6464

La Casa Pizzaria has been serving Omaha its legendary Neapolitan-style pizza and pasta for 60 years. We offer dine-in, carryout, party facilities, catering, and now pizza shipments to the 48 contiguous states.

Open Tuesday-Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

—lacasapizzaria.net

LOMBARDO’S BISTRO & BAR - $$

13110 Birch Drive - 402.884.9800 We are a locally owned and operated neighborhood eatery with an Italian flare.

We offer a full, made-from-scratch menu along with extensive wine, craft cocktail, and craft beer lists. Casual is the best way to describe the warm and friendly service you will come to enjoy when choosing us.

We offer dine-in, carry-out, catering, a daily happy hour (3-6:30 p.m. and all-day Sundays), live music Tuesdays and Sundays, and half-price bottles of wine on Wine Down Wednesdays.

—lombardosomaha.com

LO SOLE MIO RISTORANTE ITALIANO - $$

3001 S. 32nd Ave. - 402.345.5656

The restaurant is located in a residential neighborhood, surrounded by charming homes. Everyone is greeted with homemade bread, a bowl of fresh tomatoes and basil, a bowl of oven-roasted garlic cloves, specially seasoned olive oil, and (at night) a jug of Chianti! The menu includes a large variety of pasta, chicken, veal, seafood, and even a delicious New York steak. Traditional dishes such as lasagna, tortellini, and eggplant parmigiana are also available. Lunch offerings include panini, salads, and one of the best pizzas in town. Patio seating, full bar, and a great wine list complete the atmosphere. No reservations, except for private rooms. —losolemio.com

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+

PASTA AMORE - $$

11027 Prairie Brook Road 402.391.2585 Pastas are made fresh daily, including tortellini, fettuccine, and capellini. Daily specials and menu items include a variety of fresh seafood and regional Italian dishes, such as linguini amore and calamari steak, penne Florentine, gnocchi, spaghetti puttanesca, and osso buco. Filet mignon is also offered for those who appreciate nationally renowned Nebraska beef. To complement your dining experience, the restaurant offers a full bar and extensive wine list. Be sure to leave room for homemade desserts, like the tiramisu and cannoli. Dinner starts at 4:30 p.m. Reservations recommended.

—pastaamore.com

PITCH - $$

5021 Underwood Ave. - 402.590.2625 An OpenTable’s Diners’ Choice for 2014 HotSpot Restaurant in America. Keeping up with the traditional way the first pizzas in Italy were made, our pizzas are cooked in a coal-fired oven. The menu also features seafood, hand-cut steak, housemade pastas, and burgers full of flavor. Our goal is to provide you with local, housemade, and imported ingredients. We offer a happy hour menu through the week. Our bar provides an array of in-house concoctions as well as your traditional libations. Our wine selection is well-thought-out and most impressive. You will enjoy Pitch. Monday 3 p.m.-10 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 3-10 p.m. —pitchpizzeria.com

SPEZIA - $$$

3125 S. 72nd St. - 402.391.2950 Choose Spezia for lunch or dinner, where you’ll find a casual elegance that’s perfect for business guests, get-togethers, or any special occasion. Exceptional food, wine, and service, with a delectable menu: fresh seafood, certified Angus steaks, innovative pasta, risotto, gnocchi, cioppino, lamb, entrée salads, Mediterranean chicken, flatbreads, and fresh salmon daily. Enjoy a full bar, Italian and California wines, Anniversary/Lovers’ Booth (call to reserve), private dining rooms, and wood-fired grill. Open Monday-Sunday. Cocktail hour 4-6 p.m., when all cocktails, glasses of wine, and beers are half price. Evening reservations recommended.

—speziarestaurant.com

MEXICAN FERNANDO’S - $

7555 Pacific St. - 402.339.8006.

380 N. 114th St. - 402.330.5707 Featuring Sonoran-style cooking made fresh daily. Catering and party rooms also available. Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 4-9 p.m.

—fernandosomaha.com

JULIO’S - $

2820 S. 123rd Court - 402.330.2110

Locally owned since 1977, Julio’s prides themselves on serving the finest Tex-Mex cuisine and offering top-notch customer service. Our loyal customers are the reason we have been around for nearly 40 years. We have an extensive menu that has both classic and innovative dishes—giving everyone the opportunity to find something they love. Salivating for Southwestern fare? We have tacos, tostadas, a dozen different enchiladas, and classic fajitas. And, of course, nachos!

—julios.com

LA MESA - $$

158th Street and W. Maple Road - 402.557.6130 156th and Q streets - 402.763.2555 110th St. and W. Maple Road - 402.496.1101 Fort Crook Road and Hwy 370, Bellevue - 402.733.8754 84th Street and Tara Plaza, Papillion - 402.593.0983 Lake Manawa Exit, Council Bluffs - 712.256.2762 Enjoy awesome enchiladas, fabulous fajitas, seafood specialties, mouth-watering margaritas, and more at La Mesa. Come see why La Mesa has been voted Omaha’s No. 1 Mexican restaurant 16 years in a row.

Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m.

—lamesaomaha.com

MARGARITA’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT - $

4915 S. 72nd St. - 402.393.7515

Margarita’s is a business with more than seven years in the food world. We offer authentic Mexican food where you can enjoy a nice moment with your family.

—margaritasmenu.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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Omaha

DINING GUIDE ROMEO’S MEXICAN FOOD AND PIZZA - $

90th and Blondo streets - 402.391.8870 146th St. and W. Center Road - 402.330.4160) 96th and L streets - 402.331.5656 Galvin and Avery roads, Bellevue - 402.292.2028 29th and Farnam streets - 402.346.1110

WALKING DISTANCE

TO CHI HEALTH CENTER OMAHA & TD AMERITRADE PARK YOUR PRE-GAME HE AD QUARTE RS FOR LUNCH, DINNE R OR YOUR NE XT EVE NT!

Romeo’s is your friendly, family Mexican food and pizza restaurant.We take real pride in serving our guests generous portions of the freshest, most flavorful dishes made with the finest ingredients available. Zesty seasonings and the freshest ingredients combine to ensure the ultimate in flavor. Our savory taco meat is prepared every morning at each location. Make sure to try our chimichangas; they’re the best in town.

—romeosomaha.com

SPECIAL DINING BÄRCHEN BEER GARDEN - $

501 N. 13TH ST • 402.346.9116 • THEMATTOMAHA.COM / theoldmattresfactoryomaha

@Matt_factory

6209 Maple St. - 402.502.9902

Located in Benson, Bärchen is a modern American beer garden and beer hall influenced by German communal drinking culture.

Indoor seating for approximately 125 people and outdoor seating in our beer garden for approximately 125-150 people. The laid-back atmosphere pairs well with our 30 rotating taps, international beer list, unique sausage & sandwich menu, and locally made pretzels. We are family and dog friendly—all are welcome. Hours: Tues-Thurs 3 p.m.-11 p.m.; Fri & Sat 11 a.m.-1 a.m.; Sun 11 a.m.-10 p.m. For more information or to host an event, please email gm@barchenbeer.com —barchenbeer.com

STEAKS • CHOPS • SEAFOOD ITALIAN SPECIALTIES 7 private party rooms Seating up to 400 Lots of parking

1620 S. 10th Street

402-345-8313

www.casciossteakhouse.com

BRUSHI BISTRO+BAR - $$

721 N. 132nd St. - 402.884.6878

Swiss-trained chef Paul Braunschweiler combines the best of Europe’s epicurean delights with an American flair. Brushi’s casual and open atmosphere combine to create a true bistro experience. Fresh ingredients highlight the menu. Happy Hours and nightly specials. Private dining available. Patio seating weather permitting.

—brushiomaha.com

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

The Original Whiskey Steak is Back!

@The Drover Restaurant & Lounge | Gift Cards Available 2121 S. 73 St. | (402) 391-7440 | DroverRestaurant.com Open Monday - Friday 11am - 2pm | Dinner nightly from 5pm

JAMS OLD MARKET • 1101 Harney St • Happy Hour M-F 3pm-6pm

JAMS MIDTOWN • 7814 West Dodge Road • Sunday Brunch 10am-2pm

JAMS LEGACY • 17070 Wright Plaza • Party Rooms & Patios • jamseats.com Open for Happy Hour 4-7pm Daily

OMAHA’S

#1 MEXICAN RESTAURANT

17 YEARS IN A ROW!

OMAHA – 158TH & MAPLE (402) 557-6130

PAPILLION – 84TH & TARA PLZ (402) 593-0983

OMAHA – 110TH & MAPLE (402) 496-1101

BELLEVUE – FT. CROOK RD & 370 (402) 733-8754

OMAHA – 156TH & Q (402) 763-2555

COUNCIL BLUFFS – LAKE MANAWA EXIT (712) 256-2762

Dining Room Opens at 5pm Daily Private Dining Room Available all day

140 Regency Parkway Omaha, NE 68134 FlemingsSteakhouse.com/Omaha 402.393.0811

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

// 125 //

Omaha

DINING GUIDE CRESCENT MOON ALE HOUSE - $

KOREA GARDEN AUTHENTIC ASIAN CUISINE AND SUSHI - $$

THE DROVER RESTAURANT & LOUNGE - $$$

Founded in 1996, we’ve grown into Beer Corner USA with the additions of The Huber Haus German Beer Hall, Max and Joe’s Belgian Beer Tavern, and Beertopia—Omaha’s Ultimate Beer Store. With more than 60 beers on tap and Omaha’s best Reuben sandwich, we are a Midtown beer-lover’s destination. Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Kitchen hours: Monday-Wednesday 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m.-midnight.

Closed Sunday. —beercornerusa.com

Lunch specials served Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m., featuring signature Korean dishes like bulgogi, doenjang jjigae, and grilled mackerel. Menu includes appetizers, traditional specialties, rice, noodles, soup, and beverages. —koreangardenomaha.com

Famous for the original Whiskey Steak.

Truly a one-of-a-kind Midwestern experience. Excellent food, wine, service, and value. Rare...and very well done. Lunch Monday­- Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m., cocktail hour 3-6 p.m., dinner nightly 5 p.m.

—droverrestaurant.com

3578 Farnam St. - 402.345.1708

FIRST WATCH - $

1222 S. 71st St. - 402.932.5691 2855 S. 168th St. - 402.330.3444 3605 N. 147th St. - 402.965.3444 304 Olson Drive., Papillion - 402.965.3444 2015 Pratt Ave., Bellevue - 402.991.3448 We begin each morning at the crack of dawn, slicing fresh fruits and vegetables, baking muffins, and whipping up our French toast batter from scratch. Everything is made to-order here at First Watch.

We use only the finest ingredients possible for the freshest taste around.

—firstwatch.com

GREEK ISLANDS - $

3821 Center St. - 402.346.1528 Greek cuisine with specials every day at reasonable prices. We are well-known for our gyro sandwiches and salads. We cater and can accommodate a party for 65 guests.

Carry-out and delivery available. MondayThursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.- 7 p.m.

—greekislandsomaha.com

J.COCO - $$$

5203 Leavenworth St. - 402.884.2626

The building that once housed a beloved neighborhood grocery has a new future.

Built as a grocery back in 1925, it is now home to J. Coco. Our seasonal menus, rooted in tradition, showcase our natural ingredients. Local, organic, and sustainable when available. We feature craft bartending, housemade desserts, and pastas. We celebrate the traditional with a modern twist. Lunch: Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Dinner: Monday-Saturday 5 p.m.-close.

—jcocoomaha.com

5352 S. 72nd St. - 402.505.4089

PARADISE BAKERY - $

17305 Davenport St. - 402.934.5757 120 Regency Parkway - 402.991.3000 Paradise Bakery offers freshly prepared baked goods made from scratch every morning with the finest ingredients available. Offering a variety of meals including soups, salads, and sandwiches. Our associates are extremely proud of the reputation Paradise has earned for providing exceptional service and producing the finestquality products.

—paradisebakery.com

TAJ KABOB AND CURRY - $ 654 N. 114th St. 402.933.1445 / 402.238.4317

Taj of Omaha shares its love of traditional Indian cuisine with friends and family in the Omaha area. The owners invite you to come enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and new menu. Taj offers both lunch and dinner specials, delivery and catering services, and a free party room. —tajofomaha.com

STEAKHOUSES CASCIO’S - $$

1620 S. 10th St. - 402-345-8313

2121 S. 73rd St. - 402-391-7440

FLEMING’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE - $$$$

140 Regency Parkway - 402.393.0811 At Fleming’s, a steak is never just a steak.

It’s the culmination of a meticulous process of selection, preparation, and service that ensures it reaches your table at its very best. We obsess over every detail so that you’ll savor every bite. This is why we offer the finest USDA Prime beef, available both wet- and dry-aged and broiled at 1,600 degrees or iron-crusted. You can elevate your selection even more with our indulgent steak companions, including truffle-poached lobster, diablo shrimp, and lump crabmeat. Each dish is crafted from scratch by our culinary team and served by our skillful staff. Reservations recommended. —flemingssteakhouse.com

JOHNNY’S CAFÉ - $$$ 4702 S. 27th St. - 402.731.4774

Years of quality dining and hospitality make Johnny’s Café a restaurant to remember. We serve only the finest beef the Midwest has to offer. Aged steaks and prime rib are the specialties, with homemade bread and pies to complete a meal. An excellent wine list adds to the enjoyment at one of Omaha’s original restaurants. Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

—johnnyscafe.com

Cascio’s is Omaha’s No. 1 steakhouse. We have been serving Omaha for 69 years. We feature steaks, chops, seafood, and Italian specialties. We have seven private party rooms, seating for up to 400 people, and plenty of parking. —casciossteakhouse.com

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

ek Dining Gre

Greek Islands Restaurant Omaha, NE

Family Owned Since 1983 CATERING / PARTY ROOM AVAILABLE HOMEMADE, FRESH FOOD, ALWAYS.

3821 Center St. / 402.346.1528 GreekIslandsOmaha.com

Seafood - Mexican - Sushi

5101 S 36 th St, Omaha, NE 68107 - 402-213-5723 - Daily Food & Drink Specials n Sandwi ube ch Re

Try Omaha’s Favorite Reuben! xican Dining Me

Omaha’s largest selection of craft beers.

3578 Farnam St • 402-345-1708 www.beercornerusa.com

Thank You, Thank You,

Thank You

www.romeosOMAHA.com

an Dining Itali

For Continually Voting For Us!

Serving Lunch & Dinner Mon-Sat 3001 S. 32nd Ave / Omaha, NE 402.345.5656

Prime Rib

633 Old Lincoln Hwy, Crescent, IA 51526

712.545.3744 | pinkpoodlesteakhouse.com

5021 Underwood Ave. Omaha, NE 402-590-2625

17808 Burke St. Omaha, NE 402-289-4096

6350 E. Thomas RD. Scottsdale, AZ 480-272-7500

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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// EXPLORE CALNENDAR //

STAY & PLAY IN SARPY COUNTY! Courtyard by Marriott

Located just a few minutes south of Omaha, Sarpy County awaits with a wonderful mix of fun things to see and do this winter. Get out of the cold and stay in one of our premier hotels. Dine in an elegant restaurant. Spend the day at a family fun center. From brewpubs and malls to specialty shops and hotels, Sarpy County is the perfect destination for your next getaway! For a full list of shopping, restaurants and area events, visit us at

GoSarpy.com.

BELLEVUE • GRETNA • LA VISTA • PAPILLION • SPRINGFIELD • OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE • OMAHA METRO

Nebraska Crossing, Gretna

Springfield Drug Old-fashioned soda fountain, Springfield

Old Presbyterian Church, Bellevue

Alamo Drafthouse, La Vista

Leopard Lanes, Bellevue

Shramm Park, south of Gretna

// EXPLORE CALENDAR //

HIBEERNATION WINTER BEER FEST Jan.

NEBRASK A

ILLUSIONIST JOSHUA JORDAN Jan. 11 at

GI Free Church, Grand Island. Illusionist Joshua Jordan reads minds and performs tricks for people of all ages. 308-382-1898.

—gifree.org

COLD DAYS, WARM HEARTS, AND FAMILY FUN Jan. 13 at Mahoney State Park. This

25 at Kinkaider Brewing Co.,Grand Island.

Beer lovers will be able to sample beer from 12 different Nebraska breweries at this festival, which also includes food and live music.402480-6488. —kinkaiderbrewing.com

BLUE MAN GROUP SPEECHLESS TOUR

winter celebration includes education activities, winter crafts, and the ability to roast hot dogs and s’mores over a bonfire.

402-471-0641. —outdoornebraska.gov

Jan. 29 at Lied Center for Performing Arts, Lincoln. This group’s shows have been seen by over 35 million people. They are known for original compositions, JAN. acts, and instruments. 712-258-9164.

—liedcenter.org

INDOOR AIR SHOW Jan. 18 at Strategic Air

NEBRASKA CATTLEMEN’S CLASSIC

Command & Aerospace Museum. This event brings the fun and excitement of an air show inside with radio-controlled models. 402-9443100. —sacmuseum.org

FULL WOLF MOON 5K Jan. 19 at Two Rivers

State Recreation Area, Waterloo. Runners will enjoy a flat, and fast, good time at the second annual Wolf Moon 5k. The event includes hot chocolate, baked goodies, and door prizes. 402-917-7818. —omaharun.org

OGALLALA GUN SHOW Jan. 19-20 at Keith County Fair & Exhibit, Ogallala. Gun collectors from across the Midwest will gather and share their knowledge on hunting and guns. 308-284-6952. —keithcountyfair.com

MARTHA REDBONE PRESENTS BONE HILL: THE CONCERT Jan. 23 at the

LAKES AREA GAME FEST Jan. 4-5 at

Arrowwood Resort, Okoboji. Individuals of all ages come to participate in board and card games from all eras. Participants can take home raffles, prizes, or giveaways. Games provided, but people are encouraged to bring their own to share with others. 712-332-2161.

—arrowwoodokoboji.com

7-8

Feb. 15-23 at Buffalo County Fairgrounds, Kearney. Nebraska is one of the largest beef producers in the nation, and this show will feature many of the state’s largest cattlemen. Events include Battle of the Breeds and a chef’s Best Beef competition. Youth are also encouraged to show and sell cattle. 308-627-6385.

—cattlemens.org

BILL T. JONES/ARNIE AND COMPANY ON THE WATER Feb. 27 at Lied Center for

Performing Arts, Lincoln. One of the world’s most iconic dance companies will perform in Lincoln. The group showcases styles such as improvisation, Caribbean dance, and modern techniques. 402-472-4747.

—liedcenter.org

FEB.

28

THE SECOND CIT Y: SHE THE PEOPLE Feb. 28 at the Lied Center

Lied Center for Performing Arts, Lincoln. This renowned blues and soul singer explores her family’s history in music genres that stand through generations.

402-472-4747. —liedcenter.org

for Performing Arts, Lincoln. This comedic play was designed entirely by women and promises to make people laugh all night long. 402-472-4747. —liedcenter.org

CARDINAL VIRTUES AT TREE ADVENTURES

NEBRASKA WINTER PRIDE Feb. 29 at Das

Jan. 25 at Arbor Day Lodge. Nature-lovers can learn more about this iconic red bird during this event, including their repertoire of songs, and how to attract them to the yard.

402-873-8717. —arbordayfarm.org

IOWA

Haus, Lincoln. This day includes a brunch, educational activities, and a show. RuPaul’s Drag Race star Vanessa Vanjie Mateo comes to Lincoln for the evening, including a meetand-greet.531-500-5528. —eventbrite.com

JERSEY BOYS Jan. 7-8 at Orpheum

Theater, Sioux City. These four guys from Jersey, became a sensation almost the minute they started singing. While onstage they were presented as All-American boys, offstage, life was very different. 712-258-9164.

—orpheumlive.com

KEELIVE MUSIC Jan. 17-18 in Downtown

Cherokee. Formerly the Cherokee Jazz and Blues Festival, this weekend includes pub crawls on Friday and Saturday nights, a jam session on Saturday afternoon, and a big band dance on Saturday night. A music clinic is offered for high school students on Friday.

712-225-6414. —keelivemusic.com

BARNES BULL RIDING CHALLENGE Jan. 17-18

at Tyson Events Center, Sioux City. The late owner of Barnes PRCA Rodeo once told a reporter, ”We are to rodeo what Cadillac is to cars.” This bull-riding challenge is a familyfriendly event that is sure to please those ages 1 to 99. 402-279-4850. —tysoncenter.com

AKC ALL BREED DOG SHOW Jan. 18-19 at

HyVee Hall Events Center, Des Moines. The Central Iowa Kennel Club will show dogs of all ages and breeds at this event. 515-5648000. —iowaeventscenter.com

36TH ANNUAL BALD EAGLE APPRECIATION DAYS Jan. 18-19 in Keokuk. View bald eagles

in their natural habitat at the Mississippi Riverfront and Victory Park & Southside Boat Club. A variety of indoor activities are also available at River City Mall. 319-524-5599 —keokukiowatourism.org JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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// EXPLORE CALENDAR //

JASON ALDEAN Feb. 6 at Iowa Event Center,

Des Moines. One of country music’s top artists, Aldean is known for hits like “You Make it Easy,” and “ Girl Like You”. 515-5648000. —ticketmaster.com

WINE, FOOD & BEER SHOWCASE Feb. 21

in Des Moines. Foodies from all over the Midwest can sample food, wine, and beer from over 40 of the Des Moines area’s finest restaurants, caterers, and breweries from the area. 515-961. —desmoinesmetroopera.org

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ICE RACING

Feb. 22 at Tyson Center, Sioux City. This event features motorcycle and quad racers speeding on ice. These racers will run on an ice track by having over 2,000 sharp studs in their tires. 402-279-4850. —tysoncenter.comg

K ANSAS

WSU CHILDREN’S DANCE FESTIVAL Jan.

40TH ANNUAL UNIVERSITY OF OKOBOJI WINTER GAMES Jan. 23-26 at Lake Okoboji.

WINTERFEST Jan. 25 at Amana Colonies,

Amana. This annual festival includes Iowa’s fictional university puts on this zany games such as ham-throwing, annual festival. Activites include broomball, and a beard contest. 319 - 622-7622 . flag football, softball, bags tournament, a —amanacolonies.com chili cook-off, the chocolate classic, and a polar plunge. 712-332-2107. — BACKCOUNTRY FILM FESTIVAL Jan. uofowintergames.com 25 at Indian Creek Nature Center, JAN. Cedar Rapids. This festival focuses CHRIS JANSON Jan. 30 at Orpheum on nature, with each screening Theater, Sioux City. Janson is the supporting conservation efforts. winner of the 2019 “Video of the Year” There will also be winter education and from the Academy of Country Music avalanche safety programs to raise awareness Awards for his video "Drunk Girl.” Fans of winter management issues. 319-362-0664. can expect to hear this and other his such —winterwildlands.org as “Fix a Drink” at this show. 712-258-9164.

—orpheumlive.com

25

SNOW BOX DERBY Feb. 2 at Mount Crescent,

Crescent. Cardboard, glue, paint, and imagination will be used to create a variety of derby vehicles that will slide down the ski hills during this special event. 712-545-3850.

—skicrescent.com

DES MOINES HOME AND GARDEN SHOW Feb. 6-9 at Iowa Events Center, Des Moines. This show features over 400 exhibitors, 1,000 experts, and amazing gardens. 515-244-5456.

—desmoineshomeandgardenshow.com

COLOR THE WIND KITE FESTIVAL Feb. 15

at the Seawall, Clear Lake. CBS Sunday Morning once referred to this as “A kaleidoscope at the end of a string.” One of the midwest’s largest and most colorful kite festivals, the event features everything from inflatables to home-made kites. 409-797-3500.

—colorthewind.org

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

26 at Wilner Auditorium, Wichita. This festival brings together performers from across the Midwest to share and showcase their talents. Master classes will be taught

by WSU dance faculty. 316.978.3530.

—wichita.edu

// EXPLORE CALENDAR //

WWE LIVE Feb. 1 at Tony’s Pizza Event

Center, Salina. WWE fans can watch some of their favorite stars compete and show off their signature moves. 785-826-7200.

—tonyspizzaeventscenter.com

JAZZ FESTIVAL Feb. 14-15 at Friends

University, Wichita. This event features jazz music from Friends University Jazz Ensemble with award-winning trumpet player Bobby Shew. 316-295-5000. —friends.edu

FEB.

31S T A NNUA L WIN T ER BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL Feb.

22-23 at Wichita Marriott Hotel, Wichita. The Kansas Bluegrass Association will be throwing the 30th annual festival, which will include Grammy Award-winning singer Tim O’Brien, a songwriting workshop, and an instrument petting zoo. 316-651-0333.

—kansasbluegrass.org

22-23

MISSOURI

K ANSAS CIT Y RESTAURANT WEEK Jan. 10-19 throughout Kansas City.

This annual 10-day dining event spotlights K a n s a s C i t y ’s h o t t e s t r e s t au r a n t s .

—kcrestaurantweek.com

SCHLAFLY CABIN FEVER FESTIVAL Jan.

11 at Schlafly Bottleworks, St. Louis. This is an afternoon of big music, big beers, and big fun outside. Cabin Fever celebrates beer with over 40+ styles, guaranteed to take away the winter blues. 314-241-2337.

—schlafly.com

417 MAGAZINE’S WHISKEY FESTIVAL Jan. 18 at John A. & Genny Morris Conversation Center, St. Louis. With 200 whiskeys, live music, and booze-inspired food this event is scheduled to be bigger and better than ever. 417-225-1162. —417mag.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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// EXPLORE CALENDAR //

KANSAS CITY WINTER WHISKEY TASTING FESTIVAL Jan. 25 in Kansas City. This

festival gives whiskey-lovers the ability to sample everything from Irish whiskey to a blend of bourbon and rye. —whiskydo.com

GEORGE STRAIT Jan. 25 at Sprint Center, Kansas City. George Strait is known for hits such as “ Amarillo by Morning,” and “Write This Down.” 816.949.7100. —sprintcenter.com

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: AXEL Jan. 30-Feb. 2 at

Sprint Center, Kansas City. Axel is a young artist who falls for Lei in a high-speed chase for love and self-realization. 816.949.7100.

—sprintcenter.com

MIRANDA LAMBERT Feb. 6 at Sprint Center,

Kansas City. This Grammy-award winning country music star is known for her hits like "The House That Built Me.” 816.949.7100.

—sprintcenter.com

SEVENTH ANNUAL BEER, WINE, CHEESE, AND CHOCOLATE Feb. 8 at Ozark Empire

Fairgrounds & Event Center, Springfield. This is a unique tasting and shopping experience for guests 21 and older. The event includes live music, educational seminars, and live cooking demonstrations from top local chefs. 417-8332660. —ozarkempirefair.com

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS Feb. 8 at Sprint

Center in Kansas City. The spinning, dunking, hijinks-performing basketball team has an all-new show. 816.949.7100.

—sprintcenter.com

TICKETS START AT $19

CHOCOLATE WINE TRAIL Feb. 21-23 at Hermann Wine Trail, St. Louis. This unique event pairs chocolates with wine along seven stops on the Hermann Wine Trail.

800-932-8687. —visithermann.com

TAPAS & TEQUILA Feb. 22 at 2201 Locust Street, St. Louis. Chef-paired tapas are the theme of this event, which also includes over 100 different tequilas, live music and a photo booth with take-home prints. 314.615.2480.

—lumenstl.com

CHANCE THE RAPPER Feb. 22 at Sprint

MOZART

Center, Kansas City. Chance the Rapper will perform some of his greatest hits such as “No Problem” and “Slide Around.” 816949-7100. —sprintcenter.com

Event times and details may change.

Visist omahamagazine.com for complete listings.

Check with venue or event organizer to confirm.

FEBRUARY 7 & 9, 2020 OPERAOMAHA.ORG | 402.346.7372 TICKETOMAHA.COM | 402.345.0606 THE FRED AND EVE SIMON CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

// 132 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

Spring is Coming to Two Traditions Unite

54TH

ANNUAL

Thursday through Sunday, FEBRUARY 6-9

Don’t Miss the Home & Garden Event of the Year!

Browse over 200,000 square feet of displays showcasing everything for the home—Inside & Out! Featuring fresh design ideas, waterfalls, blooming flowers & the smells of Springtime!

omahahomeandgarden.com

Produced by Mid-America Expositions, Inc. Contact Mike Mancuso, Show Director 402·346·8003 | Producing Quality Shows Since 1964

NOT FUNNY // COLUMN BY OTIS TWELVE // PHOTOGRAPH BY BILL SITZMANN

THE EVOLUTION OF A SPORTS FAN

I

’m a sports fan.

Statistics, studies, and common sense tell me that it’s likely you’re a fan, too. It seems every American roots for one team or another, cheers for their favorite gymnast, ice skater, or thrills for that airborne, over-oiled pro-“rassler.” We wear logocovered T-shirts or sweatshirts, or we slather our bodies with the team colors when no shirts are available. We pay money for our favorite sport’s TV channel…NFL…MLB…Indoor Lacrosse?…

English Premier League Hooligan’s Channel…or simply the Home Shopping Network.

How did this happen to us? How did it come to be that a certain percentage of our emotional well-being is tied up in the athletic performance of someone else?

Of course, in the beginning we ourselves actually played sports.

You took figure skating with your BFF, or your mom ran you to Saturday morning gymnastics in the big padded room. Dad was the assistant coach of your little league team or he kibitzed your Pop Warner football practices. Whether you went to cheerleading camp or made a kid cry with a header to the face at YMCA Saturday morning soccer, you were part of the game.

Then something happened. Basically, it centered around the realization, sometimes slow, sometimes sudden, that we all came to understand that we weren’t really very good at our beloved game.

We couldn’t dribble with our left hand without staring cross-eyed at the ball while we tried it. A triple toe loop was two toe loops beyond us. We couldn’t throw a pass on a quick out to the flat that had more velocity than a dirigible in a headwind. Or, in my case, I couldn’t hit a curve ball.

I mean, I was a good baseball player. I could move in the field like Shelob chasing Frodo. My arm was as accurate as Al Roker in June. I could hit any 70 mph fastball you threw at me. Then, I ran into Monty Montrose. Monty had a curveball. It was a stake in my heart made of Kryptonite. My major league career dream switched from a rocket flight to Yankee Stadium to Evel Knievel taking on the Caesar’s Palace fountain. I was washed up. By the way, so was Monty. He had elbow surgery at 17 and ended up a wealthy construction company owner instead of a AA minor league phenom for two summers in Duluth, poor guy.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

Anyway, I had only one place to go. I put away the glove and became a fan.

Becoming a “fan” has a miraculous effect on our own athletic skill set and knowledge. Suddenly we know things that were beyond us when we were stuck in the mundane world of actually playing the game. Suddenly we can see the open man on the post pattern and drop a dime to him undeterred by coverage that’s tighter than undersized yoga pants. Suddenly we know which pitcher should come out to close the game, and after watching the manager refuse our psychic advice, and the grand slam that beats us, realize how we are six intellectual steps past sabermetrics…whatever the heck those are. By being a “fan” we become geniuses.

As fans we acquire the right to judge every player and coach on “our team.” We get to shout (Though usually, we just “comment” on social media…actual shouting is only done when we are alone with our big-screen watching the game in the evacuated family room and scaring the dog.)“Fire him!” “Bench him!” “Kill them!” Yeah, we actually say stuff like that. Even my wife shouts at gymnasts from time to time. Why? Because we are fans.

There is a 24-year-old kid on my favorite football team. When he plays well, I am ecstatic. When he doesn’t produce some miraculous outcome that I desire, I am sad. No, I am melancholy. No, I become morose. I despair. I see the world and life itself as a dreary burden that I can no longer bear. This is the life of a fan.

It is not good. I have decided I have to get out of this bleak circle of athletic co-dependency. I must change.

I swear I will never watch that kid and his darned team again. I will no longer be disappointed. I’m going to play again.

Because Monty Montrose just called to challenge me to a game of pickleball.

Otis Twelve hosts the radio program Early Morning Classics with Otis Twelve on 90.7 KVNO, weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m.

Visit kvno.org for more information.

// 134 //

2019

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY

// 135 //

2020

Proudly Produced by Main Street Studios I N S T RE E

T

MA

FEBRUARY 7-9, 2020

Friday & Saturday | 10 am - 6 pm Sunday | 10 am - 4 pm

The Nebraska Snow Sculpting Competition is the sole sanctioned snow competition in Nebraska. With multiple amateur and professional teams from across the country proudly carving and displaying beautiful 8-foot-tall snow sculptures in Olde Towne Elkhorn. Come join this completely FREE event for the public with our exhibits, amateur competition, people’s choice award, and limited time ice bar.

MainStreetStudios2610.com/Snow-Sculpting | 2610 N Main St., Elkhorn, NE 68022 | 402.216.7812 curnescreations@gmail.com | 2020 Nebraska Snow Sculpting Competition Sponsored By:

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