Journeys | Winter 2022

Cindy benefits from new robotic system’s quick, accurate diagnoses

Ryan Martin uses integrated system to help patients, like Cindy Torres

Healing arts play important role at April Sampson Cancer Center

supports healing environment, honors Lawtons’ family history

Hip preservation program reduces Katie’s need for future hip replacement

Ask the Doctor: Bryan robotic surgery successes began decades ago

Welcome these physicians to the Bryan medical community

Bryan Heart: Welcome, Dr. Um

Tony’s complicated hernia surgery is done right, right here in Lincoln

Maintaining relationships key to new CEO Eric’s past and future

program supports care givers, helps relieve stress

are the CEOs of medical centers in Central City, Crete, Grand Island and Kearney

FROM OUR PRESIDENT

We are interwoven, integrated and imprinted on the lives of those that we have the honor and pleasure to touch. That is meaningful and purposeful work.

– Rich Lloyd, PhD, President, Bryan College of Health Sciences

With these words, Rich Lloyd closed our November Bryan Health leadership meeting and reminded all of us to be thankful for the opportunities we have to touch lives across our state.

Now with medical centers in Central City, Crete, Grand Island and Kearney, we care for more than 36,000 inpatients, help 4,500 babies enter the world, educate more than 700 future health care professionals and assist your friends and family at nearly a million outpatient clinic visits.

It’s been a year of record high census.

We think that’s because we meet

people where they are. The best health care doesn’t stay put. It comes to you. At Bryan Health, we’re Nebraska owned and governed, and always looking for ways to advance the health and wellness of our neighbors.

Thank you for the trust you’ve shown us this past year.

Wherever you find yourself in 2023, we’ll be here for you.

Bryan Health. Forward. Together.

Progress continues at the site of the future April Sampson Cancer Center. To show our appreciation for their hard work, Bryan hosted a luncheon for the construction teams in October. The new building will open in Fall 2023.

Russ Gronewold, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bryan Health

For a bird’s-eye view of the event and recent construction, see a video including drone footage at bryanhealth.com/bryan-foundation/ comprehensive-cancer-center/news-and-updates.

Becky’s breast cancer plan

Meet some of the Breast Cancer Multidisciplinary Clinic team!

Radiation oncologist Jacqueline Kelly, MD, and oncologist Joni Tilford, MD, of Cancer Partners of Nebraska; breast surgical oncologist Rachel Jendro, DO, of Bryan Breast Surgical Specialists; and oncology nurse navigator Carrie Waltemath, RN, are among the specialists working together to coordinate care in Bryan’s new multidis ciplinary clinic.

Early one evening last summer, Becky Michael of Lincoln said a little prayer before checking her breast biopsy results.

“I try to live a healthy life, and part of that is getting a mammogram every year,” says Becky, 53, who’s an English language arts education specialist for the Nebraska Department of Education. “They’d all been good, but my most recent showed a tiny lump that required a biopsy.

“As I read the results in my kitchen, I saw: ‘Findings positive for breast cancer.’ I was quiet for a moment, then felt total shock and disbelief — I thought, ‘This cannot be happening to me.’ I sat there a

long while before I could tell my husband.”

At her breast biopsy appointment two weeks earlier, Becky met oncology nurse navigator Carmen Orr, RN, who’s part of the team of nurses, doctors and other clinicians providing comprehensive, breast cancer care that’s centrally located at Bryan’s Breast Cancer Multidisciplinary Clinic.

“Women having biopsies for possible breast cancer are very understandably worried,” says Carmen, “so we meet patients at that biopsy appointment to answer their questions and follow up afterward. For women whose results show they do have cancer, we’re in touch with support and more information about their

This story is brought to you by Sampson Construction.

fits her lifestyle

care within a week, often within 24 hours of them hearing the diagnosis from their doctor.”

“You know,” Becky says, “I’d actually been feeling fine, and I was so surprised to find out I had breast cancer. It turned out that my tumor was so small that I couldn’t feel it during breast self-exams, but my mammogram and biopsy picked it up. I just feel so fortunate that we found it early.

“It really helped me that Carmen called the very next morning to ask how I was doing and talk over our next steps.”

FITTING BECKY’S CARE TO HER LIFE

Patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer can typically find that their first appointments with cancer care specialists are scheduled over many days at different offices — which is a scenario that can lead to fragmented care.

To resolve that potential problem, the doctors and clinician team at Bryan’s multidisciplinary clinic come together for initial care planning meetings, at times that are convenient for their patients. There, patients and families talk with the doctors, ask questions about care options and find treatments that best fit their needs and their lifestyle.

On the day of Becky’s planning meeting, she brought along family support — her husband, Dr. Bill Michael, who is a psychiatrist at Bryan Heartland Psychiatry, and her sister, Amy Spomer. “It was a real comfort to have them with me, and our exam room was comfortable and beautifully done so it didn’t seem like a hospital room,” Becky says.

“My doctors and my team had already discussed my case. So, each came ready to talk about their part in my treatment, and

the doctors had all my treatment options ready for me and Bill to look over. Then, for each possible treatment path, we talked about potential side effects and chances of recurrence, and I chose the treatment that fit best into my life, what was best for me.”

COLLABORATION AND CARE

The clinic’s chief medical director, breast surgical oncologist Rachel Jendro, DO, FACOS, of Bryan Breast Surgical

Becky and Dr. Bill Michael

Specialists, says, “Becky’s physicians include myself as her surgeon, plus radiation oncologist Joseph Kam Chiu, MD, and medical oncologist Haris Zahoor, MD, both of Cancer Partners of Nebraska.”

Nurse navigators have a key role on the team, too. They’re equal parts coach, care coordinator and key problem solver for the patient throughout their cancer treatment.

“Patient advocacy is a huge part of what our nurse navigators do,” Carmen says. “An essential part of that is helping patients understand and address issues that could be barriers to their best care.” These issues can include fear, grief, stress or anxiety about having breast cancer and going through treatment, or nuts-andbolts problems like how to arrange for more childcare, or manage time demands around treatment schedules and medical appointments.

Also, an oncology social worker, like Joselyn Hayes, meets with families to plan for day-to-day changes like fatigue that can be expected during cancer treatment, and to talk about financial concerns and other common questions.

Certified genetic counselor Maddie

Other doctors working with Bryan’s Breast Cancer Multidisciplinary Clinic include radiation oncologist Jacqueline Kelly, MD, and medical oncologist Joni Tilford, MD, also of Cancer Partners of Nebraska

“There is absolutely no question that’s too small or trivial to ask during our care planning meetings with patients,” Dr. Kelly notes. “We’re all in one place on purpose, and that purpose is so you, our patient, can move ahead with a clear action plan.”

Dr. Tilford adds, “Our goal as a team is to help patients overcome breast cancer and move on with their lives. It’s an honor to help them at each step of that journey.”

MAP TO BREAST CANCER RECOVERY

“The clinic’s team approach saved so much time and stress for me,” says Becky. “Talking to all of my doctors and clinicians in one morning, in one place, was a godsend rather than going to multiple doctors’ offices at different times, then waiting for them to talk to one another, then get back

Kaltenberger, MGC, explains testing that can show whether a patient carries a gene passed down through her family that could cause breast cancer.

Oncology nurse navigator Carmen Orr, RN, (left) and Dr. Jendro meet with Becky for a follow-up visit.

to me. I’ll be very honest — learning I had breast cancer was exhausting and fright ening; walking out of our care planning meeting with a detailed plan, I felt like I had a map for my recovery from this breast cancer, and I could move on with my life.”

The first step of Becky’s treatment was lumpectomy surgery performed by Dr. Jendro.

“My recovery from surgery was pretty smooth,” Becky says. “In fact, I was able to travel to an education conference for work a week later. It was a great relief to be back to my normal life so soon.”

Becky will begin radiation therapy soon with Dr. Chiu and talk further with Dr. Zahoor about possible chemotherapy and endocrine therapy. In the meantime, she’s back to her favorite routine for the most part, including Sunday evening family dinners with Bill, their daughters Grace, 21, and Olivia, 25, and Becky’s parents, Pastor Larry and Linda Spomer, who recently moved to Lincoln and live nearby.

“None of us knows what life will bring,” Becky says. “I do know that my doctors and I caught my breast cancer really early, and that gives me peace of mind. Bryan’s multidisciplinary team approach gave me options that helped me fit my treatment into my life, rather than the other way around.

“The great support and information I’m getting from the team along with my treatment is going to help me do well and thrive during my breast cancer recovery, and that means everything to my family and me.” n

To learn more about Bryan’s comprehensive Breast Cancer Multidisciplinary Clinic and our preventive

breast care services, call 402-481-7900 or visit bryanhealth.org/breastcancer.

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

Becky says the support she receives from the team means everything to her.

Cindy benefits from new robotic system’s quick, accurate diagnoses

Striving to stay at the forefront of innovation, Bryan Health equips physicians with the latest technology to progress the patient experience.

Cindy Torres of Lincoln is thankful for that innovation. Her routine pre-op physical for a surgery to relieve neck pain showed surprising results — a suspicious lung nodule that would require biopsy and delay her surgery. Cindy was connected with pulmonologist Ryan Martin, MD, of Nebraska Pulmonary Specialists, who’s using new linked technology which provides more accurate, minimally invasive biopsies at Bryan Medical Center’s new Bronchoscopy Lab.

Coming together to identify outcomes

Bryan’s minimally invasive Ion robotic bronchoscopy system has an ultrathin and ultramanueverable catheter, which allows for easier endobronchial navigation and stability to reach and biopsy small nodules in all 18

segments of the lung. Connected by software to the Siemens Cios Spin mobile CT imaging system, these technologies provide reliable biopsies for patients who have pulmonary nodules as small as 8 mm.

“Prior to this, anything that was less than 25 mm was difficult to find and wasn’t always an accurate diagnosis,” Dr. Martin says.

A pre-procedure CT scan helps plan and navigate through the lung lobes to the identified nodule using Ion’s game-like console. Integrated software creates a simulated 3D structure, allowing Dr. Martin to make fine adjustments to the location of the catheter in the lung. Using the Cios Spin, an external cone-beam CT scan is taken to ensure the tool is in the specified nodule.

“I’m able to ensure the catheter is in the lesion tissue to get an accurate biopsy,” Dr. Martin says. “This gives us 100 percent confidence in our results.”

The Ion is locked into position, allowing

This story is brought to you by Inpatient Physician Associates.

Ryan Martin, MD

Cindy Torres

for collection of multiple biopsies in the targeted area.

“I can make very fine adjustments,” Dr. Martin says. “I can biopsy 2 mm to the right or left and trust that I’m getting enough tissue in those locations to be analyzed.”

The Ion’s stability reduces complications and allows for larger tissue samples. Samples are examined by a pathologist in a room near the two Bronchoscopy Lab procedure rooms — all part of Bryan’s donor-supported surgery construction and renovation project. Often, diagnoses can be determined shortly after the tissue is collected.

Moving forward with a diagnosis

In Cindy’s case, the nodule was cancerous. But Dr. Martin was able to continue the procedure and complete an endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), which looks at lymph node stations within the chest to

provide cancer staging.

“Allowing us to perform an EBUS during the procedure really reduces the time from diagnosis to treatment,” he says.

Although Cindy’s nodule was cancerous, additional lung lymph nodes were cancerfree. The procedure gave her answers she desperately needed, quickly and efficiently.

“Thanks to Dr. Martin, I’m on my way to getting treatment,” this retired surgical technician says. “I’ve got a plan and I’m going to get this taken care of.”

Dr. Martin appreciates having the robotic bronchoscopy system available for efficient and accurate diagnoses.

“I’m thankful that the administration put this technology in front of us to benefit patients,” he says. n

To learn how you can support the work of Bryan Health, call 402-481-8605.

Healing arts play important role at April Sampson Cancer Center

It’s hard to imagine how the April Sampson Cancer Center’s interior could match the beauty that will be showcased through the expansive plates of glass on the center’s east side. Just outside the windows, trees, native grasses and wildflowers line the banks of a natural pond.

Complimenting the 140,000-square-foot building with artwork that is uplifting and colorful is a huge undertaking. The Bryan Art Committee is hard at work to meet this challenge, and the Bryan Foundation is seeking donor support to bring the committee’s proposal to life.

“In many parts of the building, you’ll look out onto this beautiful landscape, and we want the interior parts of the building to be just as enticing, as intriguing, as compelling, as thought-provoking,” says Anne Pagel, a Lincoln art curator and member of the art committee.

Committee members, who serve as curators for all Bryan facilities in Lincoln, have studied the architect’s plans, videos and virtual tours. For each art piece, they’ve considered space, scale, location and the room’s function. They’ve been mindful in choosing art created by artists of diverse backgrounds.

Many of the committee’s selected pieces are large and abstract with intense color. The committee isn’t looking for art that is simply beautiful, Pagel notes. They’re identifying pieces they believe will complement and enhance the curative work being done throughout the center.

“Healing is a physical thing, but it’s also an emotional and intellectual thing, something that involves the heart, the soul, the mind,” Pagel says. “Visual art can impact people. It can open you up to letting your thoughts run, to letting your feelings be exposed, to actually allowing oneself to heal. I think that the art that will be in the facility is as much about healing as any other aspect of the center.”

As a breast cancer survivor, art committee member Valery Wachter knows first-hand

the healing properties of art. Throughout her diagnosis, treatments and check-ups, “the one constant in all of that was the waiting,” says Wachter, a full-time painter, member of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Art Department Alumni Board.

“The art on the walls in offices, exam rooms, X-ray rooms and on the ceiling while being treated with radiation were instrumental in my recovery. I needed a connection to something outside of the reality I was facing and couldn’t control. Art did that for me.”

Besides Pagel and Wachter, current committee members are local artist PJ Peters, avid collector June Pederson and assistant art professor Sandra Williams.

When compared to the committee’s prior projects — most of which have been focused on remodeled spaces like a surgery waiting area or the Bryan East Campus cafeteria — the cancer center is different.

“It’s unique in that it’s an entire building,” says Valerie Hunt, director of philanthropy and major gift officer for the Bryan Foundation. “It has so much need, that fundraising is a critical part of this project.”

The committee has been reviewing plans and selecting art for about a year, Pagel says. Meanwhile, the Foundation’s fundraising, which has been secondary to the center’s primary capital campaign, is in its early stages, according to Hunt. She and the committee emphasize that art is a worthy cause.

“Studies have shown that viewing art produces a visceral response, which can be different for each person,” Wachter says. “What is the same is that for the time spent engaging with the art, they are taken away from their cares and concerns of the moment. A pleasurable experience releases endorphins, which can promote healing, be uplifting and even hopeful.

“The committee is aware of that and is selecting art with this purpose in mind.” n

Gift supports healing environment, honors Lawtons’ family history

Quinn Lawton’s appreciation for art began at birth. For her husband, Dr. William Lawton II, art appreciation came later in life, when he married Quinn. Together, the couple is supporting the cancer center’s artwork via a gift to the project.

Quinn is the daughter of an architect and a gallery director, the granddaughter of interior design and art professors, and the niece of a published bead artist. Although not an artist herself, Quinn is a licensed mental health practitioner who has been raised and trained to recognize the emotional and mental benefits of thoughtful environments and curated artwork.

The Lawtons’ medical backgrounds and their shared interest in art converged through their gift.

“From our perspective, art has the ability to set a tone, infuse emotion and encourage reflection,” Quinn says. “It can connect and resonate with people on levels that otherwise elude words. When considering the cancer center, we need to be cognizant of what we are communicating with people through the spaces we create. Through thought ful selection, our hope is the art at the cancer center will contribute to creating a healing space that conveys connection, comfort, hope and strength.”

Not only are Quinn’s mother, father and grandmother artists — they were cancer patients. Dr. Lawton, a Lincoln gastroenterologist, also has a family history of colon cancer.

“Filling the space (with art) is a priority, and it sounds like there’s quite a lot of need there,” says Quinn, a Bryan Foundation Board member. “In honor of our family’s history with the arts and their experiences with cancer, we thought that was a really good place to put our support.”

The cancer center’s large windows, light-filled alcoves and welcoming visitor spaces will create a much different healing environment than what the couple’s family members experienced, Quinn says. “Hopefully we don’t have to utilize (the center),” she notes, reflecting on what she hopes is her family’s distant past with cancer care, “but if we do, it will be a huge step up.” n

To learn more about the healing arts program and how you can support the work of Bryan Health, please contact the Bryan Foundation at 402-481-8605.

Portrait of Quinn and William Lawton by Jennifer Schultz

Their gift will help tomorrow’s cancer patients

Every Thursday, Bryan volunteer Lana Daws spends her morning cuddling infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

In the afternoon, this retired elementary school principal escorts patients and visitors around the hospital as a volunteer wayfinder.

Her husband, Jim, spends his days running Daws Trucking Incorporated, a company he established 28 years ago with two trucks. Since then, the fleet’s grown to 85 trucks that transport oversized freight like tractors and bridge beams across America.

The couple’s decades of hard work have put them “in a position where we can help people,” Jim says. “We’re happy to do that.”

In that spirit, the couple made a gift to the April Sampson Cancer Center that will support the physician/care team work room in memory of their parents, Bud and Jean Daws and Fred and Dorothy Stych.

“Any time you can take care of the people who are in the trenches taking care of patients, that’s a good opportunity,” Lana says of their decision to contribute to the work room. “Since I became a volunteer, my respect for the medical profession has become so high.”

Jim and Lana have seen friends and family endure cancer; some have beaten it (Lana’s mom survived breast cancer twice), and others who haven’t been as fortunate (such as the young man they’ve supported through the Make-A-Wish Foundation for several years, who is in hospice care).

They say their loved ones would have benefited from the new center’s centralized care and intentionally designed visitor spaces, and they emphasized the continuous role philanthropy will play in making the center a

“Think about how you don’t ever want a family member to suffer,” Jim says, “and then, if possible, think about how you could help support that cause with any dollar amount.”

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

Lana and Jim Daws made a gift to the April Sampson Cancer Center in memory of their parents.

Students say thanks

Holstein Memorial Scholarship is thankful this financial aid is helping offset her education and living expenses. She hopes to earn a Bachelor’s

in Biomedical Sciences in May 2024, then enroll in the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program at Union College, Lincoln.

Zoe says the scholarship and education she’s receiving are reminders to her of the many others who are helping her complete this journey. Grateful for the gift, she is excited for her future and notes this scholarship makes it possible for her to focus on what matters most.

received the Sowers Club of Lincoln Scholarship. He’s president of the Student Government Association and has been on both the Dean’s list and the President’s list while attending Bryan College of Health Sciences..

Logan expects to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in May 2023. He says the scholarship is an immense help in keeping him focused on school and relationships and reducing the financial burden

With an eye on giving back, Logan hopes he can repay this generosity by how he cares for patients during his upcoming nursing career. n

You can support students at Bryan College of Health Sciences with a special contribution. Please call the Bryan Foundation staff at 402-481-8605 or visit bryanhealth.org/ college-gift to learn more.

Okechukwu Okeke Zoe Peate

Logan Woollen

New program supports care givers, helps relieve stress

Here’s Tea for the Soul

Chaplain Trisha Wiscombe was paged early one morning this fall to offer end-of-life spiritual care for a patient and family. A few hours later, Wiscombe, Bryan’s manager of pastoral care, returned to that same unit to help another family and patient who were facing their own end-of-life situation.

As Wiscombe left the hospital at the end of her day, those events tugged at her thoughts. She imagined such days must be especially draining on the clinical team members.

“They go above and beyond to provide physical care while also wanting to be thoughtful and caring to family members who are grieving,” she says.

Taking action

Chaplain Wiscombe decided to do something uplifting for the staff on the unit, so she developed a new option at Bryan called Tea for the Soul. This program connects chaplains with front line staff to help them work through stresses related to their roles as care givers.

Now when staff have a stressful day, she and the chaplains can roll into the unit with a Tea for the Soul cart, which the Nutrition and Dining Services team stocks with oodles of beverages and goodies: tea, coffee, hot cocoa packets, scones, cookies — even candy treats to tuck into a pocket to enjoy later.

But the cart has a bigger purpose than delivering drinks and snacks.

It’s an invitation for staff to take an intentional pause, to step away from built-up stress and share a conversation, connect and relax. Wiscombe explains, “They are giving, giving, giving to others but seldom have someone with the opportunity to give to them. Tea for the Soul is our chance to serve them.”

The nine full-time and part-time chaplains on Bryan’s pastoral care staff offer spiritual and emotional support during a Tea for the Soul visit, whether that’s a private conversation or a

reflection activity. The current reflection activity uses water to symbolize dissolving burdens and worries. Staff can write the worries they may be carrying on a slip of paper, put it in a bowl of water and watch it dissolve.

“They have a moment with their higher power and release that burden,” Wiscombe says. “The tangible vision of the water taking away the paper can help the mind and body respond with a sense of relief. They may be a little more at peace and feel renewed.”

Tea for the Soul is used in other hospitals nationwide, and Bryan’s chaplains are excited to bring it here. The program was introduced to clinical managers in October, and the carts began rolling out shortly after.

Managers can schedule a Tea for the Soul session for their staff, or a chaplain may plan a visit if he or she senses staff need extra support after a traumatic event in their patient care unit. “We all work together,” Wiscombe says, praising the dining team for the care they take in artfully setting up the carts.

Satisfying response

The program’s generated a great response. “It’s so much fun to see the joy and appreciation of staff and know it speaks to them,” Wiscombe says. She adds, a nurse told her, “You have no idea what it means that you took the time to do this.”

Bryan’s chaplains each bring a unique ministry background to the team, their manager points out, and they’re looking forward to this new opportunity to reach out to the medical teams around them.

Tea for the Soul presents a chance for chaplains to listen and for staff members to be heard, and it sends the message, “We see you. We appreciate you,” Wiscombe concludes.

“Most of all, the staff is touched that people care.” n

To learn how you can support the work of Bryan Health, please call 402-481-8605.

Activities help care givers reflect and revitalize. After jotting down worries and putting the paper in water, they can watch those issues dissolve.

During a Tea for the Soul visit, nursing staff receive free beverages and snacks from Chaplains Rick Pollen and Trisha Wiscombe.

Katie Morris suffered from hip dysplasia, but Dr. Steven Shannon performed a periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) to relieve her pain and reduce the risk of Katie needing a total hip replacement.

Hip preservation program reduces Katie’s need for future total hip replacement

When Katie Morris felt the first sharp pinch in her groin and right hip, she thought perhaps she had pulled a muscle or somehow twisted her hip or back. She tried various treatments, from chiropractic care to cortisone shots, but nothing truly helped.

For the next three years, Katie put up with the pain until she could no longer tolerate even a mild walk or stand more than a few minutes at a time. In mid-2022 this 27-year-old stood up at her job at a daycare and heard a loud pop from her right hip. It was a last straw of sorts for Katie, who decided she needed to see an orthopedic specialist.

Her choice was fortuitous. She met with orthopedic surgeon Dane Todd, MD, who

Steven Shannon, MD. She’d found one of the few places in Nebraska where she could receive the advanced surgery needed to repair her hip and relieve her pain.

Katie was diagnosed with hip dysplasia — an abnormally shallow, sloping hip socket that she likely was born with. In August she became the first surgical patient for Bryan Health’s new hip preservation program.

Dr. Shannon, of Bryan Trauma, conceived the concept of a collaborative center where he and Dr. Todd would address various hip problems, especially disorders in young adults.

“There is an unmet need for comprehensive care of hip deformity in younger patients,” says Dr. Todd, of Nebraska Orthopaedic Center.

Dr. Shannon performed Katie’s procedure.

and the periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) that Katie needed. He learned about this complex procedure during his orthopedic surgery residency at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and performed them while in private practice on the West Coast.

During the PAO, he cuts into the bone around the hip socket, repositions the socket and secures the new position with screws, which subsequently allows adequate coverage of the ball.

“The surgery decreases pain and greatly reduces the chance of needing a total hip replacement down the road,” Dr. Shannon says.

Patients needing a PAO usually are women who were born with some degree of malformation of the hip socket. This condition

Katie, who’s from Hickman, feels fortunate. Three days after the PAO procedure, she went home for recovery and physical therapy.

At first, she was apprehensive, because hip problems run in her family.

“My paternal grandmother has dealt with hip problems since 1942, when she was 6. She received bone grafts at age 8, had a hip replaced in 1976 and since has had another hip replacement surgery. My cousin was born with a dislocated hip and lived in a cast the first year of her life,” she says.

The idea of surgery was daunting to Katie, but she’s glad she chose to do it.

“I can definitely tell the pain is less.”

She advises others to keep looking until they find the source of their pain. “Go get it checked out and don’t wait.” n

To learn how you can support the work of Bryan Health, please call 402-481-8605.

Former football star Dr. Dane Todd teamed up with Dr. Shannon to create the hip preservation program at Bryan.

Ask the Doctor: Lincoln ob/gyn surgeon James Maly, MD, was an early advocate of robotic-assisted surgery. He performed some of the first gynecologic robotic surgeries in our state in the early 2000s.

Here, he sums up the impressive advancements in robotic surgery at Bryan and discusses current and future innovations.

Bryan robotic surgery successes began decades ago

Q: You have been a key booster of robot-assisted surgeries since their earliest days, when Bryan brought the da Vinci surgical system to Lincoln in 2003. How did you know early on that robotic procedures would have such a positive impact?

We surgeons focus on being precise and efficient to give our patients the best possible surgical outcome.

Using robotic systems, we can very precisely and gently perform delicate operations under perfect magnification and lighting, which can reduce complications, shorten patients’ surgery and anesthesia time, and help them recover as quickly as possible.

Taken together, it was clear from the start that these factors could significantly improve patients’ outcomes, compared to where we were historically, especially with open surgical procedures.

Q: What did Bryan do to support bringing this technological advance to Lincoln?

Early on, Bryan made an important commitment to robotic surgery that really served its patients well. While most hospitals added an extra charge to patient costs because robotic surgery start-up costs were very expensive, Bryan committed to keeping patient’s costs steady.

That made a real difference because more patients had access to this very effective new technology.

And, Bryan has consistently stayed up-to-date as new da Vinci robots have evolved — we now have five of the newest da Vinci systems available at the Bryan Medical Center campuses, and Bryan is one

of the investigational sites for Virtual Incision’s new MIRA robotic system, used for colon resection surgeries.

Bryan uses the da Vinci for more than 1,700 surgeries every year. Besides complex inpatient procedures, Bryan offers

an extensive range of outpatient surgeries at costs comparable to those at stand-alone surgical centers.

In short, Bryan helped make robotic surgery widely available in Lincoln while controlling costs so people can access it .

Q: How have things changed in robotassisted surgery over the years?

Robotic surgery is routinely accepted across the world, and today’s surgeons are almost universally trained in robotic techniques.

It’s been my privilege to serve as the medical director of the robotic surgical program here at Bryan, where robotics are used widely, including in gynecologic surgery, colon resection, heart surgery and lung surgery. This technology has expanded from large cities and university medical centers to being available in many regional and community hospitals. So, patients often now can stay close to their homes and families rather than having to travel to access the advantages of robotic surgery.

Q: What’s on the horizon for roboticassisted procedures? Where are we headed?

Impressive new technology continues to roll out, such as “telesurgery,” where the surgeon is at a location distant from the patient, and microsurgery that could shrink the scale of surgical intervention beyond what is visible to the human eye.

These new developments are very exciting.

Our patients deserve the best technology available,

and robotics have led to really outstanding innovations in surgery. Robotics will likely be key to improving our patients’ surgical outcomes long into the future. n

If you have more questions about robotic assisted surgeries, see your physician. Or you may contact Dr. Maly of Women’s Clinic of Lincoln by calling 402-434-3370. To learn how you can support the work

da Vinci robotic systems at Bryan allow us to offer a full range of elective outpatient procedures, as well as inpatient surgeries.

years experience as a regional leader in this technology.

physicians perform robotic-assisted procedures in the areas of general surgery, urology, obstetrics/gynecology, colorectal, acute care trauma and oncology.

Savings? Compared to open surgeries, robotic procedures can be less expensive. Patients go home the same day following outpatient procedures, and lengths of stay average 1.4 less days than for surgeries that need inpatient hospitalization.

Welcome these physicians to the Bryan medical community

Corey Allard, DO, pathology, has joined Pathology Medical Services, 402-465-1900.

Dr. Allard graduated in 2016 from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, Missouri. He completed a residency in anatomic & clinical pathology and fellowships in surgical pathology and cytopathology at the University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics.

Dr. Allard is certified by the American

Brendan Brodersen, DO, child and adolescent psychiatry, has joined Bryan Psychiatry, which is part of the Bryan Physician Network, 402-483-8555.

Dr. Brodersen graduated in 2017 from A.T. Still University, Kirksville, Missouri. He completed a residency in psychiatry and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of South Dakota School of

Matthew Edwards, MD, anesthesiology, has joined Associated Anesthesiologists, 402-489-4186.

Dr. Edwards completed his medical degree in 2018 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, followed by an anesthesiology residency at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Oklahoma City.

He is certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology.

J. Chris Hawkins, DO, neurosurgery, has joined Neurological and Spinal Surgery, 402-488-3002.

Dr. Hawkins graduated in 2014 from the Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Parker, Colorado.

He completed a neurosurgery residency at Carle BroMenn Medical Center, Normal, Illinois, and an endovascular neurosurgery fellowship at Baptist Health, Jacksonville, Florida.

Clayton Damme, MD, pain management, has joined Innovative Pain and Spine Specialties, 402-413-5010.

Dr. Damme earned his medical degree in 2017 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, where he also completed an anesthesiology residency and a pain medicine fellowship. He is Board certified in anesthesia and pain medicine.

Alexandra Keating, MD, pediatrics, has joined Complete Children’s Health, 402-465-5600.

Dr. Keating graduated in 2019 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha. She completed a pediatrics residency at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, Iowa City.

Weston Keller, MD, general surgery, has joined General Surgery Associates, 402-483-4292.

Dr. Keller graduated in 2016 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha. He completed a residency in general surgery at the Kansas City School of Medicine, Missouri, and a fellowship in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery at Prisma Health Richland Hospital, Greenville, South Carolina. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery.

Jacqueline Kelly, MD, radiation oncology, has joined Cancer Partners of Nebraska, 402-481-6090. Dr. Kelly graduated in 2014 from the Boston University School of Medicine. She earned a Master of Science in Radiation Biology from the University of Oxford, England, completed an internship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, and a residency in radiation oncology at Yale New Haven Hospital. She is certified by the American Board of Radiology.

Andrew Klutman, MD, emergency medicine, has joined Nebraska Emergency Medicine, 402-481-3142.

He graduated in 2011 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha.

He completed a residency in emergency medicine at Detroit Receiving Hospital.

Dr. Klutman is certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine.

Keli Kolegraff, MD, plastic surgery, has joined Lincoln Aesthetic Surgical Institute, which is part of the Bryan Physician Network, 402-483-8530.

She graduated in 2013 from Emory

University School of Medicine, Atlanta, and completed a residency in plastic surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and a fellowship in microvascular and aesthetic surgery at Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore.

Audai Ma’ayah, MBBS, internal medicine, is moonlighting with Inpatient Physician Associates, 402-481-8566.

Dr. Ma’ayah graduated from Jordan University of Science and Technology, Ar-Ramtha, in 2015.

He completed an internal medicine internship at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Rutgers Health, Newark, New Jersey.

He is certified by the American Board of

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

In 2018, she graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, where she completed an obstetrics and gynecology residency.

David Masinter, DO, general surgery, has joined Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center, 402-228-3344.

Dr. Masinter graduated in 2017 from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg. He completed a surgery residency at Franciscan Health, Olympia Fields, Illinois.

Trevon McGill, MD, internal medicine, has joined Nebraska Internal Medicine, which is part of the Bryan Physician Network, 402-441-3400.

Dr. McGill graduated in 2019 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, and completed a residency in internal medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, Minnesota.

Zachary Oman, DO, cardiology, has joined

Dr. Oman graduated in 2016 from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience, Missouri. He completed an internal medicine residency and fellowship in cardiology at St. Louis University School of Medicine. Dr. Oman is a fellow in the interventional cardiology program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Nicholas Phillips, MD, anesthesiology, has joined Associated Anesthesiologists,

Dr. Phillips graduated in 2018 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, followed by an internship in internal medicine. He completed a residency in anesthesiology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine,

the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, followed by a residency in neurology.

Neeley Remmers, MD, PhD, internal medicine, has joined Nebraska Internal Medicine, which is part of the Bryan Physician Network, 402-441-3400.

Dr. Remmers earned her PhD in 2013 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, where she completed a twoyear post-doctoral fellowship in pancreatic cancer. She earned her medical degree at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, in 2019, then completed the HCA Healthcare Internal Medicine Residency Program, Kansas City, Kansas.

Jakeb Riggle, MD, pulmonology, has joined Nebraska Pulmonary Specialties, 402-483-8600.

Dr. Riggle earned his MD-PhD in 2016 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, where he completed a residency in internal medicine.

He completed a pulmonary and critical care fellowship at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City.

Alexa Rosenau, DDS, pediatric dentistry, has joined Lincoln Pediatric Dentistry, 402-476-1500.

Matthew Purbaugh, MD, neurology, has joined Bryan Neurology, which is part of the Bryan Physician Network, 402-483-8534.

Dr. Purbaugh graduated in 2018 from

Dr. Rosenau graduated in 2020 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha. She completed a residency in pediatric dentistry at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City.

Danielle Saner, DO, pediatrics, has joined Lincoln Pediatric Group, 402-489-3834.

Dr. Saner graduated in 2017 from the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, Yakima, Washington. She completed a residency in pediatrics at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Dr. Saner is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.

Cory Shield, DO, internal medicine, has joined Inpatient Physician Associates, 402-481-8566.

Dr. Shield graduated in 2015 from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience, Missouri. He completed a residency in internal medicine at Mercy Hospital Medical Center, Des Moines, Iowa.

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

Sheilah Snyder, MD, pediatric hospital medicine, is moonlighting with Lincoln Pediatric Hospitalists, 402-473-3898.

Dr. Snyder graduated in 2001 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, where she also completed a

imaging at the University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, and served as chief resident. Dr. Totino completed a fellowship in abdominal radiology and a mini fellowship in breast radiology.

She is certified by the American Board of Radiology.

Steven Wahlmeier, MD, orthopedic surgery, has joined Nebraska Orthopaedic Center, 402-436-2000.

He graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, in 2012. Dr. Wahlmeier completed an orthopedic surgery residency at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan, and a fellowship in orthopedic spine surgery at Emory University, Atlanta.

Joseph Wees, DO, family medicine, joined Holmes Lake Family Medicine, which is part of the Bryan Physician Network, 402-483-3400.

He graduated from the Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center, Iowa, in 2019 and completed a residency at Clarkson Family Medicine, Omaha.

Dr. Wees is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

Michelle Wineinger, MD, pediatrics, has joined Lincoln Pediatric Group, 402-489-3834.

Kathryn Totino, DO, radiology, has joined Lincoln Radiology Group, 402-420-3500.

Dr. Totino earned her medical degree in 2015 from A.T. Still University, Kirksville, Missouri. She completed a residency in radiology with an emphasis on breast

Dr. Wineinger graduated in 2017 from the Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha. She completed a residency in pediatrics at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha.

Dr. Wineinger is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.

Eight physicians began their first year of studies this summer with the Lincoln Family Medicine Residency Program. The new residents are Isaac Mattis, DO; Tiana Peterson, DO; Hunter Allen, MD; Sidra Akhter, MD; Ryan Christensen, DO; Kimberly Euler, DO; Lexia Zenger, MD; and Derek Peckham, DO.

Corey Andrade, PA-C, Nebraska Orthopaedic Center

Laura Chisano, APRN-NP, Inpatient Physician Associates

Amy Collingham, APRN-NP, Urology PC

Abigail Conzemius, PA-C, Nebraska Orthopaedic Center

Jacob Creevan, PA-C, Urology PC

Kristen Emodi, APRN-NP, Lincoln Pediatric Hospitalists

Shawna Garito, APRN-NP, Bryan Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, part of the Bryan Physician Network

Audrey Gray, APRN-NP, Bryan Women’s Care Physicians, part of the Bryan Physician Network

Michelle Halim, PA-C, Inpatient Physician Associates

Cheyenne Hardy, PA-C, Nebraska Hematology Oncology Cancer Center

Michelle Inzauro, APRN-NP, Bryan Heart

Emily Johnson, PA-C, Bryan Psychiatry, part of the Bryan Physician Network

Amy King, APRN-NP, Nebraska Pulmonary Specialties

Sara Linder-Hittle, APRN-NP, Bryan Medical Center Cancer Program Survivorship Clinic

Bryan Physician Network

Hannah Myers, PA-C, Inpatient Physician Associates

Ashley Neeley, PA-C, Bryan Psychiatry, part of the Bryan Physician Network

Lisa Ostendorf, APRN-NP, MD Pain LLC

Tamara Ruoff, APRN-NP, Bryan Heart

Katievia Rush-Wilks, APRN-NP, Surgical Associates

Makayla Sanchez, PA-C, Prairie Orthopaedic and Plastic Surgery

Austin Schmit, CRNA, Associated Anesthesiologists

Marilyn Stephenson, CRNA, Associated Anesthesiologists

Angela Tuzson, APRN-NP, Bryan Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, part of the Bryan Physician Network

Teran Walford, CRNA, Associated Anesthesiologists

Miata Wallace, PA-C, Nebraska Pulmonary Specialties

Lu Wang, PA-C, Bryan Psychiatry, part of the Bryan Physician Network

Katherine Wolverton, APRN-NP, Urology PC

Yvette Yoder, APRN-NP, Inpatient Physician Associates

Welcome, Dr. Um

Va physician’s assistant in vascular surgery.

Dr. Um did her undergraduate work at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, and earned her medical degree at the University of South Dakota Sandford School of Medicine. Following graduation in 2017, she completed a vascular surgery-integrated specialty program residency at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics in Madison.

Dr. Um was drawn to vascular surgery because it is a continually evolving field.

“Depending on the problem, there can be multiple ways to address vascular disease from a procedural and surgical standpoint with open, endo and hybrid techniques that allow us to provide each patient the best option for their need. In addition, I like the thought process and case planning involved,” she says.

Dr. Um compares her relationship with her patients to a journey, "where I get to help them make the right choices for their health. I see myself as their partner and cheerleader.”

She's pleased to be part of the Bryan Heart team and says, “There was a good vibe when I interviewed here. It seems like a good organization with friendly people, and it felt like the right fit for me.”

Dr. Um adds, “I have lived in the Midwest my whole life, between South Dakota and Wisconsin, so Lincoln feels like home. People are genuine and hard-working, and the weather is a little warmer.”

Dr. Um has been married for five years to her husband Jung, who is originally from South Korea. The couple met at a Bible study while Dr. Um was in medical school.

When she isn’t working, she enjoys cooking, exercising, reading and spending time with Jung and their chocolate lab, Kiri. The couple

Dr. Andrea Um with her husband, Jung

Tony’s complicated hernia surgery is done right, right here in Lincoln

Two years ago, Tony Bailey, 53, of Lincoln, was badly hurt in an accident while travel ing out-of-state. He was left with serious, deep abdominal wounds requiring extensive surgery and many weeks of recovery. “Long story short,” he says, “I thought I was healing OK, but six weeks later a big painful lump came up along the scar where my surgery was done.”

Tony was seen by physician assistant Amy Agena, who explained that the lump was a hernia that was happening because some abdominal muscles repaired during his surgery had weakened and loosened.

“So, what I was actually seeing was part of my intestine pushing out between those loosened muscles and bunching up under my skin,” says Tony.

The physician assistant referred him to Clint Rathje, DO, of General Surgery Associates to get the hernia fixed.

“This was all really worrisome,” Tony says. His stress increased during that early period of the COVID pandemic, when medical appoint ments and procedures were delayed; in the time it took to schedule Tony’s surgery, his hernia ballooned to the size of a basketball.

Needs special procedure

Once Tony met with Dr. Rathje, his care moved quickly.

“Dr. Rathje used images from a CT scan to show me exactly where the problem was and how he planned to fix the hernia, and he answered all my questions so I felt comfortable going ahead,” Tony says.

“Tony’s situation was unusual,” Dr. Rathje explains, “both because of the very large size of the hernia and because muscle along his old surgical scar was quite weakened. He needed a large, strong, durable surgical repair,

sewing muscle tissue closed after the intestine is back in place, sometimes with a supportive, flexible surgical mesh placed over the repaired muscles to strengthen them.

“In the more complex TAR procedure, the surgeon separates the muscle layers to make a space to repair the muscle, then covers and supports the area with a piece of surgical mesh twice the size used in a typical hernia repair,” says Dr. Rathje. “This is a great technique that creates a much, much stronger repair for patients who have very large hernias, or whose previous hernia surgeries may have

Dr. Clint Rathje

severe pain. Honestly, I was so exhausted, in pain and isolated that the quality of my life

Although Tony’s surgery was expected to take three hours, Dr. Rathje worked two more hours to remove internal and external scar tissue caused by Tony’s first surgery.

“Bryan’s nurses were great about managing my pain right after surgery, and three days later I had no pain at all,” Tony notes. “So I didn’t need pain medicine after I left the hospital, which was terrific.”

His final surgical scar was flat enough that soon after surgery he could wear his normal clothes again. Within a couple of weeks, he was sleeping better, and after the full eightweek recovery, he was entirely back to normal.

“This was a great success — my pain was gone, I finally could sleep and exercise, and soon I was back to my regular travel schedule and social life. Dr. Rathje explained everything clearly and did a great repair, and I’ve had a 100 percent return to the quality of my life.”

And very importantly, Tony was able to get surgery for his complicated hernia right here in town, close to his home and friends. “That was a huge relief,” he says. “It just made

Dr. Rathje is excited that this new procedure is available in Lincoln and notes that his new partner, Weston Keller, MD, also performs these surgeries. n

To learn how you can help support the work of Bryan Health, contact the Bryan Foundation

Tony before TAR ... and after TAR

Tony Bailey

Incoming Bryan Medical Center CEO Eric Mooss shares a humorous moment with administrative assistants Julie Morrision (left) and Sharese Bogguess and staffing assistant Breann Pooschke.

Maintaining relationships key to new CEO Eric’s past and future

Eric Mooss always envisioned a future revolving around medicine and caring for others. After all, he comes from a long line of physicians, including his father, who immigrated from India in the 1970s.

Although Eric didn’t become a medical doctor, in a way he still is carrying on a treasured family tradition. As an undergraduate at Creighton University, this Omaha native was involved in campus leadership activities and gravitated toward courses in health administration. He earned a bachelor’s from Creighton in 2002 and a Master of Health Administration from the University of Iowa in 2004.

“Studying health care administration combined my early interest in leadership with my desire to be in health care, where I could have an impact in a different way than being a clinician,” he says.

Eric begins a new role Jan. 1 as Bryan

After 12 years in executive positions for Banner Health and Centura Health in Colorado and progressive leadership roles with Alegent Health (now CHI Health) in Omaha, those experiences heightened his appreciation for Bryan’s highly relational approach.

Eric joined Bryan Health in 2015 as president of the Bryan Physician Network, where he oversaw its exponential growth from 11 practices and fewer than 30 providers, to 23 practices and more than 150 providers. He’s also served as Bryan Medical Center’s vice president of operations since 2019.

“Whether it’s with our employees, with our providers or with our patients, everything we do is done with a spirit of intentionally building relationships,” he says.

Bryan’s successes are based on such relationships.

“Year over year, more neighbors across

Patrick Avila, CEO, Merrick Medical Center, Central City

Patrick has been the Chief Executive Officer of Merrick Medical Center since August of 2020. During this time he’s been part of the design, fund raising, build and planning of the new facility, which opened in June 2022.

“It is gratifying to see the impact on our community, patients and staff,” he says.

“This facility really supports the amazing health care team here at Merrick Medical Center. It’s also created a springboard into 2023 as

Prior to this leadership role, Patrick served as the COO for Belton Regional Medical Center in Missouri. He started in the health care industry as a physical therapist and says he enjoyed working with patients. That experience helped him realize he could extend his impact by moving into administration and serving the greater community.

Patrick also was the vice president of operations and the ethics and compliance officer for Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Most of his career has been focused on organizational leadership, service line growth and operational excellence.

Patrick and his wife have two children and enjoy traveling as a family.

Here are the CEOs of medical centers in Central City, Crete, Grand Island and Kearney

we strive to be the employer and provider of choice in our region.”

Patrick Avila, Stephanie Boldt, Larry Speicher and Bill Calhoun

Stephanie Boldt, CEO, Crete Area

Stephanie has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Crete Area Medical Center (CAMC) since May of 2020.

“Over the last two and a half years, one of the main highlights has been the renovation and expansion of CAMC. We’ve transformed several areas of the hospital and clinic to better care for our community,” she says.

Before joining CAMC, Stephanie served as Vice President of Clinical Services and then Chief Operating Officer at Thayer County Health Services in Hebron. She says she started her career by working with patients as a clinician and through that experience found her commitment to the health care industry.

“Health care impacts all people, and I enjoy making a difference in the lives of patients. As a clinician and as a leader, my responsibilities are different but still the same focus — providing high quality of care to those we

Stephanie earned an associate’s degree in Applied Science/Physical Therapist Assistant at Colby Community College, then went to Bellevue University, where she gained her bachelor’s in Healthcare Management and her Master of Business Administration with a health care concentration. She recently achieved fellowship status in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Stephanie also has a Black Belt in Six Sigma Process Improvement.

Stephanie and her husband have two children, and they enjoy outdoor activities as a family. She and her husband volunteer as coaches and as volunteers throughout the community. Stephanie also serves on the Crete Chamber of Commerce board and other community committees and boards.

Bill Calhoun, CEO, Kearney Regional Medical Center

Bill is the Chief Executive Officer at Kearney Regional Medical Center (KRMC).

Prior to joining KRMC, he was the president of hospital operations for Health First, an independent health care system in central Florida. His experience also includes leadership roles at large health care organizations, including Affinity Health System, Ministry Health Care, and Ascension. Bill earned an occupational therapy degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Business Administration at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Leading from the mindset of a mentor and coach, Bill has been active in professional and community organizations and has served various governing boards and health foundations within the American College of Healthcare Executives, Chambers of Commerce, United Way and Boys and Girls Club. He currently serves on the Nebraska Hospital Association Board of Directors.

Larry Speicher, CEO, Grand Island Regional Medical Center

As CEO of Grand Island Regional Medical Center, Larry is committed to delivering the highest quality health care to Grand Island and surrounding communities.

Growing up in Kearney, he graduated from Kearney High School and the University of Kearney before earning a Master of Health Administration at the University of Missouri, Columbia.

“I wanted to apply my business skill set to the health care industry, knowing that I was part of a much larger purpose in helping and serving people,” Larry says.

Before moving to Grand Island, he gained extensive experience leading the planning and development for Kearney Regional Medical Center and serving as the administrator of Platte Valley Medical Group in Kearney.

“Over the last couple of years, I have enjoyed seeing our medical staff and employees build quality patient services since becoming Medicare Certified in August of 2020.” n

Seemann receives top March of Dimes honor

ager Dan Benson.

exceptional care

The staff of the Intensive Care Unit on Bryan East Campus received the annual Team DAISY Award, and nursing manager Jessica Hanes of the Bryan West Campus medical surgical unit on 7 South, is this year’s DAISY Leader Award winner. The ICU team was saluted for arranging an in-hospital wedding for the daughter of a patient. Hanes’ nomination notes “She’s an exceptional leader who has created an environment of acceptance, compassion, respect and professional development.”

guished Service from the Nebraska Nurses Association.

Bostwick’s current research includes collaborative efforts to provide education and training that rural nurses have identified as a need. n

Bryan West Campus Emergency Department.

Auxier is active in the SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) program at Bryan, and Voices of Hope recognized her for dedication and commitment to survivors. n

They’re the Caring Kind

Five Bryan co-workers were among the 83 hospital employees recognized this fall at the Nebraska Hospital Association’s Caring Kind Award ceremony.

Congratulations to: Environmental technician Angela Hartley, Bryan Medical Center (left); Materials management assistant Kevin Henning, Crete Area Medical Center; Patient care technician Sonja Ventura, Grand Island Regional Medical Center; Brooke Darby, RN, Progressive Care Unit, Kearney Regional Medical Center; and Certified nursing assistant Kassie Young, Merrick Medical Center (not pictured). n

Patterson Engineering

Dave received the Regional Leader Award from the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) of the American Hospital Association.

Four states comprise ASHE Region 8. This award recognizes leadership and contributions to the field of health care facility management. n

Bryan’s Telemedicine team has been recognized for its work with rural hospitals.

The team received the Transformational Leadership award at the Teladoc Forum annual conference.

This award recognizes commitment to transforming the delivery of health care. n

Telehealth organization applauds Bryan telemedicine

The power of the human spirit

While biking on the MoPac Trail, Larry Lohmeier and a truck collided, throwing him from his bike. He had devastating injuries to every part of his body — but he’s recovered and back on his bike, enjoying rides with his friends.

To learn about life-saving measures taken by the Bryan Trauma Center team and Larry’s incredible will to survive, watch the video at bryanhealth.org/ Trauma-Champion.

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Join the Wellness Revolution!

Get the expertise and support you need to change your life! Wellness Revolution is a new medically based program focusing on nutrition, exercise and wellness coaching. You’ll have weekly group sessions, individual meetings with a dietitian, gym access and group exercise coaching. Plus, lab work at the beginning and end of your program to track your progress.

Our knowledgeable staff and medical experts will work with you to create your personal plan for healthy living.

To Learn More: Visit: bryanlifepointe.com/WellnessRevolution

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Start the New Year with New Knowledge on Your Health

Empower yourself to know more about your health. It’s easy and convenient with Bryan Health On-Demand Lab Tests. Over 30 tests are available to you, and no doctor order is needed. Just order online and receive your test at our Bryan Pine Lake Lab.

Want to know more about your overall health?

Choose from one of our overall health panels to get information on a variety of health areas:

• General Health Panel, $26

• Men’s General Health Panel, $86

• Women’s General Health Panel, $61

Want to get a baseline on specific health areas and monitor them over time?

Choose from a variety of tests such as:

• Cholesterol (Lipid Panel), $11

• A1c, $7

• Vitamin B12, $15/Vitamin D, $15

Learn More & Order Your Lab Test Now!

View full list of tests and pricing at: BryanHealth.org/OnDemandLab

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