Meet New PFA President, Tracy Kochenderfer |
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Tracy joined the COM Parents & Family Association because she has always been involved in her son’s school organizations and understands the importance of giving back to the institutions he attended. Being part of the PFA provided their family with the added benefit of a parent support system during medical school.
Her son, Shane Kochenderfer, is in the Class of 2026.
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Three Fun Facts about Tracy:
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- She loves science - anything from NASA to Star Wars!
- Her happy place is the ocean.
- She is the president and 30+ year volunteer of the Miss Omaha Organization, a local affiliate of Miss America.
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Advice for College of Medicine Parents:
"Be present for your son/daughter. Check in to see how they are doing and ensure them that you are available anytime needed, even if it's just to vent. You students are so engaged in studying and attending classes that a minor distraction could be helpful. Occasionally send a care package favorite snacks, drinks, pens or anything personal that might cheer them up."
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Ask Questions, Share Advice & Stay Informed
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The PFA now has a Facebook group that is open to all parents and spouses of medical students. In the group, we will share updates from campus in-between our email newsletters. You can also use the group to ask questions, connect and share advice with other group members.
Join here.
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Honors Convocation and Hooding Ceremony |
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The College of Medicine Honors Convocation was held on May 3 at the Holland Performing Arts Center in downtown Omaha. This was a celebratory event for graduating students and their families. Each student was recognized and hooded on stage. The Parents and Family Association contributed $1,000 to the event.
UNMC’s graduation ceremony was held on May 4 at Baxter Arena.
Check out more photos.
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On March 15th, 140 medical students participated in Match Day and found out where they will train for the next three to seven years, depending on the medical area of their choice. Within UNMC’s Class of 2024, 41% are staying in Nebraska for their training, with 56 students at UNMC.
The Parents and Family Association contributed $1,500 to the M4 class for their celebratory events.
Check out more photos from Match Day.
See the Match Day results for the Class of 2024
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UNMC is Creating a Healthier Future |
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Creating a healthier future for Nebraska and beyond is the cornerstone of UNMC’s mission. From discovering and advancing breakthroughs in medicine to promoting public health initiatives, utilizing cutting-edge education techniques and more, UNMC is making Nebraska — and the world — a healthier place for all.
Read more.
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Chancellor Gold Marks a Decade of Growth |
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UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold delivered his annual state-of-the-campus address on April 18th. When looking back over his ten years as chancellor, Dr. Gold thanked every faculty member, staff, student, philanthropist, and community member for their contributions to the medical center’s growth and advancement. Dr. Gold will become the University of Nebraska System President on July 1st.
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Some highlights of his 10-year tenure include:
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- 27% growth in student enrollment
- Increase from 55 to 94 programs in graduate medical education
- Increase of 210 residents and fellows
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| Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska
Program/Year: Third-year medical student
What do you do to stay balanced?
I try not to study on Friday nights and enjoy the night with family or friends. When I really don’t want to study, I’ll put on a fun playlist and pair it with a fun snack.
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| Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska
Program/Year: Fourth-year medical student
What do you do to stay balanced?
I try to be as efficient as possible while working and studying. This allows me to spend more time doing other things I enjoy! Also, I make sure to stay connected with my friends and family who are not involved in medicine, even if this means sacrificing a little study time. Their added perspective often keeps me focused on the most important things in life and prevents me from getting “too high” or “too low” while navigating the ups and downs of medical school.
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Support Medical Students with a Gift to Our Innovation Fund |
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On March 27th and 28th, UNMC held its second annual Giving Day. The PFA raised almost $3,900 for its Innovation Fund. A special thank you to all the folks that have made a contribution this year!
Our organization operates solely on donations to provide activities for our students and those who support them. This includes the significant others’ reception, the M1 picnic, Match Day, and more.
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Just like all non-profit organizations that work from donor support, we know that you have many competing priorities for your philanthropy. Please know that we are resourceful stewards of funds donated to our organization, and our partnership with the UNMC Alumni Association makes it possible to stretch your dollars even further to help students.
Our fund is held at the University of Nebraska Foundation. To make a donation now or at any point, click here. Thank you for your generous support!
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Visit the PFA website to access resources for family members of medical students at UNMC, including FAQs, videos from campus partners, information about PFA-sponsored events and a list of PFA Advisory Council members.
Visit the website.
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