Nebraska Medicine

03/19/2026

We are pulling for you, Herbie!

As the official health care partner of Husker Athletics, Nebraska Medicine is cheering on the Husker men and women in March Madness. 🏀

Go Big Red!

03/18/2026

Our Heart & Vascular team is getting the word out early about heart health! Kristina Patterson, cardiology clinical program coordinator, visited local daycares and Montessori schools during Heart Month teaching kids about heart healthy activities that they could also share with their parents. The kids then colored pictures for our patients in the CVICU. A lot of ❤️ on both sides!

03/17/2026

Come for a kidney, stay for a job!

When Angela Steiner-Hernandez and her husband decided to move to Nebraska from California, several factors played into their decision. They liked the friendly people, the lower cost of living, quiet neighborhoods and the variety of restaurants. They never would have found their new home if Angela hadn't needed a kidney.

She says the wait for kidney in California can be a decade or more. Still, she got on the list there and waited.

"I hadn't heard anything from them in three and a half years, and I had to be my own advocate because I would probably be dead by then," she says.

She researched other options and wound up coming to Omaha for her evaluation. Angela, who has worked as a nurse for decades, got the call that her kidney was available in 2024.

"After the transplant, we were required to live here for two months following, and we fell completely in love with it here," she says. "The people and the place."

It went a step beyond just moving to the Omaha area.

Angela now works for Nebraska Medicine, starting in the fall of 2025 as a nursing care coordinator at Fontenelle Health Center.

"I just really wanted to give back and show my appreciation and how grateful I am," she says.

KETV NewsWatch 7 recently shared her story. You will find the link to watch it here: https://bit.ly/4bS8bZp

03/16/2026

When Jennifer Christiansen scanned the want ads in a newspaper more than three decades ago, she wasn’t looking for a calling—she was looking for direction.

With a business degree in hand but no passion for the field, she experienced what she now describes as a life altering moment of clarity.

“I told my husband, I think I will go to nursing school,” she recalled.

That single sentence set her on a path that would lead to an unexpected, fulfilling career that will come to a close when she retires on March 21.

“Jen’s remarkable 30+ year career with Nebraska Medicine reflects the very best of nursing,” says Anna Dolezal, manager, Medical Communications Center. “As an expert in OB-GYN triage, she has guided countless patients and supported providers with exceptional skill, empathy, and professionalism. She has strengthened our team in immeasurable ways, and it has been a true honor to work alongside her.”

Jennifer began her journey with Nebraska Medicine in 1994 as a care tech in the ICU. After earning her nursing degree from the UNMC College of Nursing in 1996, she transitioned to the OB-GYN unit—a place that would become her professional home for the next 24 years.

Her work with mothers, newborns, and gynecologic oncology patients shaped her career and her heart.

“I loved helping new parents learn how to take care of their babies,” she said, reflecting on the countless families she supported.

Some of her most cherished memories came during the quietest hours of the night.

“I also cherished the countless hours I spent holding those newborns in the middle of the night so moms and dads could get a few minutes of sleep.”

In 2020, seeking a new challenge, she accepted a position in the Medical Communication Center as a triage nurse.

“The hospital continues to grow, improve, evolve, and strives to offer our patients the best,” she says. “Those changes make me proud to have worked for Nebraska Medicine. I have made some amazing lifelong friends by becoming a nurse, and I think I have made a difference in thousands of patients’ lives.”

Her legacy is already inspiring the next generation. One of her sons recently began working as a care tech at the hospital and is now pursuing a degree to become a physician assistant.

As she steps into retirement, Jennifer is ready for adventure. She plans to travel extensively.

What began as an unexpected career choice became a lifelong vocation

“I am so glad I looked through those want ads years ago,” she says.

Thank you, Jennifer, for your decades of extraordinary care!

03/11/2026

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Do you know your screening options? Learn more about the guidelines below and get advice from our experts here: https://bit.ly/3Fa9E0k.

03/10/2026

Have you been wondering what's going on at the corner of 42nd and Farnam?

Nebraska Medicine is improving access to in-demand services, with the construction of a new four-story health center on the southeast corner of 42nd and Farnam streets.

Services offered at Farnam Health Center will include:

• Dermatology
• General Internal Medicine
• Outpatient Gastrointestinal (GI) program
• Behavioral Health

The new health center will become the main location for Nebraska Medicine’s Dermatology program and will help meet the increasing demand for Outpatient GI and Behavioral Health services. In addition, the facility will support General Internal Medicine, a pillar of extraordinary primary care.

“Nebraska Medicine is committed to improving access to primary care and highly sought-after specialty care,” says Michael Ash, MD, Nebraska Medicine CEO. “We know there is an urgent need for Behavioral Health services in the community. This project is a meaningful step toward expanding our world-class care and supporting those who rely on us.”

Building construction on the $99.3 million project, which is partially funded by the generous donor community, is expected to be completed in the summer of 2027. It will open its doors to patients in September 2027.

03/09/2026

With nearly 43 years as a nurse, one theme has defined Connie Brazeal's career: building relationships.

From families facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives to colleagues she worked alongside for decades, connection has been at the heart of her work, especially with the smallest patients in the NICU.

Connie began her nursing career in 1983, where she spent 10 years caring for some of the hospital’s most complex patients on 5 West. Then, a fellow nurse suggested she consider working in the NICU. After helping cover a few shifts there, she realized she had found her place.

“I loved working with the babies and their families, and just knowing you could make a difference in their lives and support them during a difficult time was very rewarding,” she says.

Advocacy quickly became central to her work.

“Being a nurse in the NICU, you are really advocating for patients that can’t speak for themselves,” she explains.

Just as important as that advocacy was the relationships she formed with families, connections that often lasted long after a baby left the hospital.

“I have families that I’ve known for well over 20 years,” she says. “I’ve been invited to birthday parties and graduations and get Christmas cards.”

“Connie has been the steady, reassuring presence families needed on their hardest days, and the compassionate guide new nurses looked to as they found their footing,” says Heidi Tonne, nurse manager, NICU. “Her calm confidence, her gift for connecting with people, and her unwavering dedication to our tiniest patients have shaped the heart of our unit for decades.”

Connie’s last day at Nebraska Medical Center is Thursday.

The avid gardener looks forward to spending more time in her numerous flower and vegetable gardens in retirement. She also plans to spend time enjoying her friends and family, quilting, volunteering at a local food bank, and traveling.

While Connie is looking forward to this next chapter, leaving behind the people she has worked with won’t be easy.

“I’m going to miss my coworkers and working with the younger generations,” she says. “They keep me young, always thinking, and up to date on technology. But what I will miss most will be working with the patients and their families.”

After more than four decades of caring for babies and supporting families, her legacy will live on in the relationships she built and the countless lives she touched.

Thank you, Connie, for a career of extraordinary care!

03/09/2026

Opening Day!

Bennington Health Center is officially open to patients! Go to NebraskaMed.com/Bennington to learn more and schedule an appointment.

03/06/2026

The Winter Olympics may be over, but the members of Team Nebraska are getting ready for their own shot at the gold! This year's Transplant Games are coming up.

Several organ recipients and living donors are taking part in the competition in Denver this summer. Events range from Track and Field to Darts and Co****le and even Texas Hold-em and Trivia.

Participants and their supporters gathered for a flag signing at Nebraska Medical Center this week. Members of the Nebraska Medicine transplant team also took part to sign the flag and cheer them on.

Good luck, Team Nebraska!

03/06/2026

03/05/2026

Do you like Green Eggs and Ham? We do! We are also big fans of The Cat in the Hat!

This week, our Child and Family Development team celebrated the birthday of Dr. Seuss with stories, crafts and activities. Thank you to everyone who helped, including our hospital buddies!

03/05/2026

We are so excited to open Bennington Health Center to patients on Monday. Thanks to everyone who attended our ribbon cutting and Community Open House!