Health/Medical

Researchers at UNMC are making strides in dealing with Her2. 

Dr. Kay Wagner says Her2 is an aggressive type of breast cancer.  He says there are several subsets and that each case must be treated differently. 

Dr. Wagner says in previous studies, it was thought that by inhibiting a certain protein called Cyclin D1, the growth of breast cancer cells could be stopped or slowed.  But he says his research indicated the opposite was true.

The American Red Cross of Nebraska/Southwest Iowa is holding a Mass Care Boot Camp for volunteers February 27th through March 4th.

Tina Labellarte, CEO for the American Red Cross’ Nebraska/Southwest Iowa region, says last year, volunteers responded to events in 46 states.  

Because events can happen quickly, she says it’s important that volunteers are properly trained ahead of time.  The Red Cross’ Mass Care Boot Camp offers training in a shorter period of time. 

UNMC is offering a new doctoral degree in epidemiology.

Dr. Dana Loomis, Professor and Chair of Department of Epidemiology, says this is the fifth doctoral program in UNMC’s College of Public Health.  

Dr. Loomis says epidemiology is the basic science of public health, providing knowledge that’s important for all the health disciplines.

It also generates scientific data that helps in decision making across health fields.  Dr. Loomis says it is a broad field that’s not just about investigating disease outbreaks.

Being Heard: A Creative Healing Program takes place this Saturday at the Omaha Home for Boys.

Rita Paskowitz is the Director of the Storytelling workshop.  She says this weekend’s program is geared toward at-risk youth.  

Paskowitz says the purpose of creative healing is to get people to work through their grief using the arts.  Workshops in storytelling, music, movement, poetry and visual arts will be offered on Saturday.  

Paskowitz says it is sometimes easier for those who are grieving to express themselves through the arts. 

"When you look at the art or the poetry or even the stories that come out of kids in trouble, it’s amazing how they just open up in ways that you wouldn’t get them to do otherwise, just from conversation"