Omaha, Neb.- Richard Davis, M.D., believes that lessons learned about disease from past scientists are so valuable to those confronting modern disease today that he has created a new lectureship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC).

Through a gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation, Dr. Davis and his wife, Jean, established the Richard B. Davis, M.D., Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine McGoogan Library History of Medicine Lectureship. The annual event will bring national experts to UNMC to discuss the history of various scientific findings.

“In a society with dramatic and accelerating changes in technology, it is appropriate to have an appreciation of the challenges faced by physicians and scientists in the past who tried to cure disease and solve research challenges, often with very limited information,” Davis said. “This lectureship will present examples of significant discoveries which preceded an expansion of knowledge, leading to new directions in medical practice and the treatment of disease.”

The inaugural lecture features Dr. Gregory Anstead, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor in the department of medicine, division of infectious diseases at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Dr. Anstead will present “Syphilis: A 20th Century Social and Therapeutic History” on Thursday, May 21, 3 p.m., in the Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education at UNMC.

In addition to the lecture, the Davis’ gift also will support the McGoogan Library’s special collections.

“Thanks to Dr. Richard B. Davis, the McGoogan Library has joined a select group of academic health science libraries that is able to commit significant resources to documenting scientific achievement in medicine and advancing this important area of scholarship” said Nancy Woelfl, director of the McGoogan Library of Medicine.

The McGoogan Library of Medicine will sponsor the event each year.

Dr. Davis, UNMC professor emeritus, joined the UNMC staff as an associate professor in 1969. He served in various roles during his 26 years at the Medical Center, including director of the Special Coagulation Laboratory and the director of the Nebraska Regional Hemophilia Center. He has published more than 90 articles on hematology, most recently on contributions to the science throughout history.

Woelfl said the UNMC community is extremely grateful to Dr. Davis for providing this opportunity.

“Some of the most important hypotheses have challenged the prevailing wisdom of their day. The Davis Lecture gives our students, faculty and community a forum to study and discuss how unexpected findings set the stage of great progress.”