2024 Awardees make milagros happen

At this year’s Milagro Awards, changemakers will be honored for their contributions

OneWorld’s annual Milagro Awards Dinner is an opportunity to recognize changemakers in the community who embody the OneWorld mission. Their work symbolizes the miracles that happen every day at OneWorld through the generosity of others. This year, as every year, awardees were selected based on demonstration of OneWorld values of inclusion, compassion, access, relationships, and excellence.

The 2024 Milagro Awardees are Julie Wees, DDS, MS; Laura Low, DDS, MS; Mary Our Queen Catholic Church; Ryan Mullane, DO; and Zachary Bauman, DO. Read on to learn more about each award recipient.

Julie Wees, DDS, MS, and Laura Low, DDS, MS, are orthodontists at Wees and Low Orthodontics. They both take great pride in building patient relationships, and they are committed to providing excellent orthodontic care in a positive, friendly environment.

Most recently, Drs. Wees and Low have treated patients participating in the Smiles for Every Child Program. Through this donor-supported OneWorld program, patients receive orthodontic care they wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford.  

“It’s always really touching to me with the parents [after treatment] to see how much pride they have in their children’s smiles,” Dr. Wees said.

The orthodontists first got involved with OneWorld during their training at Creighton University, by participating in a volunteer clinic. They have been serving the OneWorld community since that time. Both expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve their patients, alongside the top-tier professionals on OneWorld’s staff.

“OneWorld fosters a good community, and it’s nice to be part of that,” Dr. Low said.

Dr. Wees attended Creighton University for her undergraduate and dental degrees. She pursued her specialty training at the University of Iowa, where she earned her Master of Science in Orthodontics. Dr. Wees is board certified in orthodontics and is a diplomat of the American Board of Orthodontics. She is a past president of the Omaha Orthodontic Study Club and previously a board member of the Omaha District Dental Society. Dr. Wees holds a faculty position at the University of Iowa in the Department of Orthodontics and is a guest lecturer at Creighton University.

Dr. Low received her undergraduate and dental degrees from Creighton University and graduated with her Doctorate of Dental Surgery. Dr. Low went on to complete her orthodontic specialty training at the University of Iowa, where she earned her Master of Science in orthodontics. Dr. Low is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the Midwestern Society of Orthodontists and the Omicron Kappa Upsilon honorary dental society. She has also published scholarly articles in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.

Mary Our Queen Catholic Church touches the lives of many families in the community, including families served by OneWorld. Each year the parish adopts 25 families during the holiday season and donates gift cards for food and gifts. The parish also provides gifts for groceries and clothing throughout the year.

Mary Our Queen remains connected with OneWorld to provide extra support to patients in need. For example, last year, the OneWorld Social Services team met with a patient experiencing partner violence and financial hardships. As the holiday season approached, the patient’s main concern was her children – and being able to afford gifts for them during a difficult time. The OneWorld team reached out to Mary Our Queen, whose own team then went above and beyond to support the children and mother.

As Associate Director of Operations Idania Ramirez said, “Gifts may not seem a necessity, but in moments when families are trying to re-build themselves, Mary Our Queen comes to the rescue.”

Ryan Mullane, DO, is a nephrologist at Nebraska Medicine and the Omaha Veterans Administration. He also serves as Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University Nebraska Medical Center and Phase 1 Medical School Co-Director and Medical Director of the Physician Assistant Program.

Dr. Mullane is a dedicated patient advocate who has made milagros happen for a young OneWorld patient. The patient, now a teenager, visited OneWorld four years ago for an immigration physical – and was surprised to learn that her kidneys were barely functioning. Her OneWorld physician reached out to Dr. Mullane, who agreed to see her right away and begin treatment.

Since that time, Dr. Mullane, along with the OneWorld social services team, has helped the patient navigate insurance, immigration, housing and employment challenges so that she could receive care and get on a list for a kidney transplant. As he helps his patients overcome systemic barriers, he also teaches his students at UNMC about the importance of the social determinants of health.

Dr. Mullane attended Clemson University for his understudies and Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine for graduate school, where he earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Verde Valley Medical Center and his fellowship in nephrology at University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Zachary Bauman, DO, is a general surgeon at University of Nebraska Medical Center. He also serves as an Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center; at Nebraska Medicine, he serves as Trauma Medical Director and Chest Wall Injury Program Medical Director. Known for his compassionate approach to medicine, Dr. Bauman offers personalized healthcare solutions tailored to each patient and is committed to patient well-being beyond the confines of his office.

Dr. Bauman began assisting OneWorld in 2016 when his colleague and mentor invited him to help with the annual “Hernia Day” program at UNMC. Every year, OneWorld identifies patients who might require surgery to fix their hernias. UNMC surgeons then evaluate these potential patients and, thanks to the work of Dr. Charles Filipi, provide care pro bono to about 16 patients each year.

Dr. Bauman currently serves as the director of Hernia Day, overseeing the logistics on the UNMC side and working with OneWorld staff on communicating with patients. Since he started in 2016, he and his fellow surgeons have served over 100 patients through this program. This is an invaluable service that Dr. Bauman and his fellow Hernia Day colleagues are providing, and their work makes a big difference in our community.

Dr. Bauman is originally from the Midwest. He completed medical school at Des Moines University in Des Moines, Iowa. He ventured to Detroit, Michigan, where he completed his general surgery residency and surgical critical care fellowship. He then completed fellowships in trauma in Tucson, Arizona, and acute care surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

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