O'Connor, Tom

Tom O’Connor discusses treating the media as an ally throughout his 30+ year career doing public relations at UNMC. He begins with an overview of his upbringing and the start of his career in media at the Omaha World-Herald and Mutual of Omaha. Main stories covered during his career include the SkyMed helicopter crash (1988), the Clarkson merger, the motto “Serious Medicine, Extraordinary Care” (1997), his radio show “Community Health Line” and the liver transplants of Robert Redford’s son and country music artist Chris LeDoux (early 1990s). He notes a shift to national media attention with fetal stem cell research (1999), Ebola patients (2016), and the opening of the Buffett Cancer Center (2017). O’Connor covers his relationship with numerous chancellors since 1987 as well as personal accomplishments such as being a 40-year member of the Omaha Press Club. His interview concludes with a humorous story about losing his golf clubs.

Transcript of an interview with Tom O'Connor from UNMC Public Relations.