Over the years, Westside alumni have moved on to contribute to society; baseball players, politicians, and now one playing a role in medical research and a world wide cause of curing the Ebola epidemic.

Capt. Jordan Tappero, a 1976 graduate of Westside High School and 1982 graduate of UNMC medical school, has been named Director of the Division of Global Health Protection (DGHP) and Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

With his many titles, Tappero has served in Liberia for six months, working for the CDC and responding, with others, to the Ebola outbreaks, as well as time in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake investigating the outbreak of other deadly diseases. Under his leadership, Tappero has also contributed to training across the globe in areas such as investigation of disease outbreak, public health research, and developments to prevent the spread of disease in certain areas, among others.

Tappero recently gave a speech at UNMC pertaining to his research in West Aftica. By bringing back information about the harmfulness of disease across the globe, Tappero will make a strong impact on the medical field with his knowledge of life threatening epidemics.

There is no doubt Westside is glad to have such an impactful member of society as one of their own.

To read more about Tappero and his accomplishments click here. To read on about his findings and his recent presentation at UNMC, click here.