Jeffrey J. Knajdl, M.D.

Funeral Services for Jeffrey J. Knajdl, M.D., will be conducted from the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Kenton Birtell, officiating. Interment will be in the Kearney Cemetery at Kearney, Nebraska at 2:00 p.m.

Jeffrey James Knajdl, Psycho-Oncologist, M.D., 40 years of age, of Bellevue, Nebraska, passed away on Friday, July 18, 2008 at his home in Bellevue. Jeff was born August 22, 1967 at Kearney, the eldest of two children born to James Ray and Phyllis Claire (Hadwiger) Knajdl. He received his primary education from Amherst, Nebraska Public School and graduated Valedictorian from Amherst High School with the class of 1986. Jeff then pursued higher education at Kearney State College and then Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska, where he received his BS Degree in biology and natural sciences, graduating Summa cum laude (4.0 GPA). Jeff then received his M.D. Degree at University of Nebraska, College of Medicine in Omaha. He served his internship and residency at Creighton University, Department of Psychiatry. Jeff then served his residency rotation at Memorial Sloan – Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY with emphasis on The Network Project: working with Psycho-oncology Fellows in patient care and educational programs. Jeff was board certified with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc. in Adult Psychiatry and had sub-specialty certification in Psychosomatic Medicine which demonstrated mastery of Medical Psychiatry.

Dr. Knajdl's honors, awards and recognitions were many, a few included: receiving "A Top Psychiatrist in Milwaukee" presented by the National Research Corporation; Physician Teacher of the Year in 2000 at St. Luke's Medical Center; Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Midland Lutheran College, Board of Directors; George Ginsberg Award given by the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training; and the Pfizer Pharmaceutical Psychiatric Resident of the Year award in 1998.

He was Chief Resident of Creighton University, served on the task force of Emergency Psychiatric Services at Creighton, served on the Quality Assurance Committee at St. Joseph Center for Mental Health, Omaha, and served on the Chief Resident's Council for the V.A. Hospital, Creighton University Medical Center and U.N.M.C., Omaha. Jeff was a lecturer at U.N.M.C. for the Speakers' Bureau-psychiatric issues in primary care medicine, served on the Grand Rounds Steering Committee, Department of Psychiatry, was on the Mental Health Clinic Board for the V.A., resident representative for Ambulatory Psychiatric Care Task Force, and was a mentor at Omaha Westside High School Career Program.

In medical school, Jeff was awarded the Frank J. Menolascino Outstanding Student in Psychiatry, was class Secretary – Treasurer and served on the student crisis intervention team. He was also awarded the John Prauner Outstanding Senior Award from Midland Lutheran, on the Dean's List with Distinction, member of the Kappa Phi Social Fraternity and recipient of the Outstanding Leadership Academic Scholarship from Midland Lutheran.

His professional psychiatric experiences included: Director of Cancer Counseling Program, Department of Psycho-oncology at Creighton Univ. Medical Center, Medical Director at Vince Lombardi Cancer Counseling Center at St. Luke's Medical Center and Cancer Clinics in Milwaukee, Co-Facilitator for oncology Nursing Staff of the Team Building and Process Group at St. Luke's, on-site supervisor/program preceptor for Doctoral Practicum in Counseling Psychiatry at Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Psychiatrist at the Norfolk Regional Center and Faith Regional Center in Norfolk, NE, Psychiatrist at Douglas County Hospital at Omaha in an emergency psychiatric crisis center, and served patients at the V.A. Medical Center in Omaha. Jeff was Assistant Professor at Creighton Univ. Medical Center, Department of Surgical Oncology and Psychiatry and Clinical Assistant Professor at Univ. of Wisconsin, Department of Family Medicine. At the time of his passing, Dr. Knajdl was the Director of Alegent Health Care Cancer Counseling Center in Omaha.

His professional memberships included: Metro Omaha Medical Society, American Psychosocial Oncology Society, American Psychiatric Assoc., Nebraska Psychiatric Society, American Medical Assoc., Nebraska Medical Assoc., and American Medical Student Assoc. In addition, Jeff was appointed and volunteered on many committees to further education of oncology. Dr. Knajdl also researched, lectured and published numerous articles on various topics in his field of work.

The type of psychiatry that Jeff practiced was rewarding, yet difficult. He devoted his career to the art and science of taking care of patients with co-existing psychiatric and medical problems, principally patients with oncology diagnoses. Jeff said, "I've been blessed with a wonderful family, wise instructors, mentors filled with empathy, talented colleagues, and loving friends that shaped the person and physician I am." He strived for excellence and for the best quality of life for his patients.

Jeff enjoyed traveling, fishing, and held a state record angler in Nebraska. Other personal interests included: running, water skiing, singing and playing the piano and painting.

Survivors include: his mother, Phyllis Andrijeski and her husband, Ron of Holdrege; sister, Lori Doellman and her husband, Steve of Bloomington, Illinois; three nephews: Justin, Drew and Bradley Doellman; special friend and colleague, Barbara Clinkenbeard of Bellevue; two step-brothers: Mike Andrijeski and his wife, Jenay of Oxford, NE and Mark Andrijeski and his wife, Carla of Holdrege; one step-sister, Tami Mues and her husband, Darren of Holdrege; and a host of other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, James Knajdl on June 8, 1987; his grandparents; uncle, Dennis Hadwiger and aunt, Sharon Hadwiger.

Jeff will lie in state at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege on Tuesday, July 22, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Memorial Services will also be held on Friday, July 25, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. at the Heafey-Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak & Cutler Mortuary; 7805 West Center Rd., Omaha, NE with Chaplain Mike McMahon, officiating.

A memorial has been established in his memory and will be designated at a later date.

A full obit can be viewed and expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska is in charge of the arrangements.