Meyer Receives 2026 Westerbuhr/Forney Trauma Award
Regional West flight nurse Tracy Meyer was honored at the Western Nebraska Trauma Symposium for trauma excellence.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Awards
Tracy Meyer, a BSN, RN and Regional West Air Link chief flight nurse, received the 2026 Westerbuhr/Forney Trauma Excellence Award at the Western Nebraska Trauma Symposium held Sept. 11. The symposium was attended by physicians, advanced practice clinicians, nurses, and emergency services personnel.
Why it matters
The award recognizes contributions to trauma care in Western Nebraska and honors the surgeons credited with building the region's trauma network. It highlights the role of frontline staff in sustaining that system.
The award honors Lloyd Westerbuhr, MD, who started at Regional West in 1977, and Glen Forney, MD, who started in 1980. The two are credited with founding the region's trauma network and the statewide trauma system.
The players
Tracy Meyer
Meyer is a BSN, RN and chief flight nurse for Regional West Air Link, the air medical service serving the region.
Regional West
Regional West is the hospital system in Western Nebraska where the award's namesake surgeons practiced and built the regional trauma network.
The details
Meyer received the award at the Sept. 11 symposium, which drew clinicians and emergency services personnel from across the region. The honor is named for Westerbuhr and Forney, who the source credits with establishing Regional West's trauma network and the statewide trauma system.
Timeline
1977: Westerbuhr starts at Regional West.
1980: Forney starts at Regional West.
1995: Westerbuhr and Forney bring Air Link air medical services to the region.
Sept. 11, 2026: Western Nebraska Trauma Symposium held and award presented.
Culture Shift
The award honors the founders of Regional West's trauma network and the statewide trauma system, linking current recognition to the surgeons who built those systems. It reflects how regional trauma care in Nebraska has been shaped by early investments in physician leadership and air medical transport.
The recognition highlights the trauma and air medical services available to residents of Western Nebraska. Patients in the region rely on these systems during emergencies.
The takeaway
Recognition of trauma care professionals draws attention to the systems that respond to emergencies across Nebraska. Readers interested in regional medical history can follow how these networks developed over decades.
Further reading
Explore more Awards coverage from across Nebraska.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Western Nebraska Observer.
