Membership

The Review Board consists of 11 members who are in full communion with the Catholic Church. They were appointed by the archbishop. It was determined that the majority should be lay persons, none of whom were to be in the employ of the archdiocese. Members serve without compensation, except for reimbursement for expenses. At least one member is to be a priest who is an experienced and respected pastor. Members are appointed for a term of five years. This appointment can be renewed after that five year time period. The members of the board have not changed since its inception. Present members of the board are:

Craig V. McGarry, the Board chair, holds a law degree from Creighton University and is the former senior vice president of the Wealth Management Group at the First National Bank in Omaha. He has served on numerous boards and councils in his parish and community. He is the father of six children.

Dr. Stephen Lazoritz, is the chief medical officer at the Omaha Military Entrance Processing Station. He is the former vice president of medical affairs at Children's Hospital, Omaha. An M.D. with postgraduate training in pediatrics, Dr. Lazoritz is a clinical professor of pediatrics at the Creighton University School of Medicine and an adjunct professor of pediatrics at the University Of Nebraska Medical Center. He has lectured and presented widely on the topic of child abuse.

Dr. Amanda Cervantes, has a private medical practice in child and adolescent psychiatry.

Steven A. Miller, a police detective on the Bellevue Police Department, supervises and conducts all child victim crime investigations. He is a founding member of the Nebraska Chapter of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. He has been recognized with various awards for his professional and community service.

Gene Klein, secretary of the Review Board, is the executive director of Project Harmony which is a non-profit child welfare agency providing forensic interviews and medical examinations for child abuse investigations in Douglas and Sarpy counties. He is a licensed mental health practitioner and a certified master social worker. He also serves on the Governor's Commission for the Protection of Children.

Alan Harms, vice chairman of the Review Board, holds a graduate degree in educational administration. He is the Superintendent of the Wisner-Pilger school system in Wisner, Nebraska. He is active in various capacities in his parish and community.

Claire L'Archevesque holds Masters degrees in maternal child nursing and counseling. She has served on the Foster Care Review Board for 20 years, is a member of the State Board of Health, and has worked many years with sexual perpetrators and adults molested as children.

Father Owen W. Korte was ordained in 1981 and is currently pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Fremont, Nebraska.  He holds an MA degree in Theology from Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, and an MS degree in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University in Baltimore.  He has served on a variety of priestly and archdiocesan boards and committees.

Dr. Kimberly K. Allen is a practicing pediatrician in Columbus, Nebraska. She has professional experience with neglected and abused children as well as law enforcement and community services.

Father Michael Fitzpatrick, J.C.L., the promoter of justice, consults with the board on issues covered by canon law, and on other issues that require his professional judgment. Fr. Fitzpatrick is not a voting member of the Review Board.

Dr. Stephen Doran is neurosurgeon with Midwest Neurosurgery & Spine Specialists.  In his professional practice Dr. Doran has treated victims of child abuse.  Dr. Doran was the founding president of the Nebraska Coalition for Ethical Research.  He and his wife Sharon are raising five sons.

Dr. C. Timothy Dickel is a professor of education and professor of psychiatry at Creighton University.  Additionally, Dr. Dickel is the co-director of the University’s “Creighton Study of Violence Across the Life Span.”  Dr. Dickel also serves on the Board of Domestic Violence Coordinating Council of Omaha and formerly served on the Archdiocesan School Board.