Vice Chancellor for External Relations

Chris Kratochvil, MD, is vice chancellor for external relations at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, focusing on government relations, alumni, strategic communications, rural and community initiatives.  Dr. Kratochvil serves as senior adviser to the Global Center for Health Security and in 2021 was named the inaugural distinguished chair for the Global Center for Health Security. 

Dr. Kratochvil was named interim vice president for external relations for the University of Nebraska system in July 2024.

Dr. Kratochvil is a fellow of the National Strategic Research Institute and a core competency adviser for Active and Passive Medical Defense against Weapons of Mass Destruction and Consequence Management for the National Strategic Research Institute.  As the medical director of UNeHealth, which serves to support commercial clinical research, he oversees a team focused on commercial contracting and agreements. 

Dr. Kratochvil is a co-principal investigator of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response Training, Simulation and Quarantine Center initiative, which trains federal partners and provides quarantine services for the U.S.  He also is a co-principal investigator for the CDC Project Firstline program. He previously served as co-principal investigator of the federally funded National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center, which supports research and preparedness nationally and helped launch the Special Pathogens Research Network. He is a member of the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit leadership team, and from 2020-21 served as chair of the Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases.