After 20 years in several key administrative positions at the University
of Nebraska Medical Center, William Berndt, Ph.D., announced this week
that he is retiring as vice chancellor for academic affairs and dean for
graduate studies and research effective May 31.
Dr. Berndt, 68, has served as vice chancellor since 1985 with the 17-year
stint interrupted only when he served as interim chancellor in 1991-1992
and chancellor in 1996-1998.
Dr. Berndt has done an outstanding job, said Harold M. Maurer, M.D.,
UNMC chancellor. With his 20 years at UNMC, Bill probably knows more about
the university than just about anybody on campus. He has been a tremendous
asset to the Medical Center over the years, having served in a number of
key leadership positions. We wish him all the best in his well-deserved
retirement. He will definitely be missed.
Dr. Maurer said before he conducts a search for a replacement he would
like to first take a closer look at the structure of the vice chancellor
position.
One of the highlights of Dr. Berndts career occurred in 1996-1997 when
as chancellor he was instrumental in getting UNMC and Clarkson Hospital
representatives to put aside their differences and sit down and discuss
a possible merger. As a result of the discussions, a partnership was created
and Nebraska Health System was formed in 1997. The lease agreement resulting
from the partnership was extended from five years to 40 years in 2000.
Although there are always up and downs, the last 20 years have been
great, Dr. Berndt said. It has been fun watching UNMC grow both in size
and sophistication. Information technology has grown enormously as has
research. Student performance on national exams has become excellent. I
think the campuses of the university have come closer together, and that
is a plus for the university as a whole.
Overall, in recent years, the president and Board of Regents have been
very supportive of UNMC and that has allowed us to grow and prosper. Indeed,
in many ways UNMC has assumed a leadership position among the four campuses.
From a personal point of view, I have been priviledged to work with some
of the best administrators, faculty and staff one could find anywhere.
A native of St. Joseph, Mo., Dr. Berndt received his undergraduate degree
from the Creighton University College of Pharmacy in 1954 and his Ph.D.
degree in pharmacology from the State University of New York at Buffalo
in 1959.
Prior to joining the UNMC faculty in 1982, he served on the faculty
at Dartmouth Medical School for 13 years and the University of Mississippi
Medical Center for eight years. At Dartmouth, he moved from instructor
to professor in the pharmacology department. He served as professor and
chairman of the department of pharmacology and toxicology at Mississippi.
He joined UNMC as professor of pharmacology and dean for graduate studies
and research and was elevated to vice chancellor three years later.
Dr. Berndt’s professional and research interests have related to both
pharmacology and toxicology, in particular the effects of chemicals on
renal function. He is a diplomate for both the American Board of Toxicology
and the Academy of Toxicological Sciences and a fellow in the American
Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education. In 1983, he was awarded the Bookmeyer
Merit Award from the UNMC College of Medicine.
A prolific researcher during his career, Dr. Berndt published more than
270 articles, abstracts and book chapters in scientific journals and made
presentations or lectures at more than 70 scientific meetings. He received
funding on 16 grants during his career.
He is a member of various professional organizations, most notably the
Society of Toxicology, the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental
Therapeutics, the American Society of Nephrology and the International
Society for the Study of Xenobiotics.