UNMC is the only public health science center in the state. Its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through their commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have established themselves as one of the country’s leading centers in cancer, transplantation biology, bioterrorism preparedness, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, genetics, biomedical technology and ophthalmology. UNMC’s research funding from external sources now exceeds $80 million annually and has resulted in the creation of more than 2,400 highly skilled jobs in the state. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes 513 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties who practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.
Clarence Ueda, Pharm.D., Ph.D., retired as dean of the UNMC College of Pharmacy at the end of October, ending one of the longest running tenures of any medical center dean.
Dr. Ueda wrapped up 20 years in the leadership role after being appointed to the position in March 1987.
“We’ve made significant strides over the years,” Dr. Ueda said. “I’ve tried to raise the standards and expectations in the professional and graduate programs, as well as significantly increase the college’s research program. It’s been an exciting run.”
UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., said he’s enjoyed working with Dr. Ueda over the past eight years as chancellor and prior to that as dean of the College of Medicine for five years.
“Over his tenure as dean, the College of Pharmacy has trained the majority of current practitioners in the state of Nebraska, has increased the application rate to the college, and his faculty have become strong members of the UNMC research force,” Dr. Maurer said. “Dr. Ueda leaves the College of Pharmacy leadership with the college in a strong position.”
Courtney Fletcher, Pharm.D., who succeeded Dr. Ueda as dean, thanked him for positioning the college as a national leader in pharmacy education and research.
“The college is thriving and primed for continued excellence,” Dr. Fletcher said. “That is so thanks in large part to the work Dr. Ueda did over the past 20 years.”
Born in Kansas City, Mo., Dr. Ueda grew up in Berkeley, Calif, where he attended the University of California, Berkeley, and then the University of California, San Francisco, where he earned both his Pharm.D., and Ph.D. degrees.
Dr. Ueda joined the College of Pharmacy in March 1974 as an assistant professor. At the time the college was in Lincoln.
He went on to become acting chairman of the department of pharmaceutics, then associate professor, and chairman and professor. He served as interim dean of the College of Pharmacy from May 1986 to February 1987 before being named full-time dean in March of that year.
Although stepping down as dean, Dr. Ueda plans to return to the classroom full-time as a tenured professor in the pharmaceutical sciences department.