UNMC is a growing world-class institution because of the talented people who not only work at UNMC, but those who are vital advocates for UNMC.
Despite frigid temperatures, members of the UNMC Delegates program showed up in force Jan. 14 to hear guest speaker, Nebraska State Senator and Speaker of the Legislature, Mike Flood of Norfolk. The UNMC Delegates event was hosted in the new Sorrell Center, new home of the UNMC College of Medicine.
Participants – about 130 — toured the Sorrell Center, where they learned about health workforce shortages and about an invention that will save lives. They also saw and learned about the state-of-the art clinical skills laboratory.
UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., who welcomed UNMC delegates and guests, introduced Flood, but not before he credited Flood with being the leading force behind plans to build a privately funded, $12.9 million UNMC College of Nursing division facility in Norfolk. The Norfolk community partnership includes UNMC, Northeast Community College and Faith Regional Health Services.
Talk of the idea originated with an inquiry in 2006 from Flood to help address the growing demand for acute care in northern and northeast Nebraska and the associated need to increase the number of nurses with bachelor’s and graduate degrees. Northeast Nebraska, which already has fewer registered nurses and nurses with bachelor’s and master’s degrees than other regions in the state, will be hit particularly hard by this shortage, officials say.
“Senator Flood is passionate about having a UNMC nursing division in Norfolk,” Dr. Maurer said, “and Northeast Community College was eager to change its curriculum to accommodate UNMC.”
To date, more than $10 million of the $12.9 million has been raised, Dr. Maurer said. Final approval of the project will be brought before the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.
Flood said he approached the university about creating a division of nursing in Norfolk because he’s a believer in what Dr. Maurer and UNMC can accomplish. He spoke about how quickly teams of people came together to do a feasibility study and put a plan into action.
“Dean Virginia Tilden, Bob Bartee and College of Nursing administrators studied the problem. What I found impressive was the professionalism of the administrators at UNMC,” he said. “We were really introduced to some class acts here at the College of Nursing. Today, the most dynamic partnership is developing between UNMC and Northeast Community College.”
It was tough work, said Flood, but UNMC made it happen.
“When UNMC says its campus is 500 miles wide, I believe it,” Flood said. “From its schools of nursing to clinical rotations, UNMC walks the walk…. You may think I’m biased, but I’ve seen UNMC work. Chancellor Maurer listened to my corner of the state.
Flood said UNMC’s basic and clinical research is a critical state asset, one that will save lives and allow for continued economic growth statewide. “In the next 20 years, health care will lead the way in creating good paying jobs in urban and rural Nebraska,” he said. “UNMC is well-positioned to meet health care resource needs in Nebraska.”
He also discussed issues before the Nebraska Legislature, and health workforce issues, and economic development.
Delegate members, Omahans Greg Minter and his wife, Jane, said they enjoy being part of the program. “I think it’s an excellent program. It’s educational and it creates a community where people focus on the medical center,” Greg Minter said.
“I like the tours,” Jane Minter said. “Instead of saying we heard something about UNMC, we can tell people about what’s going on at UNMC and educate the community about what UNMC is doing.”
Kyle Smith, first-year medical student from Norfolk, said he attended his first UNMC Delegate event to hear fellow Norfolk resident, Flood. “I definitely would like to be more involved with this program,” he said.
The UNMC Delegates program is a grassroots advocacy program composed of people willing to advocate on behalf of UNMC to federal and state representatives. The program, which includes an annual dinner, as well as delegates-only quarterly events,
is made up of more than 350 friends of UNMC, alumni, faculty, staff, and students.
Mark Bowen, director of UNMC government relations, said UNMC Delegates are effective advocates for UNMC.
“Delegates tell us they like visiting the campus to hear speakers, see research projects and stay informed about policy issues that affect UNMC,” he said. They especially enjoy opportunities like the annual dinner when they have a chance to hear and visit directly with elected officials like Sen. Flood. They stay in touch with what’s happening at UNMC and are willing to express their opinion on issues important to UNMC. We truly appreciate their involvement.”
The delegates program is free. Delegates receive informational e-mails regarding congressional and state legislative developments and are called to action when crucial issues arise.
The UNMC Board of Counselors, an advisory group of community and business leaders from across the state, sponsors the program.
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 $82 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.
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