Dr. Maurer to leave chancellorship, lead cancer campus fundraising

Harold M. Maurer, M.D., who as chancellor has led the UNMC to unprecedented growth, will move to a new role with the university on June 30.

Dr. Maurer, UNMC chancellor since 1998, on July 1 will become a professor in the UNMC Department of Pediatrics and chancellor emeritus. He will devote much of his time to his new position at the University of Nebraska Foundation to lead fundraising for the cancer center campus, a $370 million project that will create space for cancer research and care.

Harold M. Maurer, M.D.

“I believe the time has come for me to take on a new role with UNMC. I look forward to dedicating my time completely to fundraising for the cancer center campus, which will truly transform UNMC,” Dr. Maurer said. “We will continue our momentum at UNMC, and we will not change course over the next nine months. It will be business as usual.”

A better place

The University of Nebraska is a better institution because of Dr. Maurer, NU President James B. Milliken said.

“Under Hal’s leadership, the UNMC campus has been transformed – not only with remarkable new facilities for teaching and research, but through an unwavering commitment to a culture of excellence,” Milliken said. “He set goals that some believed to be unattainable – and then together with a very talented faculty and staff, surpassed them.”

Steady and strong leadership

At UNMC — as dean of the College of Medicine from 1993 to 1997 and as chancellor from 1998 on — Dr. Maurer:

• Led the merger of University Hospital and Clarkson Hospital to form the Nebraska Health System, now known as The Nebraska Medical Center;
  
• Led the institution to new heights of excellence in education, research and clinical care; and
  
• Combined more than 70 physician practice groups into one comprehensive faculty practice plan, what is now UNMC Physicians.

Committed to research excellence

As chancellor, Dr. Maurer set aggressive goals in research to grow UNMC from a regional center to a national center of excellence in the new century. Thanks to his leadership, UNMC:

• Tripled its external research funding, with research dollars now at more than $90 million annually;
  
• Secured tobacco settlement funds from the state of Nebraska to support biomedical research. UNMC now receives about $7 million annually from this funding.
  
• Created a Vice Chancellor for Research position at UNMC.
  
• Developed programs in regenerative medicine, nanomedicine, drug delivery and bioterrorism preparedness, among others.
  
• Raised more than $150 million in private support to construct the Durham Research Center and Durham Research Center II, which combined have more than 200 research laboratories.

“I would like for my legacy to be, ‘He built research at UNMC,'” Dr. Maurer said. “I’m also very proud of our many accomplishments in education, clinical care and community outreach.”

Just this year, UNMC was ranked No. 6 nationally in primary care education, the highest ranking achieved in the history of UNMC in this area. Other UNMC colleges and educational programs also are ranked nationally.

A different campus

The cancer center campus will mark the latest in a long line of major facility growth that UNMC experienced under Dr. Maurer’s leadership. With Dr. Maurer as chancellor, UNMC constructed:

• The Durham Research Center towers;
  
• The Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education;
  
• The Center for Nursing Science;
  
• The Ruth and Bill Scott Student Plaza;
  
• The Harold M. and Beverly Maurer Center for Public Health and several other new structures. (See a timeline of UNMC’s facilities growth under Dr. Maurer’s leadership.)

Career marked by accomplishments

For his work at UNMC as well as his efforts as a researcher and physician before he came to Omaha, Dr. Maurer has been recognized with numerous awards including the Omaha World-Herald “Midlander of the Year” honor in 2005; the 109th King of Ak-Sar-Ben in 2005; and induction into the Greater Omaha Chamber Business Hall of Fame in 2009. (See a timeline of Dr. Maurer’s career achievements.)

The next challenge

With Dr. Maurer at the helm of the cancer center campus fundraising effort, Milliken is confident the project will be a success.

“I’m confident that we will build a world-class cancer research and treatment center that will make important and lasting contributions to the state and nation,” Milliken added. “Hal and Beverly will continue to be great ambassadors for the University of Nebraska.”