Dr. Huckabee joins allied health leadership team

The College of Allied Health Professions has appointed Michael Huckabee, Ph.D., to the newly created position of assistant dean for clinical affairs.

Dr. Huckabee, professor and division director of physician assistant education, will work closely with Nebraska Medicine to identify emerging opportunities to more fully integrate CAHP faculty and students in clinical practice.

“Historically, the primary responsibilities of our faculty have focused on the teaching and research missions of UNMC,” said College of Allied Health Professions Dean Kyle Meyer, Ph.D. “UNMC’s advancing partnerships with Nebraska Medicine, the Enhance Health Network and Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, provide us an opportunity to more fully engage the clinical care mission as well.”

It’s a trend throughout the university and clinical enterprise, said Kelly Caverzagie, M.D., who serves as the College of Medicine’s associate dean for educational strategy and as Nebraska Medicine’s vice president for education: “Working together to establish alignment between the clinical and educational units of Nebraska Medicine, UNMC and our community partners is crucial to achieving consistency in our educational goals and expected outcomes, especially as they relate to preparing health professions students to practice in the evolving health delivery system.”

“Dr. Huckabee is particularly well suited for this new role,” Dr. Meyer said. “He brings an impressive record of academic leadership and three decades of clinical experience.”

Dr. Huckabee, who came to UNMC from Union College in 2012, has emerged as a national leader on cultural competency and on the role PAs can play in improving team-based, rural primary care. As a co-primary investigator with Dr. Meyer, he’s led UNMC’s efforts in hosting a series of national conferences on rural primary care.

Dr. Huckabee said: “The CAHP already enjoys tremendous support from Nebraska Medicine. I am grateful for the opportunity to help expand these relationships and develop even more ways we can work together to advance our collective mission.”

Dr. Huckabee joins a CAHP leadership team that includes:

• Greg Karst, Ph.D., the college’s executive associate dean;
• Laura Bilek, Ph.D., associate dean for research;
• Jan Tompkins, assistant dean for academic affairs;
• Pat O’Neil, director of finance and administration.