Joanne Li, PhD, UNO’s chancellor-elect, tours UNMC

Joanne Li, PhD, chancellor-elect of the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), toured UNMC Thursday as part of her effort to learn more about the entire University of Nebraska system as she prepares to become chancellor of UNO on July 1.

She was joined on the visit by Deborah Smith Howell, PhD, UNO’s associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and dean of graduate studies.

Dr. Li also toured the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center with director Kenneth Cowan, MD, PhD.

Dr. Li toured the Wigton Heritage Center, McGoogan Health Sciences Library, the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and the Dr. Edwin G. and Dorothy Balbach Davis Global Center during her UNMC visit. She also met with UNMC and UNO Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, and other med center leaders, including Jim Linder, MD, CEO of Nebraska Medicine; Kenneth Cowan, MD, PhD, director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center; Dele Davies, MD, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs; and many other UNMC and Nebraska Medicine leaders.

Dr. Li said her tour of UNMC and the other University of Nebraska campuses has given her an appreciation of the connectivity across the NU system, and what each campus contributes while working together to serve the state and people of Nebraska.

“I’m truly inspired, because every single campus has its own uniqueness, and yet they’re very much collaborative,” she said. “On every single campus, as I walk through and talk to people, they all ask about what we can do together and talk about the ways we’re already collaborating.”

She called UNMC “inspiring,” and said Dr. Gold, who will step down as UNO chancellor on June 30, has left big shoes to fill as a leader.

“I am very impressed by the vision of UNMC, and by all the things they’ve done,” she said. “I’m interested in discussing what UNMC and UNO can do to help and support each other.

“I could not be more proud, and I feel privileged to be able to come to a system where people truly are connected and trying every day to make a difference.”