Members of the Midwest Higher Education Compact toured the iEXCEL program at the Global Center for Health Security earlier this month.
The compact is a group devoted to advancing cooperation and resource-sharing in higher education. The member states are Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Members include leaders of higher education systems and institutions and state officials.
Nebraska State Senators Lynne Walz and John Cavanaugh acted as hosts for the group, who were greeted at the Global Center by UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, and Pamela Boyer, PhD, associate vice chancellor for clinical simulation.
Senator Walz, who was making her first tour of the iEXCEL facility, said it was a proud moment as the compact members examined the technology and capabilities at iEXCEL.
“We really are world leaders in medicine and education across the world,” she said. Walz said the other compact commissioners could look at the possibilities and bring ideas back to their own states and organizations.
“It’s nice to be able to collaborate,” she said. “And I’m happy that everybody has had a chance to visit this facility.”
Heath Mello, the University of Nebraska System's vice president for external relations and MHEC commissioner, called it a tremendous honor and opportunity for UNMC to highlight the cutting-edge education and interprofessional training taking place in the state.
“Hosting the commissioners on this tour provides a hands-on experience for elected officials and higher education leadership from the Midwest to see how innovative UNMC is right now as we tackle some major education and training issues facing the health care industry.”