As the calendar turns to 2024, UNMC Today is looking back at the year that was for UNMC.
The year 2023 reflected a period of continued growth for UNMC. Growth at the med center’s main Omaha campus and growth across UNMC’s 500-mile campus. Growth in student enrollment. Growth in research. Growth in outreach and partnerships that multiply UNMC’s expanding influence in the health sciences.
Here are some of the highlights from UNMC’s expansive work in 2023.
- Enrollment climbs to new milestone
- Construction expands the Omaha campus
- Research wins and gains
- New leadership carries on the mission
- Expanding rural outreach
- New Omaha community partnerships
- Federal, defense partnerships strengthened
- UNMC welcomes Board of Regents to campus
- Meeting the challenge of AI
- New Dr. Gold podcast discusses health care’s big issues
- UNMC’s new mascot
Enrollment climbs to new milestone
UNMC’s fall enrollment came in at a record 4,555 students, with the largest enrollment increases in allied health professions, public health and graduate studies.
“We welcome this new and again record-breaking class to UNMC,” UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, said, “and we are excited to have them join us in our mission to transform lives in their communities, our state and beyond.”
Construction expands the Omaha campus
UNMC’s Saddle Creek Campus started to take shape. The Innovaton Hub at Catalyst project broke ground in May.
Then the CORE Building followed up with a groundbreaking in November.
In October, the NU Board of Regents set the stage for Project NExT’s first phase, known as “Project Health: Building the Healthiest Nebraska.”
Throughout the year, the Only in Nebraska fundraising campaign continued. In March, the NU Foundation also held its first ever UNMC Giving Day.
Research wins and gains
UNMC’s research enterprise also reached new heights.
Among the notable research accomplishments was Rebekah Gundry, PhD, receiving a federal COBRE grant worth $11.8 million for UNMC’s Center for Heart and Vascular Research. UNMC now has three funded NIH Center of Biomedical Research Excellence grants, including the Cognitive Neuroscience of Development & Aging Center. Watch for more information on Dr. Gundry’s grant in an upcoming UNMC Today.
And UNMC researchers published a significant advance in Alzheimer’s research, thanks to efforts from a team led by Howard Gendelman, MD, head of the Carol J. Swarts Laboratory for Emerging Neuroscience, Margaret R. Larson Professor of Internal Medicine and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience at UNMC.
In UNMC’s own research awards, a nurse was named Scientist Laureate for the first time — and award winner Michele Balas, PhD, reflected on the significance.
New leadership carries on the mission
UNMC welcomed a new dean of the College of Nursing: Dr. Sharp-McHenry announced as new nursing dean
And a new dean of the UNMC College of Dentistry: Gerry Kugel, DMD, PhD, named UNMC College of Dentistry dean
And a new leader of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center: Dr. Joann Sweasy, expert in DNA repair, named cancer center director
It also elevated an interim leader to full-time dean: Emily Glenn named McGoogan Library dean at UNMC
And an interim vice chancellor was named to the permanent role: Dr. Kratochvil named vice chancellor for external relations
Expanding rural outreach
UNMC expanded its commitment to rural health care throughout Nebraska with a groundbreaking project happening in partnership with the University of Nebraska at Kearney. When completed, the Rural Health Education Building will offer training in medicine, public health, pharmacy, allied health and nursing.
The project broke ground in September in Kearney.
UNMC also renewed its longstanding rural health education programs: Rural pathway programs extend longstanding partnerships
And signed a master affiliation agreement with North Platte’s Great Plains Health: UNMC extends partnerships in west central Nebraska
And with Columbus Community Hospital: UNMC, Columbus Community Hospital sign master affiliation agreement
New Omaha community partnerships
In Omaha, UNMC and Nebraska Medicine partnered to open the new Community Wellness Collaborative in North Omaha.
The UNMC College of Nursing helped open the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition Health and Wellness Clinic in South Omaha.
Federal, defense partnerships strengthened
Backed by the med center’s international reputation for leadership in biopreparedness, UNMC grew its relationships in 2023 with federal government and U.S. Department of Defense partners. Med center experts regularly hosted federal and defense guests for tours, including the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs in October.
UNMC researchers continued to work closely with the National Strategic Research Institute, the Department of Defense University Affiliated Research Center of U.S. Strategic Command and the University of Nebraska System. In 2023, the U.S. Defense Health Agency awarded a $24.5 million contract to NSRI for work involving UNMC researchers.
In June, the McGoogan Health Sciences Library opened a new biopreparedness exhibit that highlighted that expertise and those partnerships.
In September, UNMC, the Global Center for Health Security and federal Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response held a unique ribbon cutting for the national Training, Simulation and Quarantine Center at the Davis Global Center.
Then in December, the NU Board of Regents approved a new partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense through plans for an Infectious Diseases Air Transport Training Facility at UNMC.
UNMC welcomes Board of Regents to campus
In October, the NU Board of Regents visited UNMC for a special set of tours and presentations, after which the board held its regularly scheduled meeting on Oct. 5 in the Wigton Heritage Center.
The occasion offered UNMC leaders a chance to showcase the campus, while the regents conducted important business, including authorizing a detailed design phase for Project Health: Building the Healthiest Nebraska.
Meeting the challenge of AI
As the pace of technological advance quickens in artificial intelligence, UNMC staked a place in the future development. UNMC researchers, including Chancellor Gold, published research combining AI with the advanced 3-D imaging at the Davis Global Center and the expertise of Nebraska Medicine’s interventional cardiology clinical team. In August, partners from across UNMC, led by the Great Plains IDeA-CTR, started a renovation project on a new biomedical informatics laboratory that will allow AI experts to conduct research.
Across UNMC, a broad-based collection of experts came together to understand AI’s implications.
New Dr. Gold podcast discusses health care’s big issues
In March, Chancellor Gold launched a podcast called “Health Care Heart to Heart” to give insights into medical and scientific issues of the day. Describing himself a “recovering cardiothoracic surgeon,” Dr. Gold has aired 15 episodes to date, featuring UNMC experts in pediatrics, pancreatic cancer, wellness, developmental disabilities and more.
UNMC’s new mascot
Last but not least, UNMC’s student body chose a first-ever mascot for the university: The Labs. It was an immediate hit.