Carritt named assistant vice chancellor for health workforce education relations

Nicole Carritt

Nicole Carritt has been named assistant vice chancellor for health workforce education relations for UNMC, effective Sept. 1.

Carritt has served in the role on an interim basis since November 2022. She also serves as director of rural health initiatives and assistant director for community outreach and engagement for the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.

“I am grateful and excited for the opportunity to continue in this role, working closely with UNMC leaders, faculty and staff, as well as our partners across the NU system and into the communities and health systems we serve,” Carritt said. “Together, we can bolster UNMC’s impact on meeting the health care workforce needs of both rural and urban Nebraska and beyond.

“We are doing innovative and important work, and I am incredibly proud to be a part of it.”

In her roles, Carritt works with UNMC’s partners to enhance the university’s impact across the state. She also helps rural communities recruit and retain young health professionals, especially those with Nebraska roots who may want to return to their own communities.

Toward that end, Carritt is actively involved with the programmatic and operational development of the Rural Health Education Building, a collaborative project between UNMC and the University of Nebraska at Kearney that will enable UNMC to grow and expand its health science education offerings in Kearney.

“Nikki’s commitment to Nebraska runs deep,” said Chris Kratochvil, MD, interim vice chancellor for external relations. “She has a long history of working with Nebraska communities, understands rural health issues and shares UNMC’s mission to create a healthier Nebraska. This role matches well her passion and skill set.”

Campus leaders will formally break ground on the project Sept. 5. The project expands on the success of the Health Sciences Education Complex at UNK, another UNK-UNMC collaboration that opened in 2015 that has seen 85% of its graduates start their careers in rural Nebraska.

Carritt, who holds a master’s of public health degree from UNMC, works closely with UNMC’s rural health pathway programs – such as RHOP and PHEAST – and also helps oversee and implement UNMC’s Rural Health 2030 Plan, which details how UNMC, its partners and rural Nebraskans can together shape a new vision for a healthy rural future. For UNMC, that includes maturing the Center for Community-Based Education and Preceptor Excellence, designed to create a campuswide infrastructure to ensure excellence in preceptor and community-based learning for students, community and clinical partners throughout Nebraska and beyond.

23 comments

  1. Dr. Howard Liu, Chair Dept Psychiatry, UNMC says:

    Thanks for being a creative, dedicated and visionary leader for rural Nebraska! We have enjoyed partnering with you on mental health workforce in small towns.

  2. Pat Wortmann says:

    Congratulations, Nikki.

  3. Peggy Moore says:

    Congratulations on this well deserved appointment! Keep up your great work for students and Nebraska.

  4. John Keenan says:

    Congratulations! Well-deserved!

  5. Kristan Lester says:

    Congratulations, Nikki!

  6. Jason Tordoff says:

    Congrats Nikki!

  7. brooke fitzpatrick says:

    Congrats, Nikki! Very well-deserved.

  8. Heidi Kaschke says:

    Congratulations!

  9. Jessica Tschirren says:

    Congratulations Nikki!

  10. Steve Pera says:

    Congratulations, Nikki. You’re exceptional organizational and people skills make you an excellent choice for the role.

  11. Stacey Coleman says:

    Congratulations Nikki! You’re commitment to all in the state of Nebraska is much appreciated. Always a pleasure to work with you, let me know how I can help in any way!

  12. Barbara Brey says:

    Congratulations Nikki!

  13. Catherine Mello says:

    Nikki you are an outstanding leader and I am so lucky to have the opportunity to work you. Congratulations on this becoming official and I am excited for what is to come in your future!

  14. Heidi Keeler says:

    Well deserved Nikki! Congrats!

  15. Kelli Schneegass says:

    Congratulations, Nikki!

  16. Lynn Borstelmann says:

    Congratulations Nikki! This is great for you, UNMC, and the state of Nebraska.

  17. Lisa Spellman says:

    Congratulations Nikki! A well-deserved title for a person as passionate as you are about growing the health workforce in the state. You’ve worked hard over the years to see programs grow within Nebraska’s Indigenous communities and I am excited to see what the future holds!

  18. Shelby Jensen says:

    Congratulations, Nikki! It has been such a pleasure working with you, and I look forward to continuing to do so. Thank you for your leadership with the UNMC Preceptor Task Force. Your ability to bring people together and create a space where all voices are heard makes you an exceptional fit for this role.

  19. Sarah Gloden Carlson says:

    Congratulations!

  20. Michael Hrncirik says:

    Congratulations Nikki!

  21. Geoff Talmon says:

    Congrats, Nikki! Been a pleasure to have such a great collaborator and look forward to continuing to work with you.

  22. Jane Meza says:

    Congratulations, Nikki!

  23. Nicole says:

    Congrats, Nicole!! So wonderful to open up UNMC Today and see a former teammate named to this key post!

Comments are closed.