William Berndt, Ph.D., former chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, died Thursday at The Nebraska Medical Center due to ongoing lung complications.
Dr. Berndt, 73, joined UNMC in 1982 and held several key administrative posts over the next 20 plus years, serving as chancellor from 1996 to 1998. He was the seventh full-time chancellor in UNMC history and was one of the key leaders involved in the 1997 merger of University Hospital and Clarkson Hospital to create The Nebraska Medical Center.
“Bill’s impact on the medical center is off the chart,” said Harold M. Maurer, M.D., UNMC chancellor. “I called him the Walter Cronkite of UNMC, because everybody respected him. He leaves behind a tremendous legacy. He will truly be missed. We offer our deepest condolences to his entire family.”
Dr. Berndt joined UNMC in 1982 as professor of pharmacology and dean for graduate studies and research and was elevated to vice chancellor for academic affairs three years later. Berndt served as vice chancellor until his retirement in 2002 with the 17-year stint interrupted only when he served as interim chancellor in 1991-1992 and chancellor in 1996-1998.
Prior to joining the UNMC faculty, Dr. Berndt served on the faculty at Dartmouth Medical School for 13 years and the University of Mississippi Medical Center for eight years. At Dartmouth, he moved from instructor to professor in the pharmacology department. He served as professor and chairman of the department of pharmacology and toxicology at Mississippi.
Following his retirement as vice chancellor, Dr. Berndt remained active at UNMC, serving as interim chairman of the pharmacology department from 2002 to 2004. In addition, he chaired the search committees for a chairman of the department of the cell biology, anatomy and genetics in 2003 and for a chairman of the department of psychiatry in 2004.
“Bill was always willing to roll up his sleeves and do whatever it takes to get the job done,” Dr. Maurer said. “He had no pretenses. You always knew where you stood with Bill. He dedicated himself to the medical center and poured himself into every position he held. He truly left his mark.”
One of the highlights of Dr. Berndt’s career occurred in 1996-97 when as chancellor he was instrumental in getting UNMC and Clarkson Hospital representatives to put aside their differences and sit down and discuss a possible merger. As a result of the discussions, a partnership was created and Nebraska Health System (now The Nebraska Medical Center) was formed.
A native of St. Joseph, Mo., Dr. Berndt received his undergraduate degree from the Creighton University College of Pharmacy in 1954 and his Ph.D. degree in pharmacology from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1959.
A prolific researcher during his career, Dr. Berndt published more than 270 articles, abstracts and book chapters in scientific journals and made presentations or lectures at more than 70 scientific meetings. He received funding on 16 grants during his career.
His professional and research interests involved both pharmacology and toxicology, in particular the effects of chemicals on kidney function. He was a diplomate for both the American Board of Toxicology and the Academy of Toxicological Sciences and a fellow in the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education.
The growth of research on the UNMC campus is one of many accomplishments that began during Dr. Berndt’s tenure. Annual research funding, which was only $4.7 million when Dr. Berndt started at UNMC in 1982, has skyrocketed, reaching nearly $80 million during the past fiscal year. Several new programs were launched at UNMC under Dr. Berndt’s direction. These included:
· The first Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC);
· The first modern Institutional Review Board (IRB);
· The development of comprehensive Radiation and Chemical Safety programs;
· The emergence of several new or restructured graduate and other academic programs.
Dr. Berndt is survived by his wife, Bonnie, and their five children,13 grandchildren and one great grandchild. The Berndts, who lived in Fort Calhoun, Neb., celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary on Aug. 28. Their children and grandchildren reside in Fort Calhoun, Blair, Neb., Miami, Kansas City, Austin, Texas, Vermont and England.
The visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 4, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fort Calhoun followed by a vigil service from 7 to 7:30 p.m. The funeral will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 5, also at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
UNMC is the only public health science center in the state. Its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through its commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC has established itself as one of the country’s leading centers in cancer, transplantation biology, bioterrorism preparedness, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, genetics, biomedical technology, ophthalmology and arthritis. UNMC’s research funding from external sources is now nearly $80 million annually and has resulted in the creation of more than 2,600 highly skilled jobs in the state.