Kyle Meyer, M.D., Ph.D., associate dean for the School of Allied Health Professions, along with members of his leadership team, will visit six central and northeastern Nebraska communities Oct. 13-16 to raise awareness about allied health professions and discuss ways to alleviate workforce shortages of allied health professionals in greater Nebraska.
Stops along the way include Kearney, Hastings, Grand Island, Columbus, Norfolk and Wayne.
“Approximately 60 percent of the healthcare workforce is made up of allied health professionals and the demand for these professionals is only projected to increase,” Dr. Meyer said.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected an increased demand for physician assistants, physical therapists, radiation therapists, clinical laboratory scientists, radiographers, sonographers and nuclear medicine technologists of 15-27 percent between 2006 and 2016.
The School of Allied Health Professions offers educational programs in all of the above, as well as medical nutrition, clinical perfusion, magnetic resonance imaging/computed tomography and cytotechnology.
On the trip, Dr. Meyer and his team also will discuss the recent renovation of UNMC’s Bennett Hall, the new home of the School of Allied Health Professions.
“The $8.9 million renovation of Bennett Hall allowed for the consolidation of all 11 allied health educational programs to be housed in one building for the first time in the School’s history,” Dr. Meyer said. “It will create a stronger identity for the School of Allied Health Professions, promote collaboration, improve our efficiency and help us to continue to recruit outstanding students to the allied health educational programs.”
Dr. Meyer said another purpose of his trip is to thank all the hospital personnel, clinical educators and alumni who continue to support the School of Allied Health Professions.
Joining Dr. Meyer on the trip will be: Jim Temme, associate director, radiation science technology education; Linda Fell, program director, clinical laboratory science education; Pat Hageman, program director, physical therapy education; Darwin Brown, clinical education coordinator, physician assistant education program; Diane Landon, PA coordinator, physician assistant education program.
Dr. Meyer and his colleagues will meet with members of the community, alumni and health professionals at various events and receptions hosted by local hospitals, colleges and universities and the central Nebraska and northern Nebraska Area Health Education Centers.
Media opportunities include:
Monday, Oct. 13
•Kearney
5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Good Samaritan Hospital reception – 3rd floor ballroom
10 E 31st St
6 p.m. – 7 p.m. UNK Campus Jennings Room #209 on the 2nd floor of the C.T. Ryan Library – 905 W 25th Street
For Tuesday, Oct. 14
•Hastings
11:30a.m. – 1 p.m. Lunch meeting at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital board room, 715 N. Saint Joseph Ave.
•Grand Island
6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Student/Parent forum for high school students interested in careers in allied health professions
Central Nebraska AHEC College Park, 3180 W. Hwy 34
For Wednesday Oct. 15
•Grand Island
7 a.m. – 9 a.m. Community breakfast meeting at St. Francis Hospital Conference Rooms 3 & 4
•Columbus
noon – 1:15 p.m. Community luncheon at Columbus Community Hospital
4600 38th Street
•Norfolk
7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Student/Parent forum for high school students interested in careers in allied health professions
Northern Nebraska AHEC Lifelong Learning Center NECC, 801 E. Benjamin Ave.
For Thursday, Oct. 16
•Norfolk
7 a.m. – 9 a.m. Community Breakfast Meeting Faith Regional Medical Center, 2700 Norfolk Ave.
•Wayne
noon – 1:30 p.m. Lunch meeting hosted by President Richard Collings in the
Elkhorn Room of the Wayne State College Student Center
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 their commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have established themselves as one of the country’s leading centers in cancer, transplantation biology, bioterrorism preparedness, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, genetics, biomedical technology and ophthalmology. UNMC’s research funding from external sources now exceeds $82 million annually and has resulted in the creation of more than 2,400 highly skilled jobs in the state. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes 513 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties who practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.
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