UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., and members of his leadership team, including deans and directors will visit five southeastern Nebraska communities Thursday and Friday. The UNMC delegation will meet with leaders of area health facilities, as well as local business and community members.
The five communities highlighted during the outstate visit include: Bellevue, Auburn, Peru, Lincoln and Beatrice. The goal is to learn of the opportunities and concerns facing these communities and share the latest news on initiatives at UNMC.
“Reaching out across the state to hear what Nebraska citizens are concerned about regarding the education of their children in the health professions and their own health care needs enlightens and invigorates us, as we continue to strive to create a healthy future for all individuals and communities across the state,” Dr. Gold said.
Accompanying Dr. Gold are:
- Bob Bartee, vice chancellor for external affairs;
- Brad Britigan, M.D., dean of the UNMC College of Medicine;
- Dele Davies, M.D., vice chancellor for academic affairs;
- Jennifer Larsen, M.D., vice chancellor for research;
- Ali S. Khan, M.D., M.P.H., dean of the UNMC College of Public Health;
- Kyle Meyer, Ph.D., dean of the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions;
- Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Munroe-Meyer Institute;
- Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center;
- Janet Guthmiller, D.D.S., Ph.D., dean of the UNMC College of Dentistry; and
- Julie Sebastian, Ph.D., dean of the UNMC College of Nursing.
One of UNMC’s key goals is recruiting and educating students from rural Nebraska in hopes they will practice in rural areas. The new Health Science Education Complex in Kearney opened last year and is advancing UNMC’s efforts toward meeting this goal. In addition, the Rural Health Opportunities Program was recently expanded at Peru State College to include more allied health professions.
“These are students, who are receiving a world-class education, who will fill shortages across the state,” Dr. Gold said.
UNMC’s student enrollment has continued to grow. In the 2015-16 school year, UNMC had a record enrollment for the 15th straight year with 3,790 students enrolled, an increase of 94 students, or 2.5 percent, from the previous year.