From 1995 to the mid-2000s, UNMC faculty offered Mini-Medical School to Nebraska residents. Mini-Medical School connected UNMC faculty and their expertise with individuals at sites across the state.
UNMC began the statewide community program to educate Nebraskans on health issues that affected them and highlight the advances made in research and treatment at UNMC. Free to the public, Mini-Medical School served residents in cities such as Scottsbluff, Red Cloud, North Platte, Grand Island, Columbus, Wayne, Lincoln and many others.
The lectures were broadcast from the UNMC campus on the Nebraska Satellite System 2. Community members in Omaha could attend in person at the Cooper Auditorium in the UNMC College of Nursing building, the Durham Research Center or a satellite location at Metro Community College. UNMC created each presentation for a lay audience, utilizing easy-to-understand language. Nurses could obtain continuing education credit for a fee.
Mini-Medical School was composed of a weekly two-hour session during a four-to-six-week period each year. The topics covered a range of health science interests. Presentations often included the basic science behind the topics, the newest discoveries in diagnostics and treatment and the latest preventive measures.
Many of UNMC’s top experts participated. James Armitage, MD, lectured on the future of cancer research and treatment in 1999. In 2004, Steven Hinrichs, MD, professor of pathology and microbiology, former director of the University of Nebraska Center for Biosecurity and former director of the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory, opened the Mini-Medical School by speaking on emerging disease threats in a program titled, “New Disease Threats: How Science Is Responding.” The program included information on West Nile, monkey pox, SARS and mad cow disease. In 2006, Phil Smith, MD, then chief of infectious diseases, gave a lecture on avian flu. In 2008, Ken Cowan, MD, director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center (then Eppley Cancer Center), opened the Mini-Medical School with a presentation on women and cancer. Other topics included type 2 diabetes, health disparities, stem cells, behavioral health, chronic pain, the lungs and the respiratory system and the aging brain and Alzheimer’s.
In 1995, the first year the school was offered, UNMC held a graduation night and provided diplomas for the community participants. Mini-Medical School partnered with organizations including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska to augment presentations with on-site health screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, as well as height, weight and body mass index measurements.
Mini-Medical School demonstrated UNMC’s commitment to providing both health care and health information to Nebraska residents.
I remember this program well. It built strong community relations. Why was it abandoned? Should consider bringing it back.
Agreed! Sounds like a great program, would love to see it revived.
Yes, this program sounds terrific, and I, too, would love to see a revival.
I attended many of these lectures and thoroughly enjoyed them and learned quite a bit.