University of Nebraska Medical Center

University of Nebraska
Medical Center
TypePublic academic health science center
Established1869 (charted in 1881)
Parent institution
University of Nebraska System
AffiliationNebraska Medicine
Academic affiliations
Space-grant
Endowment$1.066 billion budget, 2025-26, 16.8% state supported[1]
ChancellorH. Dele Davies (interim)
PresidentJeffrey P. Gold
Vice-ChancellorJane Meza (interim)
Administrative staff
6,498; 5,589 FTE(2025)
Students4,818 (2025)
Location
Omaha
,
Nebraska
,
United States
ColorsRed and white[2]
   
MascotLabs[3]
Websitewww.unmc.edu

The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) is a public academic health science center in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded in 1869 and chartered as a private medical college in 1881, UNMC became part of the University of Nebraska System in 1902.[4] Rapidly expanding in the early 20th century, the university founded a hospital, dental college, pharmacy college, college of nursing, and college of medicine. It later added colleges of public health and allied health professions. One of Omaha's top employers,[5] UNMC had an annual budget of $1.066 billion for 2025 to 2026 and an economic impact of $5.9 billion.[6]

History

The original Omaha Medical College building at 12th & Pacific in 1900

The University of Nebraska Medical Center was formed in 1869 as the Omaha Medical College. The college was organized as a training school by several Nebraskan physicians and was originally private.[4] The college was officially chartered in 1881.[7] Omaha Medical College officially joined the University of Nebraska system in 1902.[8] Under the University of Nebraska, the college grew, adding a dental college in 1903, a pharmacy college in 1908, and a nursing college in 1917. That same year, the college formed a hospital on campus, which later opened in 1919.[9]

In 1968, medicine, nursing, dentistry and pharmacy operations were all consolidated by the system to form the University of Nebraska Medical Center.[10] In 1997, the university hospital merged with Bishop Clarkson Memorial Hospital, then-affiliate of Clarkson College. The resulting entity was the Nebraska Health System, now known as Nebraska Medicine, to which the university is affiliated with.[11] The following year, the university and hospital opened the 14-story Lied Transplant Center, which at 230 feet (70 m) tall, is the twelfth tallest building in Omaha.[12]

Ebola epidemic response

During the 2014 Ebola epidemic, the federal government tapped Nebraska as one of three units prepared to accept highly infectious patients in the United States. Today, UNMC/Nebraska Medicine has the largest operational biocontainment unit in the nation.[13]

UNMC's academic, local, state, and federal partnerships have expanded with the initiation of the National Ebola Training and Education Center (NETEC).[14][15] the Special Pathogens Research Network (SPRN)[16] and the National Training, Simulation & Quarantine Center.[17] These organizations and additional alliances are housed under the Global Center for Health Security.[18]

In 2016, UNMC was awarded a $19.8 million grant from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response in the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.[17] The four-year federal grant — which has renewable options for an additional 21 years — enables UNMC to teach federal health care personnel procedures in treating highly infectious diseases.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center created the Global Center for Health Security in 2017. The goal of the creation of the center is to transform and centralize "infectious disease response and biodefense research." Among the reasons behind the move were concerns about outbreaks of viruses, infectious diseases, and an environment where a biological terrorist attack is a possibility.[19]

In 2016, a UNMC team of researchers was awarded a five-year research grant from the National Institutes of Health totaling nearly $20 million, through the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program and the NIH's National Institute of General Medical Studies.[20] The grant will focus on developing early career researchers into independent scientists and increasing the infrastructure and other resources needed to support clinical/translational research (CTR) around the region. The grant will create the Great Plains IDeA-CTR Network, a collaboration involving nine institutions in four states: Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Kansas[21]

SARS-CoV-2 epidemic response

In 2020, UNMC and Nebraska Medicine were enlisted to support a federal operation that evacuated 57 Americans from Wuhan, China, during an epidemic of novel coronavirus, SARS CoV-2. The group was placed in quarantine at Camp Ashland, a Nebraska National Guard facility near Omaha.[22] Thirteen Americans were repatriated to University of Nebraska Medical Center on February 17, from the Diamond Princess off the coast of Japan. Ten had tested positive, and three others had been exposed.[23] Three days later, eleven of these people tested positive. UNMC scientists, working with evidence gathered in the National Quarantine Center, in the new $119 million Dr. Edwin G. & Dorothy Balbach Davis Global Center on UNMC's Omaha campus, found the SARS-CoV-2 virus spreads through airborne transmission.[24][25] UNMC led the first clinical trial in the U.S. on the use of remdesivir to treat patients hospitalized with COVID-19.[26] UNMC developed a series of guides to help meatpacking facilities, child development centers, court systems, K-12 education and higher education minimize the risk of COVID-19 and reduce disruptions to business operations.[27] UNMC scientists developed a safe and effective method to decontaminate N95 respirators using ultraviolet light.[23] The process, shared with hospital systems across the U.S., allowed multiple reuse of N95s when personal protective equipment was in short supply.[28]

2020–present

In August 2024, in partnership with Nebraska Medicine, Project Health was announced. The facility will be 400 feet (120 m) tall and will be used by both UNMC and Nebraska Medicine.[29]

Academics and rankings

Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023[30]
Race and ethnicity Total
White 77%
 
Hispanic 12%
 
Asian 3%
 
Two or more races 3%
 
Black 2%
 
International student 1%
 
Economic diversity
Low-income[a] 23%
 
Affluent[b] 77%
 

In 2024, UNMC's bachelor's in nursing program was ranked 19th of 656 nursing programs by U.S. News & World Report.[31] UNMC was also ranked as a Tier 1 institution for primary care training.[32] Other programs that also received a national ranking include graduates practicing in rural health care (9th of 168); research (Tier 2); the College of Pharmacy (19th of 141); the College of Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice program (59th of 389); the College of Public Health (46th of 213), and the College of Allied Health Professions' physical therapy program (33 of 245) and physician assistant program (16 of 211).

UNMC was named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 academic years by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.[33]

The Durham Research Towers and the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center opened in June 2017.[34] External funding for research, education and public service totaled $250.5 million in fiscal year 2022-23. Federal research grants totaled $173.4 million in fiscal year 2022-23.[6]

The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, a $370 million project, the largest project ever at the University of Nebraska, opened in 2017.[35] The Buffett Cancer Center is a joint project with UNMC's primary clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine.[36] and includes three areas dedicated to cancer: the Suzanne and Walter Scott Research Tower, the C.L. Werner Cancer Hospital, and a multidisciplinary outpatient treatment clinic. It is one of 69 centers designated by the National Cancer Institute.[37]

Colleges and degree-granting institutes:

  • College of Medicine
  • College of Dentistry – The dental college is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, on the East Campus of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
  • College of Nursing
  • College of Pharmacy
  • College of Public Health
  • College of Allied Health Professions
  • Graduate studies program through the University of Nebraska Graduate College
  • Eppley Institute for Cancer Research and Allied Diseases
  • Munroe-Meyer Institute for Developmental Disabilities

Notable alumni

  • Stephen Gilson, theorist and policy analyst known for work in disability, diversity, and health policy
  • Bob Kerrey, former Nebraska governor, former U.S. senator from Nebraska, Medal of Honor recipient for service in the Vietnam War as a Navy Seal
  • James Linder, author, academic, business leader, and authority on university research commercialization
  • Rod Markin, pioneer and leading authority in the field of laboratory automation who designed one of the world's first automated clinical laboratory specimen, device and analyzer management systems
  • John Nwangwu, public health doctor with expertise in infectious diseases and epidemiology, and consultant at the World Health Organization
  • Richard Allen Raymond, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety 2005–2009
  • Steven M. Reppert, neuroscientist known for his contributions to the fields of chronobiology and neuroethology
  • Matthew Ricketts, first African-American graduate of UNMC College of Medicine and first African-American member of the Nebraska Legislature
  • Edward Rosenbaum, author of The Doctor, an autobiographical chronicle of his experience with throat cancer, which was the basis of the movie The Doctor, starring William Hurt as a physician modeled on Rosenbaum
  • Nancy Snyderman, physician, author, and former broadcast journalist who served as a medical correspondent for ABC News and as chief medical editor for NBC News
  • Francis Townsend, physician best known for his revolving old-age pension proposal during the Great Depression, which influenced the establishment of the Roosevelt administration's Social Security system
  • Charles Vacanti, researcher in tissue engineering and stem cells
  • Rob Zatechka, former football offensive lineman in the National Football League who went to medical school after his NFL career ended

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The percentage of students who received an income-based federal Pell grant intended for low-income students.
  2. ↑ The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum.

References

  1. ↑ "Fast Facts | University of Nebraska Medical Center". Archived from the original on September 18, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  2. ↑ "UNMC Brand Wise | Color Palette".
  3. ↑ "University of Nebraska Medical Center unveils new mascot". WOWT. April 27, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Praeger (2010). American Universities and Colleges (19th ed.). ABC-CLIO. p. 769. ISBN 978-0-313-36608-6.
  5. ↑ "Largest Employers in Omaha". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Fast Facts". University of Nebraska Medical Center. Archived from the original on September 18, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Omaha Medical College". The Omaha Evening Bee. October 11, 1881. p. 4. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Omaha Medical College Becomes Connected With State University". Omaha Daily Bee. April 10, 1902. p. 1. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  9. ↑ "University Medical College and Hospital at Omaha Vitally Important to People of State". The Lincoln Star. August 3, 1919. p. 22. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  10. ↑ "History". www.unmc.edu. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Two hospitals in Omaha join forces". Lincoln Journal Star. October 2, 1997. p. 10. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  12. ↑ "New High-Rise for Health". Omaha World-Herald. November 21, 1998. p. 66. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  13. ↑ "UNMC's Global Center for Health Security". Nebraska Radio Network. June 7, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Ebola Virus Declared a Global Health Emergency | Everyday Health".
  15. ↑ "Home".
  16. ↑ "Research Network".
  17. 1 2 Morton, Joseph. "UNMC awarded $19.8 million to develop national training center for fighting Ebola, other infectious diseases". Omaha World-Herald.
  18. ↑ Julie Anderson. "UNMC, Nebraska Medicine team training Ugandan health-care workers screening for Ebola". Omaha.com.
  19. ↑ Galford, Chris (June 19, 2017). "University of Nebraska reorganizes public health efforts to face future disease threats under central umbrella". Homeland Preparedness News. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  20. ↑ "$20 million research grant is largest ever for UNMC | UNMC". October 24, 2016.
  21. ↑ "GP IDeA-CTR – the Great Plains IDeA-CTR is a collaborative effort between nine regional institutions. The IDeA-CTR strives to provide training, education and mentorship; tools and resources; and funding to regional researchers".
  22. ↑ KETV Staff Report (February 6, 2020). "Officials speak on bringing rescued Americans to Nebraska for quarantine amid coronavirus spread". KETV.
  23. 1 2 Anderson, Julie; Ruggles, Rick (February 17, 2020). "13 people, some of whom have tested positive for coronavirus, quarantined at Nebraska Med Center". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on February 21, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  24. ↑ Jaimie Etkin (July 22, 2020). "There's now proof these two things you do constantly spread covid". MSN.
  25. ↑ Santarpia, Joshua L.; Rivera, Danielle N.; Herrera, Vicki L.; Morwitzer, M. Jane; Creager, Hannah M.; Santarpia, George W.; Crown, Kevin K.; Brett-Major, David M.; Schnaubelt, Elizabeth R.; Broadhurst, M. Jana; Lawler, James V. (July 29, 2020). "Aerosol and surface contamination of SARS-CoV-2 observed in quarantine and isolation care". Scientific Reports. 10 (1): 12732. Bibcode:2020NatSR..1012732S. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-69286-3. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 7391640. PMID 32728118.
  26. ↑ NIH staff Report (February 25, 2020). "NIH clinical trial of remdesivir to treat COVID-19 begins". NIH.
  27. ↑ Duffy, Erin (April 30, 2020). "UNMC experts write playbook to help meatpackers prevent spread of coronavirus". omaha.com.
  28. ↑ Berg, Sara (April 2, 2020). "COVID-19: Tackling the N95 shortage with novel decontamination". AMA.
  29. ↑ Parsons, McKenzy (August 9, 2024). "'Project health': Board of Regents approve $2.1 billion UNMC and Nebraska Medicine facility". KETV. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  30. ↑ "College Scorecard: University of Nebraska Medical Center". College Scorecard. United States Department of Education. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Best Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Programs". U.S. News & World Report. Archived from the original on August 11, 2023.
  32. ↑ "University of Nebraska Medical Center - Best Medical Schools". US News. 2024. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  33. ↑ The Chronicle List (February 9, 2020). "Top Producers of Fulbright U.S. Scholars and Students, 2019-20". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  34. ↑ "Home - Cancer Center — University of Nebraska Medical Center". unmc.edu.
  35. ↑ Dunker, Chris. "Buffett Cancer Center hopes to create new culture of patient treatment". JournalStar.com.
  36. ↑ "Home — Nebraska Medicine Omaha, NE". nebraskamed.com.
  37. ↑ "$323 million Buffett Cancer Center designed to spur collaboration between doctors, researchers". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved September 16, 2019.

41°15′21.71″N 95°58′32.81″W / 41.2560306°N 95.9757806°W / 41.2560306; -95.9757806

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