Kearney, Nebraska – The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) is preparing to commence construction on an $85 million rural medical school in Kearney next month. The project reflects Nebraska’s ongoing efforts to bolster the healthcare workforce within its rural communities.
UNMC is further enhancing this initiative by implementing a new, streamlined procedure to expedite the placement of students into clinical training locations throughout the state.
While this advancement is primarily internal, UNMC Chancellor, Dr. Jeffrey Gold, anticipates a significant upswing in the quantity of locally trained healthcare professionals serving in rural communities.
Last week, the initiative was officially launched in North Platte, where Dr. Gold signed UNMC’s inaugural “master affiliation agreement” with Great Plains Health. Additional agreements with other hospitals, urgent care centers, and medical facilities stretching from Omaha to Scottsbluff are expected to follow.
Dr. Gold defined these agreements as an enhanced system compared to the existing method of allocating UNMC students to clinical positions for hands-on experience. He explained it as an “umbrella” agreement, encompassing a broader range of specialties and roles.
Dr. Gold explained, “It’s a streamlined way to build rotations with many of our preferred clinical training sites across the state. It creates better and faster opportunities.”
He further stated that the proposed Rural Health Education Building at the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus influenced the formation of the master affiliation agreement.
Since 2015, the Omaha-based UNMC has operated a facility at UNK, offering nursing education and an array of health profession training programs. The forthcoming 100,000-square-foot complex will enable an expansion of science-centered programs and inaugurate new ones, such as for prospective doctors and pharmacists.
The UNMC-UNK extension project, set to open in late 2025, was bolstered by $50 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding for capital construction, along with $10 million for the initiation costs of iEXCEL technology.
The Nebraska Legislature has pledged operational funds to support faculty and staff. Furthermore, the university has committed to raising $35 million in private funds for the construction.
Dr. Gold anticipates that the expanded programming will raise the number of healthcare students in Kearney and nearby areas from approximately 160 to over 600.
According to Dr. Gold, a key strategy for encouraging graduates to practice within the state, especially in rural regions, involves facilitating training at locations where students and staff can establish connections, which often results in job offers. Dr. Gold asserted, “The natural tendency is that they will stay in a rural community.”
