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University of Nebraska Medical Center

Omaha, NE

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About University of Nebraska Medical Center

Pioneering medical education and global health security for over a century.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) stands as a beacon of healthcare innovation and education, evolving from the private Omaha Medical College founded in 1869. After officially joining the University of Nebraska system in 1902, UNMC steadily expanded its academic offerings, establishing colleges for dentistry, pharmacy, and nursing, alongside a dedicated campus hospital. This comprehensive approach to health education culminated in 1968 with the consolidation of all medical operations to form the University of Nebraska Medical Center as a distinct entity within the University of Nebraska system.

Today, UNMC is internationally recognized for its leadership in global health security and infectious disease response. Its pivotal role during the 2014 Ebola epidemic solidified its status as a federal preparedness site, leading to the establishment of the nation's largest operational biocontainment unit. This expertise underpins the groundbreaking Global Center for Health Security, founded in 2017, which centralizes critical research and training initiatives aimed at combating emerging viruses and biodefense threats. Prospective students benefit from a forward-thinking curriculum deeply integrated with cutting-edge research and real-world clinical application.

Academically, UNMC is a hub for significant research endeavors, evidenced by substantial grants from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services for training federal healthcare personnel in treating highly infectious diseases, and from the National Institutes of Health for advancing clinical/translational research across the Great Plains region. This commitment to discovery, combined with its strong affiliation with Nebraska Medicine—a leading academic health system—ensures students are trained at the forefront of medical science and patient care. UNMC offers an engaging and impactful environment for those aspiring to make a difference in healthcare, from the local community to a global scale.

Key Highlights

  • Established in 1869 as the Omaha Medical College, it became a cornerstone of medical education in the region.
  • Houses the nation's largest operational biocontainment unit, playing a critical federal role in infectious disease preparedness.
  • Founded the Global Center for Health Security in 2017, transforming infectious disease response and biodefense research.
  • Secured a $19.8 million federal grant in 2016 to train federal healthcare personnel in treating highly infectious diseases.
  • Leads the Great Plains IDeA-CTR Network, a four-state research collaboration, supported by a nearly $20 million NIH grant.
  • Its university hospital merged to form Nebraska Medicine, a leading academic health system in the region.

Timeline

1869
Founded as the Omaha Medical College.
1881
Omaha Medical College officially chartered.
1902
Omaha Medical College officially joined the University of Nebraska.
1903
Added a dental college.
1908
Added a pharmacy college.
1917
Added a nursing college and formed a campus hospital.
1968
Medicine, nursing, dentistry, and pharmacy operations were consolidated to form the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
1997
University hospital merged with Bishop Clarkson Memorial Hospital to form the Nebraska Health System (now Nebraska Medicine).
2014
Designated as one of three federal units prepared to accept highly infectious patients during the Ebola epidemic.
2017
Created the Global Center for Health Security to centralize infectious disease response and biodefense research.

Schools & Colleges

4 notable schools within University of Nebraska Medical Center

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College of Medicine

The foundational college, evolved from the original Omaha Medical College, offering comprehensive medical education.

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College of Dentistry

Established in 1903, providing dental education and training.

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College of Pharmacy

Established in 1908, offering programs in pharmaceutical sciences.

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College of Nursing

Established in 1917, providing comprehensive nursing education.

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