Robert D Bartee, MA

Vice Chancellor for External Affairs
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Mr. Bartee, Vice Chancellor for External Affairs, is responsible for government relations, public relations and alumni relations at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). 

Mr. Bartee is a leader in designing strategies for public policy advocacy, communications, and strategic advancement. He lectures and speaks on topics such as Leadership in the 21st Century and The Politics of Health.

His successes include:

• Targeting twenty percent of the states Tobacco Settlement Funds for Biomedical Research
• Dedicating a portion of the states Cigarette Tax to research in cancer and smoking-related diseases
• Securing state support for the nationally-recognized Nebraska Rural Health Education Network
• Assembling partners to create a vision and master plan to revitalize midtown Omaha
• Leading efforts to create the Nebraska Cancer Registry
• Creating the UNMC Health Professions Tracking Center
• Creating the UNMC Office of Alumni Relations

A 1969 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Mr. Bartee holds a Master’s degree from Syracuse University, Maxwell Graduate School of Public Affairs.  He currently serves as a member of the Association of American Medical Colleges Senior Level Advocacy Group and its Governmental Relations Steering Committee and the Association of Academic Health Centers Health Policy Advisory Committee and Policy Assembly.

Long involved in state and community affairs, Mr. Bartee has served as Chairman of the Board of several organizations, including: Destination Midtown, Wellness Council of the Midlands, Omaha Community Partnership, the Nebraska Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and Nebraska Health Coordinating Council.  He serves on the Boards of UneMed and the Conference for Inclusive Communities (CFIC).  He is also a member of the Judicial Nominating Commission for Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court.

Mr. Bartee is a recipient of the 2005 Marvin D. Swede Johnson Achievement Award, jointly bestowed by four national associations of higher education for lifetime achievement in governmental relations.  Mr. Bartee also has received the Welcome T. Bryant Memorial Award for service from the Urban League of Nebraska, Inc. Most recently, Mr. Bartee was honored as the 2010 Nebraska Career Education Distinguished Partner primarily for his role in developing the Health Sciences High School.