Public Relations

Stronger communities mean a better Nebraska. That’s a major goal of the UNMC and a Healthier Nebraska projects. Each is designed to address critical health care workforce shortages, fuel our economy and ensure Nebraskans across the state receive high-quality health care.

Part of the University of Nebraska initiative which has been approved, the “Building a Healthier Nebraska” proposal seeks a $91 million investment from the state’s cash reserve fund to support capital projects in Omaha, Lincoln and Kearney. The state funds would be leveraged with more than $300 million in additional support from private donors, patient revenues and other sources.

Projects include:

• A $50 million investment in a new $370 million cancer center campus in Omaha;
• A $19 million, 30,000-square-foot addition to the Bruner Hall of Science at the University of Nebraska at Kearney to provide space for nursing and allied health science programs.
• A new $5 million Veterinary Diagnostic Center on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's campus.

All would train future health care professionals, recruit talented researchers and help create an economically competitive state.

Listen to our radio ads on cancer and rural workforce shortage.

Governor approves 'Healthier Nebraska' funds
Construction of a cancer research tower on the UNMC Omaha campus, a nursing and allied health education center in Kearney and a veterinary diagnostic center in Lincoln will receive state support thanks to budget bills signed Monday by Gov. Dave Heineman.

A perfect storm
When Jeff Shelton, CEO at Harlan County Health System in Alma, Neb., looks at the health-care situation in central Nebraska, he sees dark clouds gather.

To learn closer to home
Allied Health student Janae Nienhueser cherishes her UNMC opportunities, but she can't help but think what it would be like to get the same education closer to her Central Nebraska home.

Haley Peters -- a student, a researcher, a daughter
Haley Peters could have gone anywhere. But the grad student and future cancer researcher stayed close to home because the best was already there.

Allied in health
A team of Allied Health professionals guide and nurture Shawn Smith through her cancer treatment.