Vice Chancellor for External Relations

Chris Kratochvil, MD, is vice chancellor for external relations at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, focusing on government relations, strategic communications, rural and community initiatives.  Dr. Kratochvil serves as senior adviser to the Office for the Advancement of Military Medicine and the Global Center for Health Security. In 2021 was named the inaugural distinguished chair for the Global Center for Health Security. 

A 28-year faculty member at UNMC, Dr. Kratochvil had held leadership roles in clinical research, health security and administration.

Currently, Dr. Kratochvil serves as vice president for external relations for the University of Nebraska system.  In this role, Dr. Kratochvil is a member of the president’s executive cabinet and oversees communications, event planning, marketing and branding, and government relations. 

Dr. Kratochvil is a core competency adviser for Active and Passive Medical Defense against Weapons of Mass Destruction and Consequence Management for the National Strategic Research Institute. 

Dr. Kratochvil previously served as co-principal investigator of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response Training, Simulation and Quarantine Center initiative, which trains federal partners and provides quarantine services for the U.S.  He also served as co-principal investigator of the federally funded National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center, which supports research and preparedness nationally, and helped launch the Special Pathogens Research Network. He is a member of the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit leadership team, and from 2020-21 served as chair of the Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases.