Nebraska Medicine Governance
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents has approved a proposal for sole-member governance of Nebraska Medicine, the longstanding primary clinical partner of UNMC.
Since its inception in 1997, Nebraska Medicine has been governed by a dual-member structure between the University of Nebraska Board of Regents and Clarkson Regional Health Services.
Clarkson approached the Board of Regents in July 2024 with plans to resign its 50% membership rights in Nebraska Medicine, which will leave the University of Nebraska as the sole member.
View Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies' comments to the Board of Regents.
Statement From the Board of Regents, Jan. 22, 2026
The Board of Regents issued a statement about the reconstitution of the Nebraska Medicine Board of Directors.
Statement From the Board of Regents, Jan. 16, 2026
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents has released the following statement in response to a lawsuit filed by Nebraska Medicine in reaction to the regents' vote on sole governance of Nebraska Medicine.
"We are saddened and puzzled by this unnecessary action. The Board of Regents has stated multiple times, including several times in the recent public board meeting, that we have a sincere desire to work in a collaborative fashion with Nebraska Medicine to grow and strengthen health care. The Board of Regents unanimously approved this transaction, and following that vote we moved immediately to once again extend a warm and personal offer to meet and forge ahead together to build a collegial working relationship consistent with Nebraska values.”
Key Points You Should Know
- Nebraska Medicine will not become a state entity, nor will its employees become state employees. It will remain a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
- There will be no changes to day-to-day operations, services or staff because of the proposed transaction. Nebraska Medicine will continue to have its own Board of Directors and budget. Their cash reserves will not be used to address budget shortfalls within the university.
- The University will not use state funds or other academic programming funds to finance this process.
Shifting to a new structure aligns the University of Nebraska Medical Center with many of our peer institutions, and allows us to continue and build upon our mission of providing world-class medical care across Nebraska and beyond.
Questions & Answers
No, employment for Nebraska Medicine colleagues does not change. The dual-employment model for physicians will not change, nor will the status of any other employees either fully employed by Nebraska Medicine or UNMC.
No. Nebraska Medicine employees will not become state employees. Nebraska Medicine will continue to be a separate not for profit corporate entity with its own employees, employee benefits and employment policies.
No. The highly successful Nebraska Medicine leadership structure will remain, and its leadership team members will continue to operate the health system.
No. University of Nebraska leadership assures Nebraska Medicine that the health system will continue to maintain its own budget and finances.
No. The University will not limit provider and staff compensation. Just like other academic medical centers around the country that are part of a public or private university system, the Nebraska Medicine Board and executive leadership will continue to make compensation decisions to recruit and retain top talent.
This will be financed through a carefully planned debt structure and monetization of the real estate property and other assets being transferred. The University will not use state funds or other academic programming funds to finance this process.
Since Clarkson Regional Health Services is resigning from Nebraska Medicine, the transaction to be considered by the Regents is a transaction between only two parties, the Regents and Clarkson. Once it has resigned, Clarkson will have nothing to say about the future governance of Nebraska Medicine.
The Regents have made it very clear to Nebraska Medicine on numerous occasions and in the Term Sheet that the Regents will not close the transaction until work with Nebraska Medicine Board of Directors about the future governance of Nebraska Medicine is agreed upon.