In August 2025, nine trailblazers embarked upon the UNMC College of Pharmacy’s PharmD program as UNMC’s first-ever pharmacy class in Kearney, Nebraska.
“A proud and historic milestone,” said the program’s associate dean, Linda Sobeski, PharmD. Kyle Meyer, PhD, Armstrong Family Distinguished Chair of Rural Healthcare Workforce Strategy, called it: “A tangible step toward fully realizing the promise of the Kearney expansion.”
But the first pharmacy students in Kearney did more than make history. “I have had an amazing experience at UNMC so far,” said Kearney P1 Ella Johnson, who lauded technology, curriculum and culture in keeping the Kearney trailblazers connected with their counterparts 170 miles away on UNMC’s Omaha campus. And yet, “Being a part of a smaller campus has allowed me to make stronger connections with my peers and the staff. While the curriculum has been challenging, I have learned so much.”
UNMC’s expansion of its PharmD program to Kearney is expected to produce far-reaching ripple effects including:
- Improved access to pharmacy education.
- Fewer geographic barriers for students who cannot relocate to Omaha — or who do not want to — including nontraditional learners.
- More locally trained pharmacists who are more likely to stay and practice in rural communities.
- A sustainable pharmacist pipeline for greater Nebraska.
- Stronger partnerships with rural hospitals, clinics and pharmacies through experiential training and shared service models.
- Stronger ties with local communities throughout the state via outreach and education.
- Opportunities to further develop innovative pharmacy practice models and community-based solutions. Students in Kearney undertake the same curriculum as their counterparts in Omaha, often synchronously through distance-learning technology. Instructors conduct training from both the Omaha and Kearney campuses, giving students a mix of in-person and blended technology-based learning.
Don Klepser, PhD, the Joseph D. Williams Endowed Dean of the UNMC College of Pharmacy, likes to call it “two locations, one program.”
University of Nebraska at Kearney graduate Kiernan Bierman said continuing her pharmacy education on the Kearney campus was a no-brainer. “A lot of us here come from more rural areas, and there is a drive to return and help serve.”
