Bradley Britigan, MD, dean of the UNMC College of Medicine, has announced that he will be stepping down from his role, which he has held for the past 15 years.
Dr. Britigan will remain in his current role over the coming months to ensure a smooth leadership transition.
“It is time for a transition in the leadership of the UNMC College of Medicine,” Dr. Britigan said.
“With new senior leaders in place at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine, transitions in structure and governance of the NU system and Nebraska Medicine, and the many challenges and opportunities facing academic medicine, I believe the college would benefit from new energy, ideas and vision,” he said.
UNMC Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, thanked Dr. Britigan for his work as dean, noting the college’s vast successes over the past one-and-a-half decades.
Dr. Davies called Dr. Britigan’s term as dean a transformational one.
“Dr. Britigan has left his mark on the UNMC College of Medicine,” Dr. Davies said. “Under his leadership, the college has not only grown but thrived. We, at UNMC, are grateful for his calm and visionary leadership and look forward to opportunities to celebrate his accomplishments as he serves out the remainder of his term as dean.”
More information on the transition will be available in the coming weeks, Dr. Davies said.
Michael Ash, MD, CEO of Nebraska Medicine, said Dr. Britigan’s career has been defined by extraordinary leadership, service and impact.
“Brad Britigan’s career reflects a remarkable commitment to advancing medicine, education and patient care. His leadership helped strengthen both UNMC and Nebraska Medicine, and his contributions will benefit our communities for years to come. We are deeply grateful for his service, his partnership and his friendship,” Dr. Ash said.
Among Dr. Britigan’s accomplishments as dean, he:
- Oversaw the expansion of the UNMC medical program to Kearney, where the college will welcome its first cohort of students this fall.
- Led the launch of several new departments within the college, including the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, department of dermatology and department of neurosurgery.
- Supported the establishment of several new centers, including the Child Health Research Institute and the Center for Heart and Vascular Research.
- Co-led the initiative that resulted in the formation of Nebraska Medicine and served as its interim president for two years.
- Co-led Children’s Specialty Physicians with the CEO of Children’s Nebraska.
- Oversaw a more than doubling of faculty in the college and a tripling of the college’s extramural research funding.
- Recruited 23 department chairs, as well as other senior leaders, in the college, resulting in a broadening of the background and experience of leaders in those roles.
- Served as a key partner with the leadership of Nebraska Medicine and Children’s Nebraska that resulted in a marked expansion of the breadth, depth and quality of clinical programs.
- Oversaw the development and implementation of a new medical school curriculum.
- Oversaw two successful reaccreditations of the college by the LCME.
- Helped UNMC, in November 2014, enter into an Institutional Affiliation Agreement with Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital to work together to advance their clinical, teaching and research missions, as well as technology development.
A physician-scientist and the Stokes-Shackleford Professor, Dr. Britigan joined UNMC in July 2011 after having served as chair of the department of internal medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and chief of the division of infectious diseases at the University of Iowa College of Medicine.
“It has been a wonderful 15 years for me,” Dr. Britigan said. “I know that even greater things are ahead for the college.”