Brandon Grimm, PhD, vice dean of the UNMC College of Public Health, was appointed July 1 as assistant vice chancellor for the UNMC Office of Health Workforce Initiatives. He will become associate vice chancellor in January when inaugural associate vice chancellor Kyle Meyer, PhD, retires from the role. He will retain his role as the vice dean for the UNMC College of Public Health.
The Office of Health Workforce Initiatives was established in 2025 by UNMC Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, to coordinate and advance UNMC’s efforts to strengthen Nebraska’s health workforce and address critical health care needs across the state.
“Building Nebraska’s health workforce to help address the state’s unmet healthcare needs is at the heart of our role as an academic health center,” Dr. Davies said. “Dr. Grimm’s leadership, experience and passion will be integral to the success of the office as we coordinate efforts to both identify and mitigate the state’s most pressing healthcare shortages.”
For Dr. Grimm, a Nebraska native who has spent more than two decades at UNMC, the role is more than a professional appointment.
“My commitment to Nebraska has always been deeply personal,” said Dr. Grimm, who grew up in West Point. “As a lifelong Nebraskan, my mission has been to help create the conditions that allow all Nebraskans to be healthy and thrive. Health workforce development is key because without a strong workforce, access to care, public health services and community well-being are all affected.”
Dr. Grimm said the Office of Health Workforce Initiatives was created to strengthen and connect efforts already underway across UNMC and Nebraska. “There are outstanding workforce initiatives already making an impact and our role is to help connect those efforts, identify opportunities for collaboration and increase our collective impact.”
Addressing workforce shortages requires a broad approach that extends beyond simply increasing the number of health professionals, he said.
“Workforce development is about more than numbers. We need to think strategically about how health resources are distributed, how organizations can share expertise and capacity across regions, and how policy, partnerships and innovation can help expand access to care and improve health outcomes. Many communities face significant provider shortages and limited resources and addressing those challenges will require collaboration across sectors.”
And, while UNMC has an important leadership role, he said, lasting solutions must be developed alongside partners throughout the state.
“No single institution can solve these challenges alone,” Dr. Grimm said. “Our responsibility is to bring people together, use evidence to guide decision-making and help create the conditions for sustainable solutions. UNMC can serve as a convener, a collaborator and a thought leader as Nebraska works to strengthen its health workforce and ensure that every community has the opportunity to thrive.”
As Dr. Meyer prepares to retire, he said he’s grateful to have had the opportunity to help establish the office. “It has been clear from the tremendous support we have received that there was a great need for the office and that it has much to do. Given Dr. Grimm’s skills, background and passion, I am confident that, under his leadership, the office will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of Nebraskans.”
Dr. Davies thanked Dr. Meyer for the “tremendous work he did to envision and establish the Office of Health Workforce Initiatives,” adding, “he laid the important foundation for us to multiply the impact of our collective efforts, and I am excited to see that success grow under Dr. Grimm’s leadership.”