Hemant Roy, MD, a gastroenterologist and former UNMC faculty member, has been named the new chair of the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine.
Dr. Roy currently chairs the department of internal medicine at Ben Taub Hospital and serves as associate dean of academic and faculty affairs at Baylor College of Medicine, both in Houston.
UNMC College of Medicine Dean Bradley Britigan, MD, made the announcement Nov. 13.
Dr. Britigan said Dr. Roy’s demonstrated expertise in leading a complex academic department aligned with a major hospital made him an attractive candidate. Dr. Britigan noted that, at UNMC, Dr. Roy will lead not only the largest clinical department in the college, but also a department that is a major research and educational contributor, the latter at both the graduate and undergraduate level.
“We are excited to have Dr. Roy rejoining us at UNMC,” Dr. Britigan said. “We expect that the department of internal medicine will continue to grow and flourish under his leadership.”
Michael Ash, MD, CEO of Nebraska Medicine, said: “Dr. Roy’s proven leadership and dedication to education, research and clinical excellence will guide the department’s continued growth and success. We are delighted to welcome him back to UNMC and Nebraska Medicine.”
Dr. Roy, who earned his medical degree with distinction from Northwestern University in 1989, has been continuously funded National Institutes of Health researcher since 2004. His interests focus on GI cancer risk stratification, and he has been involved in the development and clinical implementation of a variety of techniques for risk stratification, including molecular and nano-imaging approaches.
Dr. Britigan said Dr. Roy’s research focus, with its focus on GI cancers, makes him a potentially strong partner for the National Cancer Institute-designated Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, as well. He has longstanding collaborations with members of the cancer center, including Surinder Batra, PhD, and others.
“Apart from the cutting-edge research at UNMC, the clinical excellence and amazing teaching made the UNMC opportunity extremely attractive,” Dr. Roy said.
Dr. Roy’s first experience at UNMC was as an assistant professor from 1995 to 2002. He has since held positions at Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, Boston University Medical Center, as well as affiliated hospitals. During his time in Omaha, he worked at the VA from 2000 to 2002.
In addition to developing a screening program for people who are genetically at high risk of cancer, he won the Sir William Osler Internal Medicine Teaching Award, along with a career development award, from the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
“My time at UNMC was indispensable in a career of excellence in the clinical, research and teaching facets of academic medicine,” Dr. Roy said. “I am extraordinarily excited about returning to UNMC to give back to the institution that helped launch my academic career.”
Dr. Roy’s appointment will be effective March 2026.
Dr. Britigan thanked Joseph Khoury, MD, for chairing the search committee, as well as all members of the committee, for their effort and commitment during the search process.
Drs. Ash and Britigan praised Mark Rupp, MD, “for the outstanding work he has done as interim chair and for his steady leadership during this transition.”