Kearney Rural Health Project

UNMC, UNK celebrate opening of rural health education complex

Kearney facilities expand UNMC offerings in medicine, pharmacy, public health, nursing and allied health.

May 15, 2026

Ruth Scott and UNK Chancellor Emeritus Doug Kristensen, JD, stand in front of the Douglas A. Kristensen Rural Health Education Complex.

Ceremony today to celebrate UNMC’s expansion in Kearney

The new Health Science Education Center II is part of the Douglas A. Kristensen Rural Health Education Complex.

May 14, 2026

An exterior photo of the Health Science Education Center II building at the Douglas A. Kristensen Rural Health Education Complex on the UNMC Kearney campus.

Health Science Education Center II atrium named for Hamiltons

Carey and Brian Hamilton commit $5 million to support the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s rural health initiatives.

Apr 3, 2026

Carey and Brian Hamilton

First UNMC Kearney medical class to be awarded scholarships

The new scholarships will cover at least half the cost of medical school tuition for all four years for the first class of medical students at Kearney.

Feb 23, 2026

The Health Science Education Center II at the Douglas A. Kristensen Rural Health Education Complex at the University of Nebraska at Kearney

Pharmacy, nursing students in Kearney join for vaccine clinics

The effort this fall marked the first interprofessional immunization clinics as UNMC expands on the Kearney campus.

Jan 7, 2026

UNMC health sciences students at Kearney teamed up to offer the first interprofessional student-run immunization clinics on the Kearney campus. From left are nursing students Kyra Kruse, Jenna Jakubowski, Vanessa Cardiel and Cody Swinarski, along with pharmacy students Kiernan Bierman and Brianna Plaster.

First pharmacy students in Kearney mark proud milestone

Catching up with the first cohort of the UNMC College of Pharmacy’s class at UNMC’s Kearney campus.

Nov 7, 2025

UNMC College of Pharmacy associate dean, Kearney, Linda Sobeski, PharmD, left, and interim dean of pharmacy Don Klepser, PhD, right, pose with the inaugural class of UNMC pharmacy students at Kearney: front row from left, Vance Sayer, Brianna Plaster, Megan Lukert, Ella Johnson. Back row, Brady Spotanski, Carter Schultz, Kiernan Bierman, Bethany Smallwood, Lexi Bode.

Radiation therapy program expands to Kearney

The enrollment of the first radiation therapy students there represent another UNMC expansion to the campus.

Sep 11, 2025

Lisa Bartenhagen, UNMC's director of radiation therapy education

UNMC’s first PharmD class in Kearney embarks on program

Kiernan Bierman, who is from Hastings, Nebraska, is one of nine students in UNMC College of Pharmacy’s initial class.

Aug 25, 2025

Kiernan Bierman

Drone fly along offers Kearney construction tour

As UNMC programs expand in Kearney, the Health Science Education Center II is set to open in early 2026.

Aug 6, 2025

Construction on the 110,000-square-foot Health Science Education Center II in Kearney is progressing toward an early 2026 opening.

New faculty spotlight: Kiran Sapkota, PhD

Dr. Sapkota is an assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the UNMC Kearney campus.

Jul 31, 2025

Kiran Sapkoa, PhD