{"id":110185,"date":"2024-04-10T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-10T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=110185"},"modified":"2024-04-09T15:34:25","modified_gmt":"2024-04-09T20:34:25","slug":"forum-discusses-recent-legislation-campus-updates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2024\/04\/10\/forum-discusses-recent-legislation-campus-updates\/","title":{"rendered":"Forum discusses recent legislation, campus updates"},"content":{"rendered":"
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During April\u2019s all-campus forum, leaders highlighted recent legislation that will impact UNMC and its clinical partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Monday, Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, was joined by Chris Kratochvil, MD, who highlighted the recent passage of Legislative Bill 834 to help recruit dental residents, expansion of ARPA-funded nursing scholarships and the signing of LB 1087, which provides additional federal Medicaid funding to Nebraska to be used by hospitals across the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of the latter, Dr. Kratochvil, UNMC\u2019s vice chancellor for external relations, said: \u201cThis will be a great support for our hospital partner and provide access and support to hospitals across the state.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Kratochvil noted that the legislative session ends April 18, and UNMC Government Relations \u2013 with new director Jeff Kratz, who begins his role May 1 \u2013 will monitor any interim studies that directly impact UNMC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than two weeks ago, Dr. Gold was designated by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents as the priority candidate to serve as the next president of the NU System. In his first UNMC campus forum since the March 20 designation, when asked about the presidential search process, Dr. Gold said:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI cannot tell you how honored, excited and humbled I am. Last February marked my 10th<\/sup> anniversary at UNMC. I am a very proud Nebraskan by choice and have come to deeply appreciate our communities and the broader state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo think this might be possible is a very humbling thought, but the weeks ahead are a vetting process. \u2026There\u2019s no predetermined outcome, just a unique opportunity to meet even more caring Nebraskans who want the very best for their university.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The appointment is subject to a vote of the NU Board of Regents following a mandatory 30-day public vetting period.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch the recording of the April 8 forum.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Gold said he is excited by the process and learning more about what Nebraskans believe their university can and should do for them. Although he\u2019s been asked \u201cwhat happens at the med center\u201d should he be voted president, his focus is only on the present, he said. \u201cRight now, my focus is to go through the vetting period with eyes wide open.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In serving as provost of the NU System, he said he\u2019s worked with the academic and research programs across each NU campus, in addition to his experiences serving as chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Omaha and working with the University of Nebraska at Kearney on the Douglas A. Kristensen Rural Health Education Complex, a joint partnership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a federal level, Drs. Gold and Kratochvil highlighted UNMC\u2019s success in securing funding to plan for the infectious diseases air transport facility, which builds on UNMC\u2019s existing partnership with the U.S. Air Force, and funds for future pedestrian bike bridges across both Leavenworth Stree and Saddle Creek Road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other business, Dr. Gold:<\/p>\n\n\n\n