{"id":133674,"date":"2026-07-01T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=133674"},"modified":"2026-06-30T16:19:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T21:19:15","slug":"a-desire-to-make-a-difference-dr-davies-becomes-unmc-chancellor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2026\/07\/01\/a-desire-to-make-a-difference-dr-davies-becomes-unmc-chancellor\/","title":{"rendered":"A desire to make a difference: Dr. Davies becomes UNMC chancellor"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"panel body-content\"><div class=\"panel__container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">H. Dele Davies, MD, has always wanted to be a difference-maker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And he points to role models who, during his childhood in Nigeria, set him on a path that led to him being named permanent chancellor of UNMC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today (July 1), following his unanimous June 18 appointment by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, Dr. Davies officially becomes the ninth chancellor of UNMC. He has been serving in an interim capacity since July 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Dr. Davies, this is his latest and most exciting opportunity to make a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Defining principles in life<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His father, a first-generation college graduate, was an attorney, a government official and active church member. Both his parents instilled in their son a passion for service \u2013 for making a difference in people\u2019s lives \u2013 that stays with Dr. Davies to this day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cServing and looking for opportunities to make a difference, that&#8217;s one of my defining principles in life,\u201d Dr. Davies said. \u201cMy father was generous in the community, and, as an attorney, helped so many people throughout his life. That desire to help, to make a difference, came to me by watching how he made an impact on people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An older cousin \u2013 \u201cI call him Uncle,\u201d Dr. Davies said \u2013 motivated Dr. Davies in his formative years to dream of making an impact on people&#8217;s health. The only physician in the family, the cousin treated Dr. Davies when he was struck down by cerebral malaria just after he entered primary school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe was the one who treated and cured me,\u201d Dr. Davies recalls. \u201cSo that was very dramatic, to see the power of medicine at that young age.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although his cousin lived most of his life in Bermuda, where he still resides, he would make a point to visit Dr. Davies and his family when he returned to Nigeria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe was a great role model,\u201d Dr. Davies said. \u201cI really connected to him, and we remain close to this day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Moving abroad from Nigeria<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Herbert Oladele Davies was born in Nigeria. \u201cDele,\u201d his longtime nickname, is the diminutive of his middle name, which means \u201cBlessings have come home.\u201d The aspiring doctor started his world travels relatively young. At age 15, he left Nigeria to attend primary school in England. He then attended college, medical school and completed a residency in pediatrics in Canada. He took the year following residency to work in private practice, volunteer as a pediatrician in India and backpack across Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/DaviesMedicalSchool062926.jpg\" alt=\"Herbert Oladele Davies in his medical school portrait\" class=\"wp-image-133680\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/DaviesMedicalSchool062926.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/DaviesMedicalSchool062926-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/DaviesMedicalSchool062926-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Herbert Oladele Davies in his medical school portrait<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When he returned to Canada, he immersed himself again in training, completing a fellowship in infectious diseases as well as research training in Toronto. After less than a year on faculty in Toronto, he was recruited by Alberta Children\u2019s Hospital at the University of Calgary and spent nine years building his research career, caring for patients, teaching medical students and learning from mentors what it means to be a truly great leader. Dr. Davies then was recruited to the United States to serve as chairman of the department of pediatrics at Michigan State University, where he led for nine years prior to coming to UNMC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Davies credits his commitment to lifelong education as a major part of his success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy father, as a first-generation university student, instilled in me and his whole family the value of education,\u201d Dr. Davies said. \u201cI saw the opportunities it provided and how people sought him out as a leader because of his education. No matter where I have been in the world, I have witnessed the power of education to transform the trajectory of people&#8217;s lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Influencing access to care<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was at Michigan State that Dr. Davies created an initiative that led the community to address what in many ways exemplifies one of his major goals as a physician and educator: access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDuring community focus groups, we found that transportation was a big problem for children, especially children in families that were on Medicaid,\u201d he said. \u201cThey were missing more of their appointments than other children. Even children with cancer weren&#8217;t getting their cancer treatment on time because they were missing appointments.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During his time in Lansing, Dr. Davies created the MSU Children\u2019s Health Initiative to address access issues. The foundation and inspiration from this initiative ultimately led one of his friends and former employees to create a nonprofit focused on recruiting volunteers to bring young children or pregnant women and their families to their appointments. Although Dr. Davies already had been recruited to UNMC by the time the nonprofit started, his Lansing colleagues named their organization \u201cThe Davies Project\u201d in recognition of his leadership and passion for the mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey\u2019ve now been able to transport thousands of individuals to their appointments, often while also helping to care for other children in the family during the visit,\u201d he said. \u201cThat has been transformational for families of the Greater Lansing area. Maybe one child, who may have died of cancer, is now cured and has the potential to become a leader in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Unique opportunities in leadership<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SouthOmaha2103125-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Interim chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, hosted a South Omaha Leadership breakfast at the Latino Center of the Midlands Tuesday October 14, 2025.\" class=\"wp-image-127320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SouthOmaha2103125-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SouthOmaha2103125-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SouthOmaha2103125-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SouthOmaha2103125-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SouthOmaha2103125-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SouthOmaha2103125-900x600.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dr. Davies speaks during a 2025 South Omaha Leadership breakfast held at the Latino Center of the Midlands.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Davies also recognizes his unique opportunity to transform lives as UNMC\u2019s new chancellor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAt UNMC, our powerful mission strongly resonates with my natural inclination to look for ways in which I can help transform people&#8217;s lives. By mentoring, guiding, inspiring, educating and serving, our faculty, staff and students are doing all they can to ensure every community we live in grows and is the best we can make it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOne of the commonalities that I&#8217;ve found, everywhere I\u2019ve been, is that people want to feel valued,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople want to have the maximum potential realized in their lives. One of my main goals in life is to help people be the best they can, to see what I can do to help connect them to their goals and their vision, and help them be part of something bigger than themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But being an administrator was not part of his vision for himself \u2013 at least, not initially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI wanted to be a physician,\u201d he said. \u201cI never had any aspirations of becoming an administrator. But my tendency is such that, whenever I&#8217;m asked to do something that I agree to do, I put my heart and soul into it. And that has usually translated into impact and being asked to do something else.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As his professional responsibilities grew, Dr. Davies returned to education to broaden his skill set. He earned a master&#8217;s in epidemiology before being recruited to the University of Calgary, where he oversaw the Child Health Research Unit, growing it from a hospital-based research unit to a universitywide research group. Dr. Davies also earned an executive master&#8217;s in healthcare management, similar to an MBA, at the Harvard School of Public Health during his time at MSU, which broadened his financial and management skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAlong the way, I&#8217;ve gotten all this training about leadership,\u201d he said. \u201cIt inspires me to want to make a difference in every organization, every situation I&#8217;m in, to bring my best to every situation and help transform <em>every<\/em> single community that I&#8217;m part of.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Advancing UNMC&#8217;s mission<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As he transitions to UNMC\u2019s permanent chancellor, Dr. Davies leans into the UNMC mission of leading the world through training the next generation of health care providers, advancing lifesaving research, providing extraordinary patient care and boosting the economy \u2013 again as a gateway to transforming lives for Nebraskans and the nation. As interim chancellor, he frequently traveled the state \u2013 from meeting tribal leaders in Macy to state senators in Central Nebraska to educators in the western part of the state \u2013 to find out how UNMC can better partner with communities to grow the healthcare workforce and build more resilient healthcare services. That statewide engagement will continue as UNMC chancellor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI want every child to recognize healthcare careers are more than what you see in a doctor&#8217;s office,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have a wide spectrum of people working as facility managers, computer scientists, lawyers or engineers that are all having an impact on care \u2013 and they can, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor those students who are interested in patient care, I want to make the pathway as simple and as clear as possible, to remove barriers that stop qualified students from becoming much needed healthcare providers. Scholarships are key, because that&#8217;s a big barrier for many kids, thinking that they can&#8217;t attend because they can&#8217;t afford it. And for some of them, it&#8217;s more than scholarships. It&#8217;s also they can&#8217;t leave their communities, and we need to train them close to home because they&#8217;re taking care of the family farm, or their mom, dad or another family member.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhere there is access, there is opportunity \u2013 for education, for improved health, for those who will become leaders going forward. For Nebraska, UNMC is an avenue to transformation. As both a physician and an educator, I am excited for what we can do here to impact the students and people of Nebraska and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As H. Dele Davies, MD, officially takes the position of chancellor, he discusses his path to reaching this point.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":126352,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"94456,117359,31328,78349,124336,100485","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3238],"class_list":["post-133674","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-chancellor","topic-inside-unmc","topic-unmc-community","department-unmc-front-page","department-unmc-today-todays-headlines","author_override-john-keenan-unmc-strategic-communications"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A desire to make a difference: Dr. Davies becomes UNMC chancellor<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"As H. 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