Community Connect

Creating paths to better health — together

Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. By working hand-in-hand with community members, we amplify our collective impact and drive positive change where it is needed most.

One of our most important goals is to develop partnerships that embrace shared leadership to set common goals, align resources and gather data for continuous improvement and a greater impact.

Countless hours of collaboration take place each year between our community partners and UNMC faculty, staff and students — making a tangible difference in the lives of all involved.

Become a Community Partner

Makayla McMorris, Moxie16

"I believe that community engagement builds and sustains the well-being of our state. This kind of purpose-driven connectivity has also been linked to mental and physical benefits – it’s one of the many reasons I’m dedicated to service."

Learn about Makayla McMorris

Juan Carlos Veloso, Grace United Methodist Church

"I have been able to advocate for Latino families in South Omaha on issues like discrimination by landlords or by lawyers taking advantage of people paying them thousands of dollars. I know what it is to accompany a six-year-old boy from Guatemala who presented by himself before an immigration judge. In my context, this is what community engagement is."

Learn about Pastor Juan Carlos Veloso

Yesenia Valenzuela, City of Omaha & South Omaha Community Care Council

"I have been a champion for children and families for over 15 years, working in various capacities in the non-profit sector. I am passionate and dedicated to improving the lives of the most vulnerable, and shifting the perspectives of the community."

Learn about Yesenia Valenzuela

Schalisha Walker, Nebraska Appleseed

“'Be the change you wish to see in the world' is a quote that drives me to be the advocate that I am today and to always have compassion as I do this work."

Learn about Schalisha Walker

Key Details

The Carnegie Foundation defines community engagement as the collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity.

At UNMC, community engagement means developing mutually respectful, strengths-based relationships between UNMC, its faculty and staff, community members and community organizations. These relationships support valued community members and progress toward joint health goals and those health goals of the broader community.

Through the efforts of a dedicated interprofessional team of faculty and staff, UNMC is designated a Community Engaged Campus by the Carnegie Foundation, one of four medical schools and the first health professions university in the nation to be so designated.

According to the Carnegie Foundation, community engagement enriches scholarship and creative activity; enhances curriculum, teaching and learning; prepares educated, engaged citizens; strengthens democratic values and civic responsibility; addresses critical socially issues; and contributes to public good.

When you become a UNMC community partner, you can tap into our expertise and resources to improve the overall health and well-being of your community. This connection often leads to research, insights and potential innovations — all geared to help you thrive.

Plus, through our connection with the community, we enhance your access to skilled workers — we educate and graduate leaders from Nebraska who are committed to returning to Nebraska's rural and urban areas to practice health care.

Finally, as we expand our network, you will, too. We can connect you with like-minded organizations and individuals who will support and further your mission.

Become a community partner

The UNMC Office of Community Engagement actively seeks out and responds to community voices, strengths and needs. Staff know their communities, and many are members of the communities they serve. Our office collaborates with families, community members and other local agencies to identify common goals, align resources and share data to form effective partnerships to improve the health of our community to ensure a strong, equitable future for all.

Currently, community engagement occurs at many levels within UNMC and within each UNMC campus. First, engagement is conducted at the university level, with engagement directly linked to overall strategic plans. Next, engagement happens at the college and departmental levels, where specific expertise is matched with need. Lastly, engagement happens at the individual level, based on person-specific factors and unique opportunities presented to both individual and community partner.

Partnerships can also be based on longstanding common goals or project-focused goals based on identified need.