History

The University of Nebraska has a long history of leadership and training in psychiatry. Before 1987, UNMC was home to the Nebraska Psychiatric Institute (1955-1987.) This award-winning facility (1965 APA Mental Hospital Service Award) with over 90 beds was home to the first telemedicine system in the United States (1959.) It had also had a psychiatry training program. 

In 1987, the Departments of Psychiatry at Creighton University and UNMC merged administratively, and the two area residency programs came together. The new Creighton-Nebraska residency training program was formed, and Creighton University was the institution of record. One of the unique features of the two-department residency program was drawing from the strengths of two academic partners, one private and the other public. Fully accredited training was offered in General Psychiatry as well as Fellowships in Geriatric, Child & Adolescent, and Addiction Psychiatry. Trainees had protected time to attend required educational activities, including case conferences, journal clubs, Grand Rounds, and didactic courses. Residents received encouragement to participate in extramural educational activities and attendance at national conferences.

In 1999, the two departments split, but the residency program remained together with UNMC supporting the program financially, clinically, and educationally. 

In 2018, the University of Nebraska announced that a new, separate residency program would restart at UNMC with its goals of welcoming new residents in July 2020 and becoming a top training program in the Midwest. Initial accreditation was approved by the ACGME in February 2019. 

Presently, the UNMC residency anticipates five PGY-1 spots annually. An ACGME site visit was completed in September 2021. Continued ("full") accreditation was achieved on February 11, 2022.