Empowering Health: Join the Conversation on Expanding Workforce Initiatives in Healthcare

Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, and Kyle Meyer, PhD, recently held a campus forum at UNMC to introduce the new Office of Health Workforce Initiatives. This office aims to enhance the existing support for rural healthcare and connect UNMC’s workforce efforts with external partners.

Dr. Davies welcomed students and staff back for the new school year, reflecting on cherished traditions like orientation and white coat ceremonies. He acknowledged the troubling rise in gun violence across the nation, emphasizing UNMC’s role as a healing community. He reminded attendees that support is always available for those who need it.

Dr. Meyer, who is also the dean of UNMC’s College of Allied Health Professions, shared the new office’s goals. It will bring together various initiatives and act as a single point of contact for outside agencies. He noted the importance of building relationships with preceptors and expanding programs in regional areas like Kearney. “We are the No. 1 provider of the healthcare workforce in Nebraska,” Dr. Davies stated, highlighting the ongoing need for improved healthcare access in the state.

One of the key strategies is to integrate UNMC students and residents into Nebraska communities. Instead of merely assigning placements, they plan to engage with these communities to understand their specific needs. This approach ensures that healthcare providers receive support tailored to their particular challenges.

In other updates, Dr. Davies celebrated several achievements, including Siddappa Byrareddy’s selection as UNMC’s 20th Scientist Laureate. He discussed the upcoming Employee Engagement Survey, assured that health insurance negotiations are ongoing, and emphasized the university’s commitment to stability amid budget concerns. He mentioned that while NIH funding has decreased, UNMC has benefited from increased industry grants.

Dr. Davies expressed his hope for Congress to support NIH funding in the future and stressed the importance of addressing chronic diseases in research proposals. He noted legislative efforts focused on improving dental care access and praised the leadership of the UNMC College of Dentistry in caring for veterans.

Construction on the Kearney campus is progressing on schedule, and COVID vaccines will be available to all employees without prescription requirements. Dr. Davies invited the campus community to engage with new facilities that promote collaboration and innovation.

Exciting developments include ongoing student housing construction and a ribbon-cutting for a new parking garage in the EDGE District coming up on October 8. However, updates on the 42nd Street construction timeline were less encouraging, as that project is not expected to be completed for some time.

This forum served as a reminder of UNMC’s commitment to address healthcare needs effectively while fostering a supportive environment for its students and staff.



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