On Wednesday, students, faculty, and staff gathered for a sneak peek of the new Health Science Education Center II at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. This impressive three-story building is a major step forward for health care education in rural Nebraska.
Spanning 110,000 square feet, the facility will provide modern training spaces, including simulation labs and tech-rich classrooms. It’s designed to encourage collaboration, helping students from different medical fields learn together.
Kyle Meyer, an expert from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, called the new center a “tremendous resource.” He explained that it offers similar quality and experiences as the Omaha campus, albeit on a smaller scale.
This $95 million building is the second significant facility built by UNMC on the UNK campus, joining the original Health Science Education Center from 2015. Together, they create a complex that emphasizes interprofessional education. The idea is that students learn about each other’s roles, preparing them for teamwork in the real world. Studies show that team-based care can lead to better patient outcomes and increased satisfaction for healthcare providers.
Currently, the building is in a phased move-in process and is set to be fully operational by May, coinciding with a ribbon-cutting event. Once complete, it will host around 625 students, nearly doubling the current population in Kearney.
For UNK freshman Addie Schuka, seeing the facility firsthand was inspiring. “It’s awesome,” she said. As an exercise science major aiming for a career in occupational therapy, she appreciates the facilities in Kearney, which provide a more personalized education compared to larger schools.
Addie is part of the Kearney Health Opportunities Program (KHOP), aimed at helping students from rural areas pursue health careers. She has already visited local hospitals, gaining insights into the vital role of rural healthcare facilities. “You really see how important they are to their communities,” she noted.
Jaycee Reynolds, a pre-pharmacy student from a small town, echoed Addie’s feelings. With limited access to healthcare in her hometown, she aims to improve service in rural areas. She finds the new facility beautiful and filled with advanced technology that makes learning exciting.
The new building isn’t just for training health care students. It will host programs in communication disorders, student health services, and nursing courses from Central Community College, fostering an environment of shared learning and growth.
Meyer highlighted that the Rural Health Education Complex addresses a pressing need. Currently, 66 of Nebraska’s 93 counties are classified as medically underserved. By educating students in smaller communities, they are more likely to stay and work in those areas.
Since 2015, the first Health Science Education Center has produced over 850 graduates, with around 85% choosing to practice in Nebraska. Meyer believes that the addition of a second facility will strengthen the health workforce further.
UNK Chancellor Neal Schnoor described this project as a significant milestone with unprecedented impact. With roughly 25% of undergraduates studying health sciences, these students no longer need to leave Nebraska for top-quality education.
Schnoor emphasized the initiative’s potential to enhance healthcare, bolster local economies, and create jobs. Once fully operational, the complex is expected to support about 240 local jobs and generate an estimated economic impact of $34.5 million annually.
“It’s exciting to see it all come together,” Meyer concluded, reflecting on how the first building has already had a great impact and looking forward to what the second one will bring.
For more information on health initiatives in Nebraska, consider visiting the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
