A landscape where specialized medical care often lies hours away has long defined the reality for a significant portion of Nebraska, but a landmark initiative in the heart of the state is poised to fundamentally reshape that narrative. The University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK), in a transformative partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), has officially opened the doors to a pioneering facility designed to cultivate the next generation of health care professionals directly within the communities they are destined to serve. This strategic investment marks a pivotal moment in the state’s approach to solving one of its most persistent challenges: the accessibility and quality of rural health care.
Confronting the Critical Shortage in Nebraska’s Rural Health
The urgency behind this development is underscored by a stark reality. A staggering 66 of Nebraska’s 93 counties are federally designated as medically underserved areas, creating significant disparities in health outcomes for residents. This shortage of professionals means that for many families, accessing everything from primary care to specialized therapies requires extensive travel, leading to delayed diagnoses, inconsistent treatment, and a lower overall quality of life. The challenge is not simply a matter of numbers but a complex issue of distribution, where the state’s health care workforce has historically been concentrated in its metropolitan centers.
This new initiative represents more than just an expansion of educational infrastructure; it is a direct and calculated response to this long-standing crisis. By establishing a world-class training ground in central Nebraska, university leaders are tackling the workforce deficit at its source. The core belief driving the project is that by training students from rural backgrounds closer to home, the probability of them putting down roots and practicing in those same communities after graduation increases exponentially. It is a long-term solution aimed at building a self-sustaining ecosystem of care for greater Nebraska.
A Game-Changing Strategy for Workforce Development
Shifting the Paradigm With Interprofessional, Place-Based Training
At the heart of the new complex is a pedagogical philosophy known as the interprofessional model. This approach intentionally brings together students from a wide range of health disciplines—including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, and public health—to learn with and from one another. The curriculum is designed to simulate the collaborative, team-based environments they will encounter in modern clinics and hospitals. By understanding the distinct roles and expertise of their future colleagues before ever entering the workforce, graduates are better prepared to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care.
This educational model is powerfully combined with a place-based strategy. The decision to locate this advanced complex in Kearney is a deliberate move to decentralize elite medical education and embed it within the region it is designed to impact. This approach not only provides unparalleled access for students from rural Nebraska but also allows them to complete their clinical training in the very types of settings where their skills are most needed. They build professional networks and a deep understanding of the unique health challenges facing rural populations, fostering a commitment to service that extends far beyond the classroom.
By the Numbers: Projecting a New Wave of Health Professionals
The foundation for this ambitious expansion is built upon a proven track record of success. The original Health Science Education Center, which opened on the UNK campus in 2015, has served as a powerful proof of concept. Since its inauguration, approximately 85% of its 850 graduates have chosen to remain and practice in Nebraska, demonstrating the powerful draw of localized, high-quality training. This remarkable retention rate provides compelling evidence that the model works.
The new facility allows for a dramatic scaling of this successful initiative. With its launch, UNMC’s student enrollment in Kearney is projected to nearly double, growing to a cohort of around 625 health care learners. Critically, this growth includes the introduction of programs never before offered in the region, such as medicine, pharmacy, and public health. This expansion, coupled with the strengthening of established programs in nursing and allied health professions, signals the creation of the largest and most comprehensive rural health education initiative in the nation.
Inside the State-of-the-Art Rural Health Education Complex
Fostering Collaboration Through Purpose-Built Design
The physical structure of the new Health Science Education Center II is a testament to the project’s forward-thinking vision. The three-story, 110,000-square-foot building, constructed with a $95 million investment, was meticulously designed to break down traditional academic silos. Its architecture intentionally creates numerous spaces for organic interaction, from open study lounges and shared dining areas to small-group collaboration rooms. The layout is engineered to encourage students from different disciplines to cross paths, share ideas, and build the professional relationships that are foundational to effective team-based care.
This purpose-built environment serves as a physical manifestation of the interprofessional educational model. Every design choice reinforces the idea that modern health care is a collaborative endeavor. By creating a space where a future pharmacist can study alongside a future physician and physical therapist, the complex cultivates a culture of mutual respect and shared understanding from the very first day of training. The building itself becomes an active participant in teaching the soft skills of communication and teamwork that are just as critical as clinical knowledge.
A Hub for Advanced Simulation and Hands-On Learning
Beyond its collaborative spaces, the complex is equipped with some of the most advanced training technologies available. State-of-the-art simulation suites and clinical skills laboratories allow students to practice complex procedures, diagnostic techniques, and critical patient interactions in a hyper-realistic, low-risk environment. These immersive learning experiences bridge the gap between textbook knowledge and real-world application, building both competence and confidence before students begin their clinical rotations with actual patients.
This new building joins the existing facility to form the newly christened Douglas A. Kristensen Rural Health Education Complex, a comprehensive ecosystem for health sciences. Its impact extends beyond UNMC programs, showcasing a deep commitment to regional partnership. The complex also houses UNK’s own communication disorders program and provides space for Central Community College’s nursing students, creating a multi-institutional hub for health care education. This integration ensures that the facility’s world-class resources benefit learners at multiple stages of their professional journeys.
The Human Element: Voices of the Next Generation
From Rural Roots to Frontline Futures: Student Motivations
The true measure of the complex’s potential lies in the aspirations of the students it serves. For many, like aspiring occupational therapist Addie Schuka, the facility is a powerful motivator. As a member of the Kearney Health Opportunities Program (KHOP), which recruits rural students for health careers, she sees the new center as a clear signal that she can receive a premier education without leaving the region. The access to resources on par with, or even exceeding, those at the main Omaha campus validates her choice to study in an environment that also offers smaller class sizes and closer faculty relationships.
For others, the drive is deeply personal. Jaycee Reynolds, a pre-pharmacy student from the small town of Ewing, recalls a time when local health care was so limited that doctors held clinic in the community library. That firsthand experience with access barriers fuels her determination to serve a rural community, and the Kearney complex provides a tangible and accessible pathway to achieve that goal. It represents an opportunity to acquire the skills needed to fill a critical gap in her own backyard.
How a World-Class Local Facility Inspires and Retains Talent
The presence of such a sophisticated facility in central Nebraska has a profound psychological impact on recruitment and retention. It eliminates the long-held assumption that aspiring health professionals must relocate to a major metropolitan area to receive a top-tier education. This shift empowers students to pursue their ambitions while staying connected to their communities, families, and support networks, which significantly increases the likelihood that they will remain in the state to build their careers.
By providing a world-class local option, UNK and UNMC are cultivating a sense of regional pride and possibility. Students can see a direct line from their education to a fulfilling professional life in greater Nebraska. This inspires a new generation to view rural health not as a secondary option but as a dynamic and rewarding career path, ensuring that the talent pipeline remains robust for years to come.
A Vision for a Healthier, More Prosperous Nebraska
Economic Ripple Effect: Jobs, Growth, and Community Vitality
The impact of the Rural Health Education Complex extends far beyond the walls of the campus and the boundaries of the health care sector. This major investment serves as a powerful economic engine for the Kearney area and the surrounding region. When fully operational, the complex is projected to support approximately 240 local jobs and generate an estimated annual economic impact of $34.5 million. This infusion of capital stimulates local businesses, supports community development, and enhances the overall economic vitality of central Nebraska.
Furthermore, a healthier population is a more productive one. By improving access to quality health care, the initiative contributes to a stronger workforce, reduces the economic burden of untreated chronic conditions, and makes rural communities more attractive places to live and work. This creates a virtuous cycle where investment in health infrastructure leads to broader economic growth and prosperity for the entire state.
Cultivating a Sustainable Pipeline of Rural Health Leaders
The ultimate vision for the complex is to create a sustainable, long-term solution to Nebraska’s rural health care challenges. With roughly a quarter of UNK’s undergraduates already pursuing health sciences, a strong foundational pipeline of interested students exists. This new facility now provides them with a seamless pathway to continue their education to the highest professional levels without leaving the region they call home.
This strategy is about more than just filling job vacancies; it is about cultivating the next generation of rural health leaders. These graduates will not only be clinicians but also community advocates, innovators, and mentors who understand the unique cultural and logistical nuances of providing care in greater Nebraska. They will become the bedrock of a resilient and thriving rural health care system for decades to come.
A Transformative Investment for Decades to Come
The opening of the Health Science Education Center II marked the culmination of a strategic vision years in the making. The facility stood not merely as a new building but as a powerful symbol of Nebraska’s commitment to the health and prosperity of its rural communities. Through a pioneering educational model that blended interprofessional training with place-based learning, the complex addressed the state’s health care workforce shortage at its very foundation. The data, the design, and the determined voices of its first students all pointed toward a future where access to quality care was no longer determined by zip code. This investment promised to yield dividends in community health, economic vitality, and regional resilience for generations.
