UNMC, UNK to break ground on $19 million Health Science Education Complex April 4

Health-care education and access for central and western Nebraska will take a giant step forward on April 4, 2014, when ground is broken at a 1 p.m. ceremony for a new University of Nebraska project: The Health Science Education Complex at University of Nebraska at Kearney.

The collaboration between University of Nebraska Medical Center and UNK will take the physical form of a $19 million building at the corner of Highway 30 and University Drive on the west edge of UNK’s campus, and comes after more than two years of discussion and planning, development of programs and fundraising.

The majority of funding comes from a 2012 Nebraska Legislative Appropriation through the universitywide Building a Healthier Nebraska initiative. A $1 million donation from Catholic Health Initiatives/Good Samaritan Hospital also helps with the project.

Project architect, RDg Planning and Design, has made available renderings of the facility (http://unknews.unk.edu/2014/03/31/media-advisory-unmc-unk-to-break-ground-on-19-million-health-science-education-complex-april-4/), and construction begins April 1. It will open in June 2015. Hausmann Construction is the construction contractor.

The vision of UNK and UNMC is to build a nationally recognized learning and research environment that promotes education in rural primary care, generates scientific discoveries and new knowledge about rural health, and enhances strategies to promote high-quality primary care in rural communities by creating academic and community partnerships around rural health problems and opportunities.

UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen and UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey Gold will keynote the ceremony. The public is welcome to attend. Parking is available in Lot 26 west of the Frank House.

Some facts about the Health Science Education Complex:

30,000 square feet

7 programs: nursing and graduate nursing (expanded from current), physician assistants, physical therapy, clinical laboratory science, medical nutrition, radiography, diagnostic medical sonography (allied health professions)

Projected additional full-time personnel: 25

Total full-time personnel: 46

Annual economic impact: $30.5 million (study by UNO Center for Public Affairs Research)

Numbers of students in Nursing: 168 (includes 133 new/additional students)

Numbers of students in Allied Health Professions: 132 (all new/additional)

Total students in undergraduate and graduate programs: 300

Number of classrooms: 7

Number of laboratories: 5 (anatomy, rehabilitation, musculoskeletal, assessment, task training)

Number of simulation areas: 14 (4 clinical exam rooms, 4 control rooms, 3 simulation rooms, changing room, debriefing, energized radiography)