By Davion Scott-Bell OMAHA, Neb. — The University of Nebraska Medical Center is taking a major step forward to change how future health professionals learn and train.
Project Health, a $2.19 billion expansion on UNMC’s Omaha campus, will connect education, research and patient care in one place. The initiative serves as the foundation for Project NExT short for Nebraska Transformation a long-term plan to strengthen Nebraska’s health care system and expand the state’s role in medical innovation.
Building the Foundation
Created in partnership with Nebraska Medicine, the City of Omaha and the State of Nebraska, Project Health marks one of the largest expansions in UNMC’s history.
The goal goes beyond adding new facilities. Leaders say the project will bring students, researchers and clinicians together to learn and collaborate in ways that mirror real-world medicine.
UNMC employee Caiden Williams said they were recently introduced to the project and see how it could make a difference for medical students on campus.
“What I know so far is that there’s new construction for a clinic and training facility,” Williams said. “It’s going to be like an extra hospital for medical students a space that’s dedicated for them to get their clinical practice in. Having it right here on campus is way more helpful. Faculty are going to be more available to help, and it’s more integrated into the UNMC systems.”
When finished, Project Health will include new classrooms, simulation labs and clinical spaces designed to prepare students for the hands-on demands of their future careers.
A Hands-On Vision
Right now, the Project Health site may look like just another construction zone, but UNMC officials say what’s coming will be transformative.
The project will bring together students from medicine, nursing, pharmacy and allied health programs to train under one roof. By sharing the same spaces, students can practice teamwork and communication two skills essential in modern health care.
When complete, the new complex will span more than 2 million square feet. University leaders say that kind of space will help address Nebraska’s ongoing need for doctors, nurses and other professionals across the state.
UNMC student Chase Keyerman said he’s excited about the project’s size and what it will mean for students.
“That building looks massive from the renderings, it’s going to take a lot of time and a lot of money,” Keyerman said. “I’m excited for it, but I just hope it really comes to fruition. If it does, it’ll be great for education having everything in one building instead of walking across campus in the snow from one class to another. It’ll be great for students and staff, but it’s also a huge project. Build it and they’ll come, but then you’ve got to make it all work.”
Looking Ahead
Project Health is just the first step in a much bigger plan. Project NExT will expand on that foundation, adding new partnerships and research facilities.
Future phases could include a civilian-military medical surge center a national resource for health crises and more space for innovation and bio preparedness research.
UNMC officials say the investment reflects Nebraska’s commitment to lead in medical training and public health.
Project Health will open in phases through the next decade. Together with Project NExT, it will reshape how the university trains health professionals and serves communities across the state.
Standing on the construction site, surrounded by cranes and steel, it’s clear that what’s taking shape isn’t just a new building it’s the future of medicine in Nebraska.
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