Board of Regents approves contract extension for UNMC chancellor

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents has approved an extension to the contract of Jeffrey Gold, M.D., chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center – a vote of confidence in Gold’s successful leadership of the state’s only public academic health sciences center.

Gold took the helm as chancellor on Feb. 1, 2014, with an initial three-year contract. In September 2014 the Board extended his contract by one year, through Jan. 31, 2018.

Friday’s action by the Board extends Gold’s contract another two years, through Jan. 31, 2020. His 2015-16 salary remains unchanged.

“We were incredibly fortunate to attract someone of Jeff Gold’s caliber to lead the University of Nebraska Medical Center. In his two years as chancellor, Dr. Gold, together with talented faculty, staff and students, has overseen the campus through remarkable progress and success,” said NU President Hank Bounds. “I’m excited to see what UNMC and its partners throughout the university and across the state will accomplish next under Chancellor Gold’s leadership.”

Dr. Gold said, “Over the past two years, I have been delighted with the welcoming environment of the university and the state of Nebraska, as well as the exceptional talent and can-do attitude that is present here. I’m grateful for the confidence in our collective work that the Board of Regents and President Bounds have shown through this contract extension. The initiatives that we’ve begun are long-term and will benefit UNMC, Nebraska Medicine and all of the communities that we serve for decades to come. I’m excited to lead these and other efforts over the next years. I look forward to working with our faculty, staff and students – as well as community, state and university partners – to make this state and beyond a healthier place.”

Recent accomplishments during Dr. Gold’s tenure include:

• The successful treatment of Ebola patients by UNMC and Nebraska Medicine health care professionals, resulted in international attention for the university.
  
  
• Continued progress on the largest project in university history, the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. The center is a public-private venture made possible by support from the state, private donors, City of Omaha and Douglas County. Scheduled to open in 2017, the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center aims to transform cancer care and research in the state and beyond.
  
  
• The creation of Nebraska Medicine, a new organization comprising the former The Nebraska Medical Center, UNMC Physicians and Bellevue Medical Center that more effectively meets the health care needs of Nebraskans. Dr. Gold chairs Nebraska Medicine.
  
  
• The 2015 opening of the Health Science Education Complex in Kearney, an innovative partnership between UNK and UNMC that has expanded access to nursing and allied health programs for rural Nebraska. The project was supported by the state and private donors.
  
  
• Steady growth in enrollment, including this year’s record of 3,790 students.