UNMC College of Medicine names inaugural regional associate dean for Kearney campus

Robert Messbarger, MD, of Kearney, has been named the inaugural associate dean for the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Medicine’s regional medical school campus in Kearney.

Dr. Messbarger, a UNMC graduate, will officially step into the new role on Oct. 1, 2024. He currently is the college of medicine’s associate program director for the Kearney-based family medicine residency program.

Bradley Britigan, MD, dean of the UNMC College of Medicine, said Dr. Messbarger is the right leader for this new, important role.

“Rob Messbarger has been part of the Kearney community for decades,” Dr. Britigan said. “As a committed medical educator with strong community ties, he is in the perfect position to ensure that our first class of Kearney medical students, who will begin in Fall 2026, are well positioned to succeed.”

Dr. Messbarger returned to Kearney, his hometown, in 1993, after graduating from medical school and completing his residency in family medicine in Lincoln. (He received his undergraduate degree from then-Kearney State College before attending UNMC.) He began working with the UNMC residency program almost immediately.

“When I came out of residency, I was interested in teaching, and the rural residency training track had just been started. So, I had the opportunity to participate in educating those residents. Education was a big part of what I wanted to do.”

As he prepares to take over as the medical college’s top leader at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, he said the Kearney community is excited about the medical students, as well as UNMC’s other expanding programs at the UNK campus.

"This is not just about the medical school, this is also about the allied health professions, the nursing school, and the opportunities this provides to fill the voids that exist with health care providers throughout rural Nebraska."

The greatest resource for the new medical school campus, he added, will be "without question" the physicians living and practicing in Greater Nebraska. The support of the rural Nebraska medical communities will be integral to providing the students based in Kearney with rural preceptor opportunities.

"Without the support of these physicians, this program could not exist.  They are a highly valued resource and one of my top priorities will be to demonstrate our appreciation for their service.  One of the key roles of this position will be to go out into these communities and build meaningful relationships."

William Vosik, MD, a retired cardiologist in the Kearney area who served on the search committee, said Dr. Messbarger stood out among several impressive applicants.

“Dr. Robert Messbarger is an outstanding clinician-educator who has nurtured a number of family practice physicians in his leadership role with the residency program. He’s related well not only to his patients, but also to fellow MDs, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, and his colleagues in central Nebraska. He will be an ideal inaugural associate dean and develop relationships with our present and potential proctors for our future central Nebraska medical school.

“We are excited about this in central Nebraska,” Dr. Vosik said.

Dele Davies, MD, interim chancellor of UNMC, called Dr. Messbarger a strong leader.

“Dr. Messbarger is a clinician and medical educator with deep ties to Greater Nebraska, as well as to UNMC,” Dr. Davies said. “With a commitment to his community and a love for medical education, he is ideally suited to guide this new effort to success, and we will be ready to support him in his efforts.”

Plans for the identification of Dr. Messbarger’s successor as associate program director for the Kearney-based family medicine residency program, as well as other leadership positions at the Kearney medical school program, will be announced soon.