Nebraska Medicine Appoints New Board Members
The University of Nebraska and Omaha Community Foundation have named eight leaders to the medical board.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Healthcare
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The University of Nebraska Board of Regents and the Omaha Community Foundation have each appointed four new members to the board of Nebraska Medicine. This move coincides with the health system transitioning to a new shared governance model.
Why it matters
The board appointments and shared governance shift are pivotal components of the massive Project Health development, which carries a total cost of $2.19 billion. These leadership changes aim to integrate oversight as the state university manages a $600 million debt associated with the initiative.
The Omaha Community Foundation has pledged $300 million to support the Project Health development. Meanwhile, the university system continues to manage $600 million in debt for land and facilities.
The players
Tonn Ostergard
He serves as the chairman and CEO of the Crete Carrier Corporation.
University of Nebraska Board of Regents
This body oversees the operations and administration of the state's public university system.
Omaha Community Foundation
This philanthropic organization facilitates charitable giving and community investment projects in the region.
The details
The Board of Regents unanimously approved the selection of Paul Kenney, Jim Scheer, Joel Makovicka, and Tonn Ostergard during a special meeting. Concurrently, the Omaha Community Foundation independently appointed Bruce Grewcock, Donna Kush, Steve Seline, and Beth Whited to help steer the health system's future operations.
Timeline
September 25, 2026: Regents approved the four board appointments.
November 2026: A special election will be held for the seat formerly held by Elizabeth O'Connor.
Market Landscape
The governance change follows the structures established by the University of Nebraska's Project Health development plan, which dictates board composition for the hospital expansion. This shift formalizes a multi-institutional oversight approach designed to manage the scale of the $2.19 billion development.
Residents may see an accelerated development timeline for the $2.19 billion Project Health facility following these leadership appointments. The shared governance model is intended to stabilize the financial management of the regional healthcare system.
The takeaway
The appointment of eight board members marks a major consolidation of leadership for Nebraska Medicine. This transition to a shared governance model is designed to facilitate the complex financial and operational demands of the massive Project Health initiative.
What happens next
A special election is scheduled for November 2026 to fill the vacant seat previously held by Regent Elizabeth O'Connor.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in Healthcare across the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Nebraska Public Media.
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