First in State

Firsts in Nebraska

Nebraska Medicine boasts a long, ever-growing list of "Nebraska Firsts" in its history. Pioneering in many areas of medicine, you can be certain we are serious about medicine and consistently looking to provide exceptional care.

  • First heart transplant after cardiac death of donor (2020)
  • First heart-lung transplant in the state of Nebraska (2018)
  • First level I nationally verified trauma center in the state (2017)
  • First national OPTN kidney paired donations in the state (2014)
  • First surgeons in state to implant total artificial heart (2013)
  • First combined heart and liver transplant in the state (2012)
  • First national paired kidney donor network in the state (2011)
  • First physician certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) for heart failure and cardiac transplantation (2011)
  • First combined heart and kidney transplant in the state (2010)
  • First diabetes program to earn the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ (2010)
  • First Blue Distinction Center for Rare & Complex Cancers (2008)
  • First Endovascular Repair of Aortic Dissection (2008)
  • Busiest Small Bowel Program in Nation (2007)
  • First Calypso 4-D Localization System for Radiation Therapy in Region (2007)
  • First autologous islet transplant on a young child (2007)
  • First nationally certified Congestive Heart Failure and Acute Myocardial Infraction (heart attack) programs (2007)
  • First "Frozen Elephant Trunk" procedure in North America (2006)
  • First combination heart transplant / aortic aneurysm repair in North America (2006)
  • The Cancer Center becomes one of 18 academic research centers participating in an RNAi Global Initiative. Through the collaboration and the meaningful exchange of information and data, the Cancer Center starts to draw a comprehensive roadmap of human gene function and use this as a foundation to revolutionize the way medicine and healthcare are delivered.
  • First nationally certified Stroke Center (2005)
  • First "level 4" Epilepsy Program (2005)
  • First Novalis Radiation Therapy System in Region (2004)
  • First internal kidney paired exchange in the state (2004)
  • First Anonymous Living Kidney Donation/Transplant Performed (2003)
  • First Unrelated Living Liver Transplant (2001)
  • First Adult to Adult Living Related Liver Transplant (2001)
  • First Bowel Resection Using Surgical Robotic Equipment in World (2000)
  • First Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) to treat cancer (2000)
  • Delivered the first set of quintuplets (1998)
  • First living unrelated kidney transplant in the state (1991)
  • First heart transplant (1985)
  • First liver transplant (1985)
  • First peripheral stem cell transplant program founded (1984)
  • Eppley Institute was awarded a Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) from the National Cancer Institute, and became one of 13 Laboratory Cancer Research Centers int the United States.
  • First bone marrow transplant (1983)
  • First lens implant (1975)
  • First kidney transplant (1964)
  • Eugene Eppley Foundations establishes the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and begins construction on the first research building at UNMC dedicated to cancer research (1960)
  • First corneal transplant (1958)
  • First kidney dialysis (1957)
  • First cardiac catheterization (1955)