Following a nationwide search, Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D., has accepted the position of director of the Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation.

Dr. Mirnics, pending approval of University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds, Ph.D., and the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, will begin at MMI this July. He replaces J. Michael Leibowitz, Ph.D., who retired in late 2015, and Wayne Stuberg, Ph.D., who has served in an interim role.

"The Munroe-Meyer Institute is a very important part of UNMC's mission," said UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D. "Dr. Mirnics brings an extraordinary degree of experience to this important role, and under his guidance, I am sure we will see MMI expand on its already impressive accomplishments in research, education and clinical care. I am honored to recommend him to President Bounds and the Board of Regents for this prestigious leadership role."

"We are excited to have such an accomplished leader and researcher taking the helm at MMI," said Juliann Sebastian, Ph.D., dean of the UNMC College of Nursing, who led the search committee. "During his visits to UNMC's campus, Dr. Mirnics impressed not only the search committee, but the staff of MMI and the wider campus community with his passion and commitment."

Dr. Mirnics said he and his wife, Zeljka Korade-Mirnics, D.V.M., Ph.D., are looking forward to becoming part of the UNMC community.

"This is an amazing opportunity that comes around once in a lifetime," he said. "MMI and UNMC are building something extraordinary, and Zeljka and I are excited to have the pleasure and privilege of becoming part of it.

"I am looking forward to further developing this already exceptional enterprise and to engaging the broader intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) community statewide," he said. "I strongly believe that with our joint efforts MMI will become the national and worldwide leader of IDD-related patient care, education, outreach and research.

"Finally, I wish to thank you all for choosing me to lead this effort!"

Chancellor Gold expressed his gratitude to Dean Sebastian and the search committee for their dedication and the outstanding result. The committee, composed of med center and community members, worked through a meticulous process with many outstanding candidates.

"They did an effective, efficient and highly professional job," Dr. Gold said.

About University of Nebraska Medical Center

As Nebraska’s only public academic health sciences center, UNMC is committed to the education of a 21st century health care work force, to finding cures and treatments for devastating diseases, to providing the best care for patients, and to serving our state and its communities through award- winning outreach. UNMC also is committed to embracing the richness of diversity, and is a major economic engine for the state of Nebraska.

Led by Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., UNMC has six colleges and two institutes, serving about 3,700 students in more than two dozen programs. Our primary care program was recently ranked fourth in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, and our physician assistant program was ranked ninth. The university’s physical therapy, pharmacy and public health programs also are ranked among the top in the country.