History

Omaha Medical College was chartered on June 13, 1881 and opened for 35 students on October 10, 1881.  Matriculates had to be 18 years of age with a "creditable English education." Graduation requirements included two full courses of lectures--one in residence.  As in most medical schools, these requirements were raised to three years in 1890 and to four years in 1897. 

 

O.M.C. graduated eight students in 1882, and classes remained small until the middle 1890's, when graduates totaled more than 20.  The last catalog shows 23 graduates and 149 matriculates. 

 

From the beginning O.M.C. determined to accept female matriculates on the same basis as males.  This led to complications in the first year when the females demanded a separate anatomy class.  This was denied.

 

At a time when medical schools were criticized for too much didactic instruction, students at O.M.C. were receiving ten hours per week of bedside teaching.   In addition to providing clinical instruction and practice at St. Joseph's Hospital, O.M.C. opened a free dispensary in 1890, so that students had more opportunity to treat patients.

 

While students could live in Omaha for $3.50 to $5.00 per week, the school recognized that some students were forced to live in less than "the most opulent quarters."   Therefore the basement bathrooms with hot and cold water, created for the football team, were "freely at the disposal of any member of the college who may find it agreeable."

 

No fraternities or other formal social groups are mentioned in the catalogs or Pulse.  However, an annual banquet and dance was provided for graduates by the undergraduates. 

 

From 1884 through 1887 O.M.C. had an informal relationship with York College to serve as the medical department of that college.  In 1890 O.M.C. joined with Bellevue College to become the University of Omaha.  Finally, in 1902 O.M.C. became the medical department for the University of Nebraska and so ceased as an independent school.