Debra Romberger MD
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 2:31PM Debra Romberger MD
1955-2025
Dr. Romberger
With sadness the SWJPCCS has learned of the death of Dr. Debra Romberger. Dr. Romberger was a professor in the Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine Division at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). She was chair of the department of medicine from 2015-2024 and the first woman chair of a clinical medical department for the UNMC College of Medicine. Under her leadership, the Department of Internal Medicine thrived. growing from 160 faculty to 340 faculty; from $19.5 million of extramural research support to over $30 million; from 282 publications per year to 465 publications per year. During her tenure, two divisions were created within the department and the office of equity and inclusive excellence was launched.
Dr. Romberger was born and raised on a farm in the rural community of Abilene, Kansas. She was a graduate of Kansas State University and University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1983. Subsequently she completed an internal medicine residency and pulmonary/critical care fellowship at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and a pulmonary research fellowship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Romberger’s research was focused on airway inflammation related to agriculture related exposures, especially organic dust. She has been funded by the VA and NIOSH. She is also director of Outreach for the Central States Center for Agriculture Safety and Health, funded by NIOSH.
Her numerous awards include the Internal Medicine Departmental Research Career Award, the UNMC Distinguished Scientist Award and the American College of Physicians Laureate Award. She also won the Nebraska Humanitarian Award and the UNMC Community Service Award in recognition of her efforts to improve the health of the citizens of Omaha and the state of Nebraska.
She was an outstanding clinician and cared for a member of my family. My wife and I often met Deb for dinner while in Omaha. She will be sorely missed.
Richard A. Robbins MD
Editor, SWJPCCS