Skip to main content

Reba Ann Benschoter Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS-110

Scope and Contents

The collection highlights the academic career of educator and associate dean Reba A. Benschoter, PhD, including material ranging from 1957-2017. A bulk of the 0.417 linear feet of material dates to around 1964-1980. Significant topics represented in the collection are telemedicine, rural health, and biomedical communications. Found within the collection are biographical material and printed material. This collection mostly contains secondary sources that can be useful to researchers looking for a compilation of Dr. Benschoter’s academic career and publications.

Dates

  • Majority of material found within 1957-2017

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection contains a single restricted document. A redacted copy is used in its place.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection contains copyrighted published material.

Biographical / Historical

Reba Ann Benschoter, PhD, began her tenure at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in 1957 as an audiovisual specialist in the College of Medicine’s Nebraska Psychiatric Institute (NPI). She worked in several teaching and directing positions before becoming the director of the communications division of NPI in 1962. In 1970, the Board of Regents created the Biomedical Communications Division for the whole UNMC campus. The NPI communications division became a satellite service within Biomedical Communications (BMC). Benschoter also became the director of Biomedical Communications, serving in both roles until becoming a professor emerita in 2000. Additionally, she was associate dean for the School of Allied Health Professions (SAHP) from 1985 to 1995.

Hallmarks of Benschoter’s career at UNMC included pioneering telemedicine and increasing learning opportunities and services in rural parts of Nebraska. In 1964, Benschoter became project director on the National Institute of Mental Health grant, which funded the creation and operation of the first U.S. two-way closed-circuit telemedicine system. The system extended UNMC’s Nebraska Psychiatric Institute services in Omaha to the Norfolk State Hospital, located in a small rural Nebraska Community. Biomedical Communications then expanded its two-way telemedicine system to provide psychiatric and specialty services to the Veterans Administration hospital system across Nebraska and to UNMC’s College of Nursing locations across the state. In 1991, Benschoter participated in the planning and implementation of NEB*SAT, a state-wide satellite T.V. system for rural communication and education.

As associate dean for the School of Allied Health Professions, Benschoter increased professional programs and student enrollment to address shortages in allied health professional services. She also extended health services to rural Nebraska through participation in the Rural Health Education Network (RHEN), the Rural Health Opportunities Program at Chadron State College, and the Rural Health Education Distance Learning Research Center.

Extent

.48 Linear Feet (Legal-Sized Hollinger Box 10360HG [15.75d, 10.25h, 5.75 w inches] extent measured by width)

Language of Materials

English

Appraisal

This collection mostly contains secondary sources (copies of sources available elsewhere). It is useful to researchers looking for a compiled place to start when researching Reba A. Benschoter’s career. The “Career History” folders, possibly curated by Dr. Benschoter, provide a guide to essential career accomplishments, publications, and news coverage about the accomplishments. The “Inventory of Personal Papers at the National Library of Medicine” folders give a researcher an idea of what is in Dr. Benschoter’s papers in the NLM.

Related Materials

Biomedical Communications Records; Nebraska Psychiatric Institute Records; School of Allied Health Professions newsletters, Reba A. Benschoter oral history; School (College) of Allied Health Professions records

Title
Guide to the Reba Ann Benschoter Papers
Subtitle
Reba Ann Benschoter Papers
Status
Completed
Author
DiAnna Hemsath and Maria Shellman
Date
03-2022
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Edition statement
First Edition of this Finding Aid

Repository Details

Part of the University of Nebraska Medical Center Robert S. Wigton Department of Special Collections and Archives Repository

Contact:
Robert S. Wigton Department of Special Collections and Archives
986705 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha NE 68198-6705 USA
402-559-7097