When you talk with Dr. Libby Crockett, it doesn’t take long to discover that her Nebraska roots are at the heart of everything she does.
Raised on a family farm outside Minden, Nebraska, Dr. Crockett grew up immersed in 4-H, caring for livestock and learning the values of hard work, service and community. Those early experiences helped shape not only the physician she would become, but also the leader and advocate she is today.
“I always wanted to be a doctor,” she shared. “There weren’t many female physicians to look up to, but I knew that’s what I wanted to do.”
One of those role models was television physician Dr. Nancy Snyderman. Dr. Crockett remembers watching her regularly and seeing a woman confidently educating the public about medicine. Years later, while walking the halls of the University of Nebraska Medical Center as a medical student, she discovered Dr. Snyderman’s graduation portrait among the alumni displays.
“I remember thinking, ‘Maybe I do belong here after all,'” she recalled. That simple moment gave her confidence that someone with a similar dream had walked those same halls before her.
Dr. Crockett attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, earning a degree in Animal Science before attending the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Looking back, she credits her agricultural background with giving her a unique perspective.
“Animal science is reproductive physiology, genetics, nutrition and growth,” she explained. “When I look at what I do today, it actually makes perfect sense.”
Her interest in obstetrics and gynecology also traces back to those rural beginnings. Growing up around livestock and calving season sparked an early fascination with pregnancy and childbirth. As she learned more about medicine, she became inspired by the incredible impact physicians could have during some of life’s most critical moments.
“I remember learning about ectopic pregnancies and thinking how amazing it was that you could perform surgery and literally save someone’s life.”
Today, one of the things she enjoys most about obstetrics and gynecology is caring for women during some of the most meaningful moments of their lives. She believes pregnancy is often a time when patients are especially motivated to prioritize their health—not only for themselves, but for the families they are building. Walking alongside patients through those milestones continues to make the specialty incredibly rewarding.
After completing medical school and residency at UNMC, Dr. Crockett remained on faculty, where she also earned her Master of Public Health. She originally envisioned a career in academic medicine, but life had other plans.
When her husband, also a physician, completed his fellowship training, the family relocated to Grand Island to join Grand Island Clinic—a move she admits she never expected to make.
“Growing up, Grand Island was probably the one place I always said I’d never live,” she laughed.
Nine years later, she can’t imagine practicing anywhere else.
Today, Dr. Crockett is an obstetrician-gynecologist and physician-owner at Grand Island Clinic, one of Nebraska’s largest independent, physician-owned multi-specialty practices. With 16 physician partners representing multiple specialties, the clinic has created a model that allows physicians to maintain meaningful relationships with their patients while preserving the independence to make decisions locally.
“I really wish more physicians had the opportunity to experience this kind of autonomy,” she said. “We’re able to be nimble, collaborate with each other and focus on what’s best for our patients.”
Having practiced in both academic medicine and physician-owned independent practice, Dr. Crockett has witnessed the growing influence of corporate medicine on healthcare delivery. While she recognizes the important role large health systems play, she believes independent physician practices provide something especially valuable: the ability to make decisions close to home, respond quickly to community needs and preserve the physician-patient relationship that is at the heart of quality healthcare.
Her passion for improving healthcare extends far beyond the exam room.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Crockett recognized the growing need for physicians to have a stronger voice in healthcare policy and public conversations. In response, she co-founded the Nebraska Alliance for Physician Advocacy (NAPA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting physicians, promoting science-based advocacy and educating healthcare professionals on issues affecting patient care across Nebraska.
Through the organization’s podcast, Advocacy is Medicine, Dr. Crockett and her fellow board members work to help physicians better understand the legislative process, advocate for their patients and strengthen physician leadership across the state.
“I think the physician voice is missing in many of these conversations,” she said. “Physicians bring real-world experience caring for patients every day, and that’s a perspective that deserves to be heard.”
As NAPA continues to grow, Dr. Crockett is looking to expand its board of directors. While physicians are encouraged to become involved, she also hopes to welcome individuals with backgrounds in fundraising, communications, nonprofit leadership, finance, marketing and organizational development. She believes a strong nonprofit requires many different talents, and she welcomes anyone who shares a passion for advancing physician advocacy in Nebraska. Those interested in serving on the board can learn more and submit an application through the Nebraska Alliance for Physician Advocacy website.
Dr. Crockett’s public health training has also shaped the way she views medicine. While physicians often focus on caring for one patient at a time, public health looks at the health of entire communities. She believes many of the most important improvements in healthcare happen quietly through prevention, education and thoughtful policy.
“Public health work is often undervalued,” she explained. “If it’s done well, people don’t realize it happened because the problem never occurs.”
Teaching has remained another constant throughout her career. Whether mentoring medical students, residents or young physicians, Dr. Crockett enjoys helping others learn how to think critically rather than simply memorize information. She believes medicine will continue to evolve, and future physicians must be prepared to embrace change while maintaining compassion and sound clinical judgment.
She is especially passionate about encouraging young women to pursue careers as physicians. Reflecting on her own journey, she remembers being asked repeatedly how she planned to balance medicine with raising a family—a question she notes was rarely asked of her male classmates.
Today, she encourages young women to pursue the careers they truly want, rather than allowing outdated expectations to shape their decisions.
“If you want to be a physician, be a physician,” she said.
Although she has delivered countless babies and built a respected career in women’s health, Dr. Crockett says she still isn’t entirely sure “what she wants to be when she grows up.” It’s a statement she shares with a smile, but one that reflects her belief that physicians should continue growing throughout their careers. Whether caring for patients, mentoring future physicians, leading a nonprofit, advocating for healthcare policy or exploring new opportunities to improve healthcare, she believes there is always another way to serve.
That lifelong curiosity, combined with her unwavering commitment to patients, independent medicine and the future of healthcare, is what makes Dr. Crockett such an inspiring leader—not only for Grand Island, but for physicians across Nebraska.
At OneHealth Nebraska, we are proud to recognize Dr. Libby Crockett for her leadership, dedication to physician advocacy and unwavering commitment to independent medicine. Physicians like Dr. Crockett remind us that the future of healthcare is strengthened when local physicians are empowered to lead, innovate and serve the communities they call home.