Our History

In the late 1990s, Ira F. Combs, a dedicated nurse and instructor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health, recognized the pressing health disparities in North Omaha. Initially intending to be a missionary abroad, Combs realized he could make a significant impact at home after working with “at-risk” boys in South Omaha. His diverse career included roles as a chaplain at Boys Town, founder and director of the Jeremiah Home for Children (a foster care facility in North Omaha), paramedic, and nurse.

Combs earned his nursing degree at age 40 and worked as an intensive care, emergency room, and oncology nurse. Health matters became deeply personal for him as he navigated his own health challenges and those of his family. His wife, Victoria, has been confined to a wheelchair for decades, and their adopted daughter, Antoinette, faced significant health issues before passing away at 22.

Drawing inspiration from his grandfather’s mantra, “We have to do something,” Combs established NOAH to provide holistic care to his community. Starting with an informational newsletter and community health screenings, NOAH evolved into a permanent clinic located at 5620 Ames Avenue, becoming a cornerstone of community health in North Omaha.