Sorrell Center to enhance UNMC’s excellence in education

From left: Dr. Stanley and Dorothy Truhlsen, Michael Sorrell, M.D., Ruth and Bill Scott, and Harold M. Maurer, M.D.

During the past decade, UNMC has bolstered its research and patient care facilities in its quest to become world-class. Now, it is enhancing its medical educational program with the construction of the Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education.

On Tuesday, nearly 250 people gathered on the UNMC campus to celebrate the formal groundbreaking of the Sorrell Center and the individuals who made it possible.

“We have the top students, we have the top faculty and, with this new home for education, we will have the most sophisticated learning environment in America,” UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., told a standing-room only crowd inside a 40-foot by 80-foot white tent.

The crowd applauded Omahans Bill and Ruth Scott for making the largest donation to the University of Nebraska Foundation for the $52.7 million building. They applauded the other founding benefactors, major contributors and more than 670 College of Medicine alumni who have contributed to the 134,183-square-foot Sorrell Center.

Ruth and Bill Scott flank the limestone panel that lists the names of the founding benefactors. They are joined by Michael Sorrell, M.D., far left, and Harold M. Maurer, M.D., far right.

They applauded news that two College of Medicine programs — primary care and rural health — ranked among the best in the recent U.S.News & World Report rankings. And they applauded the service of Dr. Sorrell, a world-renowned physician and administrator at UNMC for the past 35 years, whose name graces the building.

“I love this university,” Dr. Sorrell later told a luncheon crowd. “This has been the most extraordinary honor I could imagine.”

The building — the future home of the College of Medicine — is expected to open in the fall of 2008 on the northeast corner of the intersection of 42nd Street and Emile Street and directly south of the College of Pharmacy.

“The project was an opportunity to recognize a physician who is the epitome of what it means to be a physician,” Ruth Scott said. “A physician who has been an international leader in his chosen field and who has been a major catalyst over the past 30 years in the dramatic transformation of the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine. That physician, educator, researcher and, I’m happy to say, friend, is Michael F. Sorrell.

“Mike has made his impact quietly, by helping recruit the brightest and most productive faculty and setting standards for excellence, leading by example, and of course, always wearing a tie.”

Michael Sorrell, M.D., left, whose name graces the building, turns soil during the ceremonial groundbreaking. Jim Linder, M.D., one of eight founding benefactors, is on the right.

During the ceremony, the Scotts unveiled a 54-inch by 20-inch limestone panel containing the names of the eight founding benefactors. Minutes later, the founding benefactors, speakers and other dignitaries used ceremonial gold shovels to turn the black soil.

“Students at UNMC won’t have to look far to find an individual who exemplifies all that this medical center and the health care profession should stand for,” said UNMC Student Regent Dan Connealy, a third-year medical student. “His name will be a constant reminder for students who pass through these doors everyday. Dr. Sorrell, thank you for your service to this institution and to the field of medicine.”

Ophthalmologist Stanley Truhlsen, M.D., a 1944 UNMC graduate and one of the founding benefactors, explained how his civic-minded father always said to “pay back the community that supported you. I’m following my father’s advice and am happy to play a small part in the tremendous growth and achievements of this school,” he said.

The Sorrell Center will “rival the best medical education facilities in the country,” said James B. Milliken, president of the University of Nebraska.

Michael Sorrell, M.D., with his grandson, Grant.

Dr. Sorrell’s nature of staying out of the limelight continued during a recognition luncheon, in which he said: “What really should be celebrated, other than the extraordinary generosity of all of these donors and the Scotts, who would do this and name it for someone else, is (Dr. Maurer’s) extraordinary vision for this medical center.”

Founding benefactors who contributed to the project, which will be built completely through donations and without any state tax dollars: Ruth and Bill Scott, Dr. Stanley and Dorothy Truhlsen, The Nebraska Medical Center, The Lozier Foundation, UNMC Physicians, the Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Memorial Foundation, the UNMC College of Medicine Alumni Association and James Linder, M.D., associate vice chancellor for research at UNMC.

Visit the Sorrell Center Web site at www.unmc.edu/chse/index.htm to watch video of the groundbreaking ceremony, view information on the benefactors and see the construction site via the Web cam.

What was said:

Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D.: “Those who know me, know I am a person who is future-oriented. One of my goals has been to raise the bar even higher for our educational programs. I like to have what I call stretch goals. Because these goals are hard to achieve, they force us to think creatively. It’s amazing how much more we can do when we are challenged in this way. This building is one example of thinking big.”

John Gollan, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the College of Medicine: “Your investments in medical education will pay dividends for a long time to come.I’m proud of our extraordinary track record of attracting the best and brightest students to UNMC. The Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education will ensure that we’re highly competitive in the future.”

Rodney Markin, M.D., Ph.D., president and chief executive officer, UNMC Physicians, and associate dean for clinical affairs, College of Medicine: “This is the new portal that all new physicians will pass through.”

Terry Fairfield, chief executive officer, University of Nebraska Foundation, acknowledged the contributions of the founding benefactors noting that it does not represent their first gift to the university or medical center. He said College of Medicine graduates have contributed more than $11 million to the project, which bolsters UNMC’s excellence in education.

Dennis Strauss, M.D., president, College of Medicine Alumni Association: “There is tremendous excitement among alumni about this project. We all left the medical center with a solid education allowing us to be competitive in the world of medicine.helping to fund this building was an opportunity to touch every medical student in a way that may not be possible again.”

Glenn Fosdick, president and chief executive officer, The Nebraska Medical Center: “Today’s groundbreaking ceremony marks yet another milestone for the medical center campus. This world-class facility will not only be an outstanding resource for students, but is also a remarkable testament to our leadership in medical education.”

Gail Walling Yanney, M.D., 1961 graduate, College of Medicine: “The beautiful new Durham Research Tower, the Clinical Center for Excellence, the Center for Health Science Education, named for Michael F. Sorrell, who is a legend in his own time, a teacher, research, clinician, friend and mentor, will assure that our graduates continue to be among, and apparently are, the best in the world.”

Debra Romberger, M.D., professor, internal medicine-pulmonary medicine: “Our faculty is committed to UNMC’s world-class vision. We find great satisfaction in being on the front lines, so to speak, in delivering on that vision..Dr. Sorrell is an extraordinary role model as a physician, as an educator, as an investigator and he has shaped the careers of so many of our faculty and students, including myself. It is so fitting that a building that prepares for the future of medicine in Nebraska bears his name.”

Jim McClurg, Ph.D., chairman, University of Nebraska Board of Regents: “There is an extra enthusiasm about this health science education facility because Mike’s name is on it. His exceptional ability to care for people of all walks of life, to keep up to date in his research, and to attract talent and lead by example is widely appreciated and respected.”