An eye institute that will transform vision care in the region will be built at the University of Nebraska Medical Center through a major gift from a legendary Omaha ophthalmologist.
The gift by Stanley Truhlsen, M.D., to the University of Nebraska Foundation will create the Stanley M. Truhlsen Eye Institute, pending approval by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.
The state-of-the-art institute will feature specialized care, the latest in diagnostic medicine and offer hope to those suffering from retinal diseases such as macular degeneration and glaucoma.
It will house outpatient eye exam facilities for all ophthalmic subspecialties, a children’s eye care center, clinical research and a regional diagnostic center. The diagnostic center will offer services such as high resolution laser and ultrasound imaging that are not currently available in the region.
"The eye institute will position UNMC to become a world leader in clinical care, research and education," said UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D. "The institute would not be possible without the generosity of Stan Truhlsen, a true leader in the community and widely recognized nationally in ophthalmology. His gift will transform ophthalmology in Nebraska for generations to come."
The project will go before the University of Nebraska Board of Regents Oct. 23. If approved, construction would begin in 2011 with completion tentatively set for 2012. The total cost of the project is $30 million. It will be completed in two phases. A 47,000-square-foot-building housing clinical services, clinical research, diagnostic and educational facilities would be built first with a surgical wing added later.
The building will be located at 40th and Leavenworth Streets, west of the Weigel Williamson Center for Visual Rehabilitation and the Home Instead Center for Successful Aging.
"The gift of sight is so important. The new eye institute will enable us to bring new cures and treatments for blinding eye diseases to our patients," said Thomas Hejkal, M.D., Ph.D., professor and interim chairman of the UNMC Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.
It is estimated that by the year 2020 age-related eye diseases will increase by 30 percent in the U.S., Dr. Hejkal said.
Clinical studies at the new eye institute will most likely concentrate initially on areas of current strengths in the department including glaucoma, cataracts and retinal diseases such as macular degeneration, he said.
"Advanced diagnostic and clinical research facilities in the eye institute will allow us to build on the world-class research currently being conducted in the Truhlsen Eye Research Laboratories at UNMC. It also will enable us to educate the next generation of eye specialists and provide the means to keep private ophthalmologists in our local communities up-to-date on state-of-the-art surgical techniques," Dr. Hejkal said.
The number of academic clinical faculty will double over the next 10 years, he said.
At the suggestion of Dr. Truhlsen, Dr. Hejkal and others from UNMC visited four prominent eye institutes in the U.S.; the Moran Eye Center in Salt Lake City, the Cole Eye Institute at the Cleveland Clinic, the Doheny Eye Institute at the University of California in San Diego and the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA to look for ideas. Some of the best elements from these major centers are incorporated into the design of the eye institute.
As the state’s only academic health science center, UNMC is on the leading edge of health care. Breakthroughs are possible because hard-working researchers, educators and clinicians are resolved to work together to fuel discovery. In 2009, UNMC’s extramural research support topped $100 million for the first time, resulting in the creation of 3,600 jobs in Nebraska. UNMC’s academic excellence is shown through its award-winning programs, and its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through its commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have established themselves as one of the country’s leading health care centers. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes 550 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties who practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.
The University of Nebraska Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization that has been raising private gifts to support the University of Nebraska for more than 70 years. Last year almost $90 million was provided for students, faculty, academic programs, research and campus capital improvements. More information is available at www.nufoundation.org.