Closing time for ORs at University Tower

When orthopaedic surgeon Curtis Hartman, M.D., started his residency in 2003, the first surgery he ever performed as a doctor was inside Operating Room No. 10 at University Tower. On Tuesday, Nov. 22, Dr. Hartman performed the final surgery at University Tower — inside that same operating room.

Patient Roger Heiser

“I am honored,” Dr. Hartman said. “To do the very last operation in this building is pretty special.”

On the operating table was Roger Heiser of Lincoln. Ten years ago, Heiser received a heart transplant at Nebraska Medicine. While his heart stayed strong, his hip began to develop advanced arthritis.

“Because of his heart transplant, he wasn’t a candidate to have a hip replacement anywhere else in the city,” Dr. Hartman said. “This type of operation really shows what we do here. We provide a superior level of care to these people that they can’t get elsewhere.”

“It’s a little strange knowing you’re the last patient to be operated on in University Tower,” Heiser said. “But I trust them. I know they’ll do a great job no matter where they operate.”

Starting Wednesday, the University Tower surgical teams will begin operating at the new Fritch Surgery Center.

See a video on the last surgery at University Tower here.

“It’s sad. University Tower has been home to many staff members for almost 25 years,” said staff nurse Stefanie Trimble. “But we are all excited for a new adventure.”

As the team finished Heiser’s hip replacement, “Closing Time” by Semisonic began to play over the speakers in OR No. 10.

“It’s kind of a bittersweet moment,” said staff nurse Linda Stone. “We’re a close-knit family, but times change and we need new beginnings.”