UNMC and Nebraska Medicine leaders gathered with local dignitaries and philanthropists to officially light the sign on the Suzanne and Walter Scott Research Tower at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center last week.
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From left, Walter Scott and UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., at the event. |
After introductory comments from UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., and Nebraska Medicine CEO Dan DeBehnke, M.D., M.B.A., Scott spoke briefly. He concluded his comments with, “I only wish grandma were here to see this” — a reference to his late wife Suzanne who passed away in 2013.
In his comments, Dr. Gold recalled the day of the ceremonial beam raising while the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center structure was still being completed. He remembered the young patient who gave the order to “raise that beam!” Dr. Gold said the work that will happen in the Scott Cancer Research Tower will be a beacon of hope for current and future patients.
Dr. DeBehnke quoted poet Maya Angelou and said the new research facility will create a legacy of hope and breakthroughs for generations to come.
The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center is scheduled to open for patient care in early June, though researchers will begin moving into the Scott Cancer Research Tower sooner than that. Part of what makes the Buffett Cancer Center unique is its design focusing on translational research; putting clinical providers in close proximity with their research colleagues with the goal of more efficiently translating research to patient care.