Nebraska Medicine made its mark on the future of cancer care in central Nebraska in a big way – with a bulldozer. Back to the bulldozer shortly.
Leaders unveiled plans for the Nebraska Medicine Kearney Cancer Center with a reception on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus on June 27.
This new center is an expansion of the partnership between Nebraska Medicine and Heartland Hematology and Oncology, which began in December 2021. The expanded cancer center will build upon the years of expertise and trust that Heartland Hematology and Oncology has built with its patients and community, led by Cynthia Lewis, MD, and Nick Hartl, MD.
“Our name is Nebraska Medicine, not Omaha Medicine,” said Nebraska Medicine CEO Jim Linder, MD. “Which is why we partnered with Dr. Lewis and her colleagues at Heartland Hematology and Oncology to grow cancer care in Nebraska, and that’s exactly what this new facility will be.”
Dr. Linder and Dr. Lewis were among those who spoke to members of Kearney’s city leadership, health care community members, UNK leaders, project supporters and reporters about the project.
Heartland Hematology and Oncology was bursting at the seams, so Dr. Lewis explained that this project is a logical partnership.
“I didn’t want to sell my practice. It keeps growing. I said, ‘Why can’t we have here what they have there (in Omaha)? We can make it really big,’” Dr. Lewis said.
“The Nebraska Medicine Cancer Center in Kearney will bring comprehensive university quality care and new opportunities to central Nebraska when it comes to education, research and clinical care for patients,” Dr. Gold said. “We are about ‘Serious Medicine. Extraordinary Care.’”
The $33 million cancer center project will span more than 53,000 square feet.
Services will include:
- Medical oncology
- Radiation oncology
- Lab
- Pharmacy
- Infusion
- Survivorship programs
- Genetics counseling
- Healing garden.
Those in attendance viewed a fly-through animation of the future facility and all its planned features.
“With this building, we’ll be able to at least double the number of patients we’re seeing currently in Kearney,” said Kyle Skiermont, PharmD, Nebraska Medicine vice president-oncology and pharmacy. “There’s room to potentially expand the building further as we go down the line if it needs to be even larger.”
Construction now is underway in University Village, a 104-acre, mixed-use development that is a partnership with UNK. Located on the west edge of campus, it combines educational, residential, recreational and commercial opportunities in a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood. The Nebraska Medicine Kearney Cancer Center is expected to open to patients in December 2024.
Now back to that bulldozer that was mentioned earlier.
The reception ended with a surprise video of Dr. Linder, climbing into the cab of a bulldozer on the construction site. Sitting comfortably behind the controls, Dr. Linder plowed into a sign reading “CANCER” in bold print and crushed it under the wheels of the machine.
“Take that, cancer,” Dr. Linder exclaimed while climbing out of the cab. “Thank you, Kearney.”
Good morning UNMC. I am a transplant participant at your Omaha facility. I cannot say enough good things about UNMC doing their best to conquer cancer. I had such good care there in Omaha. I will be so happy when I can go to Kearney for my check ups. All the doctors and nurses were so loving and concerned about my health. I am nine months now cancer free and can not say enough how I respect UNMC wherever it moves. Thank you.
Great project. Great video.-Charles Fritch, M.D. FACS