Another great day for UNMC

Gov. Dave Heineman was on hand Thursday morning as the groundbreaking ceremony was held for UNMC’s Lozier Center for Pharmacy Sciences and Education and Center for Drug Discovery.

The most surprising thing for Heineman about what he called “another great day” for UNMC and the state of Nebraska was that he wasn’t coming back next week to break ground for another building.

Government and university officials praised donors and lauded the latest in a series of unprecedented projects at the medical center, following the groundbreaking of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and the grand opening of the Stanley M. Truhlsen Eye Institute — all in a period of less than six weeks.

Dr. Fletcher audio: “Then and now” Dr. Fletcher audio: “Donor support”

From left, Dianne Lozier, James B. Milliken and Courtney Fletcher, Pharm.D.

And many speakers also took time to compliment UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., who has overseen unprecedented campus growth during his tenure. Heineman called Dr. Maurer an extraordinary chancellor and added that he and wife Beverly made up “a world class team for the University of Nebraska Medical Center.”

University of Nebraska President James B. Milliken called the Lozier Center for Pharmacy Sciences and Education and Center for Drug Discovery “a tribute to the great leadership of Chancellor Maurer.”

Ruth Scott

And John Scott, son of donor Bill and Ruth Scott, serenaded the crowd with a song he said he learned from his mother: “Whatever Harold wants, Harold gets.”

In this case, Dr. Maurer and the UNMC College of Pharmacy are getting a $35 million, 85,000-square foot facility that will completely replace and expand the college’s education space and increase its research capacity.

See more photos from the groundbreaking here.

“The education and research that will be conducted will enhance UNMC’s reputation and raise the level of pharmacy education at UNMC,” said Tim Clare, chairman of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.

Milliken said the new facility, as well as the great leadership of Courtney Fletcher, Pharm.D., dean of the College of Pharmacy, would help attract the best and brightest faculty to the college.

And taking his own turn at the podium, Dr. Fletcher said the new building recognizes the history of excellence and deep commitment that his “kind of a quiet college” and UNMC have to Nebraska and to human health.

Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert called UNMC a leader in medicine, medical training and education.

“This new facility will only strengthen that reputation,” she said.

Ruth and Bill Scott and The Lozier Foundation were the lead donors for the project, which will use no state funds. Construction will begin in February 2014, with projected completion set for July 2015.