Ribbon cut on renovated fitness center

UNMC campus leaders, donors and students were on hand Monday afternoon as the ribbon was cut on the redesigned Center for Healthy Living at the Student Life Center.

UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., praised the Ruth and Bill Scott family for their “quiet, thoughtful generosity” as the lead donors for the renovated facility, which he said “can be a life-saving part of the equation for our students, staff and faculty.”

From left, Tom Heiser, M.D., and Nick Heiser, M.D., display the weights presented to them by UNMC student Morgan Johnson.

Speaking of the challenge of stress in the health professions — last year, he noted, there were 400 physician suicides in the U.S., the equivalent of three medical school classes.

“This is part of our dedication to healing, to well-being, to building a generation of health care professionals for the future.”

Second-year medical student Morgan Johnson called sports an outlet for the rigors of graduate studies.

“This building is one of the most important buildings on campus,” she said.

Speaking for the Scott family, John Scott, Bill and Ruth Scott’s son, called UNMC “one of our favorite organizations.

“My parents have always made education and health the cornerstones of their philanthropy,” he said. “Being able to support both the physical aspects of health as well as the education of our students, staff and employees, is a thrill. This is a wonderful facility.”

Dr. Gold noted that then-medical student Eric Nagengast, the Scotts’ grandson, had been the first student to approach him about the possibility of renovating the facility.

For a photo album of the ribbon-cutting event, click here.

Dr. Gold also thanked Tom Heiser, M.D., and his family. Dr. Heiser helped create the Center for Healthy Living, making a donation to the original building and — along with James Neff, M.D., the then chairman of the UNMC Department of Orthopaedic Surgery — spearheading a campaign to help raise funds for the center. The renovated weight room continues to bear his name.

“Among his greatest impacts has been through the Center for Healthy Living here at UNMC,” Dr. Gold said of Dr. Heiser, who suffered a paralyzing spinal injury in 1990 when surfing in Hawaii.

UNMC alumni and current faculty member Nick Heiser, M.D., spoke of his father’s love of physical fitness, and how his father’s fitness had helped him survive his devastating injury.

Recalling his days as a UNMC student using the fitness center, Dr. Nick Heiser said, “I made friends for a lifetime on this basketball court.”

During her presentation, Johnson presented gifts to the Scott and Heiser families.