University of Nebraska Regent Robert Schafer, JD, visited UNMC on Oct. 27 for a look at the Project Health construction and to hear about some of the planning going into the project.
Schafer, who is from Beatrice, met with UNMC Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, and they visited the Innovation Design Unit’s bridge space in University Tower before getting a view of Project Health. They then toured the Catalyst Building in the EDGE District.
At the Innovation Design Unit, Schafer also met with Michael Ash, MD, CEO of Nebraska Medicine, and Chad Vokoun, MD, chief and professor of the UNMC Division of Hospital Medicine and a leading planner on Project Health.
Dr. Ash showcased the prototype hospital room set up in the Innovation Design Unit, highlighting how the room’s technology, layout and design features are informing the Project Health planning.
Said Dr. Vokoun, “We’re learning a lot. … It’s exciting.”
After the IDU tour, Dr. Davies showed Schafer a north-facing overlook inside the eighth floor of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.
From there, the entire Project Health construction site is visible at street level below. When construction is done, however, the vantage point will look up to see the top floor of Project Health – the $2.19 billion health care facility, clinical learning center and research site.
Schafer and Dr. Davies met with Andy Balus, UNMC’s executive director of utilities and engineering, who explained different parts of the site work and building design considerations.
At the Catalyst in the EDGE District, a UNMC partnership with Koelbel & Co. and GreenSlate Development, Schafer was shown some of the ecosystem being developed to unite academia, health care, industry and the community with a goal of keeping and growing health-related companies in Nebraska.
Schafer’s tour was led by Amy Thompson, UNMC’s director of campus development, and Michael Dixon, PhD, CEO of UNeMed.
Schafer was impressed by the collaborative environment and support between companies within the Catalyst building. And he said he was glad to have time with Dr. Davies to talk about the future of UNMC, Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska as a whole – “how those three components can grow and work together to better serve Nebraska.”
He also said it was important to see the Project Health site in the infancy of construction, and he looks forward to watching the project grow.
Schafer called Project Health “a game changer.”
“This is going to put us at the forefront when it comes to health care, not just in Omaha, but across the state and the surrounding region,” he said.
Dr. Davies thanked Schafer for taking the time from his busy schedule to visit UNMC to learn more about the campus.
“We were excited to welcome Regent Schafer to campus to showcase the advancements in the Innovation Design Unit, the progress on the Project Health site and the energy in the Catalyst building and EDGE District,” Dr. Davies said. “He, along with all of the regents, have been pivotal in UNMC’s success, and we are incredibly grateful for his support.”