Nebraska Medicine announces name of new health center in midtown

A new Nebraska Medicine health center under construction at the southeast corner of 42nd and Farnam streets now has a name: Shikhar & Kristin Saxena Health Center.

The four-story health center is named for Shikhar Saxena, MD, and Kristin Saxena, MD, of Omaha, who provided a leadership gift through the University of Nebraska Foundation to support the project. The building is partially funded by the donor community.

The health center is expected to open to patients in fall 2027 and will include dermatology, general internal medicine, outpatient gastrointestinal care and behavioral health services. The new facility will become the main location for Nebraska Medicine’s dermatology program and will help meet increasing demand for outpatient GI and behavioral health services.

“Shikhar and Kristin Saxena understand what it means to invest in the health of a community,” said Michael Ash, MD, CEO of Nebraska Medicine. “Their generosity will help us bring together essential services in one accessible location and create more opportunities for patients to receive the care they need, close to where they live and work. This gift is a meaningful investment in Omaha’s future and in the people who rely on Nebraska Medicine for extraordinary care.”

UNMC Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, said, “This building demonstrates the power of public-private partnership and the pivotal role philanthropy plays in turning a shared vision into a reality.” 

The Saxenas are both 2007 graduates of the UNMC College of Medicine and founded the Shikhar & Kristin Saxena Family Foundation. Dr. Shikhar Saxena practiced as a cardiologist at Nebraska Medicine and is the co-founder and board chairman of Milan Laser. Dr. Kristin Saxena practiced as a pediatrician with Boys Town Pediatrics before becoming chief medical officer of Milan Laser. She stepped down from that role in 2020 to focus on growing the Saxena Family Foundation and other philanthropic endeavors.

“Through the Saxena Family Foundation, our goal is to be a force for good in Omaha,” the couple said. “We are pleased to support this new health center because we recognize Nebraska Medicine’s vital role in expanding access to care and improving the well-being of our community and its children.”

Dr. Shikhar Saxena added: “This institution saves lives. This institution creates the next generation of doctors that will continue to save lives. This institution creates innovation that allows us to continue to be the premier institution in Omaha, as well as Nebraska.” 

“We’ve had the privilege of caring for patients, but we’ve also experienced health care from the other side, and those experiences have reminded us just how much it matters to have extraordinary care available when you need it,” Dr. Kristin Saxena said. “When someone needs medical care, the building itself isn’t really what matters. What matters is the physician who listens, the nurse who notices something isn’t quite right, the person at the front desk who makes someone feel welcome. It’s the researchers, students, staff, and countless people patients may never see who make excellent care possible. That’s what makes today so meaningful to us.” 

The naming announcement was shared Monday (Aug. 17) during a special event hosted by Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Foundation, where guests were invited to sign the building’s final beam.

Construction on the $99.3 million project is expected to be completed in summer 2027, with the health center opening to patients in fall 2027.