ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., May 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of New Mexico Cancer Center, the State of New Mexico’s Official Cancer Center based on the UNM campus in Albuquerque, broke ground today on New Mexico’s first world- class cancer diagnosis and treatment center. Scheduled to open in early 2009, the new world-class University of New Mexico Cancer Treatment and Clinical Research Facility will be located at 2001 Camino del Salud NE, near the corner of University Boulevard and Camino del Salud.
As one of the nation’s 60 pre-eminent National Cancer Institute (NCI)- Designated Cancer Centers and as the only cancer center in New Mexico ranked as one of “America’s Best Cancer Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report, the groundbreaking is the first phase of construction of a new 190,000 square foot, $90 million world-class, ambulatory cancer treatment and clinical research facility. The new center will provide fully-integrated comprehensive cancer diagnosis and treatment all under one roof.
“New Mexicans deserve access to world-class health care here in their home state, surrounded by the people and places that they love, and our world-class cancer center deserves a world- class home,” said Dr. Cheryl Willman, Director and Chief Executive Officer of the UNM Cancer Center. “This facility marks the next stage in the development of our programs and our growing statewide cancer care network, creating a central hub that will allow all New Mexicans touched by cancer to have access to outstanding cancer diagnosis and treatment and the latest in advanced cancer care in a hopeful and comforting environment.”
Designed for patients and their families first and foremost, the new world-class UNM Cancer Treatment and Clinical Research Facility will include many patient supportive care services, and provide the most advanced, state- of-the-art, cancer treatment in a beautiful, hopeful and caring environment. It will house state-of-the-art clinical cancer research programs and technologies for cancer imaging, diagnosis, and therapy; radiotherapy, radiosurgery, robotic surgery; and novel radioisotopes programs in collaboration with the state’s national laboratories. This includes:
* The Southwest’s first TomoTherapy Hi-Art System, one of the world’s most advanced and versatile radiation therapy systems providing the finest image guided radiation therapy known today; * Advanced PET/CT imaging systems, providing a more complete picture of a tumor’s location and growth; * A novel radioisotopes program, in collaboration with The UNM College of Pharmacy and Los Alamos National Laboratory, focused on developing the most advanced molecules for detection of cancer at its earliest stages and more effective forms of radiation therapy; * New non-invasive radiosurgery technologies designed to treat tumors anywhere in the body with sub-millimeter accuracy; * Electromagnetic Therapy where constant (static) magnets or pulsed electromagnetic fields may be applied to areas of the body affected by cancer; * A fully integrated bone marrow and stem cell transplant program allowing New Mexicans to benefit from new advances in cancer stem cell research; * An experimental therapeutics program assuring New Mexicans access to the latest therapies to prevent and treat cancer.
The UNM Cancer Center treats more than 40 percent of the adults and virtually all of the children in New Mexico affected by cancer each year. It provides care to more than 3,500 newly diagnosed patients in more than 80,000 annual patient visits. The UNM Cancer Center has the state’s largest team of cancer specialists, with more than 60 cancer physicians, 110 research scientists, and 400 nurses and staff recruited from outstanding cancer hospitals and medical schools worldwide.
The existing UNM Cancer Center clinic provides care for as many as 375 patients per day in an outmoded facility designed to accommodate less than 100 patients per day when it was built in 1978. The new world-class UNM Cancer Treatment and Clinical Research Facility will include:
* Capacity for 200,000 patient visits per year * 4 floors and a sub-terrace level * 40 examination rooms per floor * 32 infusion suites * 2 pharmacies (1 chemo and 1 radio) * 1 clinical laboratory * 4 linear accelerators * 3 surgery suites * Facilities for professional and community cancer education including a 150 seat auditorium * Many patient amenities, including healthful food services, support programs, patient navigator programs, complementary medicine, and spiritual support and counseling for patients and families
Dr. Willman welcomed the guests and introduced the dignitaries to begin the groundbreaking, which was followed by an invocation by Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan, from the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.
Dr. Paul Roth, University of New Mexico Executive Vice President for Health Sciences Dean of the UNM School of Medicine began the program, followed by Acting President for the University of New Mexico David Harris. Incoming President for the University of New Mexico Dr. David J. Schmidly addressed the guests attending the event. He was followed by the President of the UNM Board of Regents James Koch.
Several New Mexico legislators spoke during the groundbreaking including Senator Ben Altamirano, Senate President Pro Tempore, (D-Catron, Grant & Socorro - District 28); Senator Michael Sanchez, Senate Majority Leader (D- Valencia - District 29); Senator Timothy Jennings, Co-Chair - Senate Finance (D-Chaves, Eddy, Lincoln & Otero - District 32), he was represented by Mrs. Patty Jennings; Representative Ben Lujan, Speaker of the House (D-Santa Fe - District 46); and Representative Henry “Kiki” Saavedra, Chair, House Appropriations and Finance (D-Bernalillo & Valencia - District 10).
After the speeches concluded, All Indian Pueblo Council Vice Chairman Amadeo Shije conducted a blessing of the ground ceremony which led into the actual breaking of the ground and the introduction of the design and construction team. Each dignitary, led by Dr. Willman, was provided with an official UNM Cancer Treatment and Clinical Research Facility Groundbreaking shovel. They lined-up in a row and simultaneously turned-over the first pieces of dirt to begin of the construction phase of the new world-class UNM Cancer Treatment and Clinical Research Facility.
At the end of the ceremony, Rabbi Joseph Black, from Congregation Albert, offered a closing prayer. All of the attendees then released butterflies into the air signifying the wishes, hopes and dreams of those in attendance, those of cancer survivors, patients undergoing treatment, guests who were unable to attend, and in remembrance of people who have passed away. According to a Native American legend -- if anyone desires a wish to come true he/she must first capture a butterfly, whisper that wish to it, and give the butterfly its freedom. The wish will be taken to the heavens and be granted.
University of New Mexico Cancer Center Facts & Figures: * Founded in 1971 * The State of New Mexico’s Official Cancer Center * Designated as one of the nation’s 60 pre-eminent National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Centers. * Named one of America’s Best Cancer Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report in July 2006. * Treats more than 5,000 patients annually, representing more than 40 percent of the adults and virtually all of the children diagnosed with cancer in New Mexico. * Receives more than $50 million a year to fund a wide variety of cancer research programs. * Largest staff of cancer specialists in New Mexico, with more than 60 cancer physicians and 110 cancer researchers recruited from some of the world’s most prestigious institutions. * Largest and most comprehensive array of multidisciplinary cancer treatment programs in New Mexico. * Facilities in Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Santa Fe with collaborative clinical and educational programs statewide. * Close research partnerships with New Mexico State University, the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratory.
Mexico Cancer Center
The University of New
CONTACT: James Korenchen of JKPR, +1-505-797-6671,james@jameskorenchen.com, for UNM Cancer Center; or Linda Karr of UNMCancer Center, +1-505-272-1048, lhkarr@salud.unm.edu
