Former Vice President Joe Biden will serve as the keynote speaker Tuesday at the ribbon-cutting and dedication of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.
The $323 million cancer center, which opens to patients in early June, is the largest-ever project for the University of Nebraska Medical Center and its clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine. The two announced Biden’s visit Friday.
“The former vice president is the perfect speaker to mark the momentum and excitement surrounding the opening of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center,” UNMC Chancellor Dr. Jeffrey Gold said in a statement.
Biden led the White House Cancer Moonshot initiative to enhance cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care launched under the administration of then-President Barack Obama and now is launching his own Biden Cancer Initiative.
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“To have his participation in the dedication of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center is significant, especially for our community of researchers, health providers and patients,” Gold said. “Like the Moonshot, this cancer center is uniquely designed to bolster the collaborations necessary to eliminate this disease.”
Biden’s son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015, at age 46. Biden has said he will spend the rest of his life fighting to eradicate the disease.
Dr. Daniel DeBehnke, Nebraska Medicine’s chief executive officer, said the former vice president’s visit provides the “ultimate stamp of approval” on the center. “As the former head of the Cancer Moonshot, there are few who have a better holistic view of what we need to do in the future to fight cancer,” he said in a statement.
Also Friday, the Chihuly Sanctuary at the cancer center was formally unveiled. It is described as the most comprehensive health care environment structure ever created by renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly.
Located within the 10-story cancer center, the Chihuly Sanctuary features 10 art installations designed to provide a place of respite and reflection for patients, families and staff dealing with cancer.
Omaha philanthropists Walter Scott and his late wife, Suzanne, made the lead gift to make the sanctuary possible. Additional gifts were made by the Gail E. Davis family and Mary Jean and Hugh Williams.
The artwork is part of a Healing Arts Program at the facility that not only includes commissioned artwork by Chihuly and Jun Kaneko of Omaha but also Leslie’s Healing Garden, an outdoor, all-season garden created with support from Marshall and Mona Faith.
The public is invited to view Biden’s speech at Tuesday’s 2 p.m. dedication and ribbon- cutting via Facebook Live on the UNMC, Nebraska Medicine and Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center accounts or via livestream at unmc.edu/livevideo/campusforum.html.
In addition, a public open house is set for next Saturday, May 27. From 9 a.m. to noon, people can tour specialty operating rooms, the intensive care unit, resource and wellness center, 24/7 treatment center, in-site clinical lab service and various amenities that will be available to patients to help alleviate the anxiety typically associated with a hospital stay.
The cancer center’s key features:
» The Suzanne and Walter Scott Cancer Research Tower, a 10-story, 98-laboratory research tower.
» The C.L. Werner Cancer Hospital, an eight-story, 108-bed inpatient treatment center.
» A multidisciplinary outpatient center that includes clinics, radiation oncology, surgery, radiology, a 24/7 treatment center, lab and collaborative treatment/diagnostics.
julie.anderson@owh.com, 402-444-1066