Ground broken for new N.C. Cancer Hospital at UNC Hospitals

Sept. 28, 2005

Ground broken for new N.C. Cancer Hospital at UNC Hospitals

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Today ground was broken to begin construction of the new N.C. Cancer Hospital, which will be built in front of the existing University of North Carolina Hospitals complex.

"Today marks the proud beginning of a new commitment in a fight for the health of our loved ones and fellow citizens who face the reality of cancer every day," said Dr. William L. Roper, dean of the UNC School of Medicine, chief executive officer of the UNC Health Care System and vice chancellor for medical affairs. "Starting today, we will be able to see the progress being made to bring North Carolinians the greatest cancer treatment facility in the nation."

The keynote speaker for the groundbreaking ceremony was Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, director of the National Cancer Institute. On Friday, Sept. 23, President George W. Bush announced that he intends to designate von Eschenbach to be acting commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"As you pour this foundation, from my perspective, I see you creating new hope," von Eschenbach said during the ceremony.

"I see you being the source of an opportunity, by bringing together the greatness of the Lineberger Cancer Center and its research and all the effort that has been done that has truly made it one of this nation’s most outstanding comprehensive cancer centers, and then combining that with a state-of-the-art clinical facility, that you will contribute and you will be a critically important part of the quest, the goal that we have set for the nation, to eliminate the suffering and death due to cancer for everyone," von Eschenbach said.

Dr. Richard Goldberg, chief of Hematology/Oncology at UNC Health Care and associate director for clinical research at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, said it was "an honor to have Dr. von Eschenbach visiting us on this occasion." Goldberg will serve as medical director of the N.C. Cancer Hospital.

"His visit speaks to the importance of this hospital," Goldberg said. "It's going to be something that all North Carolinians can be proud of. Unfortunately, many North Carolinians will also need to avail themselves of our services at some point in their life."

The N.C. Cancer Hospital, tentatively scheduled to open in late 2009, will provide complete cancer care and research facilities in one facility. "Everything a cancer patient needs, with the exception of an operating room, will be under one roof," said Goldberg. "The new building will allow us to bring resources to the patient instead of having to take the patient to the resources."

Conferencing facilities in the N.C. Cancer Hospital also will allow UNC's doctors to communicate their clinical and research findings across the state, nation and world in a minute's time.

"We envision the Cancer Hospital becoming a hub that reaches out to doctors across the state," said Dr. Shelton Earp, director of Lineberger. "This building will enhance our ability to move fundamental research directly into patient applications."

A variety of patient applications will be present in the new facility, including more experimental treatment options, including a developmental therapies unit. "We often run out of conventional options for treatment before the patient is ready to stop fighting against the cancer," Goldberg said. "This developmental therapies unit will allow us to treat people with the newest drugs just coming into the clinical arena."

To maximize efficiency and layout, staff working in the building, as well as patients, were actively involved in the design process, said Mary Beck, UNC Hospitals' senior vice president of planning.

"Philosophically, we have a strong sense that users need to be involved in the planning aspect of the project," Beck said. "The most incredible thing about this project has been the cohesiveness of the oncology staff. They are not arguing about who gets an extra square foot of space. Instead, it's been more of, 'We need a square foot to make the entire layout more seamless'."

Throughout the design process, the architects would visit Chapel Hill in weeklong increments. "It was an incredibly intensive process," Goldberg said. "But in the end, the design is ours in terms of functionality and ambience translated through the architect's eyes and expertise."

It is the ambience of the building, for both patients and staff, that will set it apart, Goldberg said. "We're balancing both optimal patient care and optimal ambience."

The need for a facility like the N.C. Cancer Hospital is becoming increasingly urgent, Earp said. "Cancer as a diagnosis is increasing as our population ages," he said. "We're almost in a race against time as patient population and desire to visit increases. This building will help us catch up."

That catch up will begin in late 2009, when the N.C. Cancer Hospital is scheduled to open its doors. With 320,000 square feet of space and seven floors dedicated entirely to cancer services, Goldberg sees the hospital being a boon not just to North Carolina but the east coast as a whole. Also accompanying the $180 million Cancer Hospital, which will sit in front of the N.C. Neurosciences Hospital, will be a physicians' office building that will sit across Manning Drive.

On Goldberg's office wall hangs a framed picture featuring himself, N.C. Gov. Mike Easley and NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick, of Charlotte, N.C. The photo was taken Aug. 5, 2004, when the governor signed the bill that provided funding for the N.C. Cancer Hospital, in a ceremony at UNC Hospitals.

"It's very symbolic that Rick Hendrick accompanied the governor," Goldberg said. "He had cancer and went to Texas for treatment because he didn't feel certain that he would get cutting-edge cancer care in North Carolina. Now, with a dedicated cancer facility at UNC, people with the disease will have the assurance that they will get cutting-edge therapy right here." 

ABOUT N.C. CANCER HOSPITAL:
The N.C. Cancer Hospital is the clinical home of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Lineberger is part of the UNC Health Care System and the only public comprehensive cancer center for the state and the people of North Carolina. The center's mission is to reduce cancer occurrence and death in North Carolina and the nation through research, treatment, training and outreach. Center faculty treat cancer patients, conduct research into the causes of  cancer, develop and direct statewide programs in cancer prevention and  train future physicians, nurses, scientists, and public health  professionals. UNC Lineberger is one of 39 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers and two Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) in Breast cancer and in GI cancers. UNC is ranked in the top 15 institutions nationally in cancer research funding and is home to nationally recognized training programs for the next generation of physicians, nurses, scientists and public health professionals.

ABOUT UNC HEALTH CARE:
The UNC Health Care System is a not-for-profit integrated health care system owned by the state of North Carolina and based in Chapel Hill. It exists to further the teaching mission of the University of North Carolina and to provide  state-of-the-art patient care. UNC Health Care is comprised of UNC Hospitals, ranked consistently among the best medical centers in the country; the UNC School of Medicine, a nationally eminent research institution; community practices; home health and hospice services in seven central North Carolina counties; and Rex Healthcare and its provider network in Wake County.

Media contact: Stephanie Crayton, (919) 966-2860 or scrayton@unch.unc.edu