OU Children’s Physicians have a new home with the recent completion of a brand new 14-story medical office building at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City.

The medical office building, the tallest building on campus, is the first, freestanding, pediatric multi-specialty, medical office building in the state. Located at the corner of NE 13th and Phillips Avenue, it provides 336,000 square feet of state-of-the-art medical office space designed specifically with the needs of young patients and their families in mind.

OU Children’s Physicians move to their new building required 2,040 boxes, 150 movers and was accomplished in just 3 days.

“This building marks a tremendous advance for children’s health care in Oklahoma,” said Joseph Ferretti, Ph.D., senior vice president and provost of the OU Health Sciences Center and board member of the University Hospitals Authority and Trust.

The University Hospitals Authority and Trust and other supporters of children’s health care in Oklahoma provided the impetus and financial means to translate vision to reality, creating an exceptional facility both aesthetically and technologically – a facility designed from the ground up with the needs of Oklahoma’s youngest patients and their families in mind.

“As a physician who treats children with cancer, I can’t begin to tell you what a difference this new facility will mean. It’s design is amazing, allowing for an environment in which children who are dealing with a life-threatening illness can still be children while receiving the advanced care they need to help them win their fight against cancer,” said William Meyer, M.D., OU Children’s Physicians cancer specialist.

The move to the new building required months of planning and careful coordination to ensure as little interruption to patient care as possible. Much of the equipment and necessary items were newly purchased for the building, minimizing the impact of the move on physicians’ practices.

OU Children’s Physicians Building Construction Trivia Cubic Yards of Concrete 19,800 Tons of Steel 2,400 (That’s 4,800,000 lbs) Number of Doors 1,094 Panes of Glass 3,054 Distance from Basement Floor To Building’s Highest point 200’ 4” Number of Colored Glass Tiles In floor 1,791,884

“This transition posed a monumental challenge. The goal was to move all of our physician practices - that’s about 150 doctors representing virtually every pediatric health specialty – with as little disruption to our ability to see patients as possible. I believe we accomplished that,” said Terrence Stull, M.D., chairman of the OU College of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics.

The $59 million building is part of an overall $120 million project that also includes:

• A six-story glass atrium, which will serve as the entrance to the medical office building and as a new front door for The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center;
• A three-level parking garage, that now provides an additional 900 parking spaces conveniently located adjacent to the medical office building;
• And a cutting-edge education and conference center to better serve the needs of the entire OUHSC campus.

Support Edmond Memorial High School’s Swine Week fundraising for the Jimmy Everest Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders in Children.

Edmond Memorial High School students hope to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to aid in the fight against children’s cancer in Oklahoma.

The Jimmy Everest Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders in Children, Oklahoma’s premier center for children with cancer, has been named the recipient of the high school’s annual "Swine Week" fundraising campaign.

Students made their selection after student leaders visited the Jimmy Everest Center to get a firsthand look at the facility and had an opportunity to meet with physicians, patients and their families.

Edmond Memorial High School student leaders presented Dr. William Meyer, Dr. Terrence Stull and Jim Everest with balloons, announcing the Jimmy Everest Center had been selected as recipient of proceeds from this week's Swine Week fundraising efforts. (Pictured are Omar Karim, Dr. Meyer, Madison Epps, Mary Bown, Hannah Van Meter, Dr. Stull and Jim Everest)

“We really want to be able to do something amazing for children with cancer right here in Oklahoma. We know that they are getting the best care currently available, but we want to be part of the process that will make that care even better,” said Mary Bown, a senior at Edmond Memorial and one of the leaders of this year’s Swine Week efforts.

In addition to providing state-of-the-art care in a new world-class facility, the Jimmy Everest Center is focused on research aimed at producing new treatments and ultimately a cure for cancer.

“We are so pleased that Edmond Memorial High School has decided to support us in our efforts to do all we can for children with cancer,” said William Meyer, M.D., a children’s cancer specialist with OU Children’s Physicians and director of the Jimmy Everest Center.

The center is named after Jimmy Everest, who battled Ewing’s Sarcoma as a teenager. Jimmy and his parents, Jim and Christy Everest, wanted to do something for future patients and their families. They set about working with Jimmy’s doctors and other supporters of children’s health care to turn the dream of a new children’s cancer center into a reality.

Jimmy lost his battle with cancer before the center was completed, but he was able to be a part of the initial planning. Today, the center bears his name as a legacy to Jimmy’s life.

“Our son taught us how much young people can accomplish. I have been so impressed with these students from Edmond Memorial High School -- their talents, their leadership abilities and their passion to help others,” Jim Everest said. “We are so pleased that they have decided to be a part of this wonderful center and efforts to further advance cancer care for the children of Oklahoma.”

Each year, students at Edmond Memorial High School carry out a longstanding tradition of raising money for a charity of their choice. The fundraising effort is called Swine Week. The name stems from a challenge in its very first year from the school’s principal that involved kissing a pig if the students met their fundraising goal. The students did meet their goal and the principal did kiss the pig. It has been called Swine Week ever since.

EMHS students participate in a variety of fundraising activities, which culminate with Swine Week in March. Interestingly, the students have never failed to meet their goal, which is to exceed the previous year’s Swine Week total. Last year, they raised $319,000. So, their goal this year is to top that amount as they work to raise funds for the Jimmy Everest Center and its young patients.

Dr. Joan Walker, a gynecologic oncologist with OU Physicians, discusses the importance of a robotic-assisted surgery training center at a media event showcasing the new center.

The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine recently opened the region’s first advanced robotic-assisted surgery training center. OU was one of only two centers in the nation chosen as a premier training site for surgeons by Intuitive Surgical, Inc., the top manufacturer of robotic surgical equipment in the world.

The $1.8 million addition to the Clinical Skills Education and Testing Center (CSETC) was completed in just two months with funding and construction oversight from the University Hospitals Authority and Trust. It features two fully equipped simulated operating rooms, where surgeons from throughout Oklahoma and across the nation will train on the newest generation of robotics surgery equipment.

“The OU College of Medicine continues to strive to be at the cutting-edge of medicine and medical technology. Not only are we doing robotics surgeries in our hospitals, but now our Clinical Skills Education and Testing Center is training surgeons from throughout Oklahoma and beyond in these advanced surgical techniques,” said M. Dewayne Andrews, M.D., executive dean of the OU College of Medicine.

“We chose the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine as a da Vinci Surgical System® training site because of  their commitment to multi-specialty robotic surgery and to training current and future health care providers,” said Timothy White, Western U.S. Training Director, Intuitive Surgical. “The OU Clinical Skills Center is an exceptional facility, providing a training environment that is remarkable in design, equipment and staffing.”

The da Vinci® Si™ is a physician-controlled robotic system that has several unique features designed to increase clinical benefits and efficiency in the operating room. Robotics takes surgery beyond the limits of the human hand to potentially extend minimally invasive surgery to even more patients – even those with complex conditions that previously could not be treated with a minimally invasive approach.

“The addition of robotics surgery to the training available on this campus is another example of our steadfast commitment to further enhancing the high caliber of medical education and training provided to both physicians and future physicians here in Oklahoma,” said Mike Samis, chairman of the University Hospitals Authority and Trust.

“This new, state-of-the-art training center will draw surgeons from throughout the nation to Oklahoma City, where they will experience firsthand all that this great city and state have to offer. It is another glowing example of the wonderful asset we have in the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and proves once again Oklahoma City truly is a big league city,” said Roy Williams, president and CEO, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber.

In addition to the newest robotics system, the CSETC also is now home to its predecessor. By having both systems in place, Andrews said the center is better able to meet the needs of surgeons from hospitals throughout the region, regardless of which platform is utilized at their facility.

“Robot-assisted surgery is rapidly advancing our surgical capabilities with tremendous benefits for our patients,” said Carson Wong, M.D., F.R.C.S.C., F.A.C.S., medical director of the Center for Robotic Surgery at the OU Medical Center. Wong specializes in urologic robot-assisted surgery, particularly in the treatment of prostate cancer. “This technology is allowing us to perform extremely complex surgeries through very small incisions, improve patient outcomes and reduce recovery times.”

The new training center at OU features two fully equipped robot-assisted surgical suites for advanced training of physicians throughout the region.

Robotic surgery is fast becoming the choice of patients and surgeons in an ever-expanding number of medical specialties. Gynecology and gynecologic oncology are currently among the fastest growing specialties in terms of robotics surgery.

“Patients love the idea of having a surgery that is minimally invasive, but we as surgeons love the enhancement this technology provides for our surgical techniques. Not only does the newest robotics equipment give us greater surgical dexterity and precision, it allows us to see in a way we have never been able to see before, with a high definition view inside the body that can be magnified up to 10 times. This enhanced vision allows for more precision in the removal of tumors, less trauma to normal tissues, and therefore less pain and faster healing,” said Walker, M.D., a gynecologic-oncologist who was among the first in her specialty trained in robotics here in Oklahoma.

The OU Medical Center’s robotic surgery program has grown substantially over the past year with an ever-increasing number of patients enjoying the benefits of minimally-invasive surgery. In addition to urology and gynecology, the use of robotics surgery is growing rapidly in thyroid, colorectal and heart surgery too.

“We are proud to now be a top robotics treatment center here in Oklahoma, as well as the leader in robotics surgical training for the entire central region of the United States,” Andrews added.

The new robotics surgery training center at OU can currently train up to 10 surgeons per week. An additional 3,000 square feet also has been set aside for future expansion as demand for the program grows.

Mike Samis, chairman of the University Hospitals Authority and Trust, was the recipient of one of three Dean’s Distinguished Service Awards presented at the OU College of Medicine Alumni Association’s recent Evening of Excellence gala.

Samis was honored for his role in helping ensure the survival of Oklahoma’s teaching hospitals and for his ongoing support of medical care, research and education in the state.

"Mike Samis is truly the epitome of a servant leader. He shares critical leadership and perspective, helping provide for positive change, strategic growth and a healthier future for all Oklahomans, motivated only by service to others," said Pete Regan, a board member of the University Hospitals Authority and Trust.

Samis led the negotiating team on behalf of the state in the late 90s, structuring the Joint Operating Agreement that united the state, the university and HCA, the largest private hospital operator in the world, in a truly unique partnership – one that is credited with keeping medical education intact at the OU Health Sciences Center, preserving the ability to provide medical care to the underserved of our state and providing the financial stability needed to sustain the College of Medicine’s research programs.

"Mike’s leadership, his experience and his dedication have proven invaluable time and time again. He has been an exemplary chairman, providing critical insight and guidance to the board and helping to advance important initiatives aimed at elevating medical education, research and care. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of recognition," said Dean Gandy, executive director of the University Hospitals Authority and Trust.

Under Samis’ leadership, the Trust financed or participated in the financing of numerous construction projects on campus over the past decade, including: the OU Physicians Building; Phase II of the Stanton L. Young Biomedical Research Center; the Clinical Skills Education and Testing Center as well as its new Robot-Assisted Surgery Training Center; the OU Children’s Physicians Building; and a six-story atrium and education/conference center adjoining the OU Children’s Physicians Building, scheduled for completion in 2010/2011.

Also honored at the Evening of Excellence gala were Dr. Russell Postier, chairman of the OU College of Medicine’s Department of Surgery, and the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber.

Dr. Postier was honored for excellence in medical care, research and education. Widely known for his surgical expertise in gastrointestinal surgery, Postier’s research efforts have brought $9.5 million in research funding to the Department of Surgery and the College of Medicine.

The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber was honored for being the driving force behind the growth of the Oklahoma City area. The Chamber, which represents and supports thousands of businesses of all sizes, brings ongoing support through economic and community development, tourism and government relations as well as education and workforce development.