We are changing the landscape of the UNM Health Sciences Center - both literally and figuratively - R. Philip Eaton, MD

Changing the Landscape by Cathleen Rineer-Garber Visitors to the office of R. Philip Eaton, MD, Vice President for Health Sciences, are immediately drawn to the 30-foot sculpture rising from the plaza outside his window. The sculpture, entitled Cloud/Rift, is a soaring work of concrete and bronze that depicts a cloud passing over a vertical landscape. Cloud/Rift is an abstraction of the dramatic land formations of New Mexico, according to sculptor John Christensen. But to Eaton, it is a symbol of so much more. "This sculpture marks the beginning of the new Health Sciences Center," said Eaton. The HSC is undergoing a remarkable transformation that, according to Eaton, began with the installation of Cloud/Rift last year. This transformation will include several new, state-of-the-art buildings for education, patient care and research, the UNM Hospital expansion, the Sculpture Garden of Healing, and a new west entrance. Although the construction of new buildings will mark the transformation, Eaton says it's not really about construction at all. "We are changing the landscape of the UNM Health Sciences Center-both literally and figuratively," he said. "Over the next few years, the campus will change significantly in its physical appearance, but what we are really doing is changing the HSC experience for everyone who comes here." Eaton said the goal is to create an environment of caring-a place where all New Mexicans can find the support, resources, and care they need and deserve. "Regardless of the reason you come here-as a patient, family member, student or employee-we want to improve your experience." This will be accomplished by improving services and facilities, but also by changing the atmosphere through the creation of the Sculpture Garden of Healing, Hallway Galleries of Caring, and the new west entrance. "These areas are very visible to the public-they set the tone for the entire campus." At the new west entrance to the HSC campus, located at the intersection of Camino de Salud and Yale, visitors will be greeted by a traditional Spanish glorieta (roundabout) surrounded by native plants and xeriphytes. The glorieta will mark the Southwest corner of the Sculpture Garden of Healing. Anchored by Cloud/Rift to the northeast, the sculpture garden will help integrate the new buildings into their surroundings. Eventually, the garden will wind through the entire HSC campus. Walkways and other landscaped spaces reflecting the HSC's health care mission will connect the various campus buildings while providing quiet areas for contemplation and renewal. Eaton is convinced that an aesthetically pleasing environment, whether indoors or outdoors, can help heal the spirit. With what he calls, "Hallway Galleries of Caring" spaces filled with art from the Health Sciences Center's distinguished collection, Eaton hopes to enhance the atmosphere of interior spaces of both existing and new buildings. Currently, several buildings under construction, including the expansion of Pete and Nancy Domenici Hall (formerly the Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research Center) and the Research Incubator Building are leading the effort to change the HSC landscape. The next major capital project to get underway will be Phase I of the new UNM HSC Education Building. With the recent appropriation of an additional $4.3 million from the federal government, the start of construction on Phase I will begin this summer. "This new building is vital to our continued success," said Eaton. "We are a national leader in curricular innovation for health professionals, but our current facilities don't reflect today's technologic advances." Phase I will include the much-needed common areas and amenities for students and faculty, including a food court, bookstore, the Hall of Achievement, exercise room and facilities for student organizations. In keeping with HSC's tradition of community partnerships, the new building will provide space for public education programs and meetings with the legislature, community leaders and visitors. One location for hosting public events will be the special events hall, located on the fourth floor of the building. With dramatic views of the Rio Grande Basin, an open observation deck and catering facilities, the special events hall will be an important addition to the HSC campus. While Phase I is under construction, efforts to raise the additional funds needed to complete the building will continue. Construction of the UNM Research Building/Human Anatomy Teaching Laboratory, which will be located near the UNM Family Practice Center, is also on the construction schedule. The building is designed to bring together UNM scientists from a variety of disciplines who are all working toward a common goal-finding answers to medical questions that have a significant impact on New Mexicans. Eaton said research programs will focus on genetic predispositions, environmental exposures, and health behaviors of New Mexicans. Although the building is primarily a research facility, the basement level will actually house an educational component-the new Human Anatomy Teaching Laboratory. According to Eaton, the HSC desperately needs to expand and upgrade the anatomy lab in order to increase enrollment of medical students, which will help alleviate the state's shortage of health care professionals and improve the educational experience of all HSC students. Eaton said the Research Building is the best location for this facility because of its more robust ventilation system and because it is the next building that will be erected on campus. "We have already secured funding for the Research Building, with the exception of the anatomy lab," explained Eaton, adding that the HSC is currently seeking funding from the New Mexico Legislature for the anatomy lab. Construction on the new UNM Children's Hospital and Critical Care Pavilion is slated to begin this spring, with an anticipated completion of Fall 2006. The 408,000-square-foot addition will include a maternity center, newborn intensive care unit, adult critical care units, emergency and trauma services, private patient rooms, and two dedicated floors for UNM Children's Hospital. Missed a feature story? Click here to browse our features archive.

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