Community Invited to Celebrate Groundbreaking of UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay

UCSF this week will celebrate the groundbreaking for a state-of-the-art and sustainable medical center at Mission Bay, signifying a major turning point in the history of UCSF.

UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital are hosting a grand community celebration as part of this week’s groundbreaking festivities for the 289-bed hospital complex which, upon completion in 2014, will set a new standard for patient- and family-centered health care, safety, sustainability and translational medicine.

All UCSF staff, faculty, students, and neighbors from the surrounding neighborhoods of Mission Bay, Potrero Hill, Dogpatch and Bayview are invited to the join in the fun on Wednesday, Oct. 27, from 1 to 6 p.m. at Mission Bay. This family-friendly event will take place at 3rd and 16th streets at Mission Bay.

“Please join us for this important day,” said Mark Laret, chief executive officer of UCSF Medical Center. “We are excited about the future of our children’s, women’s, and cancer hospitals at Mission Bay and look forward to celebrating with you on October 27th. Thank you for your continuing commitment to UCSF Medical Center and the patients we serve.”

In addition to learning more about the new hospitals and touring the full-scale mock-up patient rooms, attendees to the October 27 celebration will enjoy healthy cooking demonstrations from nationally renowned chefs, including Yigit Pura, executive pastry chef for Taste Catering and Even Planning, who is currently a competitor on Bravo’s “Top Chef Just Desserts.”

Culturally diverse entertainment will include children’s music, a capella singing, flamenco, Indian jazz, belly dancing, and cello and guitar selections. Wellness demonstrations will include Eastern meditation and movement techniques and many other programs offered through UCSF.

The event also will feature a bountiful farmers’ market, giveaways, games and activities for all ages.  To RSVP for the October 27 celebration or for more information, please email or call 415/476-6400. 

Building for the Future

The UC Board of Regents in September cleared the way for construction of the new medical center, which allows UCSF to address clinical capacity problems at all sites, create modern facilities to better meet the needs of patients, meet the requirements of the state seismic law that limits the use of Mount Zion, and will help fulfill the promise of the Mission Bay campus to foster the translation of research into clinical care.

The realization of UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay also fulfills the UCSF Strategic Plan, which also calls for revitalizing the Parnassus campus and developing a long-term plan for Mount Zion.

Upon completion of the first phase in 2014, the 878,000-gross-square-foot Mission Bay medical center will include:

• A 183-bed children’s hospital with urgent, emergency and pediatric primary care and specialty outpatient facilities;
• A 70-bed adult hospital for cancer patients;
• A women’s hospital for cancer care, specialty surgery and select outpatient services, and a 36-bed birth center; and
• An energy center, helipad and parking.

The hospital complex will be located on a 14.5-acre parcel, adjacent to UCSF’s existing biomedical campus at Mission Bay. By locating the complex at Mission Bay, UCSF will be able to bring together basic scientists, clinical researchers and physicians to share resources, insight and ideas to accelerate the progress of discovery to benefit patients.

To thank those who have played instrumental roles in the planning process, UCSF will host an invitation-only ceremony on October 26 bringing together 200 community members, donors, elected officials and UCSF leaders to mark the groundbreaking occasion.

Related Links:

UCSF Community Looks Forward to Construction of Medical Center at Mission Bay
UCSF Today, September 16, 2010

UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay

UCSF Medical Center CEO Calls Regents Vote ‘Important Milestone’
UCSF Today, September 16, 2010