University administrators and supporters cut the ribbon Thursday in Springfield for the $21.5 million SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute, which has been in the works for more than eight years.
SIU President Glenn Poshard said the facility would help the southern Illinois region by providing much-needed healthcare while also giving the university a boost in research and reputation.
"It's a tremendous asset to our university," Poshard said. "That's a beautiful building and it's going to have the most advanced, state-of-the-art equipment."
Dr. Thomas Robbins, director of the institute, said the most important aspect of the building is the way it will allow the university to serve the people of central and southern Illinois.
"It's clearly our goal to become the comprehensive cancer program for the downstate region," Robbins said.
He added that the institute's patient learning resource center as a particular asset for the people it serves. Robbins said the institute would also include an on-site social worker specially trained to help cancer patients navigate their treatment options.
However, the facility will not begin serving patients until late fall or early next year because of money cut from the state budget proposal for fiscal year 2009.
Allison Petty can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 254 or allison.petty@siude.com.
