Humanism 2009 - Western University of Health Sciences

CHANGE: MAKING IT HAPPEN
Numbers often tell a story quite
clearly, and for this one they would
read something like this: 24,000
cubic yards of concrete; 3,000 tons
of structural steel; 2 million pounds
of rebar, and get this, over 500,000
(half a million) man hours of hard
work! For Western University of Health Sciences, these
numbers translate into 258,000 square feet of additional
educational, research and patient care opportunities, as
well as 600 new parking spaces (Health Education
Center, Patient Care Center & parking garage).
Although the numbers are grand in scale and the
buildings quite significant, it turns out there is a more
interesting side to the story, and one that is timely for
WesternU as it adds four new colleges and embraces
Interprofessional Health Education and Practice.
Both WesternU’s President, Dr. Philip Pumerantz, and
Provost/COO, Dr. Benjamin L. Cohen, have always
been quick to point out, as they raise their arms or
sights to the emerging buildings, that “These buildings,
while impressive, are just buildings; mortar and brick. It
is what will happen within these buildings that will be
significant. Here, people will learn, treat patients and be
treated in the Western University of Health Sciences
8
Joan Sandell, DMD
Assistant Provost for Clinical Operations, Academic Affairs
tradition of Science, Caring and Humanism.” It will be
the people in the buildings that will make a difference.
This story also is about another group of people
working as an interprofessional team as they provide us
with the environment to grow. Our 180,000 square foot
Health Education Center was designed by Perkins &
Will Architects and is being built by DPR Construction
Company, whose purpose and mission are very clear:
“DPR exists to build great things. We do everything we
can to maintain a culture that allows individuals to
thrive and grow to their full potential, helping us build a
string of highly satisfied customers.” WesternU’s first
Patient Care Center has been designed by SWA
Architects, and the parking garage by IDG Architects.
Both of these buildings are being built by BYCOR, with
a mission that states, “We adopt our clients’ goals and
achieve their objectives.” Both the parking garage and
Patient Care Center are owned by Pacific Medical
Building. Along with working closely with WesternU,
the aforementioned professionals are managing over 70
subcontractors (who are specialists in their field) while
working closely with Pomona city planners, the fire
department, utilities and civil engineers.
In many ways, the construction of these buildings is
analogous to many of the practices involved in the
| HUMANISM IN THE HEALTH SCIENCES 2009 • VOL. 12