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the Soothing the spirit The healing arts welcomes all who walk through the doors of the facility to experience healing in a way that rejuvenates, motivates and facilitates perspective, Dr. Cowan said.
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THE ARTS HAVE PROVEN TO BE A powerful ALLY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST illness AND THE TOLL IT TAKES ON PATIENTS, FAMILY AND friends. ~ JEFFREY P. GOLD, M.D. UNMC CHANCELLOR
“Any cancer center can be a hospital. The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center is a place to heal.” “A cancer diagnosis is one of the most profound experiences a patient can have,” said Daniel J. DeBehnke, M.D., M.B.A., CEO of Nebraska Medicine. “Numerous studies show the arts can have an important impact on the healing process. That’s why the healing arts program exists – to provide patients, their families and our staff a compassionate, supportive and inspirational environment.” In fact, art is everywhere in the facility, including major commissioned pieces by renowned artists Rob Ley, Suzy Taekyung Kim, Matthew Placzek, Mary Zicafoose and Jennifer Steinkamp. Performing arts – poets or writers-in-residence, musical performances and film fairs – may eventually be included, too, Dr. Cowan said. The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center’s innovative scientific discoveries and its breakthrough, nextgeneration precision medicine will help patients beat cancer, he explained. But so, too, will the human spirit. And nothing, Dr. Cowan said, captures, soothes, inspires and strengthens the human spirit the way art does. “In our hearts, we know this. Even better, science tells us that it’s true.” The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center’s healing arts collection fills open spaces with compassionate and uplifting works of art to bring the calm, inquisitive nature of an art museum into waiting areas, examination rooms and public spaces. This art-filled model encourages onlookers to pause and simply exhale when they need it the most.
KEN COWAN, M.D., PH.D.; DANIEL DEBEHNKE, M.D., M.B.A.; LESLIE JACKSON CHIHULY; DALE CHIHULY; JEFFREY P. GOLD, M.D.; WALTER SCOTT; AMY JENSON; AND MIKE YANNEY
part two: nebraska medicine/unmc
THE ART OF HEALING