Estella Nolta, the first patient at Upstate University Hospital, cut the ribbon to the new building on July 20, 1964. She is flanked by Upstate President Carlyle “Jake” Jacobsen PhD on the left and James Abbott, vice president for hospital affairs, on the right.
Fifty years ago, on July 20, Upstate marked the opening of the outpatient clinic of its new downtown hospital with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Estella Nolta, the first patient, cut the ceremonial ribbon and led the crowd into the then-new $22 million, 585,00 sq. ft. hospital at East Adams Street, Syracuse.
One year later, on July 11, 1965, the last 50 patients were moved from the old Hospital of the Good Shepherd (Upstate’s predecessor) to the new Upstate University Hospital. Good Shepherd closed, eventually becoming the School of Education building at Syracuse University.
This July — on Friday, the 18th at 10 a.m. — Upstate is hosting another ribbon-cutting ceremony to open its newest building. The new Upstate Cancer Center, located adjacent to Upstate University Hospital, will house outpatient cancer services — for all ages — under one roof. This three-story center will offer the most advanced services and technology to the nearly 9,000 adults and 400 children with cancer who receive care at Upstate, as well as the 600+ patients in Upstate’s Survivor Wellness program. The building is designed to provide a calm and peaceful environment, and its decor and special features represent healing through nature.
Friday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony is open to the public and will include tours of the new center.
The public is also invited to an open house on Saturday, July 19, from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. There will be family-friendly entertainment, information about cancer services, and self-guided tours to see features such as the healing garden, family resource center, meditation room, private infusion rooms and the new Vero SBRT (stereotactic body radiotherapy system).
Upstate’s cancer program is recipient of the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons’ Outstanding Achievement Award, which places it among a group of 79 accredited cancer programs in the United States.
The new Upstate Cancer Center will be open to the public on July 18 and 19. EwingCole, architects.
