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- Reflections on Cambridge Tower A
Cambridge Tower A
Impact Report: 5 years later
Reflections on Cambridge Tower A
Hear from some of Cambridge Tower A's largest supporters on the impact of the tower and its capital campaign.
Our continued thanks
Dear friends,
The view from the 10th level of Cambridge Tower A is spectacular. Looking out and seeing The University of Kansas Health System’s evolving landscape and how we’ve changed the Kansas City skyline, one can’t help but be amazed at the transformation since 2017. While the view is remarkable, if you’re looking out, you’re only seeing half the picture. After all, the transformative and innovative care taking place in this very building is beyond spectacular. It is life-changing.
We couldn’t have done it without you.
When the doors to Cambridge Tower A first opened 5 years ago, we promised to complete levels 8, 9 and 10 soon after to house a general intensive care unit and our hematologic malignancies and cellular therapeutics program. Thanks to a transformational $66 million gift from The Sunderland Foundation, and the generous support of you and our community, employees and physicians, we kept our promise and welcomed the first patients to those new areas in December 2021.
Yes, in the midst of a pandemic.
These 100 new rooms — most of which are for patients being treated for leukemia, lymphoma and other blood disorders — are designed and built with the care and safety of our most vulnerable patients and their families in mind. In addition to the many features that enhance the patients’ comfort while shielding them from infection, the spaces improve the ability of our multidisciplinary care teams to work in tandem to provide the most innovative and high-quality treatments.
Add to this our dedicated care teams helping patients with epilepsy achieve a life free from seizures, treating essential tremor with no incisions using an MRI-guided laser and reversing the devastating impact from stroke, and it’s easy to see the lasting impact your generosity is making on the lives of patients in Kansas and beyond.
Thank you. For your continued support of Cambridge Tower A, your ongoing advocacy for The University of Kansas Health System and The University of Kansas Cancer Center and your dedication to advancing the future of academic medicine in our region.
Sincerely,
Bob Page
President and CEO
The University of Kansas Health System
Tammy Peterman
President, Kansas City Division, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer
The University of Kansas Health System
More reflections
“I went through a stem cell transplant here years ago, so it’s pretty easy for me to be a cheerleader for the hospital when I’ve seen the good work happening here. This is an important project for the future of The University of Kansas Health System. As we look ahead to where healthcare is going, we’ve got to have the most modern facilities, the best doctors, and the health system is going to carve that niche as a leader in the community.”
– Charlie Sunderland
The Sunderland Foundation
“This has been a vision for many people, but most importantly our patients and their families for years now. It’s come to fruition, finally! We traveled around the nation looking at some of the best and most competitive transplant program inpatient units. We took what we thought was optimal and left others behind, and we built a second-to-none in this nation stem cell and cell therapy transplant unit.”
– Joseph McGuirk, DO
Division director of hematologic malignancies and cellular therapeutics
Medical director of blood and marrow transplant
The University of Kansas Cancer Center
“Charlie Sunderland and his family didn’t just complete our capital campaign; they have transformed this health system forever. We love fundraising that really moves the needle forward, and the hospital always meets that priority for us. This gift from Charlie Sunderland and his family epitomizes the generosity and vision we so appreciate from them.”
– Deanna and Greg Graves
Chairs, Cambridge Tower A Steering Committee
Explore more of the impact report
Timeline to transformation
Cambridge Tower A has come a long way since Deanna and Greg Graves announced their $1 million gift to launch the campaign in February 2014.
Memories from the first year on levels 8, 9 and 10
Staff share some of their favorite memories from the first year of Cambridge Tower A’s second-to-none stem cell and cell therapy transplant unit.
The next chapter in immunotherapy research
Dr. Joseph McGuirk explores an incredible new chapter in immunotherapy at the health system as novel developments continue to emerge.
Waving away hand tremors with Exablate Neuro
The first 3 patients at the health system to receive Exablate Neuro, which uses MRI-guided focused ultrasound to relieve their essential tremor, share their stories.
A miraculous recovery
Five years ago, Xavier Cunningham arrived at our hospital with a skewer jutting from his cheek. He shares his updated story with us.