Sweeping glass arcs and sky bridges overlooking lush, green courtyards aren't exclusive to Penn State's main campus.
They're also architectural intricacies of the Penn State University Hershey Medical Center, Cancer Institutein Hershey, Pa., which was awarded the First Annual Generative Space Health Improvement Award last week.
The award program was established by the CARITAS Project to recognize healthcare settings committed to improving patient care by improving their environments. The CARITAS Project specifically encourages the integration of two distinct fields -- academic research and clinical practice -- to pursue new discoveries for both prevention and treatment.
The newly rebuilt Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, which opened its doors to patients a year ago today, serves as a symbol of hope and discovery for both physicians and researchers as well as the patients they care for. The institute's role is reflected in the windows, gardens and skylights of its modern design.
Dr. Thomas Loughran, the institute's director, said the building took two years to design. Architects incorporated input from patients and patient advocate groups in their plans to create a place of beauty and light, he said.
"The whole concept was to bring the outside environment into the building," Loughran said. "It's cheerful and bright and really lifts your spirits up."
The building was designed, he said, to facilitate the interactions between the scientists who develop treatments for cancer and the doctors who treat cancer patients directly. The institute epitomizes collaboration, placing laboratory research bench space just a floor above outpatient clinics, Loughran said.
The central atrium -- also known as the beehive -- features conference rooms, offices and a lunch area shared by both researchers and physicians alike, he said.
Dr. Wafik El-Deiry, chief of the institute's hematology/oncology division and associate director of translational research -- the application of basic research to clinical practice -- is responsible for bridging the gap between researchers and physicians.
He said although patients might not fully recognize it yet, discussion amongst members of the institute take place in various forms -- from research seminars to patient rounds -- and is especially useful when identifying biomarkers and coming up with strategies to prevent cancer.
"Patients will soon come to appreciate the cancer institute as a place where new discoveries are made in the lab and brought to the clinic," Dr. El-Deiry said.
Dr. Karam El-Bayoumy, head of basic research at the institute, said the new setup has allowed him to easily perform clinical trials while interacting with clinicians and clinical investigators. Currently, his work involves developing dietary supplements to reduce risk factors for breast and prostate cancer.
"My office is right next door to clinicians," Dr. El-Bayoumy said. "Interactions become much more efficient when every expertise is under the same roof to advance our progress in research."
