Ribbon-cutting ceremonies were held Friday to mark the dedication of Ohio State's new James Cancer Hospital. The $750 million facility is now the third largest cancer hospital in the U.S. In opening remarks, Ohio State University president Michael Drake said the new facility is a symbol of hope. The new James Cancer Center and Solove Research Institute is nothing less than a symbol of innovation. It's a 21-story declaration of our enduring commitment to health and the well-being of people across the state and around the world, Drake said.
The chief executive officer of OSUs Wexner Medical Center, Dr. Steven Gabbe added: The new James signals to the world that were a global health care innovator, with the talent, with the technology and with the will to most importantly achieve a cancer-free world, said Gabbe.
Other dignitaries ticked off the numbers. Senator Sherrod Brown said $100 million for the hospital's construction came from passage of the Affordable Care Act. Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman said the hospital will pump $1.7 billion annually into the local economy. The hospital and research institute has 306 in-patient beds, 14 operating rooms and 6 radiology suites. It begins accepting patients next month.