Health Sciences Learning Center (HSLC) is dedicated

	Left: Student representatives from the Medical School, the School of Nursing, and the Pharmacy School cut the ribbon. Above right: Governor Jim Doyle addresses the audience. Below right: View of the atrium from the second floor.

May 7, 2004, was a time for celebration and solidarity as the UW-Madison schools of nursing, medicine and pharmacy joined in the ceremonial dedication of the new Health Sciences Learning Center (HSLC), located on the west side of campus at 750 Highland Avenue.

The HSLC, touted as redefining 21st century health care, drew campus and state luminaries alike in welcoming its sophisticated technology, its unique learning communities and its integrated library system. The Honorable Governor James Doyle; UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley; Dean Katharyn May, School of Nursing; Dean Philip Farrell, Medical School; Dean Jeanette Roberts, School of Pharmacy; Donna Sollenberger, CEO of the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, and Mark Lefebvre, vice president for health sciences were guest speakers.

In September of 2001, the groundbreaking ceremony for the 250,000 square-foot building took place; 32 months later, Davis Brody Bone architects of New York, along with Kahler Slater of Milwaukee, created a $55 million interdisciplinary teaching facility, poised to be the most advanced in the country.

One of the outstanding features of the building is the Ebling Library, which combines three libraries—Weston Clinical Sciences Center Library, the Power Pharmaceutical Library and the Middleton Health Sciences Library—into one. Its more than 50,000 square feet, extending through two floors, includes 16 group study rooms, 19 research workstations and seating for 350 patrons.

A generous gift in excess of $3 million from the family of Paul R. Ebling, MD ’55, will ensure that the health sciences library has cutting-edge technology to support the future of scientific inquiry. Its benefactor, Paul Ebling, died unexpectedly in June of 2001 from head trauma associated with an auto accident. Ebling was director of admissions at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital for 20 years. Through his estate, Ebling’s family has bestowed this private gift to the HSLC.

Although physical moves of administrative offices and library inventories will not be completed until the end of July, the May 7 ceremonial dedication launches what is a string of celebrations into fall 2004. Grand Opening Week, September 12 to 19, 2004, will involve the Madison community and campus in celebrating HSLC’s successful completion and, on October 22, 2004, the President’s Dinner will be held in the HSLC atrium to honor its donors.

The ceremonial ribbon cutting by student leaders Craig Pierstorff (School of Medicine), Kelly Evans (School of Nursing) and Andrea Duchac (School of Pharmacy) capped the celebration, as attendees embraced the words of Gov. Doyle: “May 7 is a great day for the health sciences schools, the university, and all the people of Wisconsin.”