Children’s Mercy Hospital Recognized as One of the Best by U.S News and World Report
Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics ranks among the nation’s top pediatric hospitals, according to U.S News and World Reports 2012-13 “Best Children’s Hospitals” rankings.
CMH Signs Two Agreements with Pearl River Hospital in China
Children’s Mercy Hospital signed two agreements this week with Zhujiang (Pearl River) Hospital, a 2,000 bed facility in Guangdong Province, China. The first agreement establishes a formal sister hospital relationship; under the second, Children’s Mercy will provide pediatric radiology imaging consultation services to Pearl River.
State Workforce Board Welcomes Dr. Keith Gary
as Chair
Governor Jay Nixon recently appointed Dr. Keith Gary as the new chair of the Missouri Workforce Investment Board (MoWIB). Dr. Gary is a business member of the state board, affiliated with the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute and previously served as MoWIB’s interim vice chair.
The University of Kansas Hospital plans new inpatient surgical center
The University of Kansas Hospital plans to open a new inpatient surgical center in Overland Park later this year, taking over the 42,000-square-foot building currently held by the Heartland Surgical Specialty Hospital. KU Hospital will hire Heartland’s non-physician staff of more than 130 people. Its 32 physicians, who are not a part of the transaction, will relocate their operations. The new space will help alleviate the congestion at KU hospital’s main campus.
Kansas City Area Development Council is named as top 10 economic development group
The Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC) has been named among the top 10 economic development groups of 2011, according to Site Selection Magazine. The magazine particularly noted Google Inc., having selected Kansas City, Mo. and Kansas City, Kan., for its ultra-fast internet project- an estimated $500 million investment. “It was clearly one of our best years ever,” KCADC CEO Bob Marcusse told the magazine.
Saint Luke’s leader named to national industry listing
Saint Luke’s Health System President and CEO Melinda L. Estes, MD, MBA, has been named to the Becker’s Hospital Review “100 Physician Leaders of Hospitals and Health Systems” list. The list recognizes leaders’ health care experience, awards they’ve received and their commitment to quality. Many leaders are nominated by their peers and the list is evaluated by industry experts.
BioResearch Central aims to direct contract medical research attention to KC
On June 4, the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development released a study showing that Kansas City is ranked among the top 15 contract research markets and that those 15 markets generated as much as $39.5 billion in annual revenue. A 2011 review found more than 70 contract research organizations (CROs) in the area generating an estimated $1.3 billion in sales and employing more than 9,000 people. With acknowledgement from both studies of Kansas City’s strength in CROs, area biosciences officials want to spread the word. On June 6, they unveiled a new branding effort that calls the area’s concentration of about 90 contract research organizations and related service providers “BioResearch Central.” The group wants to better communicate that expertise locally, nationally and globally to generate more business from pharmaceutical, medical device and animal health companies, as well as attract more contract organizations to the area.
Kansas Bioscience Authority
The Kansas Bioscience Authority has approved $8.5 million in grants and investments in Kansas life science research and startup companies. Kansas State University will receive $4.9 million over five years in support of the recruitment of Jim E. Riviere, DVM, PhD an elected member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies and a fellow of the Academy of Toxicological Sciences. Dr. Riviere will establish the Institute of Computational Comparative Medicine in Manhattan. The remaining grant funds ($3.5 million) are designated for Kansas City area firms, including Epic Medical Concepts and Innovations in Mission ($1.6 million), Xenometrics LLC in Stillwell ($1 million), Creche Innovations in Overland Park ($500,000), Novita Therapeutic in Olathe ($300,000), and Orbis Biosciences of Kansas City, Kan. ($126,530 to match to a federal grant).
U.S. House committee approves $75M for NBAF construction
Financing for construction of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan is advancing in Congress. The House Appropriations Committee approved the proposed budget for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. The budget includes $75 million for NBAF. The bill will go before the full House for approval in the near future.
