The University at Buffalo's goal of building a new medical school downtown is one step closer to reality. UB announced Wednesday it has received a $5 million gift from the Oishei Foundation. Foundation President Robert Gioia says the Foundation wants to create change for the better in Buffalo.
"In order to continue the quality of care that we rightly deserve, we're going to need to do things differently. Focusing everything on a medical campus where you can learn, you can practice, you can treat patients and do research is exactly what the medical school is all about," Gioia said.
University at Buffalo Vice President and School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Dean Dr. Michael Cain says it's an important contribution.
"This and others that have contributed so far indicate that there is a groundswell of community support for this and realizing the importance of what it does mean to be able to relocate and build a brand new school downtown in the City of Buffalo," Cain said.
The John R. Oishei Foundation is also playing a siginificant role in construction of the new Children's Hospital, which will be adjacent to the medical school.
Construction is expected to get underway at Main and High streets in the Spring. The $375 million medical school is on track to open in 2016.