Geisinger Center for Health Research

Brian C. Mitchell
Dedication
March 22, 2007

We gather today to celebrate no less than the strength of research and the human capacity for discovery. I am pleased to support the critical role that partnership can play in establishing a new model of education and innovation.

The opening of the Center for Health Research marks an important step forward for an already strong team. Geisinger and Bucknell – two great powerhouses of science – have joined forces to promote research, education, health, and prosperity. 
 
I commend the outstanding Geisinger team for establishing this important center, and extend appreciation to the government and foundation leaders who made it possible. I am pleased to be here today to formally support Bucknell's commitment to being a strong partner with you in this new endeavor.

Partnership
This partnership links the capabilities of one of the country’s finest healthcare systems with the resources of a University renowned for its academic strength and its excellent programs in undergraduate research. 
 
This multi-faceted partnership reaches across numerous fields of inquiry. The many projects of mutual interest include advanced surgical procedures, studies combining health research and database demographics, epidemiology, and reengineering of care.

Already, students and faculty from Bucknell and colleagues from Geisinger have explored cryosurgery, GIS mapping of obesity patterns, autism in children, and scholarly discourse on the idea of “The Patient.”
 
Recent accomplishments
The recent accomplishments of Bucknell’s biomedical engineers suggest the potential of this partnership. You may have heard about the rapid infusion prototype that our students developed. They turned the idea of a LifeFlight nurse into reality with the support of Geisinger Ventures. It is our hope that together Bucknell and Geisinger will serve as an incubator for an increasing number of healthcare, business and technology developments.

Already, Bucknell and Geisinger are leading partners in several consortia. With regional colleges, universities, and non-profits, we are addressing economic development and issues related to the Susquehanna River. This fresh approach we celebrate today will build on these efforts and provide the best possible education for the next generation of physicians, scientists, and policymakers.

Great institutions
I would suggest, in fact, that the Geisinger-Bucknell partnership offers a model way for institutions to contribute to solving the country’s pressing health-related issues, many of which can be found right here in central and northeastern Pennsylvania. In the face of such challenges, great institutions can make great progress through collaboration. Thanks to this partnership and this outstanding center, success will come, and it will have national import.

We are proud to collaborate with the Center for Health Research and our colleagues from Geisinger. It promises to be exciting, and we look forward to the work ahead.