New Academic Center at UT Health Northeast

TYLER — The second and third floors of the Academic Center at UT Health Northeast were officially dedicated at a celebration and ribbon-cutting Tuesday. Officials say a comprehensive Breast Center, Surgery Clinic, GI Clinic, and Urology Clinic are located on the second floor. A large amphitheater, the Watson W. Wise Medical Research Library, and classrooms for medical residencies, continuing education, and future undergraduate and graduate degree programs make up the third floor.

The Breast Center, which opened earlier this month, stresses prevention of breast cancer as well as its early detection and what are termed state-of-the-art treatments. According to press materials from UT Health Northeast, it offers some of the most advanced imaging technology available:

• Digital screening and mammography
• Breast tomography (three-dimensional mammography)
• Ultrasound
• Three-dimensional breast ultrasound
• Molecular breast imaging
• Contrast-enhanced imaging

The Breast Center also provides patients with the opportunity to enroll in clinical research trials designed to evaluate therapies that prevent breast cancer as well as treat it.

The first phase of the Academic Center construction – the building shell and the first floor cancer center – was completed in fall 2011 and cost $42 million. The second and third floors were completed in October and cost another $30 million.