On October 6 the University of Michigan community came together with donors, elected officials, patients and families to celebrate a major milestone in the process of building the new U-M C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Women’s Hospital. The groundbreaking ceremony provided many reminders for why this project is taking place and the importance of the community in supporting it.

When the Women’s Birth Center opens (scheduled for the spring of 2011), it will include four cesarean section suites, 20 rooms for antepartum or postpartum care, and an additional 30 private labor/delivery/recovery rooms. The Obstetrics and Gynecology clinics will share a floor with the Women’s Birth Center, and the new hospital is also going to include 31 obstetric and gynecology exam and procedure rooms, allowing more procedures to be moved out of the operating room.

Follow the new hospital’s progress and find out how you can be part of The Michigan Difference: www.med.umich.edu/whp.