Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire announced plans for the Mayo Clinic Health System Diagnostic Imaging and Sports Medicine Center to be located at the County Materials Complex in Eau Claire during a March 8 press conference at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Mayo Clinic Health System has approved $11 million in funding for the 20,000-square-foot center.
The center will offer these services:
- A full complement of multidisciplinary sports medicine services.
- A fixed MRI. This will be Mayo Clinic Health System's third fixed MRI scanner in Eau Claire.
- Two X-ray suites.
- An ultrasound procedure room.
The County Materials Complex is a public-private partnership that also will include the John and Carolyn Sonnentag Field House, the Sonnentag Events Center, and a 24-hour fitness/wellness center.
The complex was first envisioned in 2014. Construction will begin this spring. It will replace UW-Eau Claire's Zorn Arena to become the largest indoor event venue in northwest Wisconsin. The center will be constructed on land along Menomonie Street adjacent to Hobbs Municipal Ice Arena.
Collaborators in the project include Blugold Real Estate, Mayo Clinic Health System in Northwest Wisconsin, the city of Eau Claire, Visit Eau Claire and UW-Eau Claire.
"We are excited to see this project moving forward," says Dr. Richard Helmers, regional vice president of Mayo Clinic Health System in Northwest Wisconsin. "Mayo Clinic Health System looks forward to building on our successful collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. In addition to offering sports medicine, imaging and performance training services, this project will help us continue to conduct beneficial research as part of our collaborative research agreement with University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire."
"This is a truly exciting opportunity to bring the practice, education and research shields of Mayo Clinic together to benefit the health and wellness of the residents of the Chippewa Valley," says Dr. Prathibha Varkey, president of Mayo Clinic Health System. "This collaboration is in perfect alignment with Mayo Clinic Health System's mission and 2030 vision."
"Mayo Clinic Health System's leadership in developing a sports medicine and imaging clinic is another example of the power of collaboration to benefit our region," says UW-Eau Claire Chancellor James Schmidt. "Their investment in what will be a transformative complex for the Chippewa Valley will not only enhance health and well-being in our community, but also provide additional opportunities for student-faculty research, as well as education and internships for our students. This spectacular collaboration brings together two of our greatest assets in this transformative project. John and Carolyn Sonnentag are generous benefactors at Mayo, so to facilitate this connection with Mayo Clinic Health System to our development generously supported by the Sonnentags demonstrates how great friends and partners always look for ways to make big things happen."
