FULLERTON, Calif.—Marshall B. Ketchum University held a groundbreaking ceremony on June 15, 2015 to begin the extensive renovation for what will be known as Ketchum Health, a multi-disciplinary health care center offering optometry, general medical practice and pharmacy services.

Glenda B. Secor, OD, and chair of the board of trustees at MBKU along with Paul Stover, vice president for university advancement welcomed over 100 guests to the event. President Kevin L. Alexander, OD, PhD, dedicated the building to the legacy of the university founder, Dr. Marshall B. Ketchum.

“Dr. Ketchum’s vision for advancing the health care professions by providing the best training possible has been a source of excellence for this university since 1904,” said university president Kevin L. Alexander, OD, PhD. “With Ketchum Health, we will be able to further prepare our students for the inter-professional model of care that we see today and continue that legacy of excellence.”

Ketchum Health, which is scheduled to open its first phase in 2016, will be the new home of the University Eye Center which is currently located on the Marshall B. Ketchum main campus in Fullerton. The new facility will be located at 5460 E. La Palma Ave. in Anaheim, Calif.

“The idea is to provide our students a place where they can learn together as a team so that they will also know how to work together as a team,” university provost Morris S. Berman OD, MS, said. “We have done so much to integrate an inter-professional curriculum in our classrooms and labs, now we need an inter-professional environment for clinical training as well.”

The event concluded with certificate presentations made by representatives from Assemblywoman Young O. Kim’s office and Rep. Edward R. Royce’s office as well as a formal groundbreaking shovel ceremony.