The Women’s Pavilion of University Medical Center of El Paso, the city’s first and only hospital just for women, began admitting patients to its Women’s Services Unit the week of Mar. 23.  It was the final department to move into the all-new facility. The Women’s Services Unit, on the fifth floor of the all-new 10-story tower, features 30 private suites for patients who have had or will soon be having surgery for issues related to women’s health, such as hysterectomies, gynecologic oncology procedures, breast cancer surgeries, pelvic floor disorder repairs. Those services are being performed by sub-specialists led by Dr. Veronica Mallet, the founding chair of TTUHSC at El Paso’s Department of OB/GYN. Mallet also serves as a professor. She and her team, together with UMC set up an open medical staff structure that will facilitate alliances with El Paso’s community physicians. (Pictured is Dr. Veronica Mallet.)

A ribbon cutting for the $103 million Women’s Pavilion took place Oct. 29, 2011. In November 2011, the outpatient portion of the pavilion, which occupies the first five floors of the 10-story tower, opened. The outpatient center includes a physical rehabilitation center, a chemotherapy and infusion center for cancer treatments, a laboratory and an imaging center.

The El Paso Children’s Hospital, which occupies the remaining five floors above the Women’s Pavilion, opened Feb. 14, 2011.