Heery International, with offices in Baltimore, designed the $33 million center that stands at 112,000 square feet.

“The ultimate goal, in our collaboration with the Heery International Design Team, was to integrate state-of-the-art medical equipment with high fidelity simulation. This integration will provide our students with the ability to demonstrate competency in the laboratory setting before working with actual patients,” said Angela D. Anderson, dean of health sciences, in a statement.
The new center will also expand the school’s health science programs. The new facility will provide classrooms and laboratory space for programs including diagnostic medical sonography, physician’s assistant and surgical technology.

The construction of the Center for Health Studies was prompted by an increasing demand for health care professionals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2010 and 2020 job opportunities for registered nurses will grow by 26 percent, for pharmacy technicians 32 percent, 28 percent for radiologic technologists and the need for emergency medical technicians will grow by 33 percent. The community college is also expecting to see their student population flourish by about 33 percent over the next eight years. The construction of the new center will be able to accommodate the growing student population and offer more opportunities to that population in the upcoming job market.

“The college partnered with state and county governments to create the Center for Health Studies in response to a growing demand for trained healthcare providers,” Anderson said. “Opening the new center allows the college to expand and enhance existing clinical programs and develop new areas of specialization to address workforce shortages,” she added.”

The center will include 11 smart classrooms, one health science computer lab, 26 simulation labs, 52 faculty offices, 19 staff and administrative offices, a collegian center and advisement space.

The building will house existing health science and technology programs in health information management and medical coder biller; nursing; radiography; respiratory therapy; nuclear medicine; emergency medical technician on the basic, intermediate and paramedic levels; medical assistant; optometric assistant; and pharmacy technician.

Students will attend classes in the new Center for Health Studies beginning Aug. 27.

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