Students, donors, and local politicians gathered on campus on April 10, 2012 to breakground for a new, five-story building going up at Adventist University of Health Sciences.
The 90-thousand square foot edifice will house existing and anticipated graduate programs in nurse anesthesia, occupational therapy, physical therapy, pharmacy, and physician’s assistant.
“This is an important step for the College,” says David Greenlaw, university president. “As an institution of excellence couched in Christian thought, we need the space to provide higher levels of education for the future healthcare leaders of Central Florida and beyond.”
The decision to expand came after a careful analysis of healthcare needs in Florida. According to the 2010 Census Interactive Population Search, more than 50 percent of Florida residents are age 50 or older.
The university’s graduate programs and the nine new laboratories that will support them, encourage collaboration and excellence in healthcare education.
But the building will not just benefit the local community. Classrooms equipped with live teleconferencing capabilities will enable instructors to broadcast courses to a variety of locations, including the college’s site in Denver, Colo.
“It’s a really exciting opportunity for us to offer mission-based healthcare education outside of Florida,” says Paul Martin, interaction design manager.
The building will also feature a multi-purpose meeting room where the university can host hospital and community education events for up to 600 people.
By Rainey Park
