Health Sciences Center opens for students

After more than three years of planning and construction, Southwestern Community College's new Health Sciences Center opened for classes in the fall semester of 2021.

The 55,411-square foot building houses the classrooms and training for 10 of SCC's 16 heathcare career fields and gives us the capacity to accept 144 more health sciences students than was possible a year earlier.

Programs that remain in our Balsam Center now enjoy expanded and remodeled space.

As a direct result of the building, two new programs have been added: Surgical Technology and Opticianry.

“From the time we first began planning for this new building, our goal has always been to offer more opportunities for our students – and to provide more skilled healthcare graduates to fill the growing workforce needs in our service area,” said Dr. Don Tomas, SCC President. “It’s a beautiful structure, and I’m especially excited for our faculty members and students who are holding classes and labs there for the first time.”

Led by founding program coordinator Melissa Daniels-Dolan, Surgical Technology is housed on the new structure’s third floor. The top level also hosts Medical Laboratory Technology, Medical Assisting, an Anatomy & Physiology lab and faculty offices.

The second floor is home to the latest medical-training technology in SCC’s expanded simulation lab, as well as Nursing, Radiography, Respiratory Therapy and Medical Sonography programs.

Several community clinics such as Physical Therapy,  Occupational Therapy, and Sonography are located on the first floor.  Unique to the clinical expansion experience are the addition of a Hand Therapy Lab, a simulation apartment and Pediatric Therapy Gym. The Emergency Medical Science program – with a full-size simulation ambulance – is located on the first floor.