The University of South Alabama held the grand opening for the new Health Sciences Building on Thursday, Sept. 17. The $48.5 million building brings the Colleges of Allied Health Professions and Nursing back to the main campus. The 186,000-square-foot building, on the corner of University Boulevard and North Drive, provides students with the latest in technology in classrooms and labs.

This state-of-the-art building offers students many different learning resources, such as exam rooms, laboratories, and multimedia classrooms.

With its location, the Health Sciences Building becomes part of a medical corridor on campus that also includes the USA College of Medicine, the Charles M. Baugh Biomedical Library and the pharmacy collaborative with Auburn University.

USA President Gordon Moulton said, “This new Health Sciences Building will provide our students, faculty and staff with a state-of-the-art facility in which to teach, explore and conduct research, further enhancing USA’s health care contributions. This building is the realization of USA’s longtime objective of bringing the colleges of Allied Health Professions and Nursing back to the main campus, allowing greater faculty and student synergy among these two colleges, as well as with the College of Medicine and our pharmacy collaborative with Auburn University.

“The ultimate beneficiaries of this Health Sciences Building and the University of South Alabama’s health care programs are the countless citizens who will enjoy longer, healthier, more productive lives.”

USA College of Nursing Dean Dr. Debra Davis said, “Everyone who walks into the new Health Sciences Building comments on the beauty of the facility. Students, faculty, and staff are very excited to be in the new building. They especially enjoy being on campus and having the opportunity to interact with our colleagues in the College of Allied Health Professions. We strongly believe that student learning is facilitated on both College of Nursing campuses in Mobile and Baldwin counties due to the University's investment in facilities that have the latest in technology and human simulation.” USA College of Allied Health Professions Dean Dr. Richard Talbott said, “The uniting of all eight departments in the College of Allied Health Professions in one physical facility shared with the College of Nursing and in close proximity to the College of Medicine will greatly enhance the opportunities for collaborative teaching, research, and clinical service across the Health Sciences Division. The new facility provides state-of-the-art laboratory and clinical facilities in support of our educational mission and thereby creates an excellent and enhanced learning environment for our students." The Health Sciences Building benefits from a multi-faceted $3 million gift by Courtney “CoCo” Hays and her late husband, Dr. Jack Hays. The gift supports USA’s programs in health care related fields.

The Health Sciences Building benefits from a multi-faceted $3 million gift by Courtney "CoCo" Hays and her late husband, physician Dr. Jack Hays. The gift supports USA’s programs in health care related fields. She also donated funds for the blown glass chandelier in the lobby created by Colorado artist Marty White Elk Holmes.

The late Dr. Hays practiced medicine for 54 years, making him one of the longest-serving doctors in Alabama when he retired in 2003. He was an ophthalmologist, an ear, nose and throat specialist, and an allergist.

Courtney Hays also donated funds for the blown glass chandelier in the lobby of the building created by Colorado artist Marty White Elk Holmes. The building includes simulation labs used by students in the Colleges of Allied Health Professions, Medicine, and Nursing. The labs house multiple patient simulators that serve to enhance the development of students’ clinical and critical thinking skills during realistic patient care scenarios. These mannequins can simulate heart attacks, gunshot wounds, asthma attacks, seizures, and many other medical conditions. The Health Sciences Building is equipped with numerous laboratories and multimedia classrooms, which are equipped with the technology necessary for innovative learning. Students use the space to complete assignments, work on group projects, and view assigned and recommended materials. The computer labs support computerized testing for students in undergraduate nursing courses.

College of Allied Health Professions

The College of Allied Health Professions enrolls 1,803 in its undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. Its undergraduate programs include: biomedical sciences, cardiorespiratory care, emergency medical services, radiologic sciences, and speech and hearing sciences. The college also has a two-year certificate program in radiologic technology. Its graduate programs include: occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, speech-language pathology, audiology and communication sciences and disorders. To date, the college has awarded more than 4,371 degrees.

College of Nursing

The College of Nursing enrolls 2,556 in its undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. A variety of tracks are offered in each of these degree programs to facilitate degree attainment and advancement of professional nurses. For example, within the undergraduate bachelor of science in nursing program (BSN), a four-year traditionally scheduled track and an accelerated track are offered as well as a track for associate degree nurses to earn the BSN. A number of areas of specialization are offered within the graduate programs. Tracks are available for preparation as a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, clinical nurse leader, executive nursing administration, public health nursing administration, and nursing education. Throughout its history, the college has awarded more than 7,628 degrees.

The University of South Alabama

Since its founding in 1963, the University of South Alabama has been one of Alabama’s fastest growing universities, currently enrolling 14,757 students in a wide range of academic programs in Allied Health Professions, Arts and Sciences, Mitchell College of Business, Computer and Information Sciences, Continuing Education and Special Programs, Education, Engineering, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy. The University has awarded more than 64,500 degrees.

In addition to teaching and research, USA is one of the largest health care providers in the Mobile region, with its faculty physicians and two hospitals - USA Children’s & Women’s and USA Medical Center--involved in more than a quarter million patient encounters annually. USA is also home to the Mitchell Cancer Institute, the first academic cancer research institute in the upper Gulf Coast region.