Augusta Technical College and Piedmont Augusta celebrated the opening of the college’s School of Health Sciences Summerville Campus today with a ribbon cutting ceremony at its new location at 2260 Wrightsboro Road.
The ceremony featured remarks from President and Chief Executive Officer of Piedmont Augusta and Piedmont McDuffie Jim Davis and Augusta Technical College President Dr. Jermaine Whirl as well as tours of the office, classroom space and hospital setting. Tours were conducted by School of Health Sciences students and faculty.
The Augusta Technical College School of Health Sciences is home to 23 programs of study including nursing, surgical technology, respiratory care, radiologic technology, cardiovascular technology, occupational therapy assistant and other high-demand health sciences programs. Each program provides hands-on learning using state-of-the-art equipment and includes clinical rotations with many partners throughout the region.
“The average American isn’t aware of the severity of the nursing shortage in our country,” explained Piedmont Augusta Board Chairman Hugh Hamilton. “Our Summerville Campus was underutilized, and Augusta Tech needed room to grow their Health Sciences programs. Mr. Davis and Dr. Whirl recognized the potential of utilizing this facility to expand the nursing program, and here today we celebrate the fulfillment of that vision. The graduates of this program will help solve the shortage of healthcare providers for Augusta and our surrounding communities. This is a great day for Augusta and future nursing students.”
Dr. Whirl said, “The opening of the Augusta Technical College School of Health Science Campus at Summerville is one of the most transformative projects undertaken in the Augusta Region. For our institution to move our entire School of Health Sciences to an actual hospital surpasses anything we could have built ourselves or accomplished in a simulated lab environment. The ability to utilize the millions of dollars’ worth of technology in the hospital, while accessing the medical professionals working here, will ensure our students have a seamless experience from classroom to the hospital floor.”
Dr. Whirl continued, “Piedmont Augusta’s Foundation work in establishing a $1 million endowment to fully cover the expense of our associates degree registered nurse program is a game changer for students who have financial barriers to entry but are committed to patience care. We’re so thankful for the leadership of Chairman Hamilton, President Davis, the board, and the entire Piedmont Augusta team for making this project a reality. Overall, the opening of this campus provides another step towards our institution fulfilling its vision of being a nationally recognized academic institution that transforms lives, organizations, and communities through excellence, innovation, and partnerships.”
Spring term starts Jan. 9. Individuals interested in pursuing a career in the healthcare industry should contact the Augusta Technical College Admissions Office at 706-771-4028 or admission@augustatech.edu.
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