Health Sciences Center Represents New Opportunities
At left, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Physician Assistant Studies Chair Meghan Migeon, Chair of the Board of Trustees William A. Burke III, School of Health Sciences Dean Brooke Hallowell, President Mary-Beth Cooper, and Baystate Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Mark A. Keroack.
By: Damon Markiewicz
On Friday, October 20, 2023, Springfield College President Mary-Beth A. Cooper and David Cooper, and Chair of the Board of Trustees William A. Burke III and Cindy Burke, hosted many of the College's leading donors to celebrate the new opportunities that the Health Sciences Center represents for the College.
As a direct result of the construction of the Center, students will have the opportunity to learn in state-of-the-art, technology-rich classrooms and immersive learning laboratories, while faculty and staff are able to lead students using modernized facilities in preparing them to fill the 2.6 million openings within healthcare regionally. In addition, individuals have the chance to support the College with more than 115 naming opportunities within the 86,000 square feet of the Center. The College’s newest building was part of the $50 million Advancing Humanics Campaign, which concluded on June 30, 2024.
“I am so proud of this Center because of what it represents for Springfield College,” explained Cooper. “We are dedicated to investing in the health sciences field, and Springfield College is poised to help meet the demand for well-trained practitioners. It’s with the support of our donors that we can continue to stay true to our mission and provide service to others.”
Currently, Springfield College has more than 900 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs in Physician Assistant Studies, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Gerontology, Health Sciences, and Public Health. The Center will bring all of the health sciences programs together under one roof, creating greater collaboration across disciplines.
“The Health Sciences Center represents care: the care our faculty give to our students, and the care our students will give to members of our community while working in their medical fields,” added Burke. “As it was stated by members of our faculty, this new building is the beacon of our Humanics mission.”
Members of the Springfield community joined the festivities, including mayor Domenic Sarno, and long-standing Baystate Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Mark A. Keroack. Both community leaders expressed why the new Center is a valuable boost to the greater Springfield community.
“This building is a testament to the continued dedication that Springfield College displays to our community members,” added Sarno. “This college builds strong partnerships with our community members, and the teaching and learning that will take place in this space is so important to the future of helping others.”
Focusing on the dynamic future of clinical services and business opportunities in healthcare, distinctive features of the Health Sciences Center includes: modern simulation suites with facilities for high-fidelity simulation, including an operating suite and remotely observable examination and treatment rooms; a functional living suite with kitchen, bedroom, living room, laundry area, and bathroom for interdisciplinary practice; interdisciplinary telehealth resources to enable experiences with new means of reaching individuals the College serves; a maker space for designing and creating new health and wellness technologies; and, a learning-centered human anatomy laboratory.
Leading into the building, visitors will see a healing labyrinth, intended to represent the essential integration of spirit with the mind and body, and the holistic approaches to health and wellness that Springfield College is known for. Accessible to people of all abilities, the labyrinth provides a path to promote reflection and contemplation. The walking pattern, influenced by student and community member input, is crafted to welcome people of all faiths and practices.
“The future continues to look bright for Springfield College, and with the support of all our partners, we can have an impact on the continued growth of our students and faculty, as they live our mission, and serve our communities proudly,” concluded Cooper.
Following the donor event, tours of the Center were offered to all alumni during Homecoming Weekend, with our current students showcasing all the amenities the new building has to offer.
"The new Health Sciences Center is testimony of my alma mater’s long history of academic excellence," described Dr. Linda E. Arslanian '71, (Retired) Executive Director of Rehabilitation Services at Brigham and Women's Hospital. "It is cutting edge, state of the art, and will support interprofessional education very effectively. As a physical therapist who received my undergraduate education from Springfield College, I am truly proud of my alma mater's investment and strong commitment to the health sciences professions. The new Health Sciences Center demonstrates just how dedicated the College is to ensuring we are continuing to provide our future healthcare practitioners with a rich educational experience."
