JCC unveils new Center for Health Professions

Demand for employees in health-related careers like nursing, sonography and medical assisting continues to grow.  To help meet this need, Jackson Community College has renovated Justin Whiting Hall to bring together nursing and allied health programs in one core area and improve instructional resources and learning spaces for students.

JCC will officially open the newly renovated building with a ribbon-cutting and short ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10.

Whiting Hall’s renovations create a Center for Health Professions, bringing together faculty for nursing and allied health in the same area for the first time in the programs’ histories, allowing for shared curriculum and facilities where appropriate. The center area of the building is now home to a prototype health laboratory and two additional learning studios with various stations around the room so students can practice their various tasks. State-of-the-art simulators have been installed that allow an instructor to be in an observation room and program a robot to simulate many medical conditions that would be seen in an emergency room, helping students better understand situations they may face on the job.

A new study lounge and cyber café allow students to work on computers, and an information technology support center was created for students and faculty. “The health careers continue to have a high demand for skilled graduates, so this is an area that the College definitely wanted to invest in and provide the best learning resources for students,” said JCC President Daniel J. Phelan. “JCC is responding to the needs of the community for quality health care workers, something that is important to everyone.”

Cost of the renovations is $2.9 million. Working on this project was Duce Simmons & Associates, Walsh Construction and sub-contractors Grindall & White, Inc. and JG Squared.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be followed by the JCC Board of Trustees meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room, Potter Center.