DEMOPOLIS – Marking a new era in Alabama healthcare, ground was broken today for the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences.
State and national leaders joined educators, healthcare professionals, philanthropists, and local officials in a ceremony that was called a milestone for education and workforce development in rural West Alabama, according to a news release.
“This school represents more than bricks and mortar,” said Gov. Kay Ivey, who boosted the school in the Legislature and its location in the state’s Black Belt. “It is fresh potential for our young people and a milestone in addressing healthcare needs here in Alabama.”
The groundbreaking was at a 10-acre campus site next to Whitfield Regional Hospital and, among those attending, was Kate Herman of Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Bloomberg Philanthropies has committed $26.4 million to ASHS as part of its $250 million initiative to launch healthcare-focused CTE high schools in 10 communities across the country, the news release said.
“We are proud to support the bold vision of the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences,” said Howard Wolfson, education lead for Bloomberg Philanthropies. “By giving students access to high quality instruction and clear career pathways, ASHS will help ensure that the next generation of healthcare professionals is well equipped to meet the demands of communities across the state and the country.”
Another national leader — one with local roots — entered the picture in absentia in a surprise announcement, the news release said.
Ivey said Demopolis native Dr. Selwyn Vickers has agreed to serve as special advisor to ASHS and its supporting Foundation. Vickers has served since 2022 as president and CEO of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, recognized as one of the world’s leading cancer centers.
“As we take this step forward, we’re building opportunity, both for young people and for the future of healthcare in Alabama,” said ASHS President Dr. Jimmy Martin. “Our mission is to help students discover purpose in service, connect learning to real careers, and strengthen the health of every community in our state.”
ASHS will be a residential campus, drawing students from across Alabama. It will be the fourth free, state-supported residential specialty school under the Alabama Department of Education, joining the School of Cyber Technology and Engineering in Huntsville, the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, and the Alabama School of Math and Science in Mobile.
Scheduled to open in August 2026, ASHS will welcome its first freshman class at a temporary campus at the University of West Alabama while construction proceeds in Demopolis toward an August 2027 opening.
Students will live and learn together in a residential environment, emphasizing hands-on training, industry-recognized certifications, and direct access both to higher education and immediate healthcare careers.
Whitfield Regional Hospital is ASHS’s primary medical partner. Brasfield & Gorrie serves as the general contractor, with design by Caldwell Architects.
According to the news release, decisions on healthcare focus areas and curricula are expected soon, paving the way for faculty and staff recruitment.
Applications have opened, and school officials have launched information sessions for students and parents, “A Future of Healthcare,” taking them across the state.
For updates on construction progress, curriculum development, and statewide recruitment events, visit www.alhealthcarehs.org.
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