United States Congressman Jim Matheson (D-Utah) visited the Dixie State College of Utah campus Thursday morning and took a tour of the institution's new Russell C. Taylor Health Sciences Center. DSC President Dr. Stephen D. Nadauld and his administration joined Congressman Matheson, along with the College's allied health program directors.
DSC will formally dedicate the Russell C. Taylor Health Sciences Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house slated for Friday, Sept. 12. However, classwork in DSC¹s complete health sciences curriculum began in the Center this past Tuesday with the start of the Fall 2008 semester.
The Center currently houses DSC's four-year and two-year programs in nursing, including registered nursing, practical nursing and nursing assistance, along with DSC¹s dental hygiene baccalaureate and associate degree programs, and associate and certificate programs in emergency medical technology/paramedic, medical radiography, respiratory therapy, surgical technology, and phlebotomy.
"This is a very dynamic asset here in southern Utah," Congressman Matheson said. "This facility is creating opportunities for the people of southern Utah to be trained here and help meet the need for health care workers. It's exciting for the area to have this facility for that purpose. "I am very glad to have visited this facility and to let the administration of Dixie State College know that if I can do anything to help them I would,"
Matheson added.
Construction of the Russell C. Taylor Health Sciences Center took just over a year to complete. The 78,000 square foot facility, which was designed by Salt Lake City's VCBO Architecture, is located on the River Road campus of Dixie Regional Medical Center, just to the north and east of the medical center, which is approximately two miles from the Dixie State campus. The four-acre site at the base of Medical Drive Center was donated to the college by Intermountain Healthcare and the Foremaster family of St. George. In addition, Intermountain Healthcare has pledged $720,000 over the next three years to support hiring program directors for those medical career programs at Dixie State.
"The opening of the Russell C. Taylor Health Sciences Center is a landmark accomplishment," said Christina Schultz, DSC Vice President of Advancement. "Thanks to our legislators and our donors this facility has become a reality. Due to their commitment and generosity we will be able to enhance our ability to train healthcare providers for our region and beyond."
The Russell C. Taylor Health Sciences Center will house 14 combined laboratories, 10 classrooms, a 150-seat lecture hall, 24 dental operatories, three computer labs and numerous offices and conference rooms, along with two student lounges with wireless internet capabilities.
In addition to the donated land, Russell C. and Joyce Taylor, and Sue Cox and her late husband, Dr. Mervyn Cox, have provided significant donations to this project. Private donations for the new facility total in excess of $4 million thus far. Over $18 million has been funded by the state, but the private donations laid the groundwork to securing the state funding. The college wishes to thank all those that have worked together to make this new facility a reality.
