CNHI
August 31, 2010 —
The new $30 million Center for Health, Education and Research at St. Claire Regional Medical Center was dedicated Friday in a joyful celebration that attracted more than 400 persons, including two governors.
The four-story 90,000-square foot structure is a joint venture of Morehead State University, St. Claire Regional and the University of Kentucky.
Gov. Steve Beshear hailed the project as “an incredible example of our ability to find creative solutions to complex issues” and said CHER now is “one of the top medical facilities in the state.”
State Rep. Rocky Adkins described it as proof that “good things happen when people work together.”
MSU President Wayne D. Andrews called it “an historic day for health care and public higher education in East Kentucky” and “a giant step forward in bringing even greater credibility and prestige to health sciences programs at Morehead State.”
SCR President Mark Neff said the facility is the realization of a 10-year dream and yet another expansion of the healing ministry of the Sisters of Notre Dame who founded St. Claire nearly 50 years ago.
UK President Lee Todd said the unique partnership with MSU and St. Claire was a direct result of Kentucky’s higher education reform which former Gov. Paul Patton championed in 1997.
Patton, now president of Pikeville College and chairman of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, attended the ceremony and assisted in the ribbon cutting.
Todd and other speakers referred to the three-institution partnership at CHER as perhaps the first for a public regional university, a land grant university and a public, non-profit hospital corporation.
Gov. Beshear also stated:
“This unique venture is an innovative approach to addressing this community’s needs while educating the next generation of medical professionals. And long term, the public-private partnership forged by these three entities will open many doors for graduates…”
In a surprise announcement, President Andrews revealed that MSU would name a large section of the first floor of CHER as the “Dr. Gerald L. DeMoss Conference Suite,” along with an endowed fund to support undergraduate research fellowships, both in honor of the veteran dean of the College of Science and Technology. DeMoss has served 42 years and is partially retired.
Also speaking during the event were State Rep. John Will Stacy, D-West Liberty; and Sen. Walter Blevins, D-Morehead.
A variety of academic programs are be housed in the new building; including MSU’s bachelor’s and associate degrees in nursing, associate degree in radiologic sciences, and bachelor’s degrees in computed tomography/magnetic resonance and diagnostic medical sonography.
The facility also hosts St. Claire Regional’s family medicine clinic, family medicine residency, certified registered nurse anesthetist program and the Northeast Kentucky Area Health Education Center (AHEC).
The University of Kentucky’s College of Medicine operates its Rural Physician Leadership Program, the third and fourth year of medical school, as well as the Center for Excellence in Rural Health, the Office of Research and Engagement for Advancing Community Health (REACH) and the Kentucky Homeplace Program.
CHER also is home to the master’s degree in physician assistant studies of UK’s College of Health Sciences. UK’s Todd said other program opportunities are being considered in dentistry, pharmacy and public health.
In terms of its impact on the region, the opening of CHER will result in the creation of a number of new, high paying jobs as educational programs and clinical programs are established and expanded.
The facility is expected to markedly improve the supply of urgently-needed healthcare professionals by allowing local students to train and remain near their hometowns to practice.
The significantly-expanded SCR Family Medicine Clinic will improve citizen access to primary care service.
