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.
Morehead State University News
Related Photos
-
Dr. Gerald L. DeMoss, dean of MSU's College of Science and Technology, was pleasantly surprised Friday afternoon when it was announced that a conference suite at CHER and a research fellowship would be named in his honor. DeMoss has served MSU 42 years.
CHER dedication attracts overflow crowd
- Morehead State University News
-
-
Retirees to visit KFAC
Morehead State University’s Retirees Association will tour the Kentucky Folk Art Center on Thursday, Feb. 16.
-
Big Sandy Women’s Business Symposium slated for Feb. 28
The 13th annual Big Sandy Women’s Business Symposium will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the Wilkinson-Stumbo Convention Center. The theme of the conference is “Challenges, Choices and Change” and will feature two keynote speakers.
-
Alumni and Retirees associations to sponsor trip to North Carolina
Morehead State University alumni, retirees and friends are invited to visit North Carolina on a three-day, two-night, motor coach trip March 30-April 1. Sponsored by the MSU Alumni and Retirees associations, the trip includes tickets to see the Denver Nuggets play the Charlotte Bobcats, with a pre-game reception for area alumni and friends, as well as tours of the Biltmore Estate in Ashville.
-
Dr. Jenny Bloom to present workshop, Feb. 24
National author and higher education trainer Dr. Jenny Bloom will present “Appreciative Advising: Student Retention and Success” Friday, Feb. 24, in 301 of Morehead State University’s Adorn Doran University Center. The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. until noon with a light lunch provided.
-
KCTCS Day slated for Feb. 23
Morehead State University’s Office of Enrollment Services has announced “KCTCS Day” which will be held Thursday, Feb. 23, for students of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System interested in learning more about Morehead State.
-
Financial aid workshop offered in Pikeville
Morehead State University’s Office of Enrollment Services will host a “Dollars and Sense: Understanding the Value and Cost of a College Education” workshop at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 15, at the Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center in Pikeville.
-
Equestrian Team does well in Frankfort
Morehead State University’s Equestrian Team had a busy weekend, Jan. 27-29. All three seats traveled to Lakeside Arena in Frankfort for the first shows of the year.
-
Midori to present concert, May 5
Internationally acclaimed violinist Midori will present a concert Saturday, May 5, at 7 p.m. at Morehead State University’s Button Auditorium. Proceeds from this concert will support the Virginia Harpham Scholarship for String Players at MSU and the Rowan County School System’s Lucille Caudill Little Strings Program.
-
Concert Choir to present concert Feb. 5
Morehead State University’s Concert Choir will present a concert on Sunday, Feb. 5, at 3 p.m. in Duncan Recital Hall of Baird Music Hall on the MSU campus. The group also will present the program later in the week at the 2012 Kentucky Music Educators in-Service Conference in Louisville.
-
Kentucky artists invited to participate in Bluegrass Biennial 2012
Kentucky artists are invited to participate in the Bluegrass Biennial 2012, a juried exhibition of contemporary artworks of Kentuckians, which will be displayed in the main gallery of Morehead State University’s Claypool-Young Art Building.The opening and award reception will be held on Saturday, June 2, from 3-5 p.m. The exhibition will run through July 31.
- More Morehead State University News Headlines
-
Retirees to visit KFAC
