DMACC Unveils New $14 Million Health Sciences Building
Posted 10/09/07

Iowa Health – Des Moines Makes Important Contribution

Officials from Iowa Health – Des Moines (IH-DM) joined Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) faculty and staff in announcing plans today to build a new, $14 million Health Sciences building on the DMACC Ankeny Campus. IH-DM is donating $500,000 for construction and scholarships.

“This new 60,000-square-feet facility will help us educate and train many more health science professionals who will care for our growing population in Central Iowa,” said Rob Denson, president of DMACC. “It will also address a pending shortage of health care professionals.”

Denson was referring to studies that indicate aging health care professionals, combined with waiting lists for higher education programs and a growing demand for health services, are already putting a strain on hospitals and clinics. If current trends continue, Iowa will have a 27 percent shortfall (9,100) of Registered Nurses by 2020. Shortages are also projected for medical assistants, lab technicians and respiratory therapists.

Denson was joined by DMACC Board Chair Joe Pugel, Eric Crowell, president and chief executive officer for Iowa Health Des Moines, and Sally Schroeder Dean of DMACC’s Health and Public Services department to officially break ground for the new state-of-the-art DMACC Health Sciences building which is scheduled to open in December 2008.
“All of us here today are working together to provide the best health care possible for every man, woman and child in Central Iowa,” said Crowell. “Iowa Health – Des Moines wants the best and brightest health care professionals treating our patients. DMACC’s new Health Sciences facility will provide some of those talented women and men.”

“In terms of student waiting lists and impact on our communities, DMACC’s Board of Trustees has determined that health sciences is one of the College’s critical areas of growth,” said Joe Pugel, chair of the DMACC Board. “As a result, we have approved using $9 million to fund this building.” The remainder will be made up through donations to the DMACC Foundation.

The building will provide much needed education classroom and clinical training space and is the first new academic building built on DMACC’s Ankeny Campus in 13 years.

“Enrollment for most of DMACC’s health science career programs are full and we have chronic student waiting lists, while others are near capacity,” said Schroeder. “When the new facility opens next year, it will increase DMACC’s health sciences capacity both in terms of space and enrollment by 30 percent.”

The additional space will also allow DMACC to add five new health science programs to train physical therapy assistants and certified occupational therapy assistants plus professionals in pharmacy technology, optometric technology and health information technology.

DMACC already offers health science degrees in nursing, aging services management, dietary management, emergency medical services, dental hygiene, dental assistant, medical assistant, respiratory therapy and medical laboratory technology.
During the last five years, 11,500 students have enrolled in DMACC’s health sciences programs, with 94 percent of graduates staying in Iowa to take health care jobs.

Artist's rendition of new Health Sciences Building. Click image for more information.

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