Funding represents largest campus investment in college’s history
Catholic Health has obtained $5,070,000 from Community Partners of WNY (CPWNY) to support the development of D’Youville College’s Health Professions Hub. Last month, leaders from the college and the health system announced plans to collaborate on the 50,000 square-foot clinical training center, which will create a unique and innovative learning environment for students, while offering families in the college’s west side neighborhood greater access to high quality primary care services.
“When I first learned about D’Youville’s plans to create a Health Professions Hub, I knew it would be a perfect fit for our system and Community Partners of Western New York,” said Mark Sullivan, President & CEO of Catholic Health. “Together, our three organizations are focused on improving health care delivery for underserved populations, while growing a stronger workforce to meet the demand for skilled health professionals in our community. We are pleased we could secure this funding to move this vital project forward.”
The Hub project – along with other D’Youville initiatives – will serve as an education ecosystem for high school, undergraduate and graduate students, with learning opportunities ranging from certification programs to associate, bachelors, and advanced degrees. D’Youville’s goal is to train future health professionals at a campus where interdisciplinary learning can take place in 24/7 environments. This unique setting will test and explore collaborative education and virtual training models, as well as innovative technologies, to equip students with the skills and knowledge to be change agents, delivering and improving health care in Western New York and beyond.
“We are grateful to Catholic Health for helping the Hub become a reality,” said D’Youville President Lorrie Clemo, Ph.D. “With Catholic Health’s assistance, D’Youville is well on the way to building healthy, thriving communities in Western New York. This Community Partners of WNY funding, the largest in our college’s history, puts us beyond halfway to our fundraising mark in only four months.”
As part of the Health Hub, Catholic Health will offer professional staffing and resources to operate a community health center that will provide patient-centered primary care services to area families. Along with expanding access to care within the surrounding community, the center will also provide students and paraprofessionals with unique clinical training opportunities to develop or enhance their skills.
Other highlights of the Hub include a simulation center and workforce development programs to meet the needs of area heath care employers. The Hub will offer innovative education models and training programs with an emphasis on inter-professional practice. This will assure that all health professions students can function as part of an integrated team focused on high-quality, patient-centered care.
Construction of the Health Professionals Hub on D’Youville College’s Buffalo campus is expected to begin next summer, with completion set for fall 2020.