LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Baptist Health Foundation has been awarded $50,000 in grant funds from the Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable Trust in support of the Baptist Health College Little Rock renovation and expansion project.
Funding from this award will support the ongoing need to train frontline nurses and allied health professionals to work across a variety of clinical settings.
The new floor plan will make room for a new 12-room Simulation Center that looks and feels like a real hospital and clinical environment, including critical care, labor and delivery, pediatrics and adult medical/surgical, clinic/telehealth, nuclear medicine, and sleep technology. When renovations are completed, Baptist Health College Little Rock (BHCLR) expects to graduate more practice-ready healthcare professionals for Arkansas, as 90% of graduates stay in-state to work and further their careers.
“We are grateful to the Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable Trust for investing in Baptist Health College Little Rock,” says Jamie Clark, BHCLR dean of business affairs and college operations. “This award demonstrates tremendous support for BHCLR nursing and allied health students.”
Plans from Arkansas-based Lewis Architects Engineers have been approved to renovate 122,750 square feet of existing space at BHCLR, with demolition slated to begin during the fourth quarter of this year. Renovation and expansion will follow. Classes at BHCLR will continue throughout the construction process.
The Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable Trust was established in 1981. With strong ties to Arkansas and Texas, Mr. and Mrs. Sturgis spent most of their lives in Arkansas and Dallas, Texas. They did not have children, but were particularly interested in educational opportunities for young people. In addition, Mr. and Mrs. Sturgis supported organizations working in the areas of health, social services and the arts.
About Baptist Health
For more than a century, Baptist Health has delivered all our best in health care through Christian compassion and innovative services. Baptist Health, Arkansas’ most comprehensive health care organization, is here For You. For Life. – with more than 250 points of access that include 12 hospitals; urgent care centers; a senior living community; over 100 primary and specialty care clinics; a college with studies in nursing and allied health; and a graduate residency program. It is also the largest private not-for-profit health care organization based in Arkansas, providing care through the support of approximately 11,000 employees, groundbreaking treatments, renowned physicians and community outreach programs. For more information about Baptist Health, visit Baptist-Health.com, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST or download the myBaptistHealth app.