On Tuesday, Sept. 16, Palm Beach State College (PBSC) celebrated a historic milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to announce the official opening of the Dental and Health Innovation building at its Dennis P. Gallon campus in Loxahatchee Groves.
The $68 million, four-story, 83,954-square-foot facility will transform healthcare education in Palm Beach County while expanding access to care for residents in one of the county’s fastest-growing regions.
“The Dental and Health Innovation building positions PBSC as the cornerstone for healthcare education in our region,” President Ava Parker explained. “It’s more than just a building — it’s a commitment to opportunity and to the well-being of our county.”
There was some initial skepticism from the local community about how such a large institutional building would fit into the rural landscape of Loxahatchee Groves, Mayor Anita Kane conceded.
“But Palm Beach State College’s administration and board of trustees answered that question with a passion,” she said, noting how the building was designed to blend with the natural surroundings. “The result honors who we are while opening the doors to higher education and healthcare careers.”
Designed as an integrative, high-tech hub, the new facility enables students to receive immersive, hands-on training that mirrors real-world clinical practice. The building features virtual reality laboratories and an Anatomage Table, an advanced 3D anatomy visualization and virtual dissection system, typically seen in advanced medical training centers.
The facility supports multiple health disciplines critical to the region’s workforce pipeline, including:
Dental Sciences — A teaching clinic and X-ray suite, 3D imaging tools, interactive classrooms and 3D printing resources prepare students for a future in dental hygiene and assisting.
Surgical Services — A state-of-the-art simulated operating suite with surgical tables, anesthesia workstations, touchscreen monitors and electronically controlled mannequins gives students hands-on experiences in surgical environments.
Physical Therapy Assisting — A new program launching soon, supported by labs with ultrasound machines, treatment and traction tables, and exercise areas to help train students in patient care transitions.
State Rep. Anne Gerwig emphasized the importance of the new facility for Palm Beach County’s future workforce.
“Facilities like this ensure that our students have direct pipelines into high-demand jobs, while also building the healthcare workforce we desperately need in our expanding communities,” Gerwig said.
Learn more about PBSC at www.pbsc.edu.
