By Mark Caracciolo
On Tuesday, Sept 16, board members, employees and students of Palm Beach State College, joined by community leaders from across the western communities, gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the brand-new Frank DiMino Center for Medical Innovation on PBSC’s Loxahatchee Groves campus.
They all gathered into the lecture hall after a meeting of the PBSC District Board of Trustees. A number of speakers took the podium to give their thoughts on the opening of the new medical building, including PBSC President Ava Parker; Kimberly Lancaster, executive dean of the Loxahatchee Groves campus; philanthropist and PBSC Board Member Julie Kime; State Rep. Anne Gerwig (R-District 93); PBSC Board Chair Daniel Epstein; Loxahatchee Groves Mayor Anita Kane; and others.
The $68 million building is 83,954 square feet, four stories tall, has 10 laboratories and 16 interactive classrooms.
“We needed this second building in order for [students] to be able to earn their full associate’s degree on this campus,” Parker told the Town-Crier.
Before, if a student wanted to earn a degree in medical studies, they would have to travel to the Lake Worth campus, which is a 30-minute drive away. Now they can earn a degree in an array of health sciences without leaving the area.
On the first floor, there are classrooms for surgical classes, physical therapy assistance and open classrooms. The second floor has dental rooms and labs. The third floor has more classrooms, while the fourth and uppermost floor has wet labs.
Programs in the building will also offer free or discounted medical and dental care services to residents.
“When you see a building like this, I’m hoping that a person who walks in knows we are innovative, we are forward-thinking, and that we look to have experiences for our students that will prepare them for the jobs they get today and the jobs they may get in the future,” Parker said. “We are preparing them for their careers for life.”
Learn more about Palm Beach State College at www.pbsc.edu.
Learn more about the grand opening here.
