Concordia College held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house today to celebrate the completion of the Heimarck Center, the college’s interactive learning facility for the Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions.
The center is the collective educational home for future dietitians, healthcare executives, nurses, physical therapists, physicians, and social workers. It opened this semester, marking a significant milestone in the college’s commitment to advancing healthcare education and preparing students for the demands of the industry.
The public was invited to tour the state-of-the-art simulation labs for nursing, home health, human performance, and nutrition assessment. The center also features a leadership boardroom for students to practice executive presentations.
“This building, this day, and this community represent our mission to influence the affairs of the world,” said Concordia College President Colin Irvine. “This model is built around the concept in education of learning by doing.”
Today’s event also recognized the long-standing support of Sanford Health in helping Concordia meet the need for highly-skilled healthcare workers in the region.
“The impact of our partnership resonates far beyond the walls of classrooms and hospitals,” said Theresa Larson, Sanford Fargo vice president of nursing and clinical services. “Together, we are shaping lives and fostering a community of caregivers who will make a difference one patient at a time.”
In 2021, the college announced the Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions after a pledge of continued support from Sanford Health. With that partnership came the donation of land and the clinic on the corner of Eighth Street and 12th Avenue S. in Moorhead, where the Heimarck Center now stands.
“Thanks to the support of Sanford Health, our alumni, and friends, this new space provides learning spaces for our students to practice what they’re learning in realistic healthcare settings,” said Dr. Gwen Halaas, dean of the Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions. “It allows us to teach students the necessary skills to build practical confidence.”
The building and school are named in honor of Dr. Ted Heimarck, who founded the healthcare administration program at Concordia College in 1966 and led the successful program for three decades.
People can learn about the Heimarck Center and the Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions at ConcordiaCollege.edu/HealthProfessions.