Bloomberg pledges $26 million gift to Demopolis healthcare school

From West Alabama Newsroom–

A multi-million dollar gift — may have brought the new healthcare high school proposed by Governor Kay Ivey — a step closer to becoming reality.

“The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences Foundation has received a pledge of $26.4 million dollars from Bloomberg Philanthropy,” said Rob Pearson, founding chair of the ASHS Foundation.

“You know Alabama has been behind the curb with healthcare for a long, long time. We don’t rank very high nationally. But we’ve got an opportunity to be a leader in healthcare education,” said Demopolis Mayor Woody Collins.

The first of it’s kind state healthcare school — would offer an innovative STEM curriculum with every subject related to healthcare — in addition to hands-on clinical training and experience.

“Whitfield Regional Hospital is proud to be one of over 30 hospitals across the state that not only supports this needed school but also will serve in helping train these students while guaranteeing meaningful jobs for them upon graduation,” said Whitfield Regional Hospital CEO.

The gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies is dependent on the approval of the school — by the Alabama State Legislature.