JOPLIN, Mo. — A big health system is throwing its support behind high-tech healthcare education. Freeman is donating one million dollars towards the Lions Forward program.
“These programs are going to benefit the entire region. But not just today, or next month, or next year, or five years from now, but for generations to come,” said Paula Baker, Freeman President & CEO.
The program includes funding of the Roy Blunt Health Science Innovation Center. Certain spaces in the building will carry Freeman’s name, including a healthcare skills lab.
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“And so when we say skills, we’re looking at performing patient assessments. We’re learning how to place IVs. We’re learning how to place catheters, how to do wound care, any professional skill that they are going to need for their health profession that takes place in the skills lab. So this is incredibly important,” said Dr. Crystal Lemmons, MSSU Dean, College of Health, Life Science & Education.
The second space focuses on healthcare technology.
“Then the simulation classroom, part of this facility just utilized virtual reality and other ways to kind of have a different paradigm in training and preparing students. So Freeman and others will benefit from that,” said Dr. Dean Van Galen, MSSU President.
Site work is underway for the new building, installing eighty support piers as part of the foundation.
“Obviously, campus is going to be very different until the summer of 2026 and expecting people will get used to it this way that, you know, yes, it’ll be two years of chaos, if you will, in our campus, but people have been great. There’ll be different parking systems, different pathways to campus. But I think, you know, people understand this is a tremendous step forward for Missouri Southern and they’re excited about it,” said Dr. Van Galen.
The donation means MSSU now has nearly $34 million of the $42 million fundraising goal.
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