NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Old Dominion University officially opened the door to a new state-of-the-art health sciences building that will not only train health care workers of tomorrow, but is also serving the community today.
The Ellmer College of Health Sciences is home to studies on dental hygiene and restorative therapies, including physical, occupational and speech.
It includes what are called public facing centers, which means community members can go there for treatment, often without insurance and at a lower cost.
“Whatever that health needs may be, we have the programs, we have the faculty expertise, we have the physicians to address those needs,” said ODU President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D.
Students are energized by the spacious new three-story facility and state-of-the-art equipment.
“This place is spacious, and I mean, the windows are beautiful, but it’s really the little things that I was most excited about,” said Lauren Norris, an undergraduate student of the dental hygiene program.
The dental hygiene clinic is one where members of the community can come to receive any service a hygienist provides at a lower cost and without insurance.
The building also houses an athletic training program with Olympic-style equipment, occupational and physical therapy rooms for children and a full-sized apartment, where therapists can help the elderly or injured relearn basic life skills such as showering and making a meal.
“Ultimately, we want our classrooms to mirror the communities we work and live in, and having scholarships and facilities such as this … is a great testament to our ability to achieve that goal,” said Executive Vice President for Health Sciences Dr. Alfred Abuhamad.
Abuhamad added that none of it would be possible without the generous gift from Priority Auto founder and philanthropist Dennis Ellmer and his wife, Jan.
“Hopefully, we can get the best and the brightest and keep them here and raising their families in Hampton Roads,” Dennis Ellmer said.
The Ellmer College seems to be driving students in that direction.
“It just really opens up the world for us as students,” said Kalleigh West, a student in the occupational therapy doctorate program. “The program’s amazing. So many opportunities. I think it’ll be great for the community.”
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