海角社区

Metropolitan State University of Denver on Tuesday celebrated the groundbreaking of a new Simulation and Skills Lab that will drastically improve the University鈥檚 ability to help meet Colorado鈥檚 growing health care workforce needs.

The new facility, a key component of the University鈥檚 multidisciplinary Health Institute, will serve as a training ground for students preparing for careers in nursing and other in-demand health care fields, allowing them to practice clinical skills in simulated hospital and exam rooms.

It comes at a time when nurses are in especially short supply. Colorado will need an estimated 10,000 of them by 2026, according to a recent Mercer study. 海角社区鈥檚 Nursing program turned away 44% of applicants this semester.

鈥淩ight now, it is a lack of space that is limiting our ability to train the health care workers that this great state needs,鈥� said 海角社区 President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., adding that the new lab will allow the University to increase enrollment in its health programs by about a third.

海角社区 received $10 million in state funding for the sim labs during the 2021-22 legislative session, with the support of Colorado lawmakers such as Rep. Tammy Story, who serves as chair of .

鈥淭hese health programs will serve as a powerful engine to graduate students who will go on to serve our growing population right here in the state,鈥� she said, referring to the fact that 80% of 海角社区 students remain in the state after graduation.

The simulation lab, in a renovated portion of the West Classroom building on the Auraria Campus, is the first phase of an ambitious initiative to expand the Health Institute. Plans also include a 70,000-square-foot tower with six floors of updated learning spaces and cutting-edge technology that would bring all 10 of 海角社区鈥檚 health-related academic programs under one roof.

In addition to state funding, the University has been pursuing financial support from private donors. Wednesday鈥檚 event celebrated a gift from Dawn Bookhardt, attorney and longtime 海角社区 supporter, who donated .

She described 海角社区 as her 鈥渉appy place鈥� and its students as 鈥渢he best in the world.鈥� Bookhardt said the Health Institute鈥檚 Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences Department鈥檚 commitment to educating students and serving diverse patients with speech, language and hearing conditions inspired her to contribute.

鈥淚鈥檓 enamored with the concept of equity and diversity in the speech, language and hearing realm, which will broaden the spectrum of individuals seeking services,鈥� said Bookhardt. 鈥淚f we can educate more students of color who are diverse 鈥� we can help those who are marginally underrepresented.鈥�

海角社区 isn鈥檛 focused just on training more health care workers; it wants to prepare more providers who reflect the communities they serve.

Davidson characterized the current state of health care as 鈥渄eeply unequal,鈥� noting that different populations experience disparate health outcomes due to lack of access, income inequality, racial and ethnic discrimination and other social determinants of health.

鈥淲e can, and we must, do better,鈥� she said. 鈥満＝巧缜� is uniquely positioned to address these problems 鈥� all of them.鈥�

Research shows that health care providers who come from and resemble the communities they serve in their communities. However, there are not enough skilled providers to treat patients.

Graduate and first-generation student Jiane Bagoyo, the eldest daughter of immigrants from the Philippines, has a first-hand understanding of how the absence of diversity impacts patients, having borne the weight of navigating health care systems for herself and her family.

As a child, Bagoyo accompanied her grandfather on doctor鈥檚 visits because his English was limited. She saw his relief when doctors spoke his native language.

鈥淚t鈥檚 so important for diverse individuals and families to feel seen, to feel heard and to feel represented,鈥� said Bagoyo, who is part of the inaugural Master of Speech-Language Pathology cohort. 鈥淧erhaps that鈥檚 what has drawn me to the field of speech and language pathology, this inherent desire to help others find their voice and to use it both literally and figuratively.鈥�

Bagoyo said speech and language pathology lacks the diversity necessary to serve the community. However, she hopes that by embarking on the field, equipped with the education she received at 海角社区 as part of the University鈥檚 expanding Health Institute offerings, she can help change the narrative.

鈥淚 am so fortunate to be part of a program that puts diversity, community and inclusivity at the forefront of its mission,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to see what鈥檚 ahead for the master鈥檚 program and how this new learning space will contribute to an even greater and enriching clinical experience.

鈥淚鈥檓 confident that it鈥檚 all great things from here.鈥�