Proposed
Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences
Inspiring & educating today’s young Alabamians to become tomorrow’s healthcare workforce.
News & Announcements
The ASHS Foundation was formed to raise private donations and spread awareness for the proposed Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences.
New legislation to form the ASHS will be proposed in the 2024 legislative session.
Why Demopolis, Alabama?
Strong Community Commitment
• City of Demopolis plans to donate a strategic site located next to the hospital to provide easy walking access.
• Whitfield Regional Hospital is a member of UAB Health System, a one-of-a-kind rural hospital that offers labor and delivery, state-of-the-art ICU, as well as cutting edge robotic surgery.
• Whitfield Regional has already immersed itself in higher education opportunities with the University of Alabama, UAB, University of West Alabama, Wallace Community College, and Coastal Community College.
Proven Commitment for County Growth
• In 2019, the citizens of Marengo County voted on a self-imposed property tax to help fund Whitfield Regional Hospital.
• In 2021, Marengo Countypassed a 1% Sales Tax to better fund all five city and county public schools.
Rising Need for Rural Healthcare Workers
• 55 out of 67 of the counties in Alabama are considered rural.
• The U.S. could face a shortage of 124,000 healthcare workers by the year 2034.
• Fostering a robust healthcare workforce in rural areas will create more accessible care, increase the number of long-term jobs, and set the stage for continued rural healthcare development across the state of Alabama.
Why Demopolis, Alabama?
Rural Health in Alabama is in desperate and increasing need for improved health care opportunities for its residents. 37% of Alabama’s population lives in rural areas; however, less than 20% of trained healthcare professionals live in these areas. With the help of the UAB Health System, Demopolis has created a tertiary care hospital right in the heart of the Black Belt which handles some of the most severe health issues in our country. Over the last five years the success of the program has been recognized both nationally and internationally for the way it performed during the Covid -19 pandemic. Whitfield Regional Hospital is a level three trauma center, and regional stroke center. The hospital also provides advanced wound care, robotic surgery, labor and delivery services, cardiology services, renal failure services, oncology services and many additional services once thought to only be possible to deliver in urban areas. In addition, Whitfield has arguably become the most technologically advanced rural hospital in the state with direct care provided by UAB around the clock through sophisticated tele-technology. The hospital is the only off-campus ICU program in the state monitored around the clock by UAB Intensivist. Additionally, Whitfield, with the help of UAB, serves as a training sight for many nursing and other medical programs through relationships with Wallace Community College, University of Alabama, University of West Alabama, Coastal Community College and many others. The proposed location for the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences will be located directly adjacent to Whitfield Regional Hospital, allowing these students to see these services delivered in a hands-on environment. Programs will be developed allowing them to have dual-enrollment at both ASHS and the new Wallace Community College Training center. This will allow many of these young people to come out of high school prepared to step in and begin filling the vast needs in our state for their service. This is the right time, right place and right thing to do for our state, rural Alabama and the young individuals that will benefit from the unique opportunities this project provides them.
– Doug Brewer
