September 27, 2011

Gwinnett Technical College Life Sciences Center to be Dedicated Sept. 28

Facility Will Train Region's Healthcare and Life Science Professionals; Sen. Isakson, Commissioner Jackson Join College, Healthcare and Community Leaders for Event

The leadership and board of Gwinnett Technical College will formally dedicate the college's new Life Sciences Center on Wednesday morning, Sept. 28, welcoming a host of civic, business and educational leaders to campus, including U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson and Commissioner Ron Jackson, Technical College System of Georgia. The event is planned for 8.45 a.m. on campus.

Joining Gwinnett Tech President Sharon Bartels and these guests will be students, alumni and faculty, plus many of the business, industry and private donors who contributed to the Life Sciences Center through Gwinnett Tech's Legacy of Lives campaign.  The Legacy of Lives campaign is led by honorary chair Ed Bastian, president, Delta Air Lines, and campaign co-chairs Jim McGean, president (retired), Verizon Wireless, and Kim Ryan, chief executive officer, Eastside Medical Center.

"This is exciting day for everyone in the Gwinnett Tech family and for all those throughout the community who supported the development of the Life Sciences Center. Visionary leaders from multiple sectors – healthcare, technology, business and education – plus key private donors worked in concert to make this center a reality," says President Bartels. "Now, our community and our region will benefit from the healthcare and life sciences professionals who will train here."

The Life Sciences Center is supported by donations from companies and individuals including the Scott Hudgens Family Foundation, Eastside Medical Center, Delta Air Lines, Gwinnett Medical Center, Clyde and Sandra Strickland, the CDC, McKesson, Cisco and the Community Foundation of Northeast Georgia, among others.

"Healthcare ...life care... is the industry of expansion for the coming decades. If you want to develop quality of life in your community, it makes perfect sense that you prepare people for the health sciences positions that are going to be needed," adds Bartels.

Gwinnett Tech's three-story, 78,000-square-foot Life Sciences Center is dedicated to educating and training those life sciences and healthcare professionals. Over the next four years, to serve residents, the region will need to add 27,000 healthcare jobs.

The Center, which opened for fall semester classes in August, will serve 3,000 students annually, enabling GTC to accept additional students and expand program offerings. The new Life Sciences Center is a LEED-construction building and anticipates LEED Silver certification.

"I believe that GTC's health sciences programs and new state-of-the-art Life Sciences Center will be integral to both economic development and to the development of thousands of qualified and trained medical professionals to meet the future healthcare needs across our entire Metro Atlanta region," says Legacy of Lives co-chair Jim McGean.

With more than a dozen health sciences programs, Gwinnett Tech serves the state's highest number of health science students. Combined with its existing facilities, GTC now has more than 140,000 square feet in two buildings dedicated to health science education. The college offers these associate degree, diploma and certificate offerings:

New for Fall 2011:

Across all program areas, GTC offers more than 50 degree, diploma and certificate programs that can be completed in two years or less.  For more information, visit www.GwinnettTech.edu or call 770-962-7580.

Get the latest news about Gwinnett Tech: http://www.gwinnetttech.edu/news

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