June 6, 2024
The Boyd Foundation recently donated $250,000 to support Roane State’s Knox Regional Health Science Education Center. The campus is currently under construction in West Knoxville and is expected to open in the fall of 2025.
The 130,000-square-foot center will be located at 9575 Sherrill Boulevard, across from Parkwest Medical Center, and will house health science programs offered by both Roane State and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Knoxville.
Once completed, the center will replace Roane State’s current Knox County Center for Health Sciences and allow both colleges to significantly expand health science courses and programs.
The center is expected to educate more than 8,000 students each year. Plans include a large, multi-purpose simulation center on the ground floor of the facility with spaces built to replicate a variety of healthcare training settings, including an ambulance bay and ER/trauma room.
Current Roane State programs to be offered at the new campus include nursing, EMS, polysomnography, and respiratory therapy, with the college planning to add new programs such as cardiovascular technology, healthcare administration, and public health.
“The Boyd Foundation understands the need for a high-quality allied health talent pipeline,” explained Randy Boyd, co-founder of The Boyd Foundation. “We are thankful for institutions like Roane State Community College that are meeting workforce demands while also ensuring students have a path to a high-quality credential after high school.”
Roane State broke ground on the health science center in the summer of 2023. The total estimated dollar amount for the project is $75 million, with the State of Tennessee contributing $67.5 million to the effort. The college needs at least $7.5 million in private philanthropy to complete the project and sustain funding for the students who will attend.
“This is the largest capital project in Roane State history, and we are so thankful for partners like the Boyd family who are at the forefront of communicating how this facility will serve our students and communities,” said Roane State Foundation Executive Director Scott Niermann. “As our fundraising campaign continues, we welcome the support of citizens across the region who value a healthy, thriving community.”
Interested supporters can learn more about getting involved with the fundraising effort or making a direct contribution at thrive.roanestate.edu.
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