AL School Of Healthcare Sciences Names Academic Center In Honor Of Gov. Kay Ivey

DEMOPOLIS, AL — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey was honored Thursday when the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences (ASHS) announced that its new academic center in Demopolis will bear her name.

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School officials said the dedication was meant to recognize Ivey's role in establishing the state's first residential public high school dedicated to preparing students for careers in healthcare.

The announcement came during a ceremony at the school's permanent campus, which remains under construction and is scheduled to open for the 2027-28 academic year.

Speaking inside the unfinished auditorium of the building that will carry her name, Ivey addressed students from the school's inaugural class, describing them as Alabama's next generation of healthcare professionals.

"You are making history today," Ivey told the students, who represent 45 communities across Alabama.

The tuition-free school opened in August with 79 ninth- and 10th-grade students at a temporary campus at the University of West Alabama in Livingston.

The ASHS says its curriculum combines college-preparatory academics with specialized healthcare instruction, hands-on training and opportunities to earn industry-recognized credentials.

The school's residential model is designed to make those opportunities available to students from across Alabama, while helping address healthcare workforce shortages, particularly in rural communities.

The school was established with support from state leaders and a $26.4 million investment from Bloomberg Philanthropies announced in January 2024.

It is part of a national initiative supporting healthcare-focused high schools in 13 communities across the country. The initiative seeks to connect public education with healthcare providers, giving students opportunities for clinical experiences, internships and potential employment after graduation.

According to the Alabama Department of Health, approximately 42% of Alabama residents, or more than 2.1 million people, live in rural areas, where healthcare workforce shortages have become increasingly urgent.

Hospital leaders have cited vacancies in positions ranging from nurses and physicians to respiratory therapists, laboratory technicians, phlebotomists and physical therapy assistants.

The school's permanent 10-acre campus will be located adjacent to Whitfield Regional Hospital in Demopolis, one of its healthcare partners.

Designed by Caldwell Architects and under construction by Brasfield & Gorrie, the campus will feature a three-story academic building, a five-story residential building and an activities center.

Ivey made the school a legislative priority and signed legislation establishing ASHS in May 2024.

Former state Finance Director Bill Poole, a Tuscaloosa native who served in Ivey's administration for five years, also praised the governor's commitment to education and rural Alabama.

"It is a bold vision and one that reflects Gov. Ivey's enduring belief in the potential of this region and its people," Poole said.

Applications for the 2027-28 academic year are currently open, with additional information available at ALhealthcareHS.org.

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