Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences announcement

Demopolis officials in January announced big funding coming for the healthcare high school they hope the Legislature will locate in their city. At the announcement at the Demopolis Civic Center are Bobby Singleton, state Board of Education member Tonya Chestnut, UAB Dr. Majd Zayzafoon, Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences Foundation founder Rob Pearson, Demopolis Mayor Woody Collins, Whitfield Hospital CEO Doug Brewer and Byron Evans, representative with Rep. Terri Sewell’s office.

A feasibility study of the proposed Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences, requested by the Alabama Legislature last year, has been publicly released Monday. The study, which surveyed seven Alabama cities, concluded Demopolis is the best location for the residential high school.

“Demopolis… stands out due to its exceptional enthusiasm, unwavering motivation, secured funding, strategically chosen site location, potential for a comprehensive hospital partnership, and alignment with the vision outlined in the funding bill,” reads the study led by Tripp Umbach, a firm that has completed more than 100 feasibility studies for medical and health science programs in the United States and across the globe.

Last week, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey mentioned the feasibility study in her annual State of the State Address when she called on members of the Legislature to approve the school.

"The feasibility report commissioned by the Legislature last year has once again validated Demopolis as the ideal location for this important school – folks, let’s get this important project done,” Ivey said.

The ASHS Foundation, which announced last month a $26.4 million gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies to help fund the school, has also gained financial commitments from other groups across the state of Alabama. That work was cited in the feasibility study as one of the many reasons Demopolis is the best location for the school.

“Obviously we agree with the results of this study, and we have had a front-row seat to seeing the entire Demopolis community support this school,” said Rob Pearson, chairman of the ASHS Foundation. “When you add up the support we’ve received, not only from Gov. Ivey and members of the Alabama Legislature, but from national organizations like Bloomberg Philanthropies, we have no doubt that Demopolis is the most feasible location to host a statewide, residential high school. And we’re committed to continuing our work as a foundation to supporting the healthcare workforce needs of Alabama through this school.”

In a bi-partisan op-ed published last week, State Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Demopolis, and State Rep. Cynthia Almond, R-Tuscaloosa, praised the tireless work of people in Demopolis to make this school a reality.

“As members of the Alabama Legislature who represent West Alabama, we have full confidence Demopolis will fulfill the principal needs for this school to be successful,” wrote Singleton and Almond in al.com. “Its proximity to, and partnership with, a hospital such as Whitfield will provide students with exposure to clinical experiences within various healthcare professions. We also have seen, over the past year, the passion of Marengo County residents who have embraced the opportunity to serve the state through this school. They have secured support from state and national organizations to help fund this school, evidence of their dedication to improved education.”

Some of the important findings of the feasibility study are:

  • The consulting team conducted in-depth site visits to seven Alabama communities over three months in late 2023 and early 2024.
  • The consulting team believes a state-supported Alabama-based health science-focused high school is feasible.
  • Survey results from healthcare professionals show a high level of interest in having a health science high school, a strong interest in teaching, and a high degree of openness to teaching in a suburban or small-town rural setting. 
  • The proposed residential specialized health science high school will position graduates to continue their education to fill the thousands of available healthcare positions.
  • Based on findings from a statewide statistically significant survey of over 600 parents and guardians, respondents are interested in sending high school-aged children away to a rural/suburban area in Alabama.

Among the reasons the feasibility study ranked Demopolis as the best city for the school are:

  • Area High School Support
  • Community Support/Secured a Grant Donation
  • Higher Education Partnerships
  • Local Public School System Quality 
  • Proximity to Medical Facilities 
  • School Division Diversity 
  • Site Proximity to Comprehensive Hospital (e.g., walking distance)
  • State Support from Colleges and Universities (Particularly UAB)
  • Technology Infrastructure

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