Concordia is celebrating the completion of the Heimarck Center, the innovative and state-of-the-art experiential learning facility of the Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions.

Named in honor of longtime healthcare administration director Dr. Theodore Heimarck, the center promises to build on his dedication to serving others and revolutionize the way students are trained in healthcare fields.

The Heimarck Center aims to provide a realistic and immersive learning environment for students in the health professions. One of its key features is the nursing training stations that simulate a hospital setting. The students will work with high-fidelity manikins as their patients. These manikins can be programmed to replicate a wide range of medical conditions, allowing students to practice their skills in diagnosing and treating patients in a safe and controlled environment.

"This is a game changer for students,” said Dr. Gwen Halaas, dean of the Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions. “For an undergraduate campus to have this kind of experiential learning that looks like a hospital or a home, is incredible. It will transform how they're learning because they'll be able to apply the skills and knowledge they have gained in a realistic setting."

The center also features a home health lab. This room is designed as a studio apartment to provide students with real-world scenarios related to rehabilitation and psychology.

All training stations are equipped with one-way glass, allowing professors to observe students in action. Sessions will also be recorded and reviewed with students, giving them a valuable feedback opportunity.

   

The Heimarck Center boasts an expanded human performance lab for the exercise science program. For students pursuing exercise science as well as nutrition and dietetics, the center houses a Bod Pod, which is a specialized body composition device typically found in larger research institutions or used by professional athletes. The device will provide students with hands-on training experience with the latest technology used in the field.

Another feature is the boardroom, which was designed to serve as a training center for students in healthcare leadership. This space will provide future healthcare executives with the opportunity to practice their presentation skills, preparing them for future executive roles.

Dallas Fossum, Concordia's director of facilities management, highlighted the center's architectural design.

"This was designed to incorporate a lot of natural light," he said. "There are great study places and informal lounge spaces."

The focus on natural light and comfortable spaces ensures that students can learn and collaborate in an inviting environment that fosters creativity and critical thinking.

The Heimarck Center was made possible with generous support from donors, including a partnership with Sanford Health. There will be a public dedication in October during Homecoming festivities.