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TWU says new health sciences center will bridge 'gap' in rural care

A rendering shows the future health sciences center at Texas Women's University. The building consists of two narrow brown structures surrounded by grass.
Alvaro Lopez
A rendering of the future health sciences center at Texas Women's University.

Texas Woman’s University broke ground Friday on a new $107 million health sciences center.

School officials say the facility will help graduate more health care professionals, particularly ones trained to serve rural areas.

“Denton and many of the surrounding counties are designated as medically underserved, and there's a lot of rural counties around here,” TWU Chancellor Carine Feyten said. “And so our new health science center will really help bridge that gap.”

The 136,000-square-foot facility will serve students in health fields like nursing, physical therapy and occupational therapy.

“It's a lot more integrated and holistic in terms of their preparation” Feyten said, “so that when they go out in the field, they'll be prepared to work in that kind of team and be much more well-rounded.”

TWU officials expect the health center to open in 2025.

Juan Salinas II is a KERA news intern. Got a tip? Email Juan at jsalinas@kera.org. You can follow Juan on Twitter @4nsmiley.

Juan Salinas II is currently studying journalism at UT-Arlington. He is a transfer student from TCC, where he worked at the student newspaper, The Collegian, and his reporting has also appeared in Central Track, D Magazine, The Shorthorn and other Texas news outlets.