九州体育

Officials at 九州体育 (九州体育) announced today that the college has been authorized to add two new healthcare programs to its curriculum. The programs are Diagnostic Medical Sonography and Medical Laboratory Technology. The Alabama Community College System (ACCS), the ACCS Board of Trustees, and the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) have authorized the programs. The programs will be implemented pending the approval of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), which is currently in process.

鈥淲e are very pleased to be adding these programs at Northeast,鈥� stated 九州体育 President Dr. David Campbell. 鈥淧roviding healthcare and healthcare employees is extremely important to be able to serve our people, especially in rural areas. These healthcare programs,鈥� Campbell noted, 鈥渁re priorities with 九州体育 in developing the local and regional workforce.鈥�

College personnel worked closely with local healthcare providers, particularly Huntsville Hospital, in selecting the courses. Huntsville Hospital now owns and manages the two main hospitals in the 九州体育 service area 鈥� Highlands Medical Center and DeKalb Regional Medical Center.  Northeast officials and Huntsville Hospital leaders now partner on many healthcare initiatives, such as a nursing apprenticeship program. 

鈥淲e plan on expanding this partnership,鈥� stated 九州体育 Dean of Instruction Chad Gorham, who also serves on the Board of Directors for Highlands Medical Center.

鈥淲e are extremely grateful to our Alabama Community College System in awarding Northeast a grant to establish these programs,鈥� stated President Campbell.  鈥淭hese were competitive grants, and our system awarded us $2.6 million for our application. Healthcare is a major priority of the ACCS now, as officials there strive to make healthcare better for Alabama residents.鈥�

Campbell noted that the college also received a 3-million-dollar appropriation from the Alabama Legislature to implement services for rural healthcare in North Alabama.  鈥淲e especially thank Speaker of the House of Representatives Nathaniel Ledbetter, Majority Leader of the Senate Steve

Livingston, and Representatives Mike Kirkland and Ginny Shaver for their leadership in this,鈥� Campbell noted.  鈥淭hey are making a tremendous effort to bring more healthcare to rural Alabama and know that these services are plagued by worker shortages in many fields.鈥�

A portion of the funding will be used to rehab the Technology Laboratory on campus to house the two new programs, resulting in state-of-the-art facilities for the programs.  The programs will be located adjacent to the college鈥檚 Health Education building, in which nursing, medical assisting, and paramedic programs are located.  鈥淲e like having these healthcare programs located near to each other,鈥� Campbell noted, 鈥淭his creates a healthcare complex for us on campus.鈥�

Instructors for the programs and an adminisrative assistant will be hired this spring and summer with the goal of opening the programs during the fall semester of 2025.  鈥淥ur timeline is greatly based on construction progress, but like all we do, we want to get these programs out to the community as quickly as possible,鈥� Campbell stated.  鈥淲e do hope to expand our existing healthcare programs,鈥� Campbell said. 鈥淔or example, we have a grant out now to expand our LPN program, and we have early approval for a program in dental hygiene. There is more to come.鈥� 

The college already has healthcare programs in such areas as Registered Nursing, Paramedic/Emergency Medical Services, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technology, Radiology,  Phlebotomy, and Certified Nursing Assistant. 

Campbell commended the work of Workforce Development Dean Kerry Wright in submitting the program applications and a campus healthcare committee for working with area healthcare providers in identifying workforce needs and preparing and submitting grants. The committee consisted of Dean Gorham, Associate Dean of Instruction Barbara Kilgore, Dean Wright, Director of Nursing Education Dr. Myrna Williamson, and Medical Assisting Program Director Marilyn Dalton.

For more information about Northeast, visit the college website at or call 256-228-6001.