Arizona Western College and Onvida Health’s future Health Careers Center is starting to look a little more finished.
AWC and Onvida announced Tuesday, Sept. 15, that exterior signage has been installed on the new facility, which remains under construction.
The building, located on 8th Avenue beside Yuma Rehabilitation Hospital, is expected to be completed in early 2027 and welcome students that same spring.
The two-story center will give students space to train in settings designed to resemble those they may encounter on the job. It'll feature simulation labs and classrooms, including AWC training areas modeled after hospital environments.
Other spaces include a mock apartment-style living area where students can practice physical and occupational therapy skills in a realistic home setting. Flexible simulation areas can also be converted for emergency or overflow patient care if needed.
The center will also include dedicated study and collaboration areas and proctored testing rooms for exams and assessments.
“Seeing the Health Careers Center take shape makes the opportunity in front of us feel more real,” said Dr. Robert J. Trenschel, president and CEO of Onvida Health. “We’re confident this center will spark a passion for healthcare in the next generation. For students across our region, this will be a place to explore what’s possible, discover their potential and see the true impact they can make right here in our community.”
AWC President Dr. Reetika Dhawan said the partnership is intended to address both education and workforce needs.
"This partnership represents Arizona Western College’s continued commitment to building a stronger healthcare workforce for Yuma County and the State of Arizona,” Dhawan said. “At AWC, we are focused on creating accessible pathways that allow students to begin their education locally, advance into high-demand healthcare careers, and continue seamlessly toward higher-level degrees.”
She also pointed to the potential for collaboration beyond the Yuma area.
“By working collaboratively, we can expand opportunities for our students, strengthen transfer and workforce pathways, and respond collectively to Arizona’s critical healthcare workforce needs,” she said. “This is about building a connected statewide education ecosystem that creates opportunities for our students while strengthening the communities we serve."
Once open in spring 2027, the center is expected to serve students pursuing education at several levels, including dual credit, short-term certificates, associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees.
Programs and areas of training available through the Health Careers Center will include certified medical assistant, phlebotomy certification, research, data and analytics, informatics, health care administration, technology, patient care and facilities.
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Reporting for this article is supported by a grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation.
Note: Arizona Western College is KAWC's license holder; Onvida is an underwriter for KAWC.
