Dallas’ newest healthcare campus is open for students, as the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences will begin classes on May 13. The private, for-profit, graduate-level university focuses on health and rehabilitative services whose 13-acre North Texas campus is near Lake Carolyn in Las Colinas.
The school has nearly 30,000 square-feet of classroom, laboratory, and administrative space and will offer the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program. The plan is for quick expansion, with the university looking to add a Master of Science in Speech and Language Pathology, and a Doctor of Physical Therapy program and that will require a 50,000 square-feet expansion by 2022. The growth is in response to the population boom in North Texas, as well as an aging population whose healthcare needs are only increasing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says that between 2016 to 2026, there will be a 28 percent increase in demand for physical therapists, a 24 percent increase for occupational therapists and a 31 percent increase for nurse practitioners.
“As a USAHS graduate myself, and now faculty member, I am thrilled to be part of the team launching our new campus in Dallas,” said Dr. Stephanie Capshaw, Dallas OTD Program Director via release. “We have assembled a fantastic team of faculty and support staff who are passionate about health sciences education. Our goal is to ensure that USAHS students will be successful graduates who are leaders in their fields and make a positive impact in the community by strengthening health care.”
“Texas is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation; combined with an aging population, the demand for healthcare services in Texas and the greater DFW area will be remarkable,” said Dr. Thomas Werner, DPT Dallas Program Director via release. “I am delighted to be a part of the core academic team creating this new and vibrant health sciences community in Irving. The surrounding business community has been very welcoming and DFW-area alumni are excited about the university’s expanded presence in the area.”
“The university’s success blends our modern, interdisciplinary health sciences education with a focus on unparalleled patient care and service to the community,” said Dr. Divina Grossman, USAHS President and Chief Academic Officer via release. “A big part of our mission is to positively impact the communities we serve, and the university has demonstrated that in a variety of ways, including numerous community clinics and other service projects in Austin aimed at helping those with disabilities, mobility challenges due to disease, and senior citizens. We expect similar activities in the Dallas area as we get established in the community.”
USAHS began in St. Augustine, Florida, but has been operating a campus in Austin since 2012 and also has campuses in Miami, Florida and San Marcos, California.
