Omnibus funding to boost Concord”s medical, research programs

ATHENS — Concord University will present a new degree system in clinical schooling and acquire a analysis centre linked to scarce earth components many thanks to funding from the 2023 Omnibus Appropriations invoice.

Information of the invoice ended up introduced past 7 days and West Virginia is acquiring a complete of about $250 million for numerous assignments about the state.

One of Sen. Shelley Moore Capito’s, R-W.Va., requests was for just more than $1 million for Concord to commence a new doctor assistant software.

“I am very pleased to help Harmony University’s new Masters in Doctor Assistant Scientific studies via the Congressionally Directed Expending process,” Capito stated in saying the funding. “Concord is working to make improvements to the welfare and wellbeing of West Virginians, and this application will guide long term clients as they search for professional medical therapy and younger experts as they create their health care occupations. Harmony conveyed to me the significance of this challenge, and I will carry on to use my purpose on the Senate Appropriations Committee to give our education and learning establishments in West Virginia with the applications they need to put together their learners.”

The program will prepare and equip graduates for licensure as a health practitioner assistant (PA) and rural healthcare practice. The require for additional medical professionals surged all through the pandemic and Harmony was also provided $1.6 million past yr as a result of the point out to begin a new nursing software.

CU President Kendra Boggess mentioned in a assertion Capito has been supportive in assisting the college supply far more health care packages.

“This federal funding will make it possible for Concord to much better provide the requirements of southern West Virginia and beyond by delivering new opportunities to educate foreseeable future generations of specialists well prepared to tackle the everchanging requires about them,” she reported.

The proposed system has been accredited by Concord University’s Board of Governors and with this federal funding, the acceptance course of action with the West Virginia Better Instruction Plan Commission can start.

As element of the Omnibus invoice, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., also declared Harmony will receive $642,000 for a analysis heart for scarce earth features in coal.

“Concord College carries on to make our condition very pleased with ground breaking scientific exploration, which is why I effectively fought to secure this funding to aid establish their new research centre,” Manchin stated in the announcement. “The initiative will support develop our knowledge about Unusual Earth Features in coal and coal byproducts, as nicely as other essential minerals, and the Mountain State is the excellent area for this groundbreaking investigation that can boost our strength safety. As Chairman of the Senate Energy and All-natural Means Committee and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will go on working with federal, point out and local leaders to assist scientific study chances across West Virginia.”

Exceptional earth elements (REE) are significantly demanded for many unique contemporary programs in protection and renewable strength technologies and in business items (i.e. magnets, batteries, and catalysts). Mercer County is an suitable area for REE research due to the fact it is at the coronary heart of the southern West Virginia metallurgical coal fields.

Harmony will increase its current laboratory infrastructure by creating a prototype for a new instrument specially optimized for measuring REEs and other economically critical factors current in trace portions. The instrument will present earth-top abilities to authorities, academia, and the non-public sector.

“Concord University’s undertaking will enhance economic improvement by developing main infrastructure to draw in and support new research company in southern West Virginia,” Boggess reported. “We are keen not only to supply this chance to Harmony students, but to aid progress of regional REE purely natural sources for southern West Virginia and further than. Thank you, Senator Manchin, for supporting this venture.”

Harmony University’s investigation heart will use Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) which is a significant analytical and micro-imaging strategy frequently applied to pure and artificial sound supplies, according to the announcement, and EPMA combines electron microscopy and X-ray spectroscopy procedures into a one instrument and presents good scale micro-imaging and quantitative chemical examination down to a scale of 1/1000th of a millimeter.

The University has a 12-calendar year observe file of running the only EPMA facility in West Virginia and hosts instrument components that supplies “an excellent platform for building improved capabilities.”