Premier programs meet premier facilities in the College of Health Sciences.

Samford University's College of Health Sciences spans more than 223,000 square feet of space across two buildings.

Samford dedicated the facilities in fall 2016 to house the School of Health Professions, Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing, McWhorter School of Pharmacy and School of Public Health, providing students and faculty the opportunity to learn and work in an interprofessional environment that mirrors today’s collaborative approach to health care delivery. On average, approximately 1,200 students from 30 programs utilize these facilities daily.

Classrooms

Pharmacy students in a large classroom in CHS

Modern design meets innovative technology in the College of Health Sciences classrooms. The college's 38 technologically advanced classrooms are designed to maximize student and faculty engagement and to provide a comfortable and inviting place for students to learn.

Clinical Labs

In the College of Health Sciences we believe that hands-on experience is the best way for students to gain many of the essential skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the health professions. Combining the latest technology and equipment, our clinical labs are designed to prepare students for the health care environments of the future.

Students conduct a VO2 test in the Exercise Physiology Lab

Exercise Physiology Lab

This lab provides a space for teaching as well as faculty and student research related to the physiological responses to exercise.  Top of the line equipment allows for the assessment of metabolism at rest and during exercise, fuel usage during exercise, and musculoskeletal performance.

Students listening to a professor lecture in the Physical Therapy Clinical Lab

Physical Therapy Clinical Lab

The Physical Therapy Clinical Lab includes 25 treatment tables with eight of these being mechanical high low tables that are used for training students for exercise and mobilization techniques. In this teaching lab, faculty demonstrate specific examination and treatment techniques. Innovative technology allows lectures and demonstrations to be projected onto flat screen televisions in the demonstration area and archived for future use.

Students in the College of Health Sciences Sport Medicine Lab

Sports Medicine Lab

Utilizing examination and taping stations, isokinetic testing, and balance assessments, School of Health Professions students gain experience in the prevention, recognition and treatment of injuries in the Sports Medicine Lab. Modalities for injury treatment include neuromuscular electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and hydrotherapy. In addition, students and faculty conduct research in this multipurpose space. 

Students in the College of Health Sciences Food Production Lab

Food Production Labs

Each of the two Food Production Labs contain eight state-of-the-art kitchens that are utilized by both undergraduate and graduate students in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics. In these spaces, foods majors are inspired to pursue professions in the culinary arts and sciences as they refine the culinary skills required by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In addition to serving students, the Food Production Labs provide the opportunity for additional community partnerships, outreach and education.

CSDS students in the Voice Swallowing Lab

Voice Swallowing Lab

Using the most advanced technology, students in the School of Health Professions' Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders learn to evaluate patients exhibiting voice and/or swallowing problems.

A student conducts a hearing test on a patient in Samford's Audiology booth

Audiological Suites

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders students learn the process of hearing assessment using the most current, technologically advanced equipment.

Research Labs

Students and faculty in the College of Health Sciences have the opportunity to participate in a variety of research activities.

Samford pharmacy research lab

Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Lab

The Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Laboratory houses state-of-the-art equipment which allows for contemporary, cutting-edge research in drug development, drug formulation, and drug evaluation.  This lab is shared among several pharmaceutical and biomedical research faculty to foster ideas leading to the development of collaborative research projects. In addition to standard biomedical research laboratory equipment, this lab houses a high-performance liquid chromatography system, protein and nucleotide imaging equipment, and a mini spray dryer which allows for spray drying and encapsulation of pharmaceuticals into novel dosage forms and the creation of unique vaccine formulations. 

Students in College of Health Sciences' Nutrition Research Lab

Nutrition Research Lab

Students and faculty conduct basic and applied research on understanding the molecular basis of obesity and diabetes and the role of bioactives and functional foods in health promotion and disease prevention. Along with the Nutrition Research Lab, the Food Science Lab allows both our undergraduate and graduate students to participate more fully in food science research. 

Photo of Performance Lab

Human Performance Lab

In the Human Performance Lab students and faculty in the School of Health Professions will assess cardiorespiratory, body composition, and musculoskeletal performance. Utilizing state-of the art equipment and facilities, faculty and students will perform comprehensive tests aimed at assisting clients in becoming healthier adults or improved athletes. The Human Performance Lab is also the home for the SamFit Community Testing Program

Simulation Center

College of Health Science Simulation Center entrance

Imagine a place where students from all health care disciplines come together to improve their technical skills, clinical judgement, decision making, communication and teamwork. The College of Health Sciences’ Experiential Learning and Simulation Center revolutionizes the way students learn everything from simple skills and tasks to strategies for managing complex health care scenarios.

The 22,000 sq. foot Experiential Learning and Simulation Center utilizes the most sophisticated technology available including a digital recording and playback audio visual system that will be used for debriefing, evaluation and demonstration. The center also includes an Electronic Health Record system that mirrors the systems found in today’s health care settings.

A faculty member observes two nursing students in a high-fidelity simulation room

High Fidelity Simulation Suite

The five-bed high fidelity suite allows for simulation of complex health care situations. All rooms have individual observation rooms and debriefing/conference rooms. 

Nursing students in the College of Health Sciences Assessment Lab

Assessment and Skill Labs

Students learn, practice, document and demonstrate basic care and patient assessment competencies, utilizing task trainers and low- to mid-fidelity simulators, students learn.

Nursing students in the College of Health Sciences Flex Lab

Acute Care Suite

This four room suite houses four acute care medical inpatient hospital rooms with realistic hospital equipment and working headwalls. This clinically based designed space allows for multi-patient simulation with standardized patients. The space has a medication dispensing machine as well AV recording ability.

Pharmacy students working in the Compounding Lab

Non-Sterile Compounding Lab

Student pharmacists learn to prepare unique, custom-formulated prescriptions such as creams, solutions, capsules, and other dosage forms in this lab.  Students are  taught the most up-to-date, contemporary compounding techniques used in various pharmacy settings.

Faculty and students work together in the Cardiopulmonary Sciences lab.

Flex Lab

This 10 bed lab houses medium fidelity mannequins as well as serving as a procedural lab. This multipurpose space allows for small group clinical development, skills training, and multi-patient simulation.

The Home Care Lab in Samford's College of Health Sciences

Home Care Lab

The 1,100 square foot home care unit looks and feels like a real studio apartment. The apartment allows students to practice in-home patient care and skills specific to the community setting. 

A nursing student examining a patient in the Standardized Patient Exam Room.

Standardized Patient Suite

The standardized patient suite includes 10 individual exam rooms with charting stations, a training room and a patient lounge. Standardized patients will be utilized to simulate realistic ambulatory care interactions. 

A professor teaches a class in the Active Learning Lab

Active Learning Lab

The Active Learning Lab is a classroom environment designed to facilitate interprofessional education, case studies and group work focused on improving patient care quality and outcomes. 

Student Commons

Students sitting on a patio at the College of Health Sciences

Whether you’re taking a break between classes or conducting distance meetings and presentations, the College of Health Sciences has a space to meet your needs. Take advantage of walking trails, open seating areas, group study and conference rooms. Conference rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art conferencing technology that will allow students and faculty to conduct face-to-face and distance meetings and presentations.