Jefferson College of Health Sciences is an independent, private, coeducational, health sciences college located in Downtown

Downtown Roanoke

Downtown is the central business district of Roanoke, Virginia, United States. Located geographically at the center of the city, Downtown began its development with the completion of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad in 1882...

 Roanoke

Roanoke, Virginia

Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...

, Virginia

Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

, U.S.A.. Officially chartered as a College

College

A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...

 in 1982, Jefferson College is the oldest hospital-based college in Virginia.

Jefferson College of Health Sciences has approximately 1,200 students (75% female, 25% male) who represent approximately 20 states. The college offers 15 majors in various healthcare disciplines. Jefferson College of Health Sciences awards the Associate of Science, Bachelor of Science, and Master of Science degree.

History

Jefferson College of Health Sciences was founded in 1982, but its history can be traced as far back as the early 1900’s. In 1907, Dr. Hugh Trout Sr. founded a small, 40-bed facility in Roanoke, Virginia named Jefferson Hospital. In order to address the shortage of nurses in the area, he established the Jefferson Hospital School of Nursing. At about the same time, Dr. James Newton Lewis and Dr. Sparrell Simmons Gale founded Lewis-Gale Hospital. In 1911 they created the Lewis-Gale school of nursing. The two schools operated side-by-side for many years. In 1965 it was decided that the two schools would combine under the direction of the newly constructed Community Hospital. The merged school was named the Community Hospital of Roanoke Valley School of Nursing. The new school operated in this manner for the next fifteen years. In 1980, a task force was commissioned to determine the feasibility of creating a hospital-based college that would grant 2-year degrees in nursing and allied health. The next year the Community Hospital Board of Trustees made a commitment to such a school. This led to the establishment of the Community Hospital of Roanoke Valley College of Health Sciences in 1982. The College of Health Sciences was the first hospital-based college in Virginia. The College obtained initial accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...

(SACS) to give associate's degrees in 1986, bachelor's degrees in 1995, and Master's degrees in 2005. In 2003, the College officially changed its name to Jefferson College of Health Sciences.

Presidents of Jefferson College of Health Sciences

Dr. Harry C. Nickens (first President) - 1989-2002

Dr. Carol Seavor - 2002-2010

Dr. Nathaniel L. Bishop - 2010- http://www.jchs.edu/page.php/prmID/783

Department of Community Health Sciences

• Emergency Services
• Healthcare Management
• Physician Assistant
• Respiratory Therapy

Department of Rehabilitation and Wellness

• Health and Exercise Science
• Occupational Therapy
• Occupational Therapy Assistant
• Physical Therapist Assistant

Nickname and Mascot

Jefferson College of Health Sciences' nickname is the "Blue Healers". The school's mascot is the St. Bernard, who is often called "Jeff".

External links

• Jefferson College of Health Sciences website