Creighton to expand Phoenix campus

In Phoenix since 2009, Omaha-based Creighton University is expanding its presence to include a nearly $100 million health sciences campus.

 

Hailed by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey as a “significant new expansion and investment,” phase one of the midtown Park Central project involves a 200,000 square-foot building that will house nearly 800 Creighton health sciences students. Construction begins in spring 2019

 

When complete in spring 2021, the facility will house a four-year medical school, nursing school, occupational and physical therapy, pharmacy and physician assistant schools and an emergency medical services program.

 

If needed, a second building could be built next to the first one.

 

Meanwhile, the university’s Phoenix school of medicine, founded nearly a decade ago, will continue running its third- and fourth-year programs next to Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. And the college of nursing, which launched its first Phoenix-based accelerated bachelor of science program in January, will move to a temporary home at Park Central early next year.

 

“Creighton University is preparing for an exciting new era in Phoenix, one that combines our tradition for educational excellence in the health sciences with our distinctive Jesuit, Catholic mission,” said Jesuit Father Daniel Hendrickson, university president. “Creighton University has strong connections to the Arizona medical community, and we look forward to expanding our impact.”

 

Creighton’s presence in the Phoenix medical community is growing. The university’s school of medicine assumed sponsorship this year of graduate physician medical education training programs at Dignity Health St. Joseph and Maricopa Integrated Health System, in conjunction with District Medical Group. That sponsorship encompasses 11 programs with 325 residents and fellows.

 

In addition, the four partners in 2017 launched the Creighton University-Arizona Health Education Alliance. Also to be based at Park Central, the alliance was formed to improve, expand and introduce health education programs.