If you have been on campus recently, you may have noticed new framing work directly east of Henrietta Mann Hall. The project site is the future home to the Center of Pharmacy and Rural Health. The building is named after Jerry Hodge, an alumni of SWOSU College of Pharmacy and his wife Margaret Hodge. The building’s full title is Jerry and Margaret Hodge Center of Pharmacy and Rural Health. The Hodge’s generously donated a historic $5 million in June of 2021 which has contributed to the development of the center.
The project was also made possible by $10 million in ARPA Funding. “The Oklahoma State Legislature has approved $10 million in pandemic relief funds to assist Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) with establishing a new rural healthcare center on the Weatherford campus.”
I spoke with Les Ramos, the current Dean of The College of Pharmacy. “The construction of the exterior of the new building is progressing on time with little or no delays so far. Beams for the north wing still need to be placed and pouring of the second-floor concrete is planned within the next few weeks. The masonry design for the outer brick has been finalized and the brick work should begin soon. It is estimated that the most of the main facade of the building will be in place as we approach the end of the year or early 2025.”
When asked what he was looking forward to most, Dr. Ramos stated “We are so grateful for an opportunity to have a facility that supports a cutting-edge education for our student pharmacists while also expanding rural and community health services for rural Oklahomans. I am looking forward to having pharmacy skills labs that closely simulate real practice environments, including compounding skills, simulated community and hospital pharmacies, and training in disease state management, person-centered care, and point-of-care testing. The scope and nature of pharmacy practice is rapidly changing to a focus on patient services and the new building will provide an optimal educational environment to continue the tradition of SWOSU pharmacy graduates being practice ready. The Jerry and Margaret Hodge Center of Pharmacy and Rural Health will also be unique among many buildings that house schools of pharmacy in that our students will be learning while also participating in the provision of health services. This is an important attribute for the new building, especially for the Weatherford community.”
Ramos believes “If all stays on track, the opening will be early 2026.” “The SWOSU administration and the College of Pharmacy administration, staff, faculty, and students are beginning to plan events for the opening, including an open house and celebrations that give thanks to people and entities who have provided generous funding to make the Jerry and Margaret Hodge Center of Pharmacy and Rural Health a reality.”
“We wish to express our sincere gratitude to the generosity of Jerry and Marget Hodge, the State of Oklahoma, and the City of Weatherford for supporting the construction of a state-of-the-art facility that will benefit all of western Oklahoma.”
Sadly, Jerry Hodge passed in July of 2024.
To read more about the Jerry and Margaret Hodge Center of Pharmacy and Rural Health, visit: https://southwesternpharmacy.com/the-groundbreaking-for-the-jerry-margaret-hodge-center/
To view photos of the future building, visit: https://www.maplusarch.com/projects/southwestern-oklahoma-state-university-jerry-and-margaret-hodge-pharmacy-and-rural-health-center
(Sources)
https://southwesternpharmacy.com/the-groundbreaking-for-the-jerry-margaret-hodge-center/
