A Hattiesburg pharmacist, Dr. Ron Edwards, and his wife, Michelle, have become major donors to a new College of Health Sciences facility under construction at William Carey University.
Their $30,000 gift will fund an infusion lab named in honor of the couple’s business, Vital Care Infusion Services of Hattiesburg.
"We're happy to be able to support the education of nurses as they learn to adapt in new environments. My wife is a William Carey alum, so I had read about the new health sciences building in the university's magazine. I also learned about it from Jamie Scott, our director of clinical services here at Vital Care," Edwards said.
A Wiggins native, Dr. Edwards has a pharmacy career spanning 23 years, including retail, retail management, clinical infusion, and independent pharmacy ownership. Vital Care Infusion Services offers patients and physicians the choice of having trained professionals provide therapy either in patients’ homes or in a clinical setting in one of the company’s infusion suites.
"Healthcare is changing every day. Vital Care offers infusion services in a clinical setting – but many people are more comfortable receiving therapy at home, and we're able to meet that need," Dr. Edwards said.
Some of the common therapies provided by Vital Care Infusion Services of Hattiesburg are iron replacement, custom antibiotic therapy, and immunoglobulin infusions.
The donation was marked with a private ceremony Oct. 7 at Tatum Court, attended by WCU President Dr. Tommy King and Dr. Ron and Michelle Edwards. Also attending were two administrators from the College of Health Sciences: Dr. Janet Williams, associate vice president for health programs, and Dr. Emily Scott, associate dean of undergraduate nursing.
“William Carey University is absolutely dependent upon our community supporters for the progress we are able to make. As we move into the final stage of funding for the new health sciences building, this gift from Vital Care will permit us to provide enhancements which would not be possible without their generosity,” King said.
Williams agreed: “Without supporters like Dr. and Mrs. Edwards, it would be difficult to accomplish our goal to improve people's lives.”
WCU broke ground for the College of Health Sciences facility in February. Located at the northeast corner of the intersection of Tuscan Avenue and Cherry Street, the 74,000-square-foot facility will house four programs – nursing, physical therapy, health information management, and health administration and education. It is scheduled to open in 2021.
In the photo: Dr. Ron and Michelle Edwards, center, are pictured at Tatum Court with William Carey University officials Dr. Emily Scott, Dr. Tommy King, and Dr. Janet Williams.
