Welcome to the Choctaw County Chamber of Commerce

Governor Kay Ivey signed a bill into law in May that will allow the creation of the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences. The career-focused school would be built in Demopolis and would provide free health care education to enrolled high school students.

Students with an interest in healthcare will be recruited from across the state during their 9th or 10th grade year.

Majd Zayzafoon MD, with the UAB School of Medicine  and founder of the new school, said that early exposure to this kind of education will help build long-term interest in medical career fields. Regional and state officials said that the school will help fill shortages in healthcare professionals in the region and throughout the state.

Dr. Zayzafoon said that the school will feature a unique curriculum that will be taught from the medical lens. The school will be connected to the Whitfield Regional Hospital. There students will get hands on health care training.

Senior students will have opportunities to participate in internships in medical facilities across the state. Students can graduate with certifications for entry-level positions in a variety of health-related fields. The school will also connect with colleges across the state to provide scholarships to students looking to further their education after high school. The goal is to graduate 100 students each school year.

Student recruitment will begin in early 2025, with the first class of students beginning classes in the fall of 2026. The first students will spend their initial year learning remotely until construction of the new school is completed, which is projected for 2027.

The $65-million project will be made possible through state funding and private donations.