Food City is proud to be a longtime supporter of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, VA.  Earlier today, Food City officials presented a check totaling $27,500 to the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center Foundation in support of their new Southwest Virginia Regional Simulation Lab for Nursing and Allied Health and memorial scholarship endowmen.

A 1,200 square foot classroom will be transformed into the Southwest Virginia Regional Simulation Lab for Nursing and Allied Health to create a shared, state-of-the art multidisciplinary lab. The lab will offer high-, medium- and low-fidelity adult, pediatric and infant manikins. In addition to the manikins, the space will also be configured to simulate medical and home care facilities (hospital rooms, simulated ambulance, simulated apartment, pharmacy IV hood and cabinet). New technology in virtual reality/augmented reality/immersion simulators and scenarios will also enhance the educational offerings. The space will include A/V equipment updates to record clinical simulations, debrief space and control rooms. The Lab will be stocked with medical supplies, simulated medications and storage to mimic real clinical experiences. 

By providing robust simulation and clinical experiences, students will be able to experience a wider variety of simulated and problematic medical scenarios. The regional lab will be unique by serving as a model for interdisciplinary healthcare education and training opportunities, fostering interdisciplinary relationships and activities, and ultimately serving as a catalyst to advance healthcare education in the region. The project will serve to facilitate allied health and nursing career pathways, as well as keep qualified, highly trained healthcare workers in the region with good paying, in demand jobs. It is anticipated that 450 students annually will receive training in the Lab and, of those, 225 will secure jobs within the region, within a three-year period. 

Pictured (left to right):

Rick Bishop, Food City EVP of Operations, Tri-Cities Division

Kevin Stafford, Food City Vice President of Marketing

Adam Tolbert, SWVA Higher Education Center Senior Director of Administration

David Matlock, SWVA Higher Education Center Executive Director/Agency Head

Derek Adkisson, Food City District Manager

Jack Wycoff, Food City Store Manager

About Food City

Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 152 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, north Georgia, and Alabama.