Jax State Board of Trustees Authorizes Next Step in Partnership with RMC to Bring Emergency Services and Student Health Center to Campus

Jacksonville, AL (10/21/2025) — The Jacksonville State University (Jax State) Board of Trustees has approved a resolution authorizing the university to enter into a Letter of Intent (LOI) with The Health Care Authority of the City of Anniston's Regional Medical Center (RMC) and DSF Development Company for the proposed construction of a new single-story facility that will house a freestanding emergency department and a new RMC/Jax State Health Center on the university's main campus.

The project, to be located on more than 2.5 acres along Highway 21 North adjacent to the future City of Jacksonville Fire Station, represents the latest milestone in a long-standing partnership between Jax State and RMC - one that has evolved over decades to meet the healthcare needs of students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community.

"This is an exciting step forward for Jacksonville and our campus community," said Dr. Don C. Killingsworth, Jr., President of Jacksonville State University. "We recognized the need for accessible emergency services and came to the table early, committed to a solution that benefits our students, our university, and our city. We're grateful to RMC for their partnership, and we look forward to continuing to work together to see this vision become a reality."

The collaboration between Jax State and RMC has deep roots. When RMC Jacksonville Hospital closed in June 2018, RMC donated the facility to Jax State just months after the university's Wallace Hall - home to the School of Nursing - was destroyed by a tornado. That generous donation became the cornerstone of the College of Health Professions and Wellness, which today houses classrooms, labs, and state-of-the-art simulation spaces for nursing, respiratory therapy, and athletic training. The building also serves as home to the RMC/Jax State Health Center, a primary care clinic that provides outpatient services to students, faculty, and staff.

The proposed project would relocate the health center back to the heart of campus, offering more convenient and accessible care for the university community. It would also include a new freestanding emergency department - providing 24-hour, 365-day emergency medical services - complete with treatment rooms, diagnostic imaging capabilities, ambulance access, a helicopter landing zone, and onsite parking.

"Our partnership with RMC is deeply rooted in a shared commitment to the health and well-being of those we serve," Dr. Killingsworth added. "From supporting our students after the 2018 tornado to operating a primary care health center on our campus, RMC has consistently been there for the Jax State family. Bringing emergency healthcare directly to the Jacksonville community is a significant part of this project, and one that will benefit our students, faculty, staff, and neighbors for years to come. This initiative is a shared victory for Jax State, for RMC, and for Jacksonville and our surrounding communities."