The University of Mobile dedicated the Celia Wallace College of Health Professions during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 17 that honored Celia Wallace, a longtime supporter of the university and a visionary leader in the health care industry.
The newly named college encompasses the School of Nursing, School of Nurse Anesthesia, School of Health and Sports Science and Center for Excellence in Healthcare Practice.
‘A tireless advocate for quality healthcare’
A healthcare leader for more than 50 years, Wallace’s contributions have shaped the medical field in Alabama and beyond. An inductee into the Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame, her career began in radiology technology, fueling her passion for healthcare. She has since created nearly 2,000 jobs and co-founded Southern Medical Health Systems which owns Springhill Medical Center, the largest solely owned hospital in the U.S.
She is chairman of the board of the corporation that also owns and operates Springhill Rehabilitation and Senior Residence, Springhill Physician Practices, The SSI Group and several other organizations.
“Celia Wallace is a tireless advocate for quality, caring and compassionate health care, and a strong supporter of Christian higher education,” said Charles Smith, UM president. “Her longstanding relationship with the University of Mobile has profoundly shaped our ability to prepare students for careers in health care. Naming our College of Health Professions in her honor is a fitting recognition of her immense contributions to our campus and community.”
In addition to her leadership and support of the 2018 Weaver Hall Renovation Project that resulted in the university’s state-of-the-art healthcare training facility, Wallace has served on the UM board of trustees, established the Gerald L. Wallace Tennis Center on campus and created endowed student scholarships.
‘A drive to excel’
“I’m definitely honored by this recognition,” Wallace said. “We all know how much I love healthcare, and we’re encouraged by the University of Mobile’s drive to excel in this area.
“They have done so much to be proud of,” she said. ” We’ve noticed the capabilities of those who are participating in the nursing program and how they perform on their boards. It’s indicative of the good nurses that these students are going to be. It’s a very good school of nursing, no two ways about it.”
The University of Mobile School of Nursing has earned a 100% NCLEX pass rate for two consecutive years in the bachelor of science in nursing program and has a 100% job placement rate. UM has been named the #1 BSN program in the Best Nursing Schools in Alabama ranking by Nursingeducation.org.
Also recently, UM’s first graduating class in the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) program achieved a 100% first-time pass rate for the National Certification Exam, the highest pass rate in Alabama for 2024. The inaugural class in the new School of Nurse Anesthesia also had 100% job placement.
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