Palm Beach State College (PBSC) ushered in a new era of healthcare education as elected officials, community leaders, faculty, students, and local residents gathered for the official opening and ribbon cutting of the Dental and Health Innovation building at PBSC’s Dennis P. Gallon campus in Loxahatchee Groves.
The $68 million, four-story, 83,954-square-foot facility is set to transform the way health care professionals are trained in Palm Beach County while expanding access to affordable community care, particularly in the fast-growing western part of the county.
“The Dental and Health Innovation building positions PBSC as the cornerstone for healthcare education in our region,” President Ava L. Parker, JD, added. “It’s more than just a building—it’s a commitment to opportunity and to the wellbeing of our county.”
Initially, many in the local community were skeptical about how such a large institutional building would fit into the rural landscape of Loxahatchee Groves, Anita Kane, the town’s mayor, conceded. “But Palm Beach State College’s administration and board of trustees answered that question with a passion,” she said noting how the building was designed to blend with the natural surroundings. “The result honors who we are while opening the doors to higher education and healthcare careers.”
Unlike traditional classroom spaces, the Dental and Health Innovation building has been designed as an integrative, high-tech hub for medical and dental education. With fully immersive technology, students gain hands-on training that closely mirrors clinical practice even before stepping into externships or patient interactions. Highlights include virtual reality laboratories and the Anatomage Table, an advanced 3D anatomy visualization and virtual dissection system that allows for simulated learning experiences. From future dental hygienists to surgical technologists, PBSC students will benefit from training tools often reserved for medical schools, narrowing the gap between education and real-world application. “This facility is more than classrooms and labs—it’s experiential,” said Parker. “By integrating transformative technology and curriculum, PBSC is creating healthcare professionals ready for the challenges of today and tomorrow.”
The building’s features span across several key health programs:
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Dental Sciences: Equipped with a clinic and X-ray suite, 3D imaging tools, simulation labs, interactive classrooms, and 3D printing technology that broadens innovation in dental practice.
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Surgical Services: A simulated operating suite includes three surgical tables, anesthesia workstations, touchscreen monitors, surgical cardiac cabs, and advanced mannequins capable of mimicking real-life patient reactions.
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Physical Therapy Assisting: A program being launched soon, supported by testing labs with treatment and traction tables, ultrasound machines, exercise equipment, and spaces designed to teach patient mobility and care transitions.
PBSC has long been the county’s largest educator of allied health professionals, and the impact of this facility extends directly to students’ career prospects. With programs designed around labor market demand, graduates are prepared for promising careers that offer both stability and competitive salaries. Healthcare employment continues to be one of the fastest-expanding sectors in South Florida, and PBSC’s new building ensures that training is closely aligned with industry needs. Employers benefit from a workforce pipeline equipped with advanced skills, while students transition into rewarding jobs that fuel economic stability for local families. By pioneering programs in dental hygiene, surgical services, and physical therapy assistance, the college is not only preparing students for careers but also addressing critical shortages that directly affect patient care.
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Dental Assisting: This 11-month certificate program has produced 852 graduates since 1970. Students complete a 12-week externship, and with projected 6% growth in the field, graduates enter positions earning $30–$35 per hour.
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Dental Hygiene: PBSC’s 21-month Associate in Science program, accredited by the American Dental Association, has graduated more than 1,500 students since 1963. Eighty percent of students receive job offers before graduation, and entry-level salaries can reach $40 per hour, with a 7% projected job growth rate.
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Surgical Services: Graduate surgical technologists begin their careers at an average of $30 per hour with strong growth projected.
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Physical Therapy Assisting: A new program expected to serve one of healthcare’s fastest-growing sectors, offering expected salaries of $29 per hour and a 16% job growth rate in the coming decade.
Florida State Rep. Anne Gerwig, a PBSC alumnae, emphasized during the ceremony that such programs are vital for Palm Beach County’s economic development: “Facilities like this ensure students have direct pipelines into high-demand jobs, while also building the healthcare workforce we desperately need in our expanding communities.”
The Dental and Health Innovation building will not only serve students but also residents of western Palm Beach County. who will benefit from affordable dental care in the facility’s new dental clinic. It will be an expansion of services PBSC has offered since 1963 when the program first began on PBSC’s Lake Worth campus. PBSC’s Dental Clinic treats more than 3,000 patients annually delivering services such as fillings, implants, and cleanings to individuals who may not otherwise have access to care.
Students and faculty also reinforce PBSC’s community mission by offering free dental services through outreach events including Special Olympics screenings, Head Start programs, Give Kids a Smile events, and educational presentations in local schools. By locating the facility in Loxahatchee Groves—one of the county’s fastest-growing areas—PBSC ensures that essential educational opportunities and healthcare access will reach a rapidly expanding population in need. The new building, Parker said, “is not just a place for Palm Beach State College it is for all of the local community.”
