The University of South Carolina and Lexington Medical Center opened a new 52,000-square-foot facility to train the next generation of nurses during a ribbon cutting ceremony on Aug. 12.

Located on Lexington Medical Center’s West Columbia campus, the satellite clinical education building will be used primarily for clinical training of the university’s third- and fourth-year nursing bachelor’s students as well as master’s program students. 

Cutting-edge technology and flexible spaces offer USC’s growing nursing student population an elevated educational experience and better prepares them to transition into practice.

South Carolina is expected to have more than 10,000 nursing vacancies by 2030 and has one of the highest projected shortages in the United States. This public-private partnership expands the College of Nursing’s training capabilities and creates opportunities for reducing nursing workforce shortages. 

On average, the university awards 900 nursing degrees per year systemwide. Within five years after opening, the new facility will help train and graduate 400 nurses per year in the Midlands—an 80% increase annually.   

“We’re proud to partner with the University of South Carolina to directly address the nursing shortage in our state,” said Tod Augsburger, president and CEO. “We are looking forward to growing the pipeline of skilled nurses for our organization and the state while continuing our mission to provide quality health services that meet the needs of our communities.”

Under the partnership, Lexington Medical Center funded the new facility and is providing clinical instructors. Students will benefit from an immersive simulation center, state-of-the-art clinical education and collaboration spaces and private study spaces. 

Close proximity to the hospital offers students a wide range of interprofessional education training as well as opportunities for clinical immersion for nurse practitioner students.

“Today, we see our college transformed,” College of Nursing Dean Jeannette Andrews says. “Our new satellite campus and its cutting-edge technology will elevate what our students can experience. We’re demonstrating our commitment toward a future that will attract the most promising and talented student and faculty minds.”

The University of South Carolina’s nationally ranked College of Nursing has a multi-pronged mission of teaching, research, practice, service and policy. As the state’s first nationally accredited nursing program, the college has graduated more than 12,000 nurses since 1957 and continues to attract, retain, train and grow the workforce. A national leader in exam passage rates, the college’s graduates are prepared to address local and regional health needs while improving the accessibility of quality health care.


(Left to right): Melissa Taylor, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Lexington Medical Center; Jeanette Andrews, Dean, College of Nursing;  SC Sen. Nikki Setzler; Michael Amiridis, President, University of South Carolina; Tod Augsburger, President and CEO, Lexington Medical Center, Randy Senn, Chair, Lexington Medical Center Board of Directors; Thad Westbrook, Chair, University of South Carolina Board of Trustees