Congressman Aderholt tours Wallace State’s new nursing building, presents art awards

Special to the Wallace State website. Reprinted with permission by The Cullman Times.
By Tiffeny Owens 
HANCEVILLE — U.S. Congressman Robert Aderholt was in town Monday to tour the technological marvel that is Wallace State Community College’s new nursing and biology building — the only one of its kind in the state — and announced the winners of his district’s art competition.
WSCC President Vicki Hawsey Karolewics gave Aderholt, R- Haleyville, a guided tour of the sprawling new facility with Nursing Department Head Deborah “Pepper” Hoover. The visit took him through the state-of-the-art simulation lab where he met “Sim Man,” a dummy that is quite smart with the help of computer programming which allows him to interact with nursing students as he simulates real-life medical scenarios for students to practice and learn.
“It can basically do everything except get off the bed and walk out,” explained Mary Medendorp, the simulation center coordinator.
Aderholt also met with nursing students and wished them luck as they prepared to take their final exams. Karolewics and Hoover showed Aderholt how the center can simulate various medical situations, from childbirth to trauma and surgery, and it record students’ responses for debriefing later. Hoover said the center could be utilized in the event of a crisis for emergency medical care.
“There is nothing like this anywhere else in your district,” Karolewics said. “It’s the only one in the state.”
“It certainly is impressive. Money well spent,” Aderholt said.
Karolewics thanked him for supporting the facility’s inception. She also spoke with the congressman about a proposal that would allow students to determine how many credit hours they take each semester, giving them the opportunity to take more classes and graduate sooner. Aderholt encouraged her to have the college spokeswoman explain the proposal to his staff in Washington D.C. at an upcoming visit.
After touring the new academic building, Aderholt presented awards to winners of his Fourth Congressional District Art Competition at the college’s Burrow Center. Press Secretary Carson Clark said all entries were judged Saturday before Aderholt’s visit.