VIDEO: Yuill School of Health and Community Services officially named at Medicine Hat College

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Local entrepreneur, Bill Yuill shared the foundation’s vision to support education.

“Our foundation is committed to supporting projects that focus on teaching students marketable skills so they can achieve their dreams, build a rewarding lifestyle, and provide leadership for their communities,” said Yuill.

“The work being done here at the college will touch lives, strengthen families, and build healthier communities across our region and beyond.”

Yuill adds he likes to make Medicine Hat a little bit better of a place to live through his philanthropy efforts.

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Bill Yuill with his wife on the far right, following the naming celebration. Jesse Gill/CHAT News

The gift will support both new and existing programs within the school, including the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Health Care Aide, Paramedic, and Practical Nurse programs.

“We have five million more possibilities than we did a year ago,” said the college’s Dean of the Yuill School of Health & Community Services, Jason Openo.

“This transformative gift supports program development, simulation training, and applied health research, while also laying the foundation for future joint wellness facilities.”

He highlights plans to advance student education by investing in new simulation technology and equipping faculty with resources to better offer high-quality simulation experiences.

“It’s high fidelity simulation where we actually have mannequins that look and sound and react just like people so that our students can learn how to do those things in a very safe setting so that real patients are not at risk,” Openo said.

“That’s where the Yuill Foundation dollars will have a real impact. We try to create the situations that are as identical to the learning environment as we possibly can,” he added.

“A lot of times when students go out on clinical, they’re hoping to see certain situations, but there’s no guarantee that they will be presented with those situations.”

Openo adds there are also new digital simulation that can happen.

“The things that we can do with virtual reality, augmented reality, extended learning it’s really amazing what’s possible now,” Openo said.

“The startup costs are expensive for us to figure out our way we need a little bit of investment.”

Faculty will also have opportunities to conduct research in areas such as rural healthcare, aging, telehealth, mobile diagnostics, and nursing education.

Kevin Shufflebotham, MHC president and CEO, emphasized the importance of partnerships in expanding educational access and meeting workforce needs.

“We strive to build strong, collaborative relationships that reflect the unique character of our region,” said Shufflebotham.

“Vital partners like the Yuill Family Foundation have given us the opportunity to expand educational access across our region and respond to evolving workforce needs.”

The donation has already enabled the launch of the in-demand Pharmacy Technician diploma, which welcomed its first cohort of students this fall.

A new pharmacy technician lab is being built at the 13th Avenue Co-op location and will open this winter.

Openo said this is the college’s first foray into allied health, which overall supports patients with pain management, speech, hearing, mobility, strength, and other physical challenges.

“It’s not going to be our last. We are going to see a greater need for lots of new positons and medical technicians of varying stripes,” Openo said.

“It’s going to enable us to launch new programs.”

Yuill said he thinks the college is an integral part of the community.

“Significant part of the city only one problem. We have got to keep these graduates at home, got to keep them working here,” Yuill said.

“Maybe that’s the next step. Get some business in here to look after them. So that’s kind of what it’s all about.”

by Jesse Gill

VIDEO: Yuill School of Health and Community Services officially named at Medicine Hat College

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