Campus News

Juniata College to Build Gateway Center to Advance Rural Healthcare and Health Professions

(Posted April 29, 2025)

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HUNTINGDON, Pa. — Juniata College will start construction later this spring on the Gateway Center, a transformative three-story facility that will expand healthcare access in rural Pennsylvania and train the next generation of healthcare professionals. The ceremonial groundbreaking, held April 25, marks the beginning of a bold new chapter for the college and the Huntingdon region. 

“We celebrate the start of construction on a new building that showcases the promise of education, the power of partnership, and the unwavering belief that a college like Juniata can be a force for transformation across our entire region,” said Mary White, chair of the Juniata College Board of Trustees. 

Juniata College, ranked among the top 100 arts and sciences colleges, has a long history of preparing students for successful careers in healthcare. The Gateway Center is the next step in that trajectory.  

The Gateway Center is designed with both the community and students in mind. The first and second floors will offer healthcare services, such as primary care, mental health, and preventive services, while the third floor will serve as the academic home for Juniata’s future Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. The BSN program is pending review by the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing in June. 

“Our business in higher education is solving the problems that our society and our world are facing,” said James A. Troha, president of Juniata College. “Our future nursing program is connected to the community of which we are a part. We are excited about what this program and the Gateway Center are going to mean for the Huntingdon region.” 

Building on this momentum, Broad Top Health and Wellness, a federally qualified health center that is committed to delivering medical care regardless of financial means, will be the Gateway Center’s first tenant, strengthening community health by occupying the entire first floor. John Roth, MD, chief executive officer of Broad Top Health and Wellness, envisions an “education hub.” 

“We want to work with Juniata College and medical schools to train students. Physicians are aging out of the profession, so we need to build a conduit. They can start at Juniata, study nursing, or go to medical school, and then come back here, where Broad Top would introduce them to the communities where we have a presence, such as Mount Union and Alexandria. Juniata brings it all together with their nursing and premedical students,” explained Dr. Roth. “We must have the long view to change the course of what will be written about rural healthcare.” 

Broad Top plans to offer comprehensive primary care for adults and families, integrated behavioral and mental health services, and limited podiatry services—with hopes of adding a pharmacy in the future.  

This collaboration between Broad Top, other healthcare providers, and Juniata College will offer students the unique opportunity to learn alongside practicing professionals, bridging classroom education with real-world healthcare delivery. 

The Gateway Center and future BSN program was made possible in part by a generous $1 million gift from Juniata alumnus Dan Sunderland ’88, a trustee of Juniata College, and his wife Kerry.  

“We all want to make a difference,” said Sunderland, whose philanthropy supported a feasibility and planning study for a future nursing program. “What better way to make a difference than helping future students, what better way to help a community, what better way to help our state and to help the United States.”    A centerpiece of the Gateway Center will be a nursing simulation lab that provides students with an immersive environment to strengthen clinical judgment, technical skills, and critical thinking. 

Recognizing the pressing need for healthcare professionals, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Debra Bogen, MD, shared her support for the Gateway Center. 

“Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system. They are absolutely necessary and provide the bulk of patient care. This is one of the reasons I am so excited to celebrate this much-needed Gateway Center and Juniata College’s future nursing program.”    “Launching a nursing program is a perfect fit for Juniata, building on our signature strengths in STEM and the health professions," said Lauren Bowen, provost of Juniata College. "Our commitment to hands-on, experiential learning and our expectation that all students connect with the local community gives this initiative a powerful foundation for success." 

Additional funding for the project is made possible from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Pennsylvania Commonwealth’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), and Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP). 

Local elected officials have praised the initiative for its anticipated positive impact on healthcare access and economic growth. 

“This building will be a wonderful asset to Juniata College and the entire community,” said State Senator Judy Ward. “The instructional space will allow the college to offer educational opportunities to meet the healthcare workforce demands in the region and fill a critical need for functional medical space in Huntingdon County, resulting in better access to vital medical services for area residents,” she added. 

“The nursing program will not only help address the workforce shortages that we’re dealing with in the nursing industry here in Huntingdon County, across the state, and across the nation,” said State Representative Rich Irvin. “We will equip individuals with the skills and knowledge to succeed in the healthcare industry and empower our workforce to create pathways and economic prosperity for our communities.” 

Vice President for Advancement and New Strategic Initiatives Jim Watt added: “The Gateway Center will bring cutting-edge education and compassionate care under one roof—a space where the needs of our rural population meet future leaders in healthcare.” 

Located at the intersection of 17th and Moore Streets in Huntingdon, construction of the Gateway Center is expected to take 14–16 months, bringing new opportunities for healthcare innovation and education to central Pennsylvania. 

For more information about the Gateway Center, contact the Juniata College Office of Advancement at 814-641-3112. 

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.