St. Vincent’s Health System and Samford University have formed a partnership that will provide health care services for students and employees of the university. The partnership, known as St. Vincent’s at Samford, was announced Wednesday, Sept. 28, and a new on-campus health services center was dedicated in Seibert Hall at Samford.
St. Vincent’s and Samford began the partnership with the opening of the fall semester. Staffed by a physician three days a week and a full-time physician assistant, the clinic provides primary medical care services, including acute care for illness and injuries, health maintenance and management of stable, chronic conditions.
St. Vincent’s Health System chief executive officer John O’Neil, speaking at the dedication program, noted that the hospital system enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Samford through the university’s nursing, pharmacy and other programs.
“We both serve a loving God,” O’Neil said of the two institutions, “and we are very pleased to be able to develop this facility on campus. When they (students and faculty) need it, we are here.”
Samford president Andrew Westmoreland added that “the alliance brings together so many strengths.” He commended those involved from both institutions for making the center a reality in a relatively short period of time. “When we started, I thought there was no way the center would be ready for the start of the fall semester, but it was and it’s a great center for the students and faculty.”
The new center provides expanded health services facilities at Samford that include three examination rooms, a treatment room, triage area and onsite Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified lab. Samford Counseling Services is also housed in the clinic.
Mark A. Ticola, M.D., serves as physician at Samford’s University Health Services. He previously served as clinical assistant professor/internal medicine staff physician at the University of Florida College of Medicine’s Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, Old Town, Fla., during 2008-11.
Dr. Ticola completed combined training in the University of Alabama’s Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Residency Program in 2007. He holds the doctor of medicine degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine and a bachelor of science in microbiology and cell science from the University of Florida. He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
University Health Services also offers wellness programs throughout the year in partnership with St. Vincent’s.
“This partnership builds on the strong faith-based mission of both the university and the St. Vincent’s system,” Dr. Phil Kimrey, Samford’s vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, noted earlier. He traced the timeline of the project at the dedication program.
Samford director of health services Shauna Yelton, a full-time physician assistant, gave welcoming remarks.
University Health Services is open Monday through Friday. It accepts most health care plans and is able to file claims for patients.
