As you consider MKEAP as your pathway to medical or dental school, we’re excited to introduce you to the outstanding facilities that will support your journey.
Most of your coursework will take place in Reynolds Hall, home to Missouri Southern’s programs in biology, environmental health, and chemical and physical sciences. These programs are in high demand—not only for nursing and allied health students, but also for those pursuing careers in STEM fields. Recent renovations have upgraded labs and classrooms, creating state-of-the-art learning environments designed to foster academic success.
For truly immersive, hands-on learning, the Ummel Technology Building houses a fully equipped human cadaver lab—an invaluable resource for students preparing for careers in medicine or dentistry.
Off campus, Joplin serves as a regional medical hub, home to two major hospital systems and several additional healthcare networks within a 45-minute radius. The city also features numerous dental offices and clinics, making it easy for students to gain patient-facing experience in dental settings. This close proximity to real-world clinical environments makes Joplin an ideal place to begin your healthcare career.
Looking ahead, the soon-to-be-completed Roy Blunt Health Science Innovation Center will offer MSSU healthcare students even more immersive learning opportunities. This cutting-edge facility will feature an expanded cadaver lab, virtual reality simulation capabilities, and a fully equipped mock hospital environment—including a NICU, labor and delivery unit, acute and critical care rooms, and X-ray and CT scan suites. Students will experience life in a hospital setting without ever leaving campus.
In addition, MSSU is launching the Missouri 3D Printing Center for Precision Health, a new initiative focused on the future of personalized medicine. This center will support cutting-edge research and workforce development by exploring how 3D printing technologies can be used to create customized medical devices, prosthetics, and other healthcare solutions. It will also foster collaboration among students, faculty, and regional healthcare partners to drive innovation in patient-specific care.
“The new building will positively impact the allied health programs in two ways: expansion of available spaces and access to advanced technologies,” said Dr. Sherry Whiteman, Department Chair of Allied Health at MSSU, during her remarks at the groundbreaking. “The Roy Blunt Health Science Innovation Center is an outward manifestation of all that I know to be true about Missouri Southern.
