Troy University and the Heersink Family Foundation announced today a financial gift that will support a new academic program and scholarship.

The Heersink Family Foundation has made a substantial financial gift to the Troy University Foundation to officially name the Heersink Family Graduate Certificate Program in Health Services Management and to create an endowed scholarship for the new program.

The graduate certificate program consists of four courses (12 academic hours) and will be available on all TROY campuses as well as the Health Center South campus in Dothan and online.

“Today is a wonderful day for us,” said Dr. Marnix Heersink, founder of Eye Center South and Health Center South. “This gift, to me, symbolizes a joint effort between the institutions and the people who are trying to make lives better for others. I’ve been in medicine for over 40 years, and I’ve seen how well-intentioned doctors and well-intentioned administrators are not communicating like I think we should. We want to find ways to stimulate conversations and communication in order to better care for our patients.”

Sorrell College of Business officials believe the program will address needs by students and healthcare industries for a broader educational approach to business practices in healthcare administration.

“We feel it’s our job to make sure we’re preparing our students to meet the needs in our region,” said Dr. Judson Edwards, Dean of the Sorrell College of Business. “The healthcare industry in this area is centered in Dothan, so for us to continue to serve the needs of our citizens, I think it’s critical for the Sorrell College of Business to be able to assist and tie into the world of healthcare. This program will make a real impact in the community.”

This program will seek to provide healthcare managers and directors with strong business course training, devoting its focus to not-for-profit and for-profit health organizations, nursing homes and medical practices that provide a wide range of services to patients.

The scholarships will be made available to students in the Dothan area who want to pursue a certificate in the program.

Troy University will officially launch the program in Spring 2020.

Dr. Marnix Heersink is an ophthalmologist who helped found Eye Center South after moving to the Dothan area in 1978. Recently Eye Center South opened a 200,000-square-foot addition called Health Center South.