Galen College of Nursing and HealthONE Celebrate Construction Milestone

Aurora, CO, June – Galen College of Nursing, a proud affiliate of HealthONE, and part of the HCA Healthcare family, celebrated a construction milestone with a Topping Out ceremony at its new campus site in Aurora. The event celebrated the placement of the last beam in the frame atop the new building, signaling the completion of the foundational structure.

The ceremony was held at the new campus site at 1650 S. Potomac St. It included leaders from Galen, HealthONE, HCA Healthcare, developer Healthpeak Properties, Inc., and general contractor GH Phipps Construction Companies. Spanning more than 75,000 square feet, the Aurora campus will be one of the area’s most unique educational facilities dedicated solely to nursing and include the co-location of the HCA Healthcare Center for Clinical Advancement.  

Galen’s new campus will be a state-of-the-art facility designed to cultivate learning with advanced classroom and simulation technology mixed with collaborative and creative spaces. Created with students in mind, the campus will reflect Galen's commitment to excellence and high-quality education in a supportive and engaging learning environment.

“Galen is honored to serve the Aurora community,” said Mark Vogt, Chief Executive Officer, Galen College of Nursing. “This new campus illustrates our dedication to addressing the critical nursing shortage and working with HCA Healthcare to advance the future of nursing. We are excited to create an environment where current nurses here for continued development through the Center for Clinical Advancement will inspire students to reach their goals for a rewarding career in nursing.”

The Center for Clinical Advancement will feature high-tech healthcare simulation technology designed to maximize education and innovation to improve clinical quality and the patient care experience for HealthONE colleagues.

“Dedicated to excellence in clinical education, a central focus of our activities will be on enhancing clinical skills through immersive and practical experiences. This hands-on approach ensures that our nurses are highly knowledgeable and competent in their clinical practice,” said Caroyn Vitale, Group Chief VP Clinical Education, HCA Healthcare Continental Division.

“The new Aurora campus is an investment in the region,” said Angie Voigt, Chief Nursing Executive, HCA Healthcare Continental Division. “Together, Galen and HCA Healthcare are building the nursing workforce, critical to quality, compassionate care for the patients they serve,” she said.

Galen is now enrolling for its nursing programs in Aurora. The first term starts July 8 in a newly renovated interim location at 3190 S. Vaughn Way offering a 3-Year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program and a 2-Year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). These programs are designed to develop critical clinical judgment and reasoning skills, preparing students for effective and compassionate patient care.

“By opening this new campus, we are enabling more people to pursue nursing careers and meet the growing healthcare demands of this community,” said Tracy Ortelli, Chief Academic Officer, Galen College of Nursing. “It is more than just a building. It represents the future of transformative education for countless nursing professionals of today and tomorrow. We want to inspire more people to see this as an opportunity for a rewarding and fulfilling career.”

Galen also provides online RN to BSN, MSN, and DNP programs for nurses seeking further education and career advancement. For more information or to schedule an admissions consultation, call 877-233-7040 or visit galencollege.edu.