The University of La Verne has announced a $15 million gift from AltaMed Health Services Corporation to fund construction of the university’s College of Health and Community Well-Being building.

The largest capital gift in the university’s history will name the building after AltaMed president and CEO Cástulo de la Rocha, making him the first Latinx leader in the nation to have a health college named in their honor. The college is the university’s fifth and focuses on improving the quality of individual and community health and emotional well-being. Construction of the new $44 million facility is expected to begin in early 2024 and be completed in August 2025. The investment will help the college fulfill its mission of providing a pipeline of qualified graduates to support the Inland Southern California region’s growing healthcare needs.

“This investment will help train future generations of culturally competent healthcare leaders who can address the root causes of the negative impacts of the social determinants of health and improve health outcomes,” said de la Rocha. “At a time when we are on the precipice of a massive provider shortage, this partnership will work to expand the number of healthcare providers our state is training exponentially.”

(Photo credit: University of La Verne)