The classrooms are buzzing this week at Berry College’s newly opened Morgan-Bailey Hall.

College officials and members of the medical community joined for a ribbon-cutting Aug. 22, and classes started Aug. 25. The three-story health sciences building houses the new PA program, nursing program and exercise science program.

Students, faculty, community and medical professionals attended the open house and ribbon-cutting.

The 36,000-square-feet of academic space includes simulation suites, skills and physical assessment labs, active learning classrooms as well as mock operating and exam rooms.

Berry’s physician associate program will emphasize rural health medicine and is the first of its kind in Northwest Georgia. Partnerships with two area hospitals and the largest private medical clinic in Georgia allow students clinical opportunities, externships and mentors. The growing nursing program has plans to double the number of graduates in the next five years.

Berry’s two-year Master of Medical Science – physician associate (PA) degree will enroll up to 40 new students every year.