Allied health science major Daelah Edwards is among hundreds of Carthage College students who will benefit from the School of Health.

Carthage College is stepping forward to meet the rising demand for health care by opening a School of Health, which will serve as a highly adaptive talent incubator with real-time input from regional employers and practitioners.

Paul Martino, an accomplished biomedical scientist, has been appointed as the inaugural dean for the School of Health. A faculty member and administrator at Carthage since 2009, he envisions the new school as a community connector, forging new partnerships and hosting professional events.

“The benefits of creating this School of Health stretch far beyond a new name,” Martino said. “This paves the way for Carthage to build a unified identity as one of the major players meeting the ever-expanding healthcare needs in the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor.”

Over half of the college’s more than 11,000 applicants for fall 2025 admission expressed interest in programs under this umbrella. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program consistently ranks as Carthage’s most popular major, and graduates enjoy a 100% placement rate. A CNA training program launched in January 2024.

To accommodate this growth, Carthage has begun a phased renovation and expansion of its Nursing Education Center. Buoyed by $2.6 million from state grant and donor funding, the project will more than quadruple the classroom and lab space by fall 2026.

Additionally, the new school will boost opportunities in medical research, showcasing the work of Carthage’s neuroscience faculty. Their federally funded studies hold promise for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, eye cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other conditions.

The School of Health also encompasses majors in allied health science, exercise and sport science, social work, sociology, and criminal justice, as well as a master’s program in athletic training. Hundreds of Carthage students sign up for the college’s robust pre-health tracks.

A School of Health grand opening celebration is being planned for next spring.