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Gov. Kay Ivey has announced appointments made to the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences (ASHS) Board.

The authorizing legislation of the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences, HB 163, gives the governor eight appointments to the board, including one from each Congressional district and an at-large member from Marengo County.

The appointees include:

• Dr. Brittney Anderson, Anderson Family Care Physician and Owner (At-Large Marengo County Resident)
• Reeivice Girtman, Ozark City School Systems Superintendent (District 1)
• Katrina Keefer, DCH Health Systems CEO (District 2)
• Laura Grill, East Alabama Health President and CEO (District 3)
• Jill Stork, Alabama Power – Western Division Vice President (District 4)
• Jeff Samz, Huntsville Hospital Health System CEO (District 5)
• Dr. Will Ferniany, Former CEO of UAB Health System, Retired (District 6)
• Mike Warren, Former President and CEO of Children’s of Alabama, Retired (District 7)

The appointments are effective immediately. The governor has charged the Demopolis community, ASHS stakeholders and these board members with efficiently pressing forward to have this school beginning operations in the 2026-2027 Academic Year.

The school’s Foundation praised the high caliber of Alabama leaders chosen by Gov. Ivey.

“On behalf of the ASHS Foundation board, we continue to be grateful for Gov. Ivey’s commitment to our mission,” said AHSH Foundation chairman Rob Pearson. “The people she has appointed to the Board of Trustees sends a strong message that some of our state’s most capable people will help lead the nation in training the next generation of healthcare workers.”

The newly established Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences will offer Alabama students in all 67 counties a high school experience that will train them to enter an in-demand medical career post-graduation or after continued higher education learning.

“The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences will help more Alabama students open the door to their futures, and it will change the trajectory of rural health care in our state. I am proud to partner with so many capable individuals from around the state in bringing this school to fruition,” Ivey said. “I am confident that, working together, we will be well on our way to getting this school opened for the fall of 2026. I know it will help change Alabama for the better.”

Along with those eight members, the legislation calls for 12 additional members, which will come, largely, from healthcare associations, higher education systems and political leaders.

In his role as chairman of the ASHS Foundation, Pearson will also serve on the Board of Trustees.

“Our foundation, along with the people of my hometown of Demopolis, recognize and embrace this tremendous responsibility,” Pearson said. “We look forward to working with the trustees on a project that will improve healthcare across the entire State of Alabama.”

While the ASHS Foundation is tasked with providing financial and education support for the new residential high school, the Board of Trustees will provide governance and operational oversight of the school. From directing the development and implementation of a curriculum, to appointing the school’s director, the ASHS Board of Trustees will function as an independent body and will work closely with the Foundation to build support for the school.

The Foundation, meanwhile, has focused largely on raising capital to build the school, slated to welcome its first students in the Fall of 2026.

ASHS will offer a STEMM (science, technology, engineering, math and medicine) based curriculum focused on healthcare. Through partnerships with regional and statewide health systems, educational institutions and communities, it will serve to alleviate the critical rural healthcare workforce shortage in Alabama while providing skilled professional training for in-demand jobs to low-income youth.