BY MICHELLE KEY
PUBLISHER
OPELIKA — East Alabama Health officially celebrated the grand opening of EAMC North, a new, freestanding mental health facility designed to expand access to inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services across the region.
The opening program featured remarks from several state and local leaders, health care officials and community partners, followed by a ribbon cutting and a self-guided tour of the facility.
Speakers included Sarah Nunnelly, chief strategy officer and administrator for EAMC North; Laura Eason, chaplain for East Alabama Health; Dr. Austin Luker, medical director of East Alabama Psychiatric Services and a child and adolescent psychiatrist; Laura Grill, president and CEO of East Alabama Health; Kimberly Boswell, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Mental Health; State Rep. Joe Lovvorn; State Sen. Jay Hovey; and C. Wayne Alderman, chair of the East Alabama Health Care Authority Board of Directors. Opelika Mayor Eddie Smith and Auburn Mayor Ron Anders also participated with a presentation of proclamations.
Grill said the new facility was intentionally designed to support patient wellness and respect.
“Mental health care is an essential part of overall wellness, and meeting that need in our community has long been a priority,” said Grill. “From the design to the construction, every detail of this facility reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional care while preserving the dignity and respect every patient deserves.”
Drawing on his experience as a former first responder, Lovvorn said access to mental health care affects people across all backgrounds.
“I was blessed to have served as a first responder before entering politics, and I have seen firsthand that this issue is not partisan and does not care about a person’s economic status — it affects everyone,” Lovvorn said. “…This will change lives for so many people and so many families along the way.”
Following the program, the Opelika and Auburn Chambers of Commerce conducted a ribbon cutting, and guests were invited to tour the facility. Each stop on the tour was numbered, with members of the psychiatric services team available to answer questions along the way.
Organizers said EAMC North was intentionally designed to support privacy, dignity and a seamless patient experience. The fully freestanding hospital includes its own kitchen, pharmacy, ambulance bay and key support services, allowing comprehensive mental health care to be provided on site. Officials credited generous donors along with state, county and city partners for making the project possible.
The facility includes adult inpatient units divided into separate male and female wings, each with common areas and outdoor courtyards. Tour highlights included a secure inpatient hallway designed to protect patient privacy during admission, activity and group therapy rooms, and family visitation rooms that provide private spaces for patients and loved ones to reconnect.
EAMC North also offers a short-term child and adolescent inpatient unit focused on stabilization and skill-building, as well as a long-term child and adolescent unit — the only one of its kind in Alabama. That unit includes an on-site accredited classroom operated through East Alabama Academy, allowing students to continue their education during treatment, along with a hands-on learning kitchen to help adolescents build practical life skills.
Another component of the facility is the Psychiatry Residency Program, which began in summer 2025 with eight physician residents. The program is designed to help grow the region’s mental health workforce and includes dedicated resident offices and a modern classroom space for conferences and small-group learning.
EAMC North also houses East Alabama Psychiatric Services, the outpatient clinic offering a full range of behavioral health services. The clinic includes private provider offices, consultation rooms and an outpatient lobby featuring donor recognition walls honoring those who helped support the expansion of services.
