TNIMA Gets University Status

TNIMA Gets University Status

By Fiona Benson

On Tuesday, July 15, members of the House of Representatives (HoR), mandated its committees on education and health to review a proposed act seeking to amend the amended act of 1972, which established the John F. Kennedy Memorial Medical Center.

The goal was to elevate the Tubman National Institute of Medical Arts (TNIMA) from a diploma-granting institution to a full degree-granting institution.

The decision was taken during the 18th Day Sitting of the Second Quarter of the Second Session on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, following the submission of a communication by Augustine B. Chiewolo, Representative of Lofa County District #5.

In his communication, Chiewolo said, since its establishment in 1945, TNIMA has played a pivotal role in training thousands of mid-level healthcare professionals, including nurses, physician assistants, environmental health technicians, and laboratory technicians through its diploma programs, which span two to three years.

Chiewolo noted that after 80 years of “impactful service” to the country’s health education sector, there is now a compelling need to align TNIMA’s academic offerings with national and international standards by enabling the institution to award bachelor’s degrees.

According to the lawmaker, this legislative initiative seeks to enhance the quality of healthcare education by strengthening one of the country’s most trusted institutions to better respond to modern public health challenges.

Following the first reading of the bill, Representative Samson Q. Wiah proffered a motion, forwarding the proposed act to the joint committees on education and health for scrutiny, review, and subsequent reporting to plenary.

The Legislature’s action reflects its continued commitment to building a resilient healthcare system through investments in education and workforce development.