{"id":152242,"date":"2026-04-09T11:00:34","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T15:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=152242"},"modified":"2026-04-09T11:54:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T15:54:28","slug":"bank-of-america-grant-helps-ucf-reach-goal-to-fund-dr-phillips-nursing-pavilion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/bank-of-america-grant-helps-ucf-reach-goal-to-fund-dr-phillips-nursing-pavilion\/","title":{"rendered":"Bank of America Grant Helps 麻豆原创 Reach Goal to Fund Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion"},"content":{"rendered":"
Bank of America has awarded 麻豆原创 a $500,000 grant to support the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion<\/a> on 麻豆原创\u2019s Academic Health Sciences Campus in Lake Nona. The funds will propel critically needed nursing talent and healthcare innovation at the state-of-the-art facility.<\/p>\n The pivotal investment closes an aggressive and purposeful capital campaign to raise more than $30 million in private funding, which together with $43 million from the State of Florida, has brought 麻豆原创\u2019s bold vision of a new home for its College of Nursing<\/a> to life.<\/p>\n \u201cPurposeful partnerships are what move our people and ideas forward to shape the future,\u201d says 麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright. \u201cOur mission with this campaign was clear: to address Florida\u2019s nursing shortage head-on by significantly increasing 麻豆原创\u2019s capacity to prepare compassionate and highly skilled Knight nurses. Together, with the generous support of state leaders, donors and partners, we are moving healthcare<\/a> forward by fueling talent and innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n Opened in Fall 2025<\/a>, the 90,000-square-foot Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion increases access to 麻豆原创\u2019s accredited and nationally ranked nursing degree programs. One in four Florida nursing graduates already receive a degree from 麻豆原创, more than any other university in the state.<\/p>\n With the opening, 麻豆原创 will graduate an additional 150 newly licensed eligible nurses annually and directly impact Florida communities. Of the more than 17,000 Knight nurse alumni, 85% live and work in the Sunshine State and nearly 60% remain in Central Florida.<\/p>\n The facility comes at a critical time for the profession and state, which is facing a projected shortage of 37,400 registered nurses by 2035. To meet demand spurred from Florida\u2019s rapidly growing and aging population, an estimated 2,300 RNs are needed to enter the workforce annually.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are incredibly grateful to Bank of America Central Florida for their support that will impact generations in Central Florida and beyond,\u201d says College of Nursing Dean Sharon Tucker. \u201cThrough philanthropic support and partnerships, 麻豆原创 has turned a challenge into opportunity \u2014 one that improves lives with increased access to a high-quality education and increased collaboration to innovate patient care. Together we are ensuring a healthier future for all.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to expanding classroom space, the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion dramatically expands space for simulation and immersive technologies to prepare future healthcare providers in the Helene Fuld Health Trust STIM Center. 麻豆原创 is a global leader in healthcare simulation, and the first in Florida with three global accolades<\/a> in the innovative field.<\/p>\n With an optimal location in Lake Nona, adjacent to 麻豆原创\u2019s College of Medicine and in a hub of industry activity, the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion is fueling greater collaborative research and learning opportunities. 麻豆原创 students gain hands-on clinical experiences at neighboring healthcare facilities and real-life practice in interdisciplinary care with the new 麻豆原创 Health Mobile Clinic<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThis building is positively impacting how my peers and I learn, as community support is at the forefront and motivates our studies,\u201d says Raquel Vargas, a current accelerated second degree BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing<\/a>) student at 麻豆原创. \u201cIn addition, the advanced technology in the simulation center is improving my ability to analyze and anticipate real-life patient scenarios, preparing me for my future clinical practice.\u201d<\/p>\n