CF’s AdventHealth Center for Nursing opens its doors
The long-awaited new nursing center at the College of Central Florida held its grand opening to the public on Jan. 30, launching a new era for the education of future healthcare professionals.
The state-of-the-art, $20 million facility bears the name AdventHealth Center for Nursing, located at the CF Ocala Campus at 3001 SW College Road.
“We are honored to support such a remarkable program in its ongoing efforts to train the next generation of healthcare professionals,” wrote AdventHealth.
AdventHealth gave an endowment of $3 million to the center, which will not only fund CF’s nursing program but go toward scholarships for students, said CF President Jim Henningsen.
“This is a game-changing gift that will ensure students now and in the future have the best instruction and opportunities as well as have a lasting impact on our community,” said Henningsen.
Attendees of the ribbon-cutting ceremony toured the two-story, 42,500-square-foot building with six classrooms, six exam simulation rooms, three skills labs and a testing lab. The facility will house 300 students.
“We look forward to watching this program continue to flourish in the many years to come,” CF wrote.
Through the facility and sponsorship, an AdventHealth Nursing Endowment and a Health Sciences Endowment was created so that CF may apply to grants from the Florida legislature to match AdventHealth’s donation.
“The health sciences endowment will support students in high-demand health care fields including dental assisting, dental hygiene, emergency medical services, physical therapist assistant, radiography and surgical services, plus new programs in cardiovascular technology, diagnostic medical sonography technology and respiratory care,” according to AdventHealth.
The facility is also sponsored by the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership, the Marion County Hospital District and the Marion County Board of County Commissioners.
“It’s inspiring to see such a dedicated team come together to offer high-quality care to our community,” wrote the CEP. “This is a significant step forward in ensuring better healthcare is more accessible, and we’re excited to see the positive impact you’ll have on so many lives.”