Bank of America has awarded ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ a $500,000 grant to support the on ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s 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.

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 ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s bold vision of a new home for its College of Nursing to life.

β€œPurposeful partnerships are what move our people and ideas forward to shape the future,” says ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ President Alexander N. Cartwright. β€œOur mission with this campaign was clear: to address Florida’s nursing shortage head-on by significantly increasing ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s capacity to prepare compassionate and highly skilled Knight nurses. Together, with the generous support of state leaders, donors and partners, we are moving healthcare forward by fueling talent and innovation.”

Opened in Fall 2025, the 90,000-square-foot Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion increases access to ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s accredited and nationally ranked nursing degree programs. One in four Florida nursing graduates already receive a degree from ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½, more than any other university in the state.

With the opening, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ 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.

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’s rapidly growing and aging population, an estimated 2,300 RNs are needed to enter the workforce annually.

β€œWe are incredibly grateful to Bank of America Central Florida for their support that will impact generations in Central Florida and beyond,” says College of Nursing Dean Sharon Tucker. β€œThrough philanthropic support and partnerships, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ has turned a challenge into opportunity β€” 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.”

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. ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ is a global leader in healthcare simulation, and the first in Florida with three global accolades in the innovative field.

With an optimal location in Lake Nona, adjacent to ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s College of Medicine and in a hub of industry activity, the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion is fueling greater collaborative research and learning opportunities. ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ students gain hands-on clinical experiences at neighboring healthcare facilities and real-life practice in interdisciplinary care with the new ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Health Mobile Clinic.

β€œThis building is positively impacting how my peers and I learn, as community support is at the forefront and motivates our studies,” says Raquel Vargas, a current accelerated second degree BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) student at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½. β€œIn 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.”

The capital campaign launched in November 2022 anchored by a generous $10 million gift from Dr. Phillips Charities. Other founding donors of the facility include the Helene Fuld Health Trust, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Pegasus Partners AdventHealth, Orlando Health, Nemours Children’s Health and Addition Financial, Zaby and Suree Vyas, and many others.

β€œThrough this grant, the Bank of America is bolstering the backbone of healthcare in one of our nation’s fastest-growing regions,” says Naveed Shujaat, president, Bank of America Central Florida. β€œEducation and healthcare are powerful forces in communities – catalysts that transform lives. This support for the education of future ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ nurses will have an immeasurable impact on the patients and families they serve, especially in Florida.”