Elected leaders joined founding donors to celebrate the pavilion’s opening on ±«°ä¹ó’s at Lake Nona. They gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and toured the pavilion, which will help to address Florida’s critical nursing shortage. Fittingly for Florida’s Premier Engineering and Technology University, the pavilion also features the latest in immersive modeling and simulation technologies.

“This facility will help strengthen Florida’s nursing talent pipeline in ways that make communities across our state healthier.” — Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ President Alexander N. Cartwright

“The Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion is a powerful example of what is possible when vision, community and partnership come together. Built with the generous support of state leaders, donors and health care champions, this facility will help strengthen Florida’s nursing talent pipeline in ways that make communities across our state healthier,â€� says Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ President Alexander N. Cartwright. “Together, we are fueling hands-on learning, enabling new research and discovery, and preparing generations of Knight Nurses who will have a lasting impact on the lives of those they serve.â€�

With the opening, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ will increase access to its accredited and nationally ranked nursing degree programs and graduate an additional 150 newly licensed nurses annually. These graduates will have a direct impact on the state. Of the 17,000 Knight nurse alumni, 85% live and work in Florida, and nearly 60% remain in Central Florida.

Located next to the College of Medicine and in Lake Nona’s Medical City, a nationally recognized hub of healthcare innovation, the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion will bolster interdisciplinary collaboration to prepare providers to thrive in the workforce and deploy cutting-edge research to solve the industry’s greatest challenges and ensure a healthier future for all.

Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson played a vital role as Senate President in securing about $43 million in state funding for the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, as well as additional funding for state university and state college nursing initiatives throughout Florida.

“We worked very hard to secure the funding,� he says. “When you think about state-of the-art nursing, when you think about doubling the capacity of nursing, this couldn’t come at a better time. Florida is growing 400,000 people a year still. We’re going to continue to grow.�

“Thanks to the leadership of Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature, the state continues to invest in key academic programs that set an example nationwide,â€� says State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues. “The new Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion at the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ is no exception — by providing innovative educational opportunities for nursing students now, Florida is ensuring a promising future of skilled nurses that will care for our communities.â€�

The Power of Partnerships

The Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, which came to fruition through $43 million from the State of Florida and over $29 million from private donors, will directly impact the community that created it and will be a longstanding symbol of what can be achieved through the power of community partnerships — unleashing potential for generations to come.

“We are honored to be part of this transformative moment for Central Florida,â€� says Kenneth Robinson, president and CEO of Dr. Phillips Inc. and the Dr. Phillips Foundation. “This investment will help address the nursing shortage, strengthen our healthcare system, and expand access to exceptional education and career opportunities. By supporting this project, we’re helping to graduate more Knight nurses who will make a lasting impact. We’re proud to stand with Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ and our community partners to shape a healthier, brighter future.â€�

Founding donors of the facility also include the Helene Fuld Health Trust; Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Pegasus Partners AdventHealth, Orlando Health, Nemours Children’s Health and Addition Financial; Zaby and Suree Vyas; and many others.

“Today we are witnessing the power of partnerships,â€� says Professor Emerita Mary Lou Sole, who, as the previous College of Nursing dean, led the efforts to advocate and raise funds for the new building. “The Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion is the result of the collective efforts of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ and this community to come together to solve one of our greatest healthcare challenges. We are incredibly grateful for the support, which will have an immeasurable impact for generations to come.â€�

Inside the Future of Nursing

Every aspect of the 90,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility was thoughtfully designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and student success and well-being.

“The Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion will serve as a catalyst for ensuring a brighter, healthier future,â€� says new College of Nursing Dean Sharon Tucker. “In this space, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ will strengthen and empower future nurses and nurse leaders to advance healthcare innovation and collaboration to improve evidence-based patient care and outcomes.â€�

On the second and third floors is a hub of healthcare innovation, the Helene Fuld Health Trust Simulation, Technology, Innovation and Modeling (STIM) Center. Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ is Florida’s first simulation center to earn three international accolades in the field and the new, expanded space will build upon its global leadership to innovate healthcare education using the latest immersive technologies to prepare nurses for practice as compassionate, skilled providers.

The second floor also features the Dr. Colleen Conway Welch Virtual Reality Learning Studio, a makerspace design studio to accelerate nurse-led innovations, a home health apartment to meet growing demand for home-based healthcare, and the Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation Healthy Aging Research Lab for interdisciplinary research and innovations led by renowned aging expert Ladda Thiamwong.

Upon entering the pavilion, students, faculty, staff and visitors are greeted with the inspiring “� public art commissioned by Florida’s Art in State Building program. The first floor also includes three large high-tech learning studios, the Zaby and Suree Vyas Collaboration Concourse, the Martin Andersen-Gracia Andersen Foundation Study Cafe and a student success suite.

The opening comes a little over a year and a half after the groundbreaking in January 2024. Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ built the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion in conjunction with HuntonBrady Architects, Ayers Saint Gross and DPR Construction.

±«°ä¹ó’s Industry Partners Highlight Transformational Impact

AdventHealth

“At AdventHealth, we’ve seen firsthand the extraordinary caliber of nurses who graduate from Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½. They bring clinical excellence, compassion and an unwavering commitment to their patients — values that perfectly align with our mission to provide whole-person care. As the demand for skilled nurses continues to grow, we’re happy to support this exciting new chapter for the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ College of Nursing. And as a Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ alum, I’m excited to welcome even more outstanding Knight nurses to AdventHealth.â€�

-Cathy Stankiewicz, (MSN’11), chief nursing officer, Central Florida Division

Helene Fuld Health Trust

“The Helene Fuld Health Trust Simulation, Technology, Innovation and Modeling Center at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ exemplifies our mission to support the education of nursing students. Simulation is a critical component [of] nursing education and will continue to be in the future, and we’re proud to make this investment to strengthen nursing skills and improve the welfare of our communities.â€�

-Robert Campbell, vice president of Trust & Fiduciary Services at HSBC, who oversees the trust

Nemours Children’s Health

“Growing and solidifying the nursing workforce is critical to care delivery across the healthcare sector. Through our longtime relationship with the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ College of Nursing, we have seen firsthand the benefits of hiring their well-trained, work-ready graduates. The new nursing pavilion will be a tremendous asset in our continued collaboration, partnership, and investment to support the education, development, and maturation of emerging nurses.â€�

-Nicole Johnson, (DNP’17), senior vice president and chief nursing and patient operations officer  

Orlando Health

“It is an honor and privilege to be associated with Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, and we are thankful for our partnership with the university, nursing professors, and students.â€�

-David Strong, president and CEO

Fueling a Talent Pipeline

Nursing programs across the nation are turning away qualified applicants due to a shortage of doctorally prepared faculty. The shortage is caused by an aging workforce that is expected to worsen with one-third of faculty projected to retire this year.

With a nursing Ph.D., Ojo will help fill a vital role in the future of the profession as a faculty member and already has two job offers in progress.

Through opportunities at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, Ojo is prepared for her next role. As a doctoral student, Ojo gained valuable experience working as a teaching assistant to support graduate students’ research and working as a graduate teaching associate to educate undergraduate students.

“I have a strong desire to perform effectively as a member of nursing faculty and a nurse researcher who will mentor nursing students, support innovation, and undertake research challenges to improve the nursing workforce,� says Ojo.

Improving Health Outcomes

Her research focus on fall prevention among older adults was inspired from her scholarly project in the nurse executive doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program at ±«°ä¹ó’s College of Nursing.

“Even though I obtained a DNP, I believe I could make more of an impact by obtaining a Ph.D. in nursing,� she says.

It is estimated 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. age 65 or older experience a fall annually, making it the leading cause of injuries among that growing population.

“I believe that falls are preventable and there is a need to determine a fall prevention program that is feasible to nursing staff since they are critical to its successful delivery and the achievement of its outcomes,� says Ojo.

At Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, Ojo was able to grow her skills as a researcher as part of an interdisciplinary team led by healthy aging expert Ladda Thiamwong. She also had the opportunity to present her research at conferences across the U.S. and abroad, and has six publications in peer-reviewed journals with more in progress.

Her Ph.D. dissertation on “The Moderating Effect of Objectively Measured Physical Activity in the Association of Cognitive Function With Fear of Falling and the Experience of Low-Income Community-Dwelling Older Adults� was honored with an award from the Aging/Gerontology Research Interest Group of the Southern Nursing Research Society.

“I always aspired to achieve the highest educational degree to engage in inquiry, discovery and development of innovation to make the world a better place,� says Ojo.

She is among 47 experts from across the U.S. named to the 2025 class for outstanding contributions to the field. The newest fellows will be formally recognized during the organization’s 2025 annual scientific meeting in mid-November in Boston.

For more than 20 years, Thiamwong has dedicated her clinical practice and research on promoting healthy aging and preventing falls — the second leading cause of unintentional injuries and deaths worldwide.

Her research findings have been presented at more than 100 national and international conferences and published in more than 100 peer-reviewed journals. She has been awarded more than $7 million in funding to date.

In her native Thailand she developed the healthy aging instrument to assess processes involved in healthy aging. The instrument is available in seven languages and used in nine research institutions around the world.

She is currently leading an interdisciplinary team of experts at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ to develop a technology- and community-based approach to fall prevention. The innovative intervention is being piloted through a $2.3 million grant and partnership with the City of Orlando.

At Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, where she’s been on faculty since 2016, Thiamwong leads a healthy aging lab, which seeks to empower older adults to cultivate their capacity to cope with challenges.

Thiamwong has also been honored as a fellow of both the American Academy of Nursing and National Academies of Practice and recognized as a Distinguished Educator in Gerontological Nursing by the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence.

In addition to her faculty appointment, Thiamwong shares her expertise as an appointed member of the City of Orlando Mayor’s Committee on Livability and Healthy Aging and a section editor for Aging Matters in the Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services.

Induction recognizes accomplished nurse leaders who have made significant contributions to advance and impact public health. The 2025 class of fellows is the largest in the academy’s history, representing 42 states, the District of Columbia, and 12 countries.

Koszalinski and Parchment will be inducted on Oct. 18 during the academy’s annual Health Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. They will join more than 3,200 fellows of the American Academy of Nursing, including 10 at ±«°ä¹ó’s College of Nursing.

Rebecca Koszalinski

, an associate professor who joined Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ last year, is currently leading a team of researchers on phase two of a longitudinal study examining health outcomes of exposure to harmful algal bloom toxins in Florida and its impact on social engagement of older adults. The research not only seeks to recognize patient symptoms and develop actionable nursing interventions, but also address policy challenges to improve health and the environment.

Her impact also includes patient-led solutions and the development and use of technological innovations to improve the health of older adults. She developed SFM-V (Speak for Myself – Voice), an app that helps users with disabilities easily communicate with providers in acute-care settings by indicating pain level and specific needs. The app was released for free during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is still available for free download today and used by several healthcare systems around the world.

Koszalinski is a founding member and fellow of the Society of Nurse Scientists, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, &Leaders, a fellow of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, and a 2025 cohort member of the Environmental Health Research Institute for Nurse and Clinical Scientists, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Joy Parchment ’15±Ê³ó¶Ù

, an sssistant professor, joined Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ in 2020 after previously holding various leadership positions at Orlando Health, including corporate director of nursing strategy implementation.

Her impact as a nurse leader extends nationally through her service in professional organizations and scholarly activities. She currently holds appointments on the American Nurses Credentialing Center Commission on Magnet, the academic practice advisory committee of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, as well as the research committee of the Association for Leadership Science in Nursing.

As a researcher, Parchment focuses on professional nursing practice and nursing leadership science. Her published work on defining role-based factors perpetuating nurse manager workplace bullying has been cited 45 times in national and international publications.

Most recently she led the development of an evidence-based electronic manual for interim nurse managers. The publication has been downloaded more than 170 times to-date and was recognized by the Association for Leadership Science in Nursing as an innovative solution for mitigating the nurse manager workforce crisis and developing other front-line nurse leaders.

With Mother’s Day nearing, the achievement and memorable moment will be even more special for the family, who calls Apopka, Florida, home.

Stacie pursued the online master’s degree in nurse leadership and management at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ at the same time that her twin daughters Hannah and Elizabeth were in the bachelor’s in nursing (BSN) program on the Orlando campus.

“It’s everything I want to celebrate as a mom,� says Stacie Scarborough ’13, who recently accepted a position as manager of nursing professional development at AdventHealth Orlando. “Every parent dreams of seeing their children grow into happy and functional adults that have succeeded in flying on their own. They have done this and more.�

“I couldn’t be prouder to see them walk that stage and join them in doing so,� Stacie adds. “Sharing the same path right now is amazing.�

“I never thought that, after being so inspired by my mom’s nursing career, I’d not only graduate from the same nursing program as she did, but also do it right beside her,� Elizabeth Scarborough says. “I am so incredibly thankful for this opportunity, and I will cherish this moment forever.�

Elizabeth’s twin sister, Hannah, shares the same pride and gratitude, making the family’s dual-generation graduation a truly unforgettable moment.

“I feel it’s made our Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ legacy much more impactful,â€� Hannah says. “It’s one thing to go to same school as your parents, but it’s another to experience that school with them.â€�

Supporting One Another

Since the family calls Central Florida home, all three have lived together while pursuing their degrees.

“Imagine three stressed-out students in nursing school living together. We all owe my husband, and their dad, a debt of gratitude,� Stacie says with a laugh.

“We also had a lot of great opportunities to share each other’s worries while building each other up and supporting one another,� Stacie says. “It is an experience that I will never forget and consider it to be an amazing gift.�

In addition to their clinicals and classes, both Hannah and Elizabeth who are Bright Futures scholars have worked as nurse techs while in their final year of the traditional BSN program.

“I am thankful for this position as it taught me a lot about patient care,� Elizabeth says. “I learned how important it is to take the time to make patients feel truly seen and heard, while also tending to their most basic needs.�

For Elizabeth, her favorite part of the program is the “things the rest of the world does not always get a chance to see,� she says.

“For instance, on the very first day of my OB (obstetrics) clinical rotation, I was able to assist in a live birth,� Elizabeth says. “Watching a baby come into the world, and seeing the parents’ instant love and affection for that little baby, was such a moving and emotional experience that I could never forget.�

“Throughout these past two years my mom has been a major support system and encouragement, while my twin sister has been my best friend and favorite study partner,� Elizabeth says.

It is those memories, both with her family and friends in the cohort, that Hannah says she will cherish the most from her time at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½.

“Nursing school has become more of a wonderfully unique experience to me than simply a career path,� Hannah says.

Moms, and Nurses, Inspire

Hannah’s and Elizabeth’s decision to pursue nursing was inspired by their mom and fellow Knight nurse.

“Watching my mom go through nursing school when I was very young was very impactful for me,� Elizabeth says. “I remember hearing all of her nursing stories, how the job could be fun, challenging and meaningful at the same time, and it sounded like such a rewarding career to step into.�

Stacie began her nursing career at Florida Hospital (now AdventHealth) as a nurse resident in the orthopedic institute on the Orlando campus. She then became a nurse educator on the Apopka campus and part of the opening team as it transitioned to a new building.

She next joined the system team as a simulation facilitator for two years. While in this role, she says she longed to be back in the clinical environment, which led her to become an educator supporting the float pool team on the Orlando campus, where she was the assistant nurse manager of professional development for the cardiac progressive care unit. With her graduate degree, Stacie is able to make another transition in her career.

“Watching my mom balance her nursing career with a family was the main point of inspiration for me,� Hannah adds. “With nursing, she was able to be available for either weekdays or weekends, allowing our family plenty of opportunities to make fun memories as well as just do normal life together.�

Finding Opportunity at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½

The family’s legacy at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ began two generations before them. Stacie’s grandmother, Mary Kline, graduated from Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ with a business degree when Stacie was a new mom in her 20s.

That was the beginning of a legacy. Stacie followed in her footsteps and went back to school at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ at age 35 and a mom to four children.

“I truly understood what a blessing it was to have this opportunity,� she says. “I was very proud of being able to finally complete my education, provide for some of our financial needs and doing so at my hometown university.�

The four are not the only Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ graduates in the family. Stacie’s eldest daughter, Jesse, Hannah’s and Elizabeth’s sister, also is an alumna. She graduated from ±«°ä¹ó’s College of Education in 2015 and is currently pursuing her master’s degree at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½.

“They each spoke highly of the culture and environment at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½,â€� says Elizabeth. “It made me want to be a part of the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ community too.â€�

Hannah also chose Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ for the family legacy.

“It’s local, affordable, and accessible with many academic options. However, the fact that my family had gone before me was a primary reason for me to go,� says Hannah.

These newest Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ graduates, and three Knight nurses, will no doubt continue to shine bright and show their Central Florida community the strength of Black & Gold.

After graduation, Elizabeths plan to continue to follow in her mom’s footsteps and apply to AdventHealth. Hannah will continue working as a nurse tech until she accepts a nursing position in the area.

“Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ represents opportunity, elevation, pride and family to me,â€� Stacie says. “I am just so grateful for a hometown university that made so many dreams possible for me and my family. It is truly an honor to be a Knight alumnus and to welcome my two baby girls (sorry, Hannah and Ellie, you will always be my babies) into this club.â€�

An educator for more than two decades, Anderson was an early pioneer in adopting healthcare simulation in academic settings and today is one of the foremost experts in the field. She was among the world’s first 20 healthcare simulation educators to earn advanced certification seven years ago.

Anderson’s research has been widely published and presented nationally and internationally, and has helped shape nursing education and establish best practices in healthcare simulation. Her research includes using simulation in preparing students for nursing practice and in interprofessional education, virtual and game-based simulation, and new simulation technologies.

In addition to her accomplishments and research, Anderson’s “growing national and international reputation as an independent investigator and major contributor in advancing the field of healthcare simulation� was a determining factor for the award, says Robert Armstrong, president of the society.

Anderson, an advanced practice registered nurse and certified pediatric nurse practitioner – primary care, has been at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ since 2015. She earned her BSN at Texas Christian University, her master’s at University of Texas at Arlington, and her doctorate at Texas Woman’s University.

She holds two patents on advances in simulation and training, is associate editor of Simulation & Gaming, a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, and is on the board of directors of the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation & Learning, which honored her with an Excellence in Academia Award in 2018.

“Her work is not limited to academic research and aspects of the simulation experience … but the care of vulnerable populations such as children, her clinical specialization.�

“Several national studies have used her collaborative work,� says Assistant Professor Frank Guido-Sanz in a letter of recommendation to the society. “Her work is not limited to academic research and aspects of the simulation experience … but the care of vulnerable populations such as children, her clinical specialization.�

In addition to her impact on nursing education and training, Anderson is influencing future generations of simulation researchers and leaders as a mentor.

“Dr. Anderson has the unique ability to mentor learners from varying levels of expertise and inspire them to achieve higher goals,� says senior lecturer Erica Hoyt.

Anderson says she’s been fortunate to have worked with the best coworkers and students at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ and beyond.

“I am inspired daily from my colleagues and students and their commitment to advancing nursing and patient safety,â€� she says. “I am particularly humbled by this award as the nominators were faculty colleagues and mentees. For Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, I believe this highlights the innovative programs and solutions we have to offer and have developed.â€�

Anderson last week also was honored by Faculty Excellence as one of 31 women faculty members for their impact on students and the campus community. The award was part of the campus’ annual Women’s History Month observance.

One of the latest examples is sewing homemade face masks for first responders and medical personnel who are having trouble getting them because they are in short supply.

Chris Dantes, a grants specialist in the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s Office of Research, is one of the people who has taken up the effort.

“I was reading about medical health professionals who are running out of protection for themselves, and that touched me because they are sacrificing their own health by taking care of others in need,� Dantes says. “They need to protect themselves.�

Dantes, who has been sewing for over 15 years and has worked at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ for 26 years, has a personal connection to the medical profession.

“My mom is a retired nurse, but she never encountered anything like this,� she says. “I have family in the medical profession as well.�

The face masks she sews are 100 percent cotton and come from her ample stash of fabric.

And while the homemade masks are not adequate protection for healthcare providers, they may help bridge the gap until the more effective masks for blocking coronavirus particles, N95 respirators and surgical masks, become available again, says Annette Bourgault, an assistant professor in ±«°ä¹ó’s College of Nursing.

“Like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends, only use homemade masks if commercially manufactured masks are unavailable,� Bourgault says. “Healthcare providers should work with their administration to obtain commercially manufactured masks.�

“There is no comparison in the effectiveness of cotton masks to N95 masks,� she says. “N95 masks are the gold standard for airborne precautions, and a properly fitted N95 mask may block 95 to 99 percent of aerosol particles.�

For masks sewn at home, Bourgault says studies have shown that transmission of particles is affected by the type of material and the seal of the mask around the mouth and nose.

“Before you start sewing, make sure that you have evidence to back up your choice of fabric and mask pattern,� she says.

Nevertheless, Bourgault says homemade masks may help alleviate anxiety for healthcare providers and give mask makers a sense of purpose in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

That need to help is one of the driving factors for Dantes.

“At times like these, I like to help,� Dantes says. “And if we’re running out of something, then I want to at least be able to contribute a little bit.�

So far, Dantes has made 15 masks. She says she has an ample supply of fabric; however, the one thing she does not have plenty of is more of the elastic that forms the band that holds the mask in place.

“The quarter-inch elastic is out of stock everywhere,� Dantes says. “I think every person who knows how to sew is probably making these.�

However, Dantes says she may make more with straps that tie instead of using elastic.

Dantes plans to donate the masks to medical professionals through her network of friends. She has already given five to a friend who is a traveling nurse and 10 to a local healthcare facility.

“I have seen masks selling for $5 on social media,� Dantes says. “I understand people have a need, but for me personally, I plan not to charge. I see a need and I want to help. We are all in this together.�

Today, there are a growing number of adults who do not have children for various reasons, but are productive members of society. Even so, they often seem to be deliberately or unconsciously judged by others.

The objectification and scrutiny that some women are unfortunately subjected to can be unsettling for them. I’ve observed the way some childless adults are portrayed by society seems to be a reflection of how women are sometimes seen in general, measured against long-standing and insensitive ideology. The long-held conditioning that suggests girls should grow up to marry, bear children and raise families is something that often is carried into adulthood. And for those who don’t follow that path, I think society tends to use this ideal to perpetuate disparaging views of those women.

I still detect there is some subconscious energy focused toward how much we define a woman’s life and worth based on her maternal – and often marital – status.

Although society’s views seem to be becoming more progressive, with an increasing number of childless adults, I still detect there is some subconscious energy focused toward how much we define a woman’s life and worth based on her maternal – and often marital – status.

Most people never give a thought before spouting unsolicited and often insensitive comments such as “What are you waiting for?!� or even more demeaning, “What’s wrong with you?� – questions that point to the absurd belief that a woman is somehow incomplete, unhappy or unsuccessful if she is without children or not married.

Of all the amazing personal attributes and accomplishments women possess – cultured, athletic prowess, scholarship, humor – it’s disheartening to think that women are every so often perceived as less of a woman if they are not mothers. Yet those who so hastily attach labels rarely ponder circumstances that may have led to a woman’s status. Yes, some women (and couples) are childless by choice but oftentimes the reasons may be physiological or spiritual or because of traumatic experiences.

As a friend confided: “When asking the No. 1 question, “Do you have kids?� I consider the story behind their answer before my reply. I never wish for my response to imply judgment or pity for their existence or their choices. As I am a ‘complete’ woman, so are they, and we are so much more than just vessels for children no matter how a woman’s story is written and whether they made the choice or the choice was made for them to be without child.�

All women should be revered as complete – with or without children, married or not. Despite how the choice was made whether to be a parent, women get to decide what they want and don’t want for their lives. We should not feel like second-class citizens for those decisions. We should know that when we make those decisions we should make them for girls and young women that look to us as an example.

It is our responsibility to inspire future generations to create their own narrative without concern of society’s outdated views of what is normal and acceptable in our culture.

Syretta Spears is assistant director of the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Simulation, Technology, Innovation and Modeling Center in the College of Nursing. She can be reached at Syretta.Spears@ucf.edu.

The Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Forum is a weekly series of opinion columns from faculty, staff and students who serve on a panel for a year. A new column is posted each Wednesday on Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Today and then broadcast on WÂ鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½-FM (89.9) between 7:50 and 8 a.m. Sunday. Opinions expressed are those of the columnists, and are not necessarily shared by the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½.

I set the stage for success—balanced meals, gym memberships, etc.—only to end up miserably falling from the back of the wagon, but for a long time never fully understanding why.

Sugar—and more sneakily hidden sugar—was a key cause of my past downfalls. Discovering this little devil in the details and how it affects my body has helped me break the desire for sugar and change my health status to be the healthiest version of me I can be.

It’s often difficult for me to fathom, but there are some people who rarely crave or feel a great need for sugar.

While refined sugars give us initial bliss and keep us wanting more, we seldom realize this sugar-monster is slowly robbing us of our health.

Decades ago Americans generally consumed less sugar and extremely smaller portions overall. Today, sugar consumption is at an all-time high and I must admit I’m in that number of guilty consumers. On most occasions the sugar-laden drinks and foods that we consume contain minimal nutritional value and are easily available. These days you can find sugar in fast foods, highly processed (pre-packaged) foods, and even in foods deemed health foods. We should all be able to see that our sugar intake is not beneficial to our wallets or waistlines.

Whether you realize it, sugar has been one of society’s biggest controversies, from the foundation of slave labor for profit and growth of the sugar industry, organizations banning soft drinks, schools removing it from lunch menus, and health care professionals advising consumers to reduce consumption or totally purge sugar from daily nutritional habits.

From first-hand experiences, it would seem that people would simply make lifestyle changes and eat better to prevent health problems. In my journey for better health, I initially discovered that most things I tried were only temporarily successful before falling off the wagon and ending up right back on that sugar train—but never really understanding how someone could fail so miserably.

To keep us unknowingly hitched to the sugar train, more sugar in the form of sweeteners and fruit juices are refined and incorporated into our foods and drinks for better taste. While refined sugars give us initial bliss and keep us wanting more, we seldom realize this sugar-monster is slowly robbing us of our health.

Sugar jeopardizes our health by contributing to the development of conditions such as high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.

From my personal struggles, I’ve learned that sugar alone is not always the sole culprit. Increased sugar intake increases excess calories, excess calories increase our waistlines and our exposure to developing other health problems grows. The cycle is vicious and constantly repeats itself, creating the dangerous nature sugar has on our lives.

Not everyone believes that sugar is necessarily a factor in the expansion of our waistlines and the health crisis. But even as people are becoming more health conscious and it would seem that individually sugar consumption is on the decline, our waistlines are stilling expanding.  As I worked through my own personal battle, I discovered that “hidden� sugar (known as high fructose corn syrup) is the likely suspect responsible for continuing health dilemmas.

This and other hidden sugars are also linked to heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, and as studies consistently show, women are at least twice as likely to die from these diseases as men. Yet again, there is some debate whether hidden sugar really causes the diseases or if the main cause is our excessive calorie consumption, with sugar as just one piece of the puzzle.

I would be remiss in not mentioning the addictive nature of sugar. Science tells us that sugar affects the brain in the same way that cocaine use affects the brain, producing cravings and habit-forming behavior that can be detrimental to our daily way of life.

So, while sugar may seem like heaven to our taste buds, we need to recognize the concerns that sugar places upon our quality of life, keeping us on a merry-go-round of uncontrollable urges and nutritionally bad choices.

Syretta Spears is assistant director of the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Simulation, Technology, Innovation and Modeling Center in the College of Nursing. She can be reached at Syretta.Spears@ucf.edu.

The Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Forum is a weekly series of opinion columns from faculty, staff and students who serve on a panel for a year. A new column is posted each Wednesday on Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Today and then broadcast on WÂ鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½-FM (89.9) between 7:50 and 8 a.m. Sunday. Opinions expressed are those of the columnists, and are not necessarily shared by the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½.

“Not in my wildest dreams did I imagine someone like me being called ‘a stroke survivor.’�
— Former Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ offensive lineman Ray Forsythe

Two months earlier, the former Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ offensive lineman, who played for the Knights from 1993-94, had suffered a major stroke at the age of 41 despite being, as he says, “in the best shape of my life.â€� A lengthy stay in rehab had finally allowed him to return home a day before Easter, and he was eager to get on with his daily life — which meant on Sunday he’d prepare dinner.

That’s when the 6-foot-5, 320-pound Forsythe, whose hands once manhandled massive defenders, realized he could no longer handle a knife. Every time he attempted to carve the turkey, the knife fell to the floor.

Forsythe, who majored in what is now called interdisciplinary studies at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, walked out of the kitchen, away from his wife and six children. He sat in the bedroom wondering what more he’d have to do to be an active dad, a breadwinning husband, to simply be himself again.

“Not in my wildest dreams did I imagine someone like me being called ‘a stroke survivor,’ � Forsythe says.

Thousands of people who have yet to hit midlife are wrestling with those same thoughts. While the vast majority of strokes in the United States occur in people age 65 and older, according to a study in JAMA Neurology, from 2003 to 2012, there was an increase of more than 30,000 patients hospitalized for strokes in people younger than 65 — accounting for an increase of roughly 30 percent. A number of factors can explain a portion of the increase, including population growth and changes to how diagnoses are classified, but the fact remains that people are having — and surviving — strokes younger than ever before.

And while certain factors can come into play, such as lifestyle, pollution, genetics and better diagnoses, there is no real profile of a stroke victim. It happens to toddlers and teenagers. To athletes and artists. It can happen to anyone, anywhere. For Forsythe, it happened at the mall with his family.

“I’d been cautious about the foods I ate,� he says. “I was going to the gym every day, spending time on the treadmill. As big as I am, my body fat was only 10 percent. The idea that I’d have a stroke … it’s almost five years later and it still doesn’t sound right.�

“I refuse to be stagnant, even with the lack of resources available for young stroke survivors,� Forsythe says.

Forsythe admits he’s blessed just to wake up each day and say: “Good morning.� His wife, Doreen, is a nurse and made sure he received immediate care following the stroke, including the two months at Brooks Rehabilitation in Jacksonville. But then he lost his job. The family had to sell their cars and downsize their home. His wife had to figure out how to get Forsythe to therapy, the kids to their activities, and herself to work.

All the things you never think about because it can’t happen to someone like me.

“I have one speed now — slow,� Forsythe says, referring to his speech as well as to the legs that once ran the 40-yard-dash in 4.7 seconds. “But I refuse to be stagnant, even with the lack of resources available for young stroke survivors.�

And so he has become an expert, not so much on why he had a stroke when he did, but on recovery. He started a support group. He attends seminars. He listens to stories from young stroke survivors trying to raise families and hold jobs, such as fellow Knight Rachel Groves ’05 ’10MS.

“Someone Like Me�

Groves, who earned a bachelor’s and master’s in nursing from Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, remembers everything about June 3, 2016. First, the tingly fingers. Then the pop in her ear, followed by ringing. When she started losing her vision, her 4-year-old son called 911 for help. He would later say, “Mommy looked like a fish flopping out of water.â€�

According to study in Neurology, young stroke survivors face physical, emotional and financial challenges uncommon to stroke survivors who are past retirement age.

A nurse herself, Groves knew she was having a stroke. But at the age of 32? With two young children?

“I thought, ‘This cannot be happening to someone like me.’ �

When paramedics arrived, Groves tried telling them exactly what was going on, but her speech had become so slurred they were convinced she’d been drinking. It would be the first of many frustrations. “You want so badly to get on with life, pursue your goals, and be productive for the people around you. But …â€�

You start to speak, but stop because the words are trapped between the brain and the mouth. You want to move from here to there, but it takes three times longer than it should. You’re willing to do whatever it takes to recover, but find nothing but brick walls and maybe a wheelchair.

According to study in Neurology, young stroke survivors face physical, emotional and financial challenges uncommon to stroke survivors who are past retirement age. Not only is diagnosis often more challenging, but once patients receive an accurate diagnosis, survivors and their families often face significant financial difficulties due to extended leaves from work or the inability to return to the work force at all during what should be their most productive years. That speaks nothing to the cost of paying for medical bills, fighting for continued rehabilitation services, or finding and paying for childcare.

“There shouldn’t be so many obstacles for someone who simply wants to be productive,� says Groves. “Sitting in a chair all day is not the answer.�

Just as daunting as the physical limitations is a system based on old assumptions rather than realities. In short, it’s set up for older stroke survivors, not young ones.

Forsythe and Groves connected after hearing each other’s stories at a stroke awareness event in 2018.

“The first few weeks after a stroke are crucial to restoring basic functions, but insurance companies heavily regulate therapy. Fortunately, my husband and I fought hard enough to get what I needed. But what about stroke survivors who don’t? What do their lives become?�
— Rachel Groves ’05 ’10MS

“Strokes create a chemical imbalance and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder,� says Forsythe. “But neurological care isn’t typically allowed as part of recovery. And what about disability forms? They’re difficult to fill out, especially for someone recovering from brain trauma. Then there’s the challenge of transportation because your spouse needs to work.

“My battles on the football field are not even close to what I’ve been through as a stroke survivor. I don’t want to sit at home and simply say I survived a stroke. That doesn’t do anyone any good.�

Groves similarly didn’t want to feel sidelined.

“When I left the hospital, they were going to send me home with a walker, and left me to figure out my own logistics for rehab,� she says. “At the time, I had the functional abilities of a toddler. I said, ‘No. I need to perform my daily activities and be a mom. Then I need to return to work if we’re going to pay the bills.’ I needed intense rehab, but we continually ran into resistance.

“The first few weeks after a stroke are crucial to restoring basic functions, but insurance companies heavily regulate therapy. Fortunately, my husband and I fought hard enough to get what I needed. But what about stroke survivors who don’t? What do their lives become?�

A shared frustration — and determination — is exactly why Forsythe and Groves decided to take their own initiative and launch Young Empowered Stroke Survivors (YESS) Foundation. They’re forming support groups, recruiting volunteers and raising funds.

In the meantime, Forsythe and Groves continue their own recoveries.

Groves can now kick a soccer ball around the backyard with her kids. But she also has a constant headache and occasional bouts with vertigo. Like Forsythe, her mental fatigue can be so severe it actually hurts.

Forsythe can now hold a knife well enough to cut vegetables, though maybe not a turkey. He walks without assistance — unless he’s at his son Stone’s football games at the University of Florida where he needs someone to push him in a wheelchair.

If you couldn’t tell already, Groves and Forsythe are driven. It’s why they’ve been able to relearn motor skills and speech. But both say they’d never be where they are today if they hadn’t learned to do something entirely new to them: Ask for help.

Through YESS, it’s a lesson that could benefit thousands of young stroke survivors just like them.