The University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando has announced a $5.5 million commitment from the Helene Fuld Health Trust in support of a state-of-the-art education and teaching facility at the UCF College of Nursing.

The funding will enable the construction and outfitting of a 12,000-square-foot simulation, technology, innovation, and modeling (STIM) center at the nursing school’s new home in Lake Nona, Florida—part of a campus that includes the UCF College of Medicine and the UCF Lake Nona Medical Center. The STIM center will provide nursing education and training opportunities for students and include a virtual hospital and clinical skills exam suites with virtual reality rooms that enable students to practice a range of skills and train on specialized diagnostic tools. In recognition of the gift, the STIM center will be named after the Fuld Trust.

“UCF will build upon our strong leadership in simulation education, innovation, and research and continue to grow [our] nurse workforce to provide skilled, compassionate care in central Florida and beyond,” said UCF College of Nursing dean Mary Lou Sole.

“Simulation is a critical component to nursing education and will continue to be in the future,” said Robert Campbell, vice president of trust and fiduciary services at HSBC, which oversees the trust. “[W]e’re proud to make this investment to strengthen nursing skills and improve the welfare of our communities.”

(Photo credit: University of Central Florida)