September 16th marked an exciting day on campus as Anna Maria College held a ribbon cutting ceremony officially opening the newly remodeled 7,000 sq. ft. Nursing Simulation and Clinical Labs in Miriam Hall. The space also has a dedicated training space for paramedic education. Spectrum News was there to report the story.
The initiative was the result of a $1,000,000 in community project funding secured by Congressman James P. McGovern (MA-02). Designed by Derck & Edson and constructed by Rubicon, plans for the new clinical space were announced in May 2023 after McGovern secured the necessary funding for Anna Maria College. The goal of the government funding was to enrich the educational experience for future essential workers. These future workers will fill the void left by nursing shortages created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ribbon cutting ceremony brought together Anna Maria College President Mary Lou Retelle, Congressman James P. McGovern, nursing students, faculty, and staff who came together as a community to celebrate this important milestone for Anna Maria College.
“This nearly 7,000 sq ft space is the new home to our aspiring healthcare workers who, through their education and training, will make our region healthier, safer, and stronger. This facility represents more than just a space,” President Mary Lou Retelle said, “It is where the next generation of healthcare professionals will gain the skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience they need to provide compassionate, high-quality care to their patients. Our investment in this space is an investment in the future of healthcare itself.”
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Chioma Ugochukwu spoke about the impact that the new labs will have on the educational development of Anna Maria students who will then go on to improve healthcare in the region as highly skilled nurses.
“If you look at the data, we have four times more nurses than physicians, so they are actually the ones providing the critical care we need in our communities, so it is important for colleges like Anna Maria to ensure that we are doing something about that workforce,” Dr. Ugochukwu said.
Anna Maria also used the occasion to introduce Emily K. Cabrera, MSN, RN, EdD as the new Dean for the School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Anna Maria College. Dr. Cabrera brings nearly two decades of teaching experience at different institutions of higher learning, as well as bedside experience as a registered nurse.
Anna Maria’s Nursing Department, especially students and faculty, were awed by the new space and the educational potential that means for the department moving forward. Nursing senior, Jonathan Kavale, expressed his gratitude for the new learning environment and is excited to care for others as a future nurse.
Congressman McGovern believes that Anna Maria’s state-of-the-art facility addresses the critical needs of the local community.
“We need nurses. We need to have institutions of higher learning that can train you in the best possible education you can receive. And you can have the best teachers and instructors in the world, but if the facility you are in is not up to where it needs to be, then you are going to be short changed…,” Congressman McGovern said about the importance of the new Nursing wing, “We need a facility the represents the realities of 2024, not the realities of decades ago. This facility is a big deal not only for Anna Maria College, but our community.”
Thank you to all community members and donors who made the Nursing Simulation and Clinical Labs a reality! For more information about Anna Maria’s Nursing Program visit: https://annamaria.edu/academics/undergraduate-studies/nursing/
