With support from AdventHealth, UCF opens new nursing facility in Lake Nona

Orlando, Fla., Aug. 18, 2025 — AdventHealth joined UCF for the opening of its brand-new Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavillion, ushering in a bright future for Knight nurses and health care in Central Florida.

Alongside Dr. Phillips Charities and other founding partners, AdventHealth – which employs over 10,000 nurses across Central Florida – contributed a significant investment toward the new building and student scholarships, support that is critical to meeting the urgent need for nurses.

“At AdventHealth, we’ve seen firsthand the extraordinary caliber of nurses who graduate from UCF. They bring clinical excellence, compassion and an unwavering commitment to their patients — values that perfectly align with our mission to provide whole-person care,” said Cathy Stankiewicz, chief nursing officer of AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division. “As the demand for skilled nurses continues to grow, we’re happy to support this exciting new chapter for the UCF College of Nursing. And as a UCF alumna, I’m excited to welcome even more outstanding Knight nurses to AdventHealth.”

Located next to UCF’s College of Medicine in Lake Nona’s Medical City, the 90,000-square-foot facility features classrooms, a state-of-the-art simulation center and virtual reality studio, where students are immersed in real-world lessons to prepare them for working in health care.

The new facility will enable the university to graduate an additional 150 licensed nurses every year and address the region’s nursing shortage.

Many of the future graduates are expected to work right here in the Orlando area, including at AdventHealth. In fact, of the 17,000 Knight nurse alumni who have graduated from UCF’s nationally recognized nursing program, 85% live and work in Florida and nearly 60% remain in Central Florida.

“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,” said UCF 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.”

Read more about the ribbon-cutting here.