Expansion Project Is Largest in AdventHealth University’s History

AdventHealth University (AHU), a Seventh-day Adventist school with its main campus in Orlando, Florida, United States, is embarking on the largest expansion project in its 32-year history.

A Blessing Ceremony on June 6 consecrated and kicked off a multi-phase expansion and renovation beginning this month that will allow for more classroom space, leading-edge simulation equipment and technology, and new student spaces.

“As AdventHealth University’s student enrollment continues to grow, we want to provide intentional spaces that promote learning, professional excellence, and wellbeing,” C. Josef Ghosn, president of AdventHealth University, said. “Our expansion and renovation will provide students [with] additional tools, modalities, and opportunities to become proficient in whole-person care.”

The expansion includes the demolition of a vacant building and construction of the multi-story AHU Simulation Center, including two immersive-learning lecture halls; dedicated operating room and birthing suites; spacious nursing skills lab; and state-of-the-art manikins with life-like features and real-world medical issues.

School leaders reported that it will also include the creation of the AHU Welcome Center, housing non-academic departments, such as Financial Aid, Marketing, and Business, as well as renovations in the current Campus Center Building to remodel the cafeteria, create more classrooms, and generate more student space.

Construction is expected to be completed by December 2025.

“These new learning spaces will facilitate low-, mid-, and high-fidelity simulation for all students, particularly nursing students, allowing them to apply their lessons in hands-on learning environments,” said Arlene Johnson, interim dean of nursing at AdventHealth University. “We are especially excited about implementing the latest virtual and augmented reality technology that allows students to practice in a safe environment, gain confidence, and excel.”

As the nation faces a shortage of nurses and physicians, AHU is striving for ambitious goals to nearly double its student enrollment by 2026 and help stem the shortfall of health-care professionals.

The university’s last campus addition was construction of its three-story Graduate Building in 2014. The current Orlando campus is composed of the three-story Campus Center and Graduate buildings and the two-story Nursing and General Education buildings, all containing a mixture of classrooms, lab space, and administrative offices.

AHU offers 24 health care degrees, from associate to doctoral level, as well as dozens of workforce development certificates. Its location in Denver is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2024, and construction is under way on a Tampa site expected to open in Spring 2025. More than 11,000 graduates call AdventHealth University their alma mater.

“This is a pivotal moment for AdventHealth University, because we stand at the precipice of shaping the future of the health-care workforce by equipping students with the ability to provide innovative and outstanding patient care,” Randy Haffner, group president and CEO of AdventHealth Florida and chair of AHU’s Board of Trustees, told guests at the Blessing Ceremony. “State-of-the-art classrooms and simulation labs will continue to attract the most talented and promising students to AdventHealth University.”

The original version of this story was posted on the AdventHealth news site.