AdventHealth Ocala Commits $3M for CF Health Sciences

Students in College of Central Florida’s Health Sciences programs will benefit from scholarships and new program equipment, thanks to a $3 million commitment from AdventHealth Ocala to the CF Foundation.

“We are very grateful for AdventHealth’s support and trust in our award-winning programs,” said Dr. Jim Henningsen, CF president. “This is a game-changing gift that will ensure students now and in the future have the best instruction and opportunities as well as have a lasting impact on our community.”

The irrevocable pledge creates the AdventHealth Nursing Endowment and the AdventHealth Health Sciences Endowment. The nursing endowment will allow CF to apply for the Florida Legislature’s Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) matching grant – a fund created in 2022 to alleviate the statewide nursing shortage by providing matching funds for nursing education programs that partner with health care providers. The health sciences endowment will support students in high-demand health care fields including Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene, Emergency Medical Services, Physical Therapist Assistant, Radiography and Surgical Services, plus new programs in Cardiovascular Technology, Diagnostic Medical Sonography Technology and Respiratory Care.

“At AdventHealth, we know the quality of instruction CF has, and we are excited to invest in the good work of creating new opportunities for students in these critical areas of need,” said Erika Skula, president and chief executive officer of AdventHealth Ocala.

CF Health Sciences students consistently rank above average on career certification exams. This year’s class of Associate Degree Nursing students achieved a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam, and Radiography graduates attained a 100% pass rate on the national radiologic technologist certification exam. For the second year in a row, Surgical Services graduates earned a 100% pass rate on the Certified Surgical Technologist national exam. For more information, visit CF.edu/health.