Northwell Health and Hofstra University celebrated the completion of the new $75 million Science and Innovation Center at the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies.
The energy-efficient, 75,000-square-foot facility is a shared space with the Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The state-of-the-art building will provide dynamic STEM education for the next generation of healthcare and science professionals.
The Science and Innovation Center will help future Northwell Health nurses and physician assistants prepare for today’s hospital environment with the most up-to-date simulation experiences available.
In addition to modern flexible classrooms, a full surgical simulation wing, clinical skills and patient care labs, the facility features two simulated operating room spaces concentrating on cardiac profusion and anesthesia, bring experiential learning to life. The labs are equipped with high-fidelity patient-simulating mannequins, providing an immersive hospital simulation for students.
“Our new learning space in the Science and Innovation Center is the embodiment of Michael Dowling’s vision and the Hofstra/Northwell partnership,” said Renee McLeod-Sordjan, dean of the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. “It is a beacon of quality healthcare education for students studying medicine, nursing, cardiopulmonary perfusion, and physician assistant studies – leveraging the latest technology and the tremendous resources of the integrated Northwell Health network of facilities, team members and mentors. Today we celebrate its opening, and we look forward to tomorrow where we can do the important work of saving and improving lives.”
Empire State Development supported the Science and Innovation Center with a $25 million capital grant as part of the Transformative Investment Program funding allocated to Long Island and $2 million from the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council.
The new facility features low- and high-fidelity clinical learning suites for simulating surgeries, cardiac perfusion and anesthesia; two fully equipped operating room suites; 16 ambulatory patient rooms; a state-of-the-art intensive care suite; spacious student study rooms; outdoor green spaces; eight science labs; and much more.
“It’s gratifying to see this idea – creating a state-of-the-art nursing and PA learning facility – come to life,” said Kathleen Gallo, founding dean of the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. “Three years ago, when we started the undergraduate nursing program at Hofstra, we envisioned being able to bring the Northwell experience to campus and provide specialized hands-on simulation experiential learning. We leveraged the expertise at the Center for Learning and Innovation at Northwell as it has been the national leader in this area for over two decades. Today, with that vision realized, Hofstra Northwell will be able to produce the most qualified nurses for the Northwell Health network or wherever they practice in the future. I’m humbled to have played a part.”
You can learn more about the Science and Innovation center, and watch a timelapse video of its construction, here.