Graduate programs at USF Health had significant gains in this year’s rankings from U.S. News & World Report (U.S. News), strong improvements that highlight the advances USF Health continues to experience on the national stage.

In the U.S. News 2023 Best Graduate Schools list released March 29, the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, College of Nursing, and the College of Public Health all had programs that moved up in rank.

• #46 in Medical Schools for Research: The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine remains in the top 50 for U.S. medical schools for research, moving up two spots from last year, from #48 to #46.
• #56 in Medical Schools for Primary Care: The Morsani College of Medicine also improved for U.S. medical schools for primary care, going from #69 to #56.
• #42 in Nursing—Master’s: The USF Health College of Nursing jumped an incredible 14 spots, going from #56 last year to #42 this year, making it the top-ranked public nursing master’s program in Florida.
• #16 in Public Health: The USF Health College of Public Health remains in the top 20 and rose four spots this year to rank #16 up from #20 last year, making it the top-ranked public health program in Florida, public or private universities.

U.S. News does not provide new rankings for all graduate programs each year, so the USF Health Taneja College of Pharmacy maintains its rank of #68, and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences maintains its rank of #49.

“Programs across USF Health continue to rise in national rankings, providing a spotlight on our commitment to building high-quality graduate curricula filled with outstanding graduate student experiences,” said Charles Lockwood, MD, MHCM, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine. “These new rankings demonstrate the incredible work of our faculty in elevating our programs through world-class health education, ground-breaking research and excellent clinical care.”

According to U.S. News, its methodology uses data from expert opinions and statistical indicators when measuring a program’s ranking, examining qualities students and faculty bring to the educational experience and graduates’ achievements linked to their degrees, such as job placement and research impact.

More on ranks for USF graduate programs…

USF Health’s Christian Brechot, MD, PhD, who leads the USF Initiative on Microbiomes, speaks with Maureen Groer, PhD, Gordon Keller Professor at the USF College of Nursing, about her research on the altered gut microbiome of premature infants. | Photo by Allison Long

Maureen Groer, PhD, looks at the health of preterm infants literally from the gut. As part of  the USF Initiative on Microbiomes, Groer studies how the beneficial balance of trillions of bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms in the digestive tract – known as the gut microbiome – might be altered in prematurely born babies, and what impact it might have on their long-term health.

“As nurses, we want to do research that translates to better health care and better health outcomes,’’ she said. “And for me, that’s mothers and infants.’’

Groer is a pediatric nurse, family nurse practitioner and the Gordon Keller Professor at the USF College of Nursing. Her work examines the molecular mechanisms underlying immunology, biology and behavior and how the “crosstalk” among these systems may affect the health of infants, children and their mothers.

Funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Groer studies what happens to the equilibrium of the gut microbiome of premature babies who spend weeks, or even months, in a hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). While there, they often receive antibiotics that can lead to dysbiosis, an imbalance in the normal microbes that live in the gut. Because no two babies are alike, treatment can be complicated.

“Everybody has a signature microbiome,’’ Groer said. “We have within our body populations of bacteria, viruses and fungi that live in a relationship that’s beneficial.”

“Every NICU has its own brand of microorganisms and they’re not the natural organisms that should be populating the gut. So, these NICU babies are at risk, and that might translate into health risks later.’’

Maureen Groer, PhD, Gordon Keller Professor in the USF College of Nursing

Most healthy babies develop a balanced gut microbiome by age 3. But when infants are born too early, the evolution of the gut may be disrupted by various factors, including delivery by Cesarean section, poor organ development, and extended time in the NICU. Dysbiosis can impair an infant’s ability to gain weight, among other conditions.

Extended time in the neonatal intensive care unit may contribute to disrupted development of a premature infant’s gut.

While prenatal hospital care provides lifesaving support, babies who spend their first weeks or months there receive multiple antibiotics, undergo stressful invasive procedures, interact less with their mothers, and typically ingest more formula milk than breast milk, which would transfer the mother’s own beneficial gut bacteria to the lactating infant. As a result, Groer said “NICU babies don’t have normal microbiomes.’’

By learning more about how a person’s estimated 30 trillion bacteria influence health, aging and disease, Groer and other researchers with the Initiative on Microbiomes hope to address some of the greatest challenges in health care.

In another study, Groer is following pregnant Hispanic women who have antibodies to toxoplasmosis, a chronic infection caused by a parasite affecting more than 40 million people in the United States. A third of the women who tested positive for the infection experience adverse prenatal events, such as miscarriage or preterm birth. Groer is writing an NIH grant to fund further research on the topic, and said “it would be of interest to determine both gut and placental microbiome in this population’’ of women.

– Story by Kurt Loft

A new agreement between the city of St. Petersburg and USF St. Petersburg will provide space for research and a highly sought-after nursing program on campus starting in Fall 2019.

The St. Petersburg City Council on Thursday, Feb. 21, voted unanimously to allow USF St. Petersburg to lease the Port Terminal Building at 250 8^th Avenue SE, next to the USF College of Marine Science. The 10,713-square-foot building will be used for classroom, office and laboratory space.

“Nurses continue to be in high demand in our region and we’re pleased to help fill that workforce need while providing our students with exciting career options,” said Martin Tadlock, PhD, regional chancellor of USF St. Petersburg. “This is also a terrific example of the ongoing partnership between our university and the city of St. Petersburg, where we work together to improve lives and create opportunity.”

Students listen to a lecture at USF College of Nursing.

The move is an example of how the ongoing USF System consolidation process will provide expanded access to programs for students and will help meet the needs of each community the university serves in the Tampa Bay region. The USF College of Nursing is joining with USF St. Petersburg to provide an accelerated second-degree nursing program on the USFSP campus, with a similar arrangement planned for USF Sarasota Manatee.

Designed for students who already have a bachelor’s degree, USF’s Accelerated Second Degree major offers a nursing degree through a four-semester/16-month program. All coursework will be taught by USF Nursing faculty. Lecture courses will be held at the Port Terminal Building, with clinical experiences in other locations throughout Pinellas County. Some travel to the USF Tampa campus will be required for students to participate in high-fidelity simulation and interprofessional learning, as well as using some USF Health services.

Several City Council members expressed enthusiasm for the partnership during the meeting. “I’m excited to support this,” said Ed Montanari, the Council Vice Chair. “I hope this is just the start of many exciting things happening at USF St. Petersburg.”

Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 15 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. At the same time, the Florida Center for Nursing also predicts a nursing shortage in Florida of over 50,000 by 2025.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to fill the high employment demand for nurses in the Tampa Bay region and throughout Florida,” said Victoria L. Rich, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of the USF Health College of Nursing and senior associate vice president of USF Health. “The program enables students who already have their first bachelor’s degree to apply their knowledge to the academic and clinical rigor of the baccalaureate nursing degree.”

The Port Terminal Building’s location makes it an ideal fit for the nursing program, said Magali Michael, PhD, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at USF St. Petersburg. Its proximity to the university will give nursing students an on-campus experience, she added.

“The nursing students can walk over and instantly be a part of our campus community,” Michael said. “They can participate in student activities and have a true campus experience.”

The opportunity to interact with nursing students on campus will also create more excitement among undergraduates about the accelerated second-degree nursing program, Michael added.

“They will serve as a great example of the opportunities available to students with an undergraduate degree in biology or health science,” she said.

The agreement with the city of St. Petersburg allows USF to lease the Port Terminal Building for two years at a cost of $44,820 per year. The building previously housed the Marine Exploration Center.

Students interested in learning more about the accelerated second-degree nursing program should visit https://health.usf.edu/nursing/ for more information.

-Story by Carrie O’Brion,  USF St. Petersburg Communications and Marketing

Dr. Maureen Groer heads a group of USF Health researchers in a five-year study examining the relationship between a common parasite and how it affects the brain of pregnant Hispanic women

Tampa, FL (August 31, 2017) – The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) has awarded more than $2.6 million to the University of South Florida College of Nursing to study the correlation between pregnant Hispanic women, depression and a common parasite that affects the brain.

Maureen Groer, PhD, Gordon Keller professor at the USF College of Nursing, will lead a group of USF Health researchers in a five-year study examining whether Hispanic women, who carry the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, have a greater risk of the infection reactivating during pregnancy.

The project is significant because it is the largest study ever done on Hispanic women infected with the parasite. The Toxoplasma parasite is a common organism that can be transferred through eating undercooked meat or touching cat feces.

The study could help pinpoint one of the causes of prenatal and postpartum depression and lead to different treatments for chronic toxoplasmosis.

Maureen Groer, PhD

Pregnant women, who have a weaker immune system, are more susceptible to the infection, which can cause brain and eye damage and result in personality changes. Once infected, the parasite normally lives in the brain in a dormant state.

“It would be the first large study to measure the immune changes in pregnancy and its effects on chronically infected women,” Dr. Groer said. “So we’re looking at immunity in these women across pregnancy.”

Dr. Groer and her team will screen more than 800 women at Tampa General Hospital’s Genesis Women’s Center to find 480 pregnant Hispanic women — half of the women will have tested positive for the parasite, while the remaining 240 women will not.

Researchers will monitor the two groups during pregnancy and for six weeks after giving birth. The women will undergo blood tests to study chemicals related to depression and eye exams to see if the parasite has formed cysts in the retina.  Scientists will also test the infant’s cord blood to see if the parasite was transferred from the mother.

Dr. Groer believes the women who carry the organism will be more likely to experience prenatal and postpartum depression and have the latent parasite reactivate during pregnancy.

“They had it already, and now their immune system is very different. And some defenses they normally had against the organism might be less effective. So if the organism reactivates, it will reactivate likely in the eye,” she said.

The study, titled “Chronic Toxoplasma gondii, Pregnancy Reactivation, and Perinatal Depression,” focuses on Hispanic women, because a previous USF health study Dr. Groer conducted linking depression and the Toxoplasma gondii parasite noticed a high infection rate among Hispanic women.

Dr. Groer will work with a team of USF Health researchers who specialize in ophthalmology, biological chemistry, molecular medicine, psychiatry, neurosciences, and biostatistics.

The study’s co-investigators within the College of Nursing include Allyson Duffy, PhD, assistant professor; Amanda Elliott, PhD, assistant professor; and Ming Ji, PhD, professor.

Dr. Groer will also collaborate with researchers and physicians from USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, including Andreas Seyfang, PhD, associate professor; Jamie Fernandez, MD, associate professor; Steven Cohen, MD, professor; Karen Bruder, MD, associate professor; and Adetola Louis-Jacques, MD, assistant professor.

Teodor Postolache, MD, a psychiatry professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, will also be a co-investigator. Dietmar Fuchs, an associate professor of biological chemistry at Innsbruck Medical University in Austria, will consult on the project.

The study is supported by NICHD, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NICHD strives to ensure that every child is born healthy and grows up free from disease and disability. For more information about NIH and NICHD visit www.nichd.nih.gov.

-Story by Elizabeth Brown,  USF College of Nursing Communications

Dr. Rich, a transformative nurse leader and innovator, brings a wealth of knowledge to USF in interprofessional education and practice  

TAMPA, Fla. (May 18, 2017) – The University of South Florida appointed Victoria Rich, PhD, as the new dean of the USF College of Nursing and senior associate vice president of USF Health. Dr. Rich has served as associate professor and interim associate dean of academic programs at USF’s nursing college. She begins her role new role as dean on June 15.

Dr. Rich, who joined the USF College of Nursing in 2015, brings more than 35 years of leadership experience in education, clinical practice, patient safety and cultural diversity.

“We are pleased to name Dr. Rich to lead USF College of Nursing as we continue to advance health care through cutting-edge research, education and practice,” said USF System President Judy Genshaft. “Dr. Rich is an experienced nursing leader with decades of experience in education and practice. Through her leadership, the USF College of Nursing will continue to achieve significant milestones, including earning top national rankings, elevating strong nursing research, and attracting the best and brightest faculty and students.”

Victoria Rich, PhD

“Dr. Rich is an outstanding leader who understands the value of our tripartite mission of education, research and clinical care,” said Charles J. Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine. “She brings to this key position extraordinary leadership from her extensive background coupled with energy, enthusiasm and passion. Dr. Rich will be a powerful advocate for nursing at USF, in Florida and nationally. Her keen insight for interprofessional education and team-based practice will help further transform the future of health and patient care. I am delighted to have such an important addition to USF Health’s leadership team to achieve excellence in all we do.”

“As one of Dr. Rich’s references said, ‘She is the nursing dean of the future’ and I couldn’t agree more,” said Donna Petersen, ScD, dean of the USF College of Public Health, and senior associate vice president of USF Health, who has served as interim dean of the USF College of Nursing since June 2015. “The USF College of Nursing is already outstanding, but it’s also poised to leap into the future with its own brand of clinically-relevant research, professional practice, and new levels of engagement with academic, clinical and community partners. Dr. Rich brings an entrepreneurial spirit, a stellar reputation as a leader and a keen business sense that will serve the college well.”

Dr. Rich will lead more than 230 faculty and staff, 234 volunteer faculty and more than 2,000 nursing students in baccalaureate, master’s, PhD and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs. USF College of Nursing tops Florida’s state universities in National Institutes of Health funding for research. The college is also nationally recognized as one of the top veteran-friendly nursing colleges in the nation. Dr. Rich will be the fifth dean of the USF College of Nursing since the college was first founded in 1973.

“I’m proud to be named to lead a nationally-recognized college known for its top-quality faculty, dedicated staff and highly prepared students,” Dr. Rich said. “I’m excited to work together with leaders from all USF Health colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, Public Health, and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences to embrace the challenges and opportunities of academia and health care. I deeply believe that education and practice need to be a hand-in-glove partnership, so I’m excited to help move that forward through the interprofessional lens of USF Health.”

Before joining USF, Dr. Rich was the chief nurse executive and associate hospital administrator for the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center and the associate professor of nursing administration at the University of Pennsylvania Health System’s School of Nursing. During her tenure at PENN Health System, she helped establish a longstanding partnership between academia and practice.

During that time, she also helped develop an interprofessional model of team-based care incorporating unit physicians, advanced practice providers, nurse clinician leaders, pharmacists and quality specialists to improve patient care. That model has been replicated both nationally and internationally.

Dr. Rich earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with highest honors. She received her master’s degree and PhD in nursing administration from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Rich is nationally known for her work on patient safety and transformational nursing leadership. As a result, she’s received the Prism Diversity Award from the American Organization of Nurse Executives, and the Patient Safety Award from Voluntary Hospital Association (now Vizient).

Dr. Rich is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and an ambassador for the National Institute of Nursing Research. She is also a member of the Patient Safety Committee for National Quality Forum and consultant for CNO Solutions and Center for Applied Research.

-Photo by Ryan Noone, USF Communications and Marketing

For some students, choosing a major can be a difficult decision. However, an event hosted by USF Health from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4, at the USF Marshall Student Center, could help make their decision a lot easier.

USF Health’s Shared Student Services, in partnership with Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA), is hosting a symposium for undergraduate students to learn about different health professions and explore the array of programs offered at USF Health.

A USF Health student poses with USF mascot Rocky D. Bull at the 2016 USF Health Shared Student Services symposium.

“The health care symposium showcases our nationally ranked academic programs to prospective students,” said Joe Ford, assistant vice president for USF Health Shared Student Services. “This also highlights USF Health and our mission of making life better for patients and the community through top-quality education, research and clinical practice.”

Guest speaker Donna Petersen, ScD, CPH, senior associate vice president of USF Health, dean of the USF College of Public Health and interim dean of the USF College of Nursing, will discuss career opportunities in health care and how USF adapts its programs to align with the ever-changing health care field.

Advisors from all USF Health colleges will be there to answer questions about different programs offered at the Morsani College of Medicine, College of Public Health, College of Pharmacy, College of Nursing, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, and School of Biomedical Sciences.

The event, which includes a photo booth, breakfast and lunch, will be free to students.

To register, click here.

To read WUSF‘s news report on the symposium, click here.

USF College of Nursing remembered the life and career of Former Dean Patricia A. Burns. PhD, during a special ceremony on Nov. 18.

Dr. Burns, who was also the USF Health senior associate vice president, passed away on Sept. 21. She was 77.

USF leaders, local officials, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends came together to remember Dr. Burns and her tremendous impact on College of Nursing, USF Health and USF. During the ceremony many whose lives she touched honored her career, life and legacy.

USF Nursing Interim Dean Donna Petersen highlighted Dr. Burns’ life and career during opening remarks.

“Dr. Burns was an extraordinary leader, a true friend and colleague,” said Donna Petersen, ScD, CPH, interim dean of the College of Nursing, senior associate vice president of USF Health and dean of the USF College of Public Health, during her opening remarks. “She was a champion for USF Nursing, students, faculty and staff. She was the people’s dean.”

Guest speakers joining Dr. Petersen in remembering Dr. Burns included Betty Castor, former president of the USF System; Charles Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine; U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor; and others.

Read full story with more photos…

Nurse practitioners play a critical role in health care. Their life-changing work and service make a tremendous contribution to patient outcomes.

That impact is seen at USF College of Nursing and its faculty and student nurse practitioners. They continue to transform the profession in various ways, including their community involvement in Tampa Bay and beyond.

Faculty and master’s and doctor of nursing practice (DNP) students recently volunteered at the Remote Area Medical (RAM), a free and remote clinic in Bradenton. They provided primary care services to uninsured patients from medically underserved communities.

USF Health faculty and student nurse practitioners provided primary care services to uninsured patients from medically underserved communities at a remote clinic in Manatee County.

“Our team provided free care to hundreds of patients with health needs including physical checkups, flu, blood pressure, women’s health, prescriptions refills and other health issues,” said Cheryl Wilson, DNP, assistant professor and director for adult/gerontology concentration at USF Nursing. “Through this clinic, we were able to provide more than $400,000 worth of care to patients in this community, so the impact has been tremendous.”

Read more…

Former USF Nursing Dean Patricia Burns, PhD, a consummate leader and formidable advocate for her beloved nursing profession, who helped lay the foundation for a nationally prominent USF College of Nursing, and played a key collaborative role in establishing what is now USF Health, passed away Sept. 21. Dr. Burns, who was also a USF Health senior associate vice president, was 77.

Dr. Patricia Burns

“I was saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Pat Burns,” said USF System President Judy Genshaft. “Dr. Burns was instrumental in building the College and laying the groundwork for our strong trajectory in National Institutes of Health funding. She was an early advocate for the kind of interdisciplinary education and teamwork that is crucial for modern-day health care and is a point of distinction for USF Health.”

“Faculty and others who worked with Dr. Burns speak fondly about her tenure here as nursing dean,” said Charles Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine. “She was a tenacious advocate for the nursing profession, helped to raise the profile of the USF College of Nursing and was ahead of her time in recognizing the value of the students and faculty working across health disciplines to improve patient care. Her humanity and humor added depth to all she did.”

Dr. Burns served as dean of the USF College of Nursing from 1997 to 2010. She came to USF from the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY) with a mission to catapult the young nursing school into the national arena on multiple fronts – graduating more prepared nurses to meet the growing nursing shortage, building a pipeline of nursing research to enhance education and patient care, and recruiting faculty who would elevate USF’s nursing program and develop programs for advanced degrees in nursing.

She was a leading force on the national nursing stage, from the American Academy of Nursing, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing to the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty. In the late 1990s she was a moving force in Tallahassee, helping to change Florida statutes that limited to 70 the number of nursing students schools who could enroll each year. Her vision advanced the College in teaching innovations that provided quality learning opportunities in the classroom, as well as through distance learning along with web-based and web-blended courses.

Donna Petersen, ScD, CPH, interim dean of the College of Nursing and dean of the USF College of Public Health, said Dr. Burns was instrumental in building what became USF Health out of the earlier Health Sciences Center model, working with her fellow health professions deans to map out strategies for programs that could bridge disciplines.

“She understood the power of collaboration, that the whole was greater than the sum of its parts. But she never stopped being the strongest champion for her College of Nursing,” Dr. Petersen said. “Many people owe their careers to her stewardship, her creativity and her tenacity. She definitely left the world a better place than she found it.  She will be missed, but never forgotten.”

Dr. Burns retired as dean in 2010 but remained active in teaching for several years thereafter, as well as committee and community work.

Among Dr. Burns’ numerous and significant accomplishments during her career at the College of Nursing and USF Health:

• Started the Clinical Collaborative Initiative, a partnership with Tampa Bay area health care partners to allow students seeking a bachelor’s degree to begin their clinical training on day 1 and provide opportunities for placement following graduation. The innovative model earned national attention and was featured in national journals.
• Developed new advanced degree programs and created innovative education models. The College’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Nurse Anesthesia, and Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) advanced graduate degree nursing programs epitomize Dr. Burns’ vision of the ideal innovative education model. One of the first colleges in the country to offer the CNL and DNP programs, USF has graduated some of the first nurses in the country with these degrees. Started in Fall 2006 in response to the nationwide demand for more anesthesia providers, USF was only the third public university to offer the nurse anesthesia program out of seven accredited nursing programs in Florida. USF’s program was the first in the Tampa Bay area.
• Launched the first USF Nursing Research Center, which significantly broadened the College’s research portfolio, including multidisciplinary collaborations, and substantially upgraded its research infrastructure and capacity, including enhanced administrative support and expertise in data management, project management and statistical analyses.
• Built a reputation for excellence. During her tenure, she set the nursing school on the fast track to reaching Top 20 ranking in federal research funding, ranking first in Florida for research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and #3 in the nation in U.S. News & World Report in e-learning online programs. Under her leadership, USF nursing graduates achieved a 100 percent pass rate on Florida’s state licensing exam.
• Maintained active research. Dr. Burns’ research and clinical focus was on female urinary incontinence and was nationally recognized. In her career, she was funded for more than 50 research studies and nursing training grants totaling more than $11 million. Dr. Burns served as a reviewer for national and international journals, participated in federal and private grant review panels, published extensively both nationally and internationally in her specialty, and was part of the team that developed a federally patented “Improved Perineometer” device.
• Opened the state-of-the-art College of Nursing building in 2005, which tripled the size of the College facility from 25,000 to 75,000 square feet.
• Built enduring relationships of support. Donations to USF nursing programs, facilities and scholarships blossomed under Dr. Burns’ guidance, with endowed chairs, professorships, simulation centers and more than 30 scholarships established. As dean, Dr. Burns fostered a large increase in financial donations to the College – endowments grew by more than $5 million during her 12-year tenure.

Please read this profile written about Dr. Burns in 2008, a wonderful telling of the woman, the nurse, the educator and the dynamic leader.

Dr. Burns is survived by her husband Steve, her children Karen and Robert, and her grandson Jonathan. Funeral services for Dr. Burns will be held Sept. 27 in Clarence, NY.  For memorial information, please visit:  http://www.amigone.com/obituary/Patricia-Burns/Lutz-FL/1656771.

Additional quotes remembering Dr. Patricia Burns:

“Even more than her academic accomplishments, what I treasured most about Pat was her warmth, her energy, and her sense of humor. Pat touched so many of us across the USF System and the Tampa Bay community, and she will truly be missed.”
— USF System President Judy Genshaft

“Much of what I know about leadership in academia I learned from Pat, who knew how to graciously, but fiercely, get what she needed. I’ll never forget her calling me to recruit me to USF to be dean of the College of Public Health. She had a way about her that made it impossible for you to tell her no! And after I got to know her, I always knew to look out when she got that twinkle in her eye that meant she was on to or up to something.”
— Donna Petersen, ScD, MHS, CPH, senior associate vice president, USF Health; dean, College of Public Health; and interim dean, College of Nursing

“We would not be where we are today if it wasn’t for Dr. Burns. No one gave to this college more than she did. She worked tirelessly at every level and with every person she possibly could to make USF Nursing what it is today. She treated us and what we stood for as a national treasure and a gem. We were special to her. And she wanted to prove it to everyone else. She wanted to increase our ability to recruit top quality faculty, conduct life-changing research, and prepare top quality nurses. She wanted us to be a nursing leader not only regionally, but nationally. She had a great impact in changing the perception of nurses and nursing. She was one of the pioneers who took nursing and made it a science where nurses could be leaders, researchers, scientists – where they can transform health care and make life better for patients and their families. She led the way for future nurses and she was our dean.”
— Anne Phillips, MABS, chief operating officer and director of business affairs and technology for the USF College of Nursing, who was hired by Dr. Burns

“I fondly recall Dean Burns inviting me to lunch shortly after my arrival at USF in August 2004. We discussed many things, including the DNP degree and she asked that I serve on the College of Nursing DNP committee as the School of Physical Therapy was slated to achieve Board of Governors approval for our DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) degree program that month.  Later, during the construction of the new CON building, the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences got to host nursing students and faculty for classes in our MDT Building.  It was the foundation of a rich partnership that continues to this day.”
— William S. Quillen, DPT, PhD, FACSM, professor and director, USF School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, and senior associate dean, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine

“Pat came onboard when Betty Castor was USF President, and when I took her to Tallahassee she was very forward thinking in focusing on what could be accomplished together with other universities and community colleges to improve the training of nursing students.  She was so dedicated to the future of nursing, including increasing pay to hire the best faculty.  The gratitude for her work transcended the Tampa Bay area to include the entire State University System…. She was one of my favorite deans, and every time I eat an egg salad sandwich, I think of Pat.  She loved egg salad sandwiches.”
— Kathy Betancourt, former USF associate vice president for Government Relations

“Dr. Burns was very particular and liked to have things done on time and done well. However, she also recognized that she could learn from others and was an enthusiastic student when I gave her online teaching lessons. Occasionally, she would do something that exasperated me, and I wasn’t shy about letting her know when she was wrong. She didn’t exactly apologize, but the next day she would show up with a mystery novel she thought I might enjoy. Over the years, this became our routine. She could be tough, but she also respected me as a person and a colleague, and for that I am eternally grateful. Even during these last few months, she was full of humor and still loved to keep up with everything that was going on… Every time I walk through the College of Nursing building and see a paper taped to a wall I still think of her and in her honor, I frequently rip it off. After all, that’s what she would have done.”
—   Denise Passmore, PhD, assistant professor and media and communications director, USF College of Nursing, who was hired by Dr. Burns in 2003.

USF Health leadership cut the ribbon to mark the grand opening of the WELL Phase II.

The new community space at the USF Health WELL is now open for business, offering a new dining facility, The Table at Four Corners, among other beneficial additions for interdisciplinary student and faculty use.

In grand USF style, the ribbon-cutting ceremony included USF Health leadership and excited students thrilled to have the long awaited space, part of Phase II of the total project. Everything from the choice of food to the selection of the furniture came from student input and ideas.

“This is a space for students to gather together, to nurture and support one another, located in the heart of the USF Health campus,” said Joe Ford, assistant vice president for USF Health Shared Student Services. Ford and colleagues worked tirelessly alongside student leaders to bring the concept of the community space to fruition.

Joe Ford, assistant vice president for USF Health Shared Student Services, kicked off the grand opening celebration.

“This is really a day to celebrate USF Health,” said Charles Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine. “The WELL is the glue that brings all the different student groups together to create a culture of connectivity and wellness.”

Charles Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, shared his excitement for the new facility.

The expansion not only includes a new dining area for students, but also a patio area, study rooms, a serenity room and a lactation room. The WELL has over 12,000 square feet of indoor space and 3,000 square feet of landscaped patio space to accommodate students and faculty.

Former Advisory Board student member and USF alum, Ruan Cox, PhD, describes the WELL as “a shared space that impacts all disciplines.” Cox was part of the initial planning of the WELL through the Student Advisory Board and emphasized that student ideas really do impact the growth and development of USF Health as a whole. “This space was designed by us and for us,” Cox said.

University of South Florida College of Nursing student Cecelia Ferguson shared her excitement about the dining options available at The Table at Four Corners, a name decided on through a naming contest to represent the four USF Health Colleges coming together over a meal at the new WELL space. “The selection of The Rising Roll Gourmet Café is the result of a student taste-off last year,” Ferguson said. “This café will provide healthy food options, such as vegan and vegetarian offerings, which is really great for healthy food choices.”

USF Health students Nathanael Stanley, Cecelia Ferguson, Rocky the Bull, Lauren Terpak, Reema Rifaie, Stephen Brock and USF Alum Ruan Cox, PhD, shared what the WELL means for students.

Rising Roll Gourmet is part of the newly expanded dining area that also includes a Central Market convenience store. Both locations will be housed within The Table at Four Corners.“We are honored to be a part of the food service offering at USF and appreciate their commitment to fresh gourmet food. We look forward to serving the students, faculty, and staff,” said Mike Lassiter, president of the Rising Roll Franchising Company.

Starting Monday, Rising Roll Gourmet will be open  7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. Central Market hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday.

The WELL phase II expansion has attained Gold LEED certification status, incorporating sustainable options wherever possible. The design favors green and gold accents to complement USF colors and has lots of details to remind students to “Be well, live well and eat well.”

Morsani College of Medicine student Lauren Terpak was involved in the initial grand opening of phase I of The WELL, and was particularly pleased with the Leadership and Learning Room that will be available to students.“The name says it all,” Terpak said. “It’s a place for greatness, where ideas, collaborations between disciplines, and new friendships continue to shape health care, starting now in our USF community and beyond.”

The next part of the project, Phase III, is expected to bring a fitness center, set to open in Spring 2017, and an additional 12,600 square feet of space that is still being planned by Shared Student Services.

School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences student Stephen Brock is encouraged by the new fitness facility being developed. “The fitness center at the WELL is going to be a central addition to the USF Health community, “ Brock said. “With a myriad of exercise modalities offering, spanning from group classes to state-of-the-art equipment, this facility can meet a majority of health and fitness needs.”

College of Pharmacy student Reema Rifaie shared the importance of adding the Serenity Room, a space to promote overall student wellness. “The serenity room offers students a place to pray, meditate or simply seek a quiet moment in the midst of all the challenges they may face with academics and busy schedules.”

USF College of Public Health student Nathanael Stanley shared his excitement about the sense of community that the dining facility will bring for students at USF Health. “I have to admit I’m excited about the new dining center,” Stanley said. “I love food. I also understand its significance to society. Food is a method of celebration. It brings people together.”

The interdisciplinary collaboration and sense of community of a shared space for USF students and faculty is the main theme of the USF Health WELL, and now, with this official opening, let the connectivity and positivity of the environment bring on that sense of togetherness. Let the good times roll!

USF Health community gathered on the new patio space to celebrate the opening of the WELL’s phase II

Photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Office of Communications