Since the FIU Nursing Program began in 1972, we have always strived for the fulfillment of FIU Nursing’s core priorities. As our mission, values and leadership has evolved, we have remained committed to improving access for talented nursing students, attracting the best and brightest faculty who are educating and training the nursing workforce.
Our journey has been made possible through the generosity of our supporters, and the college is encouraging those celebrating this major milestone in the history of FIU Nursing with us today to give back to the college and support the nurses following in their footsteps.
By making a gift to support student scholarships today or providing a bequest in your will to support future generations of nurses, you can establish your legacy.
Gifts that transformed FIU Nursing
Dr. Herbert and Nicole Wertheim
In September 2013, Dr. Herbert and Nicole Wertheim's transformational gift of $10 million became the living canvas on which the future of the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences will be forever illustrated.
From that day on, the Wertheim family's support has served as a catalyst in student assistance and enrichment for our graduate programs. Their philanthropic investment in three Wertheim Family Endowed Chairs propels our college's research endeavors to new heights, allowing our highly regarded nurse researchers Dr. Tami Thomas, Dr. Trudy Gaillard, and Dr. Ellen L. Brown to continue to create positive impacts in the lives of countless patients, students, practitioners, and educators.
The Wertheim family's unwavering and ongoing engagement reflects their commitment to clinical and interdisciplinary research, student scholarships, faculty excellence, and the overarching belief that the best healthcare is delivered when health professionals work together as a team.
Diane Ramy Faulconer, BS, RN, MSM '74
Diane is FIU’s #1 alumna as a benefactor to FIU, and she is a founding 1974 graduate of the Bachelor’s in Health Sciences Program at the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences and completed her Master’s in Management at the College of Business in 1974.
Diane received the FIU Torch Award in March 2015 as a College of Nursing alumna, the prestigious FIU Commencement Medallion as Outstanding Alumna in 2016, and the FIU Alumni of the Year Award in 2018. She has provided transformational philanthropic investments to name and endow the Diane Ramy Faulconer Simulation, Teaching and Research (STAR) Center, the Diane Ramy Faulconer Collaborative Advanced Collaborative Advanced Rehabilitation/Research & Education (CARE) Center, scholarships for graduate nursing and health sciences students, and a legacy gift to FIU for student scholarships.
Your Gifts in Action
Support the Nurses of Tomorrow
Establishing a scholarship in your name or the name of someone you wish to honor will expand the pipeline for highly skilled, compassionate nursing graduates serving their communities. For some students, a few hundred dollars can make the difference for continuing their education and reaching their goals.
“A scholarship, regardless of the size, can provide students the opportunity to achieve their dreams. Establishing a scholarship is a great way to honor a loved one or celebrate your time at FIU.”
- Diane Ramy Faulconer BS, RN, MSM ’74
Funding Excellence in Nursing Student Education
A generous gift of $250,000 from two longtime supporters of the college and FIU has established the Jorge M. Pérez and Darlene Boytell-Pérez 50th Anniversary of Nursing Scholarship Endowment.
We invite everyone to make a gift to enhance this important endowment, commemorating this important milestone in the history of our program while creating new opportunities for nursing students who demonstrate outstanding scholastic aptitude and passion for the nursing profession.
HCA Healthcare and HCA East Florida Division have donated $1.5M to help increase recruitment for FIU's Nurse Educator programs and expand the number of registered nurses qualified to teach in nursing programs, helping FIU Nursing take a proactive approach to the problem of shorthanded hospitals and healthcare systems across the country.
Memorial Healthcare System is partnering with the college to increase the nursing workforce by providing undergraduate nursing students with financial resources and career opportunities, as well as supporting a pediatric nursing professorship to directly impact the clinical teaching of bedside nursing care.
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital has been a longtime supporter of the FIU Nursing Program through establishing the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Nursing Scholarship Endowment, a gift to the new building to name the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Resource Room, and providing financial support for the Nicklaus Scholars Program for undergraduate nursing students who will work at the hospital.
Jackson Health System is one of FIU Nursing’s earliest partners and has provided clinical rotations for our student throughout the years. In addition, they are providing financial support for undergraduate nursing students to become Jackson Scholars who will go on to work at Jackson Health System.
Baptist Health South Florida is partnering with the college to increase the nursing workforce pipeline by providing undergraduate nursing students with financial resources and career opportunities—addressing the growing Florida nurse shortage that is projected to be 60,000 by 2035.
Helene Fuld Health Trust has contributed significantly to scholarships for Accelerated Option Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Foreign Educated Physician to Nurse Program students. Their organization continues to make a significant impact on educating and training the diverse nursing workforce in the region.
The Hugoton Foundation has supported FIU Nursing since 2004, especially with their Wallace Gilroy Nursing Research Endowment, gifts for simulation equipment and manikins, and virtual simulation curriculum during COVID-19 to keep nursing students on track to graduate and prepare for patient care. We remember and honor the life of Joan K. Stout, RN, Former President of the Hugoton Foundation.
The Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation has supported transformational scholarships for undergraduate nursing students with outstanding academic achievement since 2008. They are dedicated to providing resources to scholarships for deserving students with unmet financial need in schools across nine southeastern states.
The Peacock Foundation has generously supported undergraduate nursing scholarships, the FIU Panther Protection Fund and the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine since 2011. The impact of the foundation’s giving continues to make an impact on the nursing shortage, improving the healthcare of Miami-Dade County residents and supporting FIU students with need.
The Health Foundation of South Florida has been a transformational supporter to the Nursing Program and FIU since 1996, including the “Grow Our Own” Nursing Faculty Initiative, nursing student scholarships, FIU Research, FIU Start Up and the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. They continue to make an impact on South Florida as a catalyst for collaborations, policy and systems change to improve the health of vulnerable low-to moderate-income populations.
Proud alumnus Raul A. Chavez '80 and his wife Dr. Angela M. Martinez support student emergency funds and pledged a planned gift to establish the Raul A. Chavez and Dr. Angela M. Martinez STAR Center and CARE Center Optimization Endowment for staffing and technology.
John and Mary Lou Dasburg have been longtime transformational supporters of the Nursing Program and the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. Their generous gift to the college’s endowment has supported the priority needs of the college and the naming of the Dean’s Office Suite and the College’s Student Services office.
Dr. Stuart I. Harris and family chose to honor the life and legacy of FIU Nursing alumna Yanet S. Harris, RN '97 through the establishment of the Yanet S. Harris, RN Memorial Scholarship Endowment, which provides full-tuition scholarships to undergraduate nursing students that share Yanet's passion to make the most of their nursing career.
Pamela Garrison, RN and the late R. Kirk Landon are longstanding transformational supporters of the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences' endowment, FIU College of Business, and FIU Athletics. Their generosity has paved the way to support the highest needs of the college throughout the years with the naming of the Pamela Garrison RN Mock Scrub Area in the Simulation, Teaching and Research (STAR) Center.
Dr. Charles Buscemi and Jose Martinez '12 are committed to FIU Nursing and established a planned gift for the Dean’s Discretionary Fund, as well as support for an annual scholarship for an undergraduate nursing student who self-identifies as LGBTQ.
Dr. Audrey Miller '95, a longtime FIU nursing faculty, and her family established scholarships for undergraduate nursing students with financial need to honor the life and professional achievements of her late mother pictured above, Nurista “Shirley” Vernon, RN.
Dr. Kathleen Blais '74, Professor Emerita is a longstanding support of FIU Nursing and has invested in funding for faculty development to ensure nursing faculty have the resources to pursue scholarship and research. In addition, she is a member of the Dean’s Leadership Council and has established a planned gift for the college.
Help Attract Luminary Faculty
A gift to establish a faculty chair or professorship will ensure that FIU Nursing students learn from and are mentored by top faculty in high-demand fields.
Fund New Discoveries in Health Care
Your support will help faculty and doctoral students conduct research needed to secure competitive federal grants. Your generosity may also fund stipends for graduate assistants and post-doctoral fellows, paving the way for nurses who will raise the bar in health care practice and education.
Honor a Loved One
You can choose to honor a family member, a special nurse, or faculty member that was influential in your nursing education or the life and memory of a loved one as we celebrate this special moment in our history.
The family of Analise Dlugasch chose to honor the life and legacy of FIU alumna Analise Dlugasch ’11 through establishing the Analise Dlugasch Memorial Endowment to support training and certification for Basic, Cardiac and Pediatric Life Support training and scholarships for students interested in basic life support initiatives.
Consider making a gift to the Analise Dlugasch Memorial Endowment if you wish to support basic life-saving initiatives in the name of our late alumna.
Find More Ways to Get Involved
Whether you are looking to underwrite or sponsor one of our 50th Anniversary of FIU Nursing events or make a gift to support a purpose important to you, we appreciate the generous support from friends of the college looking for additional opportunities to support FIU Nursing.