A commitment of more than $22 million toward the development of cutting-edge instructional technology will enhance the readiness of Florida Gulf Coast University students to join the healthcare workforce with advanced knowledge and skills.

The Elaine Nicpon Marieb Charitable Foundation finalized the gift to FGCU’s Marieb College of Health & Human Services on June 13. The largest donation in the university’s history, this pledge will span nine years.

“This is a defining moment for Florida Gulf Coast University and the Marieb College of Health & Human Services — one that elevates the trajectory of FGCU for generations to come,” said President Aysegul Timur. “This gift directly translates into expanded opportunities for our students, faculty and research, and it will strengthen the future of healthcare in the Southwest Florida community and beyond.”

This gift follows Elaine Nicpon Marieb’s generous commitment of more than $17 million to FGCU between 2011 and 2022, in recognition of which the college and Marieb Hall bear her name. Contributions made to the university by Marieb and her foundation now total $39 million. Academic Building 10, the Marieb College expansion that will be under construction soon, will also be named in her honor.

The college’s dean, Shawn Felton, described the support of Marieb and her foundation as transformative. 

“The commitments have forever changed the trajectory of our college, allowing Florida Gulf Coast University to become a regional leader in healthcare education,” he said. “Through this latest gift, we will expand on our technological advances, ensuring our students are equipped with the very latest knowledge needed to excel in this fast-paced and advanced world and further expand Dr. Marieb’s legacy.”

Expanding the college’s technology

The foundation’s investment will enable the college to build on resources that have already contributed to its success, such as high-tech patient simulation labs and holographic-style imaging that allow aspiring nurses, physician assistants, physical therapists and other healthcare professionals to practice skills safely. They can listen to mannequins’ simulated heartbeats and breathing to familiarize themselves with irregularities. They can even click through digitized cadavers with real patient cases and realistic tissue physiology.

“I’m really excited to see what technology they’re going to bring in because in the real world that’s the way our field is advancing,” said grad student Gabriela Rodriguez, whose decision to pursue her master’s degree in physician assistant studies at FGCU was influenced by Marieb’s facilities.

That sentiment would likely resonate with Marieb, a scholar, educator and philanthropist who died in 2018. A distinguished author, she transformed the study of anatomy and physiology, ensuring that generations of healthcare professionals worldwide received an engaging and comprehensive foundation in the sciences.

“The Marieb Foundation strives to expand and enhance her legacy through the collaborative efforts with FGCU,” said Martin M. Wasmer, Marieb Foundation trustee. “In addition to Elaine Marieb’s passion to help others achieve personal success through education, it is our hope that we can also help expand the capabilities of FGCU to develop innovative ways to enhance learning experiences. We believe that this gift and our collaboration with FGCU provides the resources and directive to achieve these goals.”

With the visionary leadership of Timur and Felton, the foundation sees a tremendous opportunity to further Marieb’s legacy, said trustee Libby R. McHugh.

“This gift strengthens our shared mission to advance technology, improve the delivery of education and expand the capacity to train healthcare professionals,” McHugh said. “We are honored to support the continued innovation that will shape the next generation of caregivers and healthcare leaders.”

Educating for the future

The foundation’s continuing support recognizes the quality of the education Marieb students receive and its successful outcomes, according to Joseph Buhain, the college’s director of interprofessional simulation and emerging technology. FGCU graduates consistently score higher than peers from other institutions on national licensure exams, achieving 100% first-time pass rates in several program areas.

Buhain envisions creating a futuristic model of a healthcare clinic in Academic Building 10. It will feature state-of-the-art simulation, innovative artificial intelligence and virtual reality concepts revolutionizing the healthcare industry, he said.

“We can better educate students to be successful in clinical practice with the emerging technology that’s out there,” Buhain said. “It’s safer for them, for patients and for hospitals. They become better providers, and the community becomes safer.” 

By immersing students in lifelike scenarios, Marieb College empowers a new generation of healthcare professionals equipped to tackle real-world challenges with confidence.