Gwynedd Mercy University has officially opened its new Frances M. Maguire ’55 Healthcare Innovation Center, a 63,000 square foot facility designed to train the next generation of healthcare professionals. The center is the largest academic building on campus and serves as the centerpiece of the larger Frances M. Maguire Healthcare Innovation Campus. The timing of the opening is especially important as many nursing positions are still open in Pennsylvania and other areas of the healthcare field are also experiencing staffing shortages.
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This project was made possible by a $10 million donation from the Maguire Foundation, in honor of alumna Frances M. Maguire ’55. The HIC has already started welcoming students this fall, who are beginning their training in its state-of-the-art facilities. Deanne H. D’Emilio, JD, President of GMercyU, highlighted that the university has long combined clinical expertise with compassionate care. She noted that the new building extends this mission and addresses the urgent need for skilled healthcare workers.
Inside the HIC, students will have access to hands-on training environments that closely resemble actual clinical settings. The building includes nine skills labs, 15 simulation rooms, specialized exam spaces for maternity, pediatrics, patient care, hospital ICU rooms, and even a home-care apartment simulation. There is also The Windmill Foundation Nurses’ Station and a space called the Frances Cannata Stimmler ’66 & Joseph Stimmler Inspiration Station, which hosts seminars, simulation events, and community health partnerships including emergency preparedness drills. The Jie Du, PhD Healthcare Innovation Commons is a two-story atrium where students from nursing, respiratory care, social work, psychology, computer information science, and other programs can learn together. The facility features advanced simulation technology including a VERT (Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Teaching) system, lung simulators, high-fidelity manikins, and more.
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By bringing together multiple disciplines in one location, the HIC promotes interprofessional education, preparing future graduates to work collaboratively across different fields and provide patient-centered care. Dr. Jane Tang, Dean of Nursing and Health Professions at GMercyU, noted that the new center is an example of how healthcare education should be structured—where compassion, teamwork, and technology come together to support community needs.
With the demand for healthcare workers growing faster than the supply, the HIC is more than just a building—it’s an important investment in helping to close that gap. GMercyU plans to use the center to start academic programs in areas such as telehealth, behavioral health, integrated care, and complex care. The university is also expanding partnerships through its Compassionate Care Collaborative. This initiative aims to work with health systems, community organizations, and entrepreneurs to increase the number of healthcare workers, improve access to care, and find new solutions to persistent challenges. For alumni and supporters, the opening of the HIC is an opportunity to get involved. GMercyU is offering naming opportunities for labs, classrooms, and collaborative spaces and is encouraging contributions to support students and innovation. Those interested in being part of this vision can contact Christina Riso, JD, Vice President for University Advancement .Health leaders are also welcome to explore collaboration opportunities through the Compassionate Care Collaborative.
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