Florida State University has received a $10 million donation from The Fairholme Foundation to expand its nursing education and innovation efforts in Northwest Florida. This contribution is the largest ever made to FSU’s College of Nursing and will support the launch of an undergraduate nursing program at the university’s Panama City campus.
FSU President Richard McCullough stated, “We are so grateful for this gift from Bruce and Tracey Berkowitz and the Fairholme Foundation. This transformative gift represents an extraordinary commitment to the future of health care in Panama City and Northwest Florida. By supporting the education and innovation of the next generation of nurses, this investment will strengthen our local communities, improve access to care, and ensure that residents receive the highest quality of health services for years to come.”
The funding aims to address a significant nursing shortage in Northwest Florida by creating scholarships for students from Bay, Walton, and Gulf counties who intend to work locally after graduation. The donation will also be used for advanced technologies and faculty research focused on healthcare for aging populations.
With projections indicating that Florida may face a shortage of 60,000 nurses by 2035, FSU’s expansion into Panama City is intended to help alleviate regional gaps in healthcare staffing. Data from the RN Work Project shows that more than half of new registered nurses remain within 40 miles of their high school after entering the workforce, while over three-quarters stay within their home state.
Jing Wang, dean of the FSU College of Nursing, said, “At the FSU College of Nursing, we are boldly rising to lead the future of health care — from pioneering digital health and smart home innovations to expanding access to high-quality nursing education across Florida. This historic gift empowers us to bring that vision to Northwest Florida, preparing exceptional nurses while advancing innovative care models that will shape the health of our communities for generations to come. With the Berkowitz family’s extraordinary generosity, we can provide the care needed today while positioning Florida State as a national and global leader in transforming health care through nursing.”
Bruce Berkowitz serves as founder and chief investment officer at Fairholme Capital Management and leads The Fairholme Foundation alongside his wife Tracey. The foundation supports projects related to arts, sciences, medicine, entrepreneurship, and education.
FSU also plans further investments by renovating facilities, acquiring equipment, and hiring faculty for its expanded nursing program in Panama City. The initiative will operate with cooperation from FSU Panama City.
Randy Hanna, dean of FSU Panama City, commented: “This extraordinary gift is a true investment in the future of Panama City. It opens doors for our students, empowering them to pursue nursing careers right here at home and equipping them with the skills and support to serve and strengthen health care in our community.”
Jorge Gonzalez—president and CEO of The St. Joe Company as well as an FSU Board member—noted that this development builds on recent progress such as establishing an FSU Health medical campus in Panama City Beach. He said: “This gift builds on that progress by ensuring that talented students from our region can train, stay and serve right here at home, expanding access to care and strengthening the health of our communities for generations to come.”
FSU recently launched a Smart Health Home Initiative based at Latitude Margaritaville Watersound focusing on technology-driven solutions for active adults’ well-being. Earlier this year it announced plans for an acute care hospital under its FSU Health brand in Panama City Beach.
The College of Nursing has increased enrollment numbers amid critical workforce shortages statewide while attracting over $100 million in federal funding for healthcare research initiatives.
