FDU Gains State Funding for Acute Care Simulation Clinic
July 8, 2025 – Fairleigh Dickinson University has received a state appropriation of $753,000 to support the development and advancement of an Acute Care Simulation Clinic at the Metropolitan Campus to address healthcare workforce shortages and improve patient safety and outcomes. This funding will also support the efforts of FDU HealthPath Forward, an interdisciplinary initiative launched to tackle the growing crisis of healthcare workforce shortages through training programs, strategic industry and community partnerships, and the integration of cutting-edge technology into healthcare education.
“We are honored by this important appropriation that will make a significant difference for the next generation of healthcare professionals,” said FDU President Michael Avaltroni. “Fairleigh Dickinson University is taking a primary role in shaping the future of healthcare education and this grant recognizes our commitment to that goal and will help further our progress in this critical realm. We greatly appreciate the support by the state to expand our efforts.”
“Fairleigh Dickinson University is working hard to bolster our healthcare workforce, and this new Acute Care Simulation Clinic will greatly advance their mission,” said New Jersey Senator Gordon Johnson, who sponsored the budget resolution. “Providing students with the opportunity to gain realistic, hands-on training in a safe environment will give them the expertise and confidence needed to succeed in today’s healthcare landscape. Our hospitals, patients and communities will all benefit from the highly skilled professionals this lab will help develop.”
The clinic will be housed in Dickinson Hall and will be managed by the Henry P. Becton College of Nursing and Allied Health — one of three FDU colleges united in the division of FDU Health. Dean Annie Rohan said, “The concept of this Acute Care Simulation Clinic has been long embraced by the University and this funding has accelerated our implementation timeline to a Summer 2026 opening. It comes at an exciting time when our nursing programs are seeing highest-ever levels of student success; our radiography, medical imaging, clinical laboratory science and other allied health programs are in great demand; and we are preparing to launch the first program in northern New Jersey to prepare respiratory therapists at the bachelor-degree level. This simulation laboratory is expected to run morning to night, to support the education and collaboration of these many diverse, capable and motivated interprofessional students.”
The Acute Care Simulation Clinic will feature state-of-the-art technology in a space that replicates a real-world urgent care patient bay, providing interprofessional students with a safe environment to practice teamwork and develop skills in assessing patients with chronic medical conditions, including those with superimposed acute illness. Students will practice handling oxygen-delivery systems, central venous catheters, pacemakers, implantable drug-delivery pumps, and other medical devices now commonly used in the home to better develop clinical acumen in discerning acute health issues that need immediate attention from common underlying chronic conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The immersive training offered in this lab addresses the shift in the healthcare needs of our population, whereby many more people with complex conditions, including the frail elderly, are now residing at home with a variety of pharmacotherapeutics and medical technologies. New curriculum associated with the clinic will especially focus on facilitating transitions of care, medication reconciliation, and the delivery of compassionate, person-centered, evidence-informed care.
Simulation laboratories play an integral role in addressing healthcare workforce shortages by providing students with the hands-on training needed to transition quickly and effectively into a clinical role, without compromising the quality of education. By bridging gaps between classroom theory and clinical practice, students are fully prepared for healthcare roles as soon as they graduate. This enhanced training ultimately supports quicker entry of well-prepared professionals into the workforce, helping to alleviate the pressure caused by workforce shortages in healthcare settings.
“This FY2026 state appropriation of $753,000 will provide the next generation of healthcare professionals with the essential tools and knowledge needed to address the acute healthcare needs of patients and help alleviate workforce shortages,” President Avaltroni said. “As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, it is crucial to ensure that students are equipped to navigate an increasingly complex system and deliver improved patient care and outcomes. Investing in educational healthcare programs like the Acute Care Simulation Clinic is vital for developing a highly skilled workforce capable of meeting the healthcare challenges of the future.”
Avaltroni added, “FDU extends its sincere appreciation to Senator Gordon Johnson, Senator Angela McKnight and Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter for their leadership in sponsoring this critical budget resolution. Their advocacy, along with the steadfast support of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus, was instrumental in advancing this initiative. The appropriation also received bipartisan support in the Legislature, with lawmakers from both parties signing on as cosponsors, including members representing Bergen and Morris counties and several proud FDU alumni currently serving in the Statehouse. The University is grateful for this broad coalition of champions working to invest in FDU’s mission and the future of New Jersey’s students.”
About Fairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson University is a globally recognized private institution of higher education committed to academic excellence, innovation and professional preparation. With campuses in New Jersey and beyond, FDU offers a wide array of programs that prepare students to excel in their fields while making meaningful contributions to society. In 2023, the University created FDU Health to combine and expand its health science and health-related programs and to nurture new initiatives in the classroom, throughout the campuses and in the community to support health and wellness. This year, FDU HealthPath Forward was unveiled to foster partnerships, innovation and collaboration to improve healthcare delivery and to build models of health and well-being on campus and beyond.