Pace University Awarded $2.175 Million to Expand Healthcare Simulation Labs

New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins recently awarded BCW member Pace University $2.175 million in funding to support capital improvements and technology upgrades at its Center of Excellence in Healthcare Simulation in Pleasantville. The Center of Excellence in Healthcare Simulation—part of Pace University’s College of Health Professions— expands hands-on training opportunities for students in high-demand health programs, helping prepare more nurses and clinicians.

“The need for healthcare professionals is surging, and the shortage we face is compounded by limited training facilities and lack of faculty. Pace is a regional and national leader in health education simulation, and this investment will enable it to increase its capacity and train more nurses. The better we prepare them, the better our healthcare will be for all New Yorkers. These simulation suites allow students to learn in spaces that are modeled after emergency departments, labor and delivery rooms and clinics. They are videoed to receive playback and debriefings by their professors. I was pleased to lead the Senate when we passed legislation to encourage simulation, and I am delighted to support such high-impact learning in Westchester,” said Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

In 2021 alone, U.S. nursing schools turned away more than 91,000 qualified applicants due to a lack of faculty, facilities, and clinical placement opportunities. Recognizing the critical role simulation plays in addressing these challenges, New York State enacted legislation allowing nursing students to complete a portion of required clinical training through simulation-based experiences. Modernizing Pace’s simulation labs will allow the University to expand enrollment capacity and prepare more highly skilled, practice-ready nurses.

It is estimated that these labs will enable Pace to graduate and place more nurses at hospitals throughout the Hudson Valley; in fact, leading regional health systems, including New York-Presbyterian and Mount Sinai, have written letters of support underscoring strong employer demand for Pace nursing graduates as the University expands its training capacity.

“This investment reflects the Majority Leader’s extraordinary commitment to both education and public health,” said Pace President Marvin Krislov. “As part of our growth strategy and forward-looking transformation, we are investing in high-demand healthcare education that supports student success, strengthens our programs, and builds a pipeline of skilled professionals for the communities we serve.”