GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA — Gwynedd Mercy University marked a major milestone on Thursday, September 25, 2025, with the grand opening of the Frances M. Maguire ’55 Healthcare Innovation Center (HIC), a 63,000-square-foot academic facility designed to address Pennsylvania’s urgent healthcare workforce shortages. Nearly one in five nursing positions in the state remain unfilled, underscoring the center’s timely debut.
The HIC, made possible by a $10 million gift from the Maguire Foundation in honor of alumna Frances M. Maguire ’55, is now the largest academic building on the university’s campus. It serves as the cornerstone of the Frances M. Maguire Healthcare Innovation Campus and welcomed students at the start of the fall semester.
“For more than 70 years, GMercyU has distinguished itself as a leader in preparing healthcare professionals who combine clinical excellence with genuine compassion,” said Deanne H. D’Emilio, JD, president of GMercyU. “With the opening of the Frances M. Maguire Healthcare Innovation Center, we are extending that legacy and positioning our students to meet today’s workforce demands and shape tomorrow’s care.”
The facility includes nine skills labs, 15 simulation rooms, and specialized learning environments ranging from ICU and maternity rooms to home care settings. It also houses the Frances Cannata Stimmler ’66 and Joseph Stimmler Inspiration Station, a multifunctional space for large-scale simulations and emergency preparedness drills with community partners, as well as the Jie Du, PhD Healthcare Innovation Commons, a two-story collaborative atrium. Advanced training technology includes a Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Teaching (VERT) system, an ASL-5000 lung simulator, and high-fidelity manikins.
Dr. Jane Tang, dean of the Frances M. Maguire College of Nursing and Health Professions, called the center “a model for how healthcare education should be delivered.” She noted that students will train in settings that replicate real-world practice, combining teamwork and technology to improve patient outcomes.
Beyond clinical training, the HIC supports GMercyU’s Compassionate Care Collaborative, which connects the university with regional health systems, nonprofits, and employers to expand the pipeline of qualified healthcare workers. The initiative will introduce programs in telehealth, behavioral health, and integrated care, while advancing the use of artificial intelligence to improve patient equity and experience. Partnerships will also provide scholarships and loan repayment opportunities tied to employment commitments.
“The opening of the HIC is a milestone for Gwynedd Mercy University and a tribute to the life and legacy of our beloved alumna, Frannie Maguire,” D’Emilio said. “It represents our vision for the future of healthcare education — one rooted in the Mercy tradition and focused on preparing students to address the healthcare needs of today and tomorrow with precision and compassion.”
The university is continuing to seek philanthropic support for classroom, lab, and collaborative space naming opportunities as the HIC begins its role in shaping the next generation of healthcare leaders.
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