Florman Family Foundation donates more than $200,000 for nursing scholarships

Donation addresses nursing shortage by providing scholarships to nursing faculty at UM and Miami Dade College to pursue doctoral degrees at the University of Miami

The United States is facing a critical shortage of nurses with no sign of abating, and the problem is especially severe in South Florida. A generous donation of more than $200,000 from the Florman Family Foundation, Inc. to Miami Dade College’s School of Nursing and the University of Miami’s School of Nursing and Health Studies is helping to address this shortage by increasing the ranks of doctoral faculty at both institutions.

MDC’s School of Nursing was awarded $112,000, and UM’s School of Nursing and Health Studies received $90,000. The MDC gift will provide four scholarships to existing faculty in the MDC School of Nursing at the school’s Medical Center Campus who wish to pursue a Doctorate in Nursing Practice at the University of Miami. The UM gift will provide three scholarships to current UM instructors for the same program. Graduates will commit to teaching at their respective institutions upon completion of the program.

Having more faculty with doctoral degrees enables MDC to enhance its fledging Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program. Increasing the number of nursing faculty at UM will enable its nursing school to increase capacity in its BSN program, which is now in its 60th year.

“We are delighted to assist the faculty at these fine institutions with their pursuit of an advanced degree that will help develop greater capacity in this community to address the nursing shortage,” said Mark Blank, chairman of the Florman Family Foundation, Inc.

The Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) represents an important advancement in the evolution of the nursing profession. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing, National Academy of Sciences, and several other professional organizations have called for moving the current level of preparation for advanced specialty nursing practice from the master’s degree level to the doctorate level by the year 2015.

Launched in January 2009, the University of Miami’s Doctorate in Nursing Practice Program addresses this need by preparing nurses for the most advanced levels of nursing practice. The new program will enable the school to address the nursing shortage by increasing the number of clinical experts qualified to teach at the graduate and undergraduate levels. The 12-month curriculum, which has a unique focus on health disparities, features an executive-education format with classes held on one long weekend per month.

“We are grateful to the Florman Family Foundation for making this generous donation and serving as an example for others to follow. Now, more than ever, we need to do things that expand educational opportunities for our faculty and students and, ultimately, positively impact our community,” said Anita Kaplan, president of MDC’s Medical Center Campus. “We are also excited on again partnering with such a renowned institution in the University of Miami.”

“Educating more doctorally prepared nurses is central to our school’s mission,” said Nilda Peragallo, dean of UM’s School of Nursing and Health Studies at UM. “This wonderful gift from the Florman Foundation and the partnership with Miami Dade College will help us to address the needs of the nursing profession.”

Marv and Betty Florman, longtime Miamians, were committed to supporting the community that meant so much to them when they moved here many years ago. Since their passing, the trustees of the Florman Family Foundation have been committed to funding programs and organizations that were of importance to Marv and Betty. The foundation focuses on education, social welfare, nursing, and the arts. While they do not accept applications, the trustees continue to ensure that contributions meet a wide range of needs and support organizations that provide quality service to this community.