Advancing Education, Research, and Collaboration Together
Dear CNHS Community,
This fall semester has marked significant progress for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
From a generous gift that expands student opportunities to impactful research and interprofessional initiatives, our community continues to move forward with purpose and collaboration. As we look ahead, we remain committed to building on this momentum and creating even more opportunities for learning, discovery, and partnership. Here’s a look at some of the highlights:
Historic $16 Million Estate Gift UVM received its largest-ever estate gift to expand nursing scholarships, opening doors for future generations of nurses.
Largest-Ever White Coat Ceremony The Nursing program welcomed its biggest cohort yet, celebrating this meaningful tradition that marks the start of their professional journey.
New Anatomy Lab Opens We are excited to announce the opening of our state-of-the-art anatomy lab, which will enhance our students' learning experience.
CNHS Fall Research Series Launch A new platform debuted to spotlight faculty scholarship and foster interdisciplinary dialogue.
Faculty Grants CNHS faculty secured significant research funding this fall, receiving $900,000 as primary investigators and contributing as co-investigators on an additional $1.4 million in funded projects.
Graduate Program Early Admission We offered early admission to 11 students in our graduate programs in Communication Sciences & Disorders, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy.
I hope you’ll take time to read more about our community’s accomplishments in this newsletter, and I wish you an enjoyable winter break.
Noma Anderson Dean, College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Historic $16M Estate Gift Will Expand Nursing Scholarships
The largest gift to UVM’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences will help address nursing shortage in Vermont and nationally.
The CNHS Research Series is designed to highlight innovative scholarship and foster interdisciplinary dialogue across the university and healthcare community.
As part of its ongoing commitment to equitable, patient-centered health education, CNHS participated in the 2025 Health Equity Summit at the UVM Davis Center. In this Q&A, Dean Anderson discusses the role of health equity within CNHS and how the Health Equity Summit’s themes align with the college’s mission to prepare compassionate health leaders.
Researcher Nancy Gell Leads CDC-Funded Tele-Exercise Pilot for 9/11 Responders
Nancy Gell, associate professor in the Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science, has received a $499,989 grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to pilot a tele-exercise program for World Trade Center responders, a population experiencing higher rates of an aggressive form of prostate cancer.
A Student’s Mission to Transform Emergency Response
Owen St. Aubin graduated in 2025 with a degree in Public Health Sciences, drawn to the program for its broad foundation in health and medicine. Initially planning to pursue medical school, Owen has since shifted his focus to nursing, a path he plans to follow after completing his upcoming deployment with the Vermont Army National Guard.
