Third consecutive appropriation brings total state investment to $3.1 million as region's hospitals compete for nurses, surgical techs and dental hygienists.
WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) will expand and update nursing and allied health programs after receiving an $850,000 appropriation from the Florida Legislature. This is the third straight year lawmakers have funded the Institute for Nursing & Allied Health Advancement (Institute), which was formed to close the region's health care staffing gaps.
The Institute was established at PHSC with a $1.5 million appropriation secured by Representative Randy Maggard and Senator Danny Burgess in 2024. That support continued with an additional $750,000 appropriation in 2025. With this year's funding of $850,000, the state has now committed roughly $3.1 million to the effort.
PHSC has begun directing the state’s investment into the following initiatives:
- $800,000 to expand the college’s simulation center, providing students with realistic clinicals using advanced manikins, virtual reality, and actors without risking real patient safety
- $150,000 to provide 12 additional seats for prospective students in future dental hygiene cohort.
- $300,000 to increase enrollment in Nursing Programs
- $5,000 in scholarships for 25 students, 6th-12th grade, to attend health care career camps, at no cost to their families
These initiatives will assist in training the people who staff the exam rooms, operating rooms and emergency vehicles across Pasco and Hernando counties: registered nurses, radiographers, surgical technologists, medical assistants and phlebotomists. Most finish training to graduate in two years or less and go to work locally.
Keeping talent local is important considering the growth of Pasco County. The county has grown roughly 15 percent in five years and now sits near 650,000 residents, with local business leaders projecting a march toward 1 million. Every one of those residents needs qualified health care professionals covering a range of specialties. Partnerships with local leaders in healthcare ensure the Institute is there to assist in meeting that need.
"It is inspiring to come together with healthcare leaders from across our community, recognize the challenges we share, and partner with an institution so deeply committed to workforce development. Together, we are helping build the systems and talent pipeline needed to ensure our communities continue to receive the care they need for years to come," said Sally Seymour, CEO of HCA Florida’s Bayonet Point Hospital.
“This continued investment from the Florida Legislature allows PHSC to respond directly to one of our region’s most pressing workforce needs,” said PHSC President Eric Hall. “By expanding access to high-quality nursing and allied health education, we are creating more opportunities for students to enter meaningful careers while ensuring our local health care providers have the skilled professionals they need to serve a rapidly growing community.”
The Institute operates as a working table between the college and the region's health care employers. Its Executive Council, which met last Friday at the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, includes executives from PHSC leadership and faculty, and members of the PHSC District Board of Trustees and PHSC Foundation. The Institute is led by Director of Strategic Initiatives, Virginia Whitaker.
The state money follows a $500,000 gift from Orlando Health in August 2025 to support the Institute's work.
About Pasco-Hernando State College
Pasco-Hernando State College serves students across Pasco and Hernando counties with academic, workforce and career education programs, including more than a dozen nursing and allied health programs that feed the region's hospitals, clinics and emergency services.