The Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing Celebrates Ribbon Cutting

The Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing Celebrates Ribbon Cutting

The new building for the Sue and Bill Gross School of Nursing addresses the future of the nursing profession and its role in advancing health equity. At the ribbon cutting ceremony held on September 19, 2023, each speaker highlighted the brilliant future of nursing and its shared role in addressing health inequities and educating nurses for the benefit of all humanity.

Among the 150 guests attending the special event were Sue Gross, family and friends, Hal Stern, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor at the University of California, Irvine, Steve Goldstein, Vice Chancellor of Health Affairs, and Brian Hervey, Vice Chancellor of Advancement. The ceremony was moderated by nursing school dean, Mark Lazenby.

Opening the program, Stern noted: “To conceptualize and build this new home for the school of nursing took strong vision and commitment, not to mention precious time and resources. But as we stand here today, not only have we established a world-class nursing school at one of the nation’s top 10 public universities, but we have also brought together researchers and leaders who are changing the face of nursing to reflect what today’s world needs in healthcare and beyond. This is the true vision and commitment.”

Goldstein followed, sharing the goal of UCI Health Affairs in bringing together the schools, the research and the delivery systems to break down silos and amplify the discover, teach, heal mission.

Dean Lazenby introduced the founders of the nursing program: Ellen Lewis, Susanne Phillips, Alison Holman, Ellen Olshansky, Susan Tiso (not present), and Adey Nyamathi, founding dean. They presented Sue Gross with a special gift to thank her for her commitment. The speakers, founders and Sue Gross then continued by cutting the ceremonial ribbon.

Dean Lazenby concluded: “Today we celebrate a major milestone, but it’s also a chance for a new beginning. A chance to take this school to a place where it performs the essential functions of training impactful nurse leaders, generating nursing knowledge, and caring for the patients and families. Everything we do here at the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing we do with humanity in mind.”

And with those words, the dean closed the ceremony and guests were all invited to tour the new building, which includes labs, classrooms, and student meeting spaces. But the highlight of the tour was the spectacular 9,500 square foot simulation lab with exam rooms, hospital beds, high-fidelity manikins and advanced audio/visual capabilities.

Guests also viewed the school timeline, newly unveiled portraits of the school’s founders as well as the art collection on loan from James Irvine Swinden and the Irvine Museum.