It is truly gratifying to be able to marvel over the many successes and hard work being accomplished at the College of Nursing. All of our faculty, students, staff, partners, colleagues, alumni and friends play a part in our success. Over this year’s issues, we are able to step back and see the “big picture” on some of our major initiatives in the college.

This issue focuses on Archer Family Health Care, or AHFC, our nurse-managed health care practice. AFHC celebrates their “Sweet 16” this year, and it’s incredible to reflect on the impact that the practice has made in its time there. It has become such an asset to our community by providing quality health care for those who most need it, and we are able to provide meaningful educational experiences for not only nursing students, but for our interprofessional colleagues as well.

As Gator Nurses, we are never satisfied with the status quo. We know there is so much left to be untapped from our nurse-managed practice. Advanced practice nurses will be one of the key cogs of providing primary care to a rapidly aging population. At AFHC, advanced practice nurses provide safe, quality, patient-centered care, and it is our hope that it will continue to be a national model. Our recent Health Resources & Services Administration-funded interprofessional program, where practitioners collaborate with patients in a personalized care plan, is but one example of the amazing things that can be done at AFHC.

I am excited for all of our alumni and friends to read about this amazing practice. If you are ever in the area, I invite you to tour Archer Family Health Care. Ask questions and learn about how you can help us grow this practice to expand patient care, influence research and scholarship and provide clinical experiences for students across our programs.

We also know our college is more than programs, a building or textbooks. It is really about our PEOPLE. Take time to read about only but a few of our exceptional faculty, students and graduates in this issue as well. All of our faculty and students benefit from private funding — from scholarships and endowed professorships to internal grants and professional development funds. The impact that these funds make are immeasurable because they fund the people behind them — the faculty and student scholars conducting research that influences patient care, the students who will be our future professional nurses and our clinicians serving patients big and small. We THANK all of you who contribute to these funds, even a small gift, which goes far in the IMPACT it can make on nursing and health care.

Anna McDaniel
Dean, UF College of Nursing