Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

A vibrant contingent of students from the Nursing and Physician Assistant (PA) programs within St. John’s University’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences recently had the opportunity to tour the multimillion-dollar St. Vincent Health Sciences Center set to open in the fall on the Queens, NY, campus.

Guided by Tobias Bisharat, Project Director of Space Management from the Department of Design and Construction, the students donned hardhats and safety vests as they explored the still-under-construction site. "There is more to this building than meets the eye," explained Mr. Bisharat.

The students learned about the building's energy-efficient design plans, including the use of geothermal energy and solar panels to reduce energy consumption. Emma DerGarabedian, a second-year Nursing student, expressed her excitement about the new facility, stating, "We’re all super excited to have our own home and to have this brand-new, innovative learning space designed just for us."

Dr. Francine Laterza, Chair and Associate Professor of the Department of Nursing, shared her delight in the progress of the facility, stating, "I am so pleased to see the progress that has been made on this wonderful facility that will house our students this coming fall."

The tour also included Alex Sanchez, a student in the PA program, who reflected on the progress of the building, saying, "I saw the signs that said, ‘Coming in Fall 2024,’ and it really piqued my interest in the PA program. Now that I have toured the building, it's really a full-circle moment to see how far it has come."

First-year PA student Nia Rivera expressed her surprise and excitement about the new facility, stating, "I honestly didn't know that a new building was on the way when I enrolled, so it was a pleasant surprise when I got here. It's a challenging program, so having a new home like this will certainly benefit us all."

Reflecting on the community within the Nursing program, Carolyn observed, "As a member of the first Nursing cohort, I believe our community is strong and only going to grow stronger."

The students' enthusiasm and anticipation for the new state-of-the-art facility at St. Vincent Health Sciences Center highlight a promising future for healthcare education at St. John’s University.