Press Release from Elizabeth Humphries
Panama City, FL – Gulf Coast State College held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Nursing and Simulation Center on its Panama City Campus on Thursday, February 26, 2026. Members of the community, along with over 100 students and faculty, were in attendance to support the groundbreaking event.
The Nursing and Simulation Center will provide our students and the community with a resource that includes real-world experience in the nursing fields, virtual-reality learning, and state-of-the-art simulation labs to prepare our students for the high-demand careers available in our service area and across the state.
“The new center is projected to produce over 900 nurses, close to 300 CNAs, over 60 Registered Nurse Surgical First Assistants, and over 200 combined Emergency Professionals (EMTs, Paramedics, and Respiratory Care Professionals),” says Nursing Division Chair Dr. Keri Matheus. “We will provide students with advanced training who will achieve more than 2,500 healthcare-related certifications, creating the region’s most skilled and qualified workforce.”
At over 31,000 square feet, the facility will house two 11-bed clinical skills labs, two 80-seat classrooms, a 4-bed hospital suite, a 6-bed multi-purpose simulation lab, and a student success lab.
“Today marks an important step forward for Gulf Coast State College and for the future of healthcare in our region. The Nursing and Simulation Center will give our students hands-on, real-world training using the latest technology, so they graduate ready to step into high-demand nursing careers,” states Glen McDonald, President of Gulf Coast State College. “This investment strengthens our college, supports our local healthcare partners, and helps ensure our community has the skilled professionals it needs.”
For more information, please contact Katie McCurdy at (850) 872-3814 or kmccurdy2@gulfcoast.edu.
Marisa Weiman
Station Manager of The AlterNation
Marisa is the Station Manager of The AlterNation, a dynamic and student-led HD3 radio station. The station provides students with a platform to hone various skills in radio production, from content creation to broadcasting and audio editing.
