JAMAICA — St. John’s University marked a new era in its Vincentian mission to address issues of poverty and social justice on Wednesday, Sept. 18, with the dedication of the new St. Vincent Health Sciences Center. 

The 70,000-square-foot building, which cost $106 million, provides a new state-of-the-art training complex for hundreds of St. John’s students studying to become radiologists, physician assistants, pharmacists, and nurses. 

The facility includes laboratories with the latest technology, patient-simulation mannequins, and virtual reality technology — plus outdoor terraces with skyline views. 

Some of the technology was on display during guided tours of the new labs. 

Junior nursing student Ariana Milom, who lives in Middle Village, showed learning techniques on the mannequins. 

“Once you step in here, you really get into that mindset and environment of what a hospital would be like,” said Milom, a graduate of St. Margaret Catholic Academy, Middle Village, and Archbishop Molloy High School. 

“Here, you get to apply all the skills that you learn from classes,” she added. “And once you’re in here, you get to do it hands-on, and it really feels like you’re in a hospital.” 

Dr. Francine Laterza, chair of the nursing program, noted that the program began a couple of years ago with 39 students. 

“Then we jumped to 149,” she said. “And  we just welcomed another incoming class last week of 141. So, we have grown by leaps and bounds.” 

University leaders, faculty, and students were joined by elected officials and other distinguished guests at the dedication ceremony. 

Father Brian Shanley, the university’s president, told the audience that the new center represents a modern interpretation of the early works of the Congregation of Mission (the Vincentians) and the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, who provided compassionate medical care to the poor. 

He added the building is a testament to St. John’s dedication to advancing St. Vincent de Paul’s passion for service and compassion. 

“That’s what we’re educating our nurses and our PAs to do,” Father Shanley said. “Care for, with compassion, people from all walks of life, and especially those who are poor.” 

Dr. Anne Lin, dean of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and host of the ceremony, said health care is a perfect arena to practice the Vincentian mission. 

“It is important to remember — and what is most exciting — is what takes place in the building, and what that means beyond the walls of the university,” Lin said. “The students’ learning experiences, engagement with each other, and faculty is what will ensure our graduates are practice-ready and team-ready.” 

Laterza described the skills lab that is equipped with bed-ridden mannequins. 

“All of these mannequins have the capability for students to listen to their hearts and their lungs,” Laterza told The Tablet. “They can breathe, and they can blink. The only thing that they can’t do is sit up and walk out.” 

Laterza is a registered nurse and a pediatric nurse practitioner. 

“When I was in school in 1990, we did not have any of this available,” she said. “It was textbooks, our notebooks, and our brains. So, all this technology is so important for the students of today.” 

Giuliana Fusco of Williston Park, also a junior in nursing, said she began her education at St. John’s without knowing about the nursing program but enrolled in it as soon as she could. 

“When I found out that I had the opportunity to be in the inaugural cohort of students, that was super exciting for me,” she said. “And with the new building, it’s really giving us that push into the real heart of our healthcare education.”