SF and UF Health partnership receive Win Phillips Town Gown Relations Award
December 5, 2025
The Santa Fe College and UF Health Nurse Training Partnership was honored Friday, Dec. 5, with the Win Phillips Town Gown Relations Award, presented at University of Florida Foundation Board of Trustees meeting.
The two institutions launched the partnership’s third year at ceremony in the Spring on the Northwest Campus.
When introducing the award on Friday, Shakira Henderson, Dean, UF College of Nursing and Chief Administrative Officer, called the partnership “a model of what happens when two anchor institutions come together to meet a critical community need."
The award was accepted by SF President Paul Broadie II and UF Health Chief Nursing Officer Leah Blackwell.
Also in attendance was SF Provost Nate Southerland, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Health Sciences Nilanjana Cabellero, and Nursing Programs Chair Tracy Ison.
The Win Phillips Town Gown Relations Award was established in 2022 to celebrate the connections between the University of Florida and Greater Gainesville area and highlight the achievements of those who collaborate for the mutual benefit of the campus and community.
Henderson said the UF/SF partnership represented Town Gown Relations “at its best – responsive, innovative and committed to building a better future for the entire community.”
Working collaboratively, the institutions have strengthened the pipeline for highly trained, compassionate nurses by expanding faculty capacity, enhancing simulations and clinical training, creating pathways for working adults, and removing barriers that often stand in the way of students entering or completing nursing programs.
“Together Santa Fe College and UF Health are ensuring that students receive hands-on, real-world preparation that reflects the complexity of today’s clinical environment,” Henderson said. “This collaboration not only elevates the educational experience for their students, but it also supports the long-term health of our region.”
UF Vice President for Government and Community Relations Chuck Clemons said “The University of Florida deeply values strong town-gown relations. We know that a university thrives when it works in true partnership with its community, and that our community benefits when UF is fully engaged and invested.”
