Investing in Healthcare: USF Credit Union, AdventHealth University Mark 1 Year of Impact

One year ago, USF Credit Union and AdventHealth University launched a partnership built on a simple but powerful idea: if you support students beyond the classroom - financially and practically- you don’t just help them graduate. You help shape the future of healthcare.

“This partnership has done something really important for our students- it’s taken financial pressure off at a critical time and allowed students to focus on their calling,” says Erin Simmons, Chief Development Officer at AdventHealth University. “They know USF Credit Union is not just a supporter, but a true partner who believed in them early.”

A $120,000 scholarship commitment has already translated into direct impact for nursing students at AHU’s Tampa campus, including five $5,000 scholarships awarded in year one. But the numbers only tell part of the story.

What stands out even more is what those scholarships made possible: less stress in moments of real pressure, more space to focus on demanding coursework, and a deeper sense of stability in a field that asks everything of its students from day one.

As Erin shared: “You were one of the first to believe in our Tampa campus. That kind of trust matters- it tells our students and our community that their future is worth investing in.”

That belief shows up in real ways: students training in state-of-the-art simulation labs at 14055 Riveredge Drive, the launch of AHU’s first Tampa nursing cohort in 2025, and a growing pipeline of future healthcare professionals preparing to serve a region facing a critical nursing shortage.

As Erin put it: “USF Credit Union has done something beautiful for our community - investing in people who are becoming healthcare professionals, and who will turn around and invest right back into the community.”

That’s the real impact - students moving forward with less burden, more confidence, and a clearer path into the healthcare workforce Tampa depends on.