Nazareth College Breaks Ground on New Wellness & Rehabilitation Institute

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Nazareth College WRI rendering

ROCHESTER, NY (04/28/2014)(readMedia)-- Nazareth College ceremoniously broke ground today on the Wellness and Rehabilitation Institute (WRI). New York State Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy joined Nazareth College President Daan Braveman and members of the College's board of trustees. The new $16.5 million expansion has received new gift commitments of more than $3.4 million dollars bringing total funds committed to the project to $15.5 million. WRI will double the School of Health and Human Services clinic and collaboration space, bringing Nazareth's wide array of health and wellness fields under one roof. WRI's expansion and reconfiguration will help boost enrollment by an estimated 30 percent and equip Nazareth graduates with the skills needed for the rapidly changing world of health care. The building is set to open in fall 2015, in time for new students' clinical work.

"The new Institute will be a national model for the inter-professional training of the next generation of health care providers. At the same time, it will create opportunities for research and provide clinical services that address the wellness and rehabilitation needs of members of the larger community," said Nazareth College President Daan Braveman. "Nazareth is proud to be a forward thinking leader in the rapidly changing world of health care and in the training of the health care professionals who will serve our region and communities around the country."

Nazareth is close to raising the full $16.5 million needed for the WRI expansion including generous gifts from the William and Sheila Konar Foundation, the Wegman Family Foundation, the Duda Family Foundation, the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council, and Alden Trust. The Emerson Foundation has provided a Challenge Grant intended to raise the final $1.0 million and close the campaign.

Few colleges offer Nazareth's array of health and human service programs including art therapy, music therapy, nursing, occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), social work and speech-language pathology. Nazareth students can complete a master's degree in OT in five years and a doctorate in PT in six years.

When the Wellness and Rehabilitation Institute opens in Fall 2015, it will:

• Double the clinic and collaboration space to 66,700 square feet, bringing all Nazareth's health and wellness fields under one roof.

• Promotes learning and collaboration across disciplines such as nursing, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, art and music therapy and social work.

• Facilitates student-faculty research through proximity and new meeting spaces to improve health and wellness outcomes and clinical practice.

• Clients benefit from high-quality, person-centered services at minimal to no cost.

For the latest updates on the project visit: http://forcollegeandcommunity.org/updates-and-progress/index.shtml and Check out the web cam for a live, bird's eye view of construction any time: forcollegeandcommunity.org/cam.shtml.

Founded in 1924, Nazareth College is located on a close-knit, suburban campus in the dynamic, metropolitan region of Rochester, N.Y. The College offers challenging academic programs in the liberal arts and sciences and professional programs in health and human services, education, and management. Nazareth's strong cultures of service and community prepare students to be successful professionals and engaged citizens. The College enrolls approximately 2,000 undergraduate students and 1,000 graduate students.