UNF Brooks College of Health

09/09/2026

IHS2026's keynote lineup is set, and it's one of the strongest cross-sector rooms University of North Florida and Duval County Medical Society have helped bring together for this symposium.

Rear Adm. Paul Jung, deputy surgeon general, and Dr. Willie Underwood, president of the American Medical Association, join Dr. Brad Goettl, chief nursing officer of the American Nurses Enterprise, and Brian Pieninck, president and CEO of GuideWell and Florida Blue. UNF's interim president, Dr. Angela Falconetti, rounds out the lineup. Government, physician leadership, nursing leadership and payer leadership will all be in the same room.

The theme is AI and digital health, and the sessions are built around what health system leaders are working through right now — cybersecurity, workforce strategy — rather than another round of predictions about where the technology is headed.

Early-bird registration runs through Sept. 15 for anyone in health system leadership, marketing or digital strategy who wants to be in Jacksonville on Oct. 21-22.

09/08/2026

Interested in advancing your education in kinesiology and lifestyle medicine?

The Brooks College of Health invites prospective graduate students to attend a virtual information session for UNF’s Master of Science in Health in Kinesiology and Lifestyle Medicine program.

Dr. James Churilla, Program Director, will share details about the program, admissions process, interview expectations, and how applicants can prepare for the next step.

Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026
2:30 - 3:30 PM
Virtual

Learn more about the program: https://www.unf.edu/brooks/clinical-applied-movement-sciences/kinesiology-lifestyle-medicine-msh.html

Link to register: https://applynow.unf.edu/REGISTER/KALM-922

09/04/2026

B*H students have big goals.

We asked students to share their name, major and dream job after graduation. From patient care to public health, their next chapters are already taking shape.

*H

09/03/2026

UNF just had its highest graduate enrollment in university history, and Brooks College of Health played a big part in getting there.

This fall, B*H students generated nearly 43% of all graduate credit hours across the entire university. Growth is happening across the college: our Doctor of Health Administration program is up 60% and clinical mental health counseling is up 31%. Programs like the Doctor of Nursing Practice, Master of Health Administration, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics remain among UNF's largest graduate programs.

Northeast Florida needs more healthcare leaders, and we're proud of the role B*H plays in training them.

Read the full story from University of North Florida below.



UNF Health Administration | UNF Nutrition & Dietetics Department | University of North Florida School of Nursing | UNF Physical Therapy | UNF Graduate School | UNF Online

The UNF Graduate School reached its highest enrollment in history this fall with 2,831 students enrolled.

09/02/2026

Thriving organizations are built on high-performing teams, and today's JAX Chamber Health Council Signature Event delivered outstanding insights on exactly that topic.
A special thank you to the distinguished panelists and moderator who shared their expertise on developing high-performing teams:
• Keli Coughlin, CEO, Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation�• Tony Jenkins.Market President, Northeast Florida, Florida Blue�• Joshua Mattson, FACHE, Associate Administrator, Mayo Clinic in Florida�• Moderator: Curtis Dvorak, The Original Jaxson DeVille and Wildlife Wanderer, Jacksonville Zoo & Garden

UNF was proud to support this impactful event with attendees Shyam Paryani, MD, MHA, FACHE,Sinyoung Park, Jasper Xu, Aurora Tafili, Alex Garvin , Jared Frisch, and Evan Bukata.

A heartfelt thank you to Kristal Fuentes, Wes Marsh, MBA, FACHE, Asjad Javed, Eric Ross, RN 🩺 🎙️, Ryan Smith, and the entire JAX Chamber Health Council Board for their vision, leadership, and hard work in creating such a meaningful and successful program.

The discussion highlighted how leadership, culture, accountability, and ex*****on come together to create teams that consistently perform at their highest level. An excellent evening of learning, networking, and collaboration for Jacksonville's healthcare and business communities.

09/01/2026

What does the future of healthcare look like?

At UNF, it's being shaped by the leaders driving national health policy, and our Master of Health Administration (MHA) students are learning directly from them.

The Brooks College of Health at the University of North Florida recently welcomed Gita Deo, senior advisor and chief of staff at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Innovation Center (CMMI), to the MHA program's Health Organization and Delivery course. Gita spoke with students on "The Delivery of Healthcare and the Future of AI," sharing firsthand insight into healthcare delivery, innovation and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in the field.

"AI in healthcare isn't just a technology challenge...it's also a regulatory and policy challenge, and we need leaders who understand both," –Student in UNF's MHA program.

Experiences like this are what set UNF's MHA program apart. Learn more: unf.edu/brooks/mha

08/28/2026

This week, the UNF Brooks College of Health LifeStyle Enrichment Series welcomed Ross🩺 🎙️, for an engaging presentation, "Social Media: How to Stay Healthy."
Eric shared valuable insights on navigating today's digital world while maintaining personal well-being, highlighting practical strategies for developing healthy social media habits, recognizing the impact of digital engagement on mental health, and using online platforms in a more mindful and balanced way.

The LifeStyle Enrichment Series, a partnership between Cypress Village and the University of North Florida Brooks College of Health, continues to bring expert-led educational sessions to residents, fostering lifelong learning and meaningful conversations on topics that impact everyday life.
Eric got the group energized with a swoop spirit chant!

Thank you, Eric Ross, for sharing your expertise and helping our community better understand how to stay healthy in an increasingly connected world.

Cypress Village, University of North Florida

08/27/2026

The Brooks College of Health was glad to be part of the Tech Coast Conference today at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center in Jacksonville.

Shyam Paryani, MD, MHA, FACHE, Andrea Arikawa, Michele Johnson Moore, PhD, Josh Gellers and Justin Begle joined technology, business and community leaders for conversations around artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, innovation and workforce development.

For those of us working in health care education, these conversations are becoming increasingly relevant. Technology is changing how health care is delivered and how people work in the field, which makes staying connected to industry especially important.

Events like this also give us a chance to hear directly from organizations working with these technologies and think about what those changes could mean for our students and the health care workforce in Northeast Florida.

University of North Florida, UNF Graduate School, UNF Health Administration, UNF Alumni, UNF Professional and Lifelong Learning

08/27/2026

Florida's public universities continue to shine in national rankings! 🎉 In TIME's Inaugural America's Best Colleges 2026-2027 rankings, six System institutions ranked among the nation's top public universities.

Read more: time.com/article/2026/08/25/americas-best-colleges-2027/

08/20/2026

How do you protect yourself from a scam you never saw coming?

That's the question 21 Northeast Florida community members came ready to answer at "The Ripple AI-ffect: Aging in the Age of AI," a free education event hosted by Ebri Education's Ripple AI-ffect Initiative and led by Dr. Nadine Ebri, in partnership with and sponsored by the University of North Florida's Center for Aging Research.

The conversation quickly turned personal. Attendees traded real stories of AI-driven scams they'd encountered, then worked through practical ways to spot and stop them. Just as many wanted the flip side: how to use AI safely to make everyday tasks easier.

One theme surprised the room. Artificial intelligence already powers many of the tools attendees use daily, often without ever being labeled "AI."

The response was immediate. Multiple participants asked for a follow-up session and said they want to bring friends and family next time.

That demand is already shaping what's next. The Ripple AI-ffect Initiative is now training UNF students to carry this AI safety education into senior communities and other spaces across the region.

Want to bring this training to your community? Comment below or send us a message.



UNF Health Administration