BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — U.S. Senator Dick Durbin joined students and faculty at Illinois Wesleyan University's School of Nursing and Health Sciences on Tuesday, Sept. 1, for a roundtable discussion on the importance of health care work.
During the event, students and faculty described IWU’s Nursing and Health Sciences Innovation Program, which is supported by a $1 million earmark secured by Durbin in the Fiscal Year 2026 government funding bill. The innovation program aims to enhance student success through academic support initiatives, facility improvements, and technology upgrades that will enhance the advanced simulation lab for nursing students.
“Our health care professionals, especially our nurses, are on the front lines, providing critical care to patients," Durbin said. "I’ve made it a priority to work alongside institutions, including Illinois Wesleyan University, to secure federal funding that can support stellar programs like the Innovation Program. This funding will help graduate more highly trained nurses to serve our entire region, making a difference in the lives of thousands of people.”
"This funding will directly impact our ability to recruit and retain our incredibly talented students and faculty," said Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences Amber Kujath '97. "Student success is also a large part of the design of this funding. We want students to feel prepared, confident, and ready for their future career in our fast-paced health care systems.
"Our multi-talented and multi-interested students are already dreaming of how these improvements will impact their learning and growth."
President Sheahon Zenger thanked Durbin: "Your commitment to higher education is legendary. We truly appreciate the funding that you secured for Illinois Wesleyan, which will support classroom technology, curriculum, and student success."
In addition to Zenger and Kujath, Durbin was joined by Assistant Professor of Nursing Jessica Brownfield, who is IWU's nursing interventions laboratory specialist, and nursing students Justin Moon '29, Lauren Patterson '28, Skylar Rossow '29, Alana Stroud '29 and Noelani Pincham '29.
Durbin asked the students about the personal experiences that drew them to nursing, and discussed challenges facing health care, including difficulty of access to care in rural areas, and the importance of attracting nursing professionals to teach future nurses.
Students also shared why they chose to attend Illinois Wesleyan for their nursing studies.
Rossow said, "I picked Illinois Wesleyan because I could tell they were going to prepare nursing students that are not just good nurses, but are good humans that are going out into the world to help people that are in need."