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University of West Florida Usha Kundu, MD College of Health announces new dean

The University of West Florida Usha Kundu, MD College of Health is welcoming Dr. Denise M. Seabert as the new dean of the college.

The University of West Florida Usha Kundu, MD College of Health is welcoming Dr. Denise M. Seabert as the new dean of the college.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Denise Seabert as the new dean of the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health,” said Dr. George Ellenberg, UWF provost and senior vice president. “Dr. Seabert’s expertise in health and wellness education will be a great addition in our efforts to take the college to a new level through academic teachings, research in the health fields and community outreach.”

Seabert has dedicated her career to the professional preparation of health educators. For more than 20 years, she has provided leadership in obesity prevention, HIV education and academic standards for health and wellness. Seabert has authored numerous textbooks and received university and national organization service awards for her contributions. She comes to UWF from Indiana’s Ball State University.

Seabert plans to focus on enhancing the college’s already well-established programs and strengthen its role in community health throughout the Pensacola region.

“Our health education programs are the gateway for our students to learn and grow in their discipline, but also in their exposure to the Pensacola community,” Seabert said. “These programs offer our students high impact practices, such as internships, practicums, clinical placements and undergraduate student research. All of these programs immerse our students in the larger community and provide the area with increased exposure to best practices in health. The more our programs engage with the community, the more our students learn and value the opportunities our region offers.”

Seabert said she also aims to expand on the college’s recent accomplishments and fundraising momentum.

A $5 million gift from Dr. Usha and Mahadeb Kundu in February 2017 led to the enhancement of educational and experiential opportunities and naming of the college. Most recently, the college celebrated a $250,000 gift from the Earl Hutto Foundation to name the Earl and Nancy Hutto Master of Science in Nursing program in the UWF School of Nursing. In 2016, a $250,000 gift from the D.W. McMillan Foundation was given to support UWF’s undergraduate nursing education, naming the program the Dr. D.W. McMillan BSN Nursing Program.

As proof of its focus on fostering further integration with other universities, both the college and the Florida State University College of Medicine occupy office space and a multipurpose room in the newly opened University Park Center. Since 2003, FSU medical students have completed clinical rotations in Pensacola, and several UWF graduates have gone on to attend medical school at FSU.

Additionally, the college’s undergraduate nursing program ranks second in the state of Florida for percentage of students passing the NCLEX exam, with nearly 99 percent of UWF students passing the first time.

For more information about the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health, visit uwf.edu/coh.