Pepperdine Receives Transformative Gift From HCA Healthcare to Help Launch University’s College of Health Science School of Nursing
The Pepperdine community received welcome news Friday, December 5, 2025, as HCA Healthcare announced a transformative financial gift to help launch the University’s new School of Nursing.
“We believe that investing in nursing education is vital to the future of healthcare. It is a privilege to support Pepperdine University’s new School of Nursing as they prepare the next generation of caregivers with the tools, confidence, and compassion to care for patients and communities,” shared Sammie Mosier, senior vice president and chief nurse executive for HCA Healthcare, in a press release.
"Pepperdine University is deeply grateful for HCA Healthcare's extraordinary investment in our students and in the future of healthcare. This generous gift strengthens a vital and growing partnership between HCA Healthcare and Pepperdine—one rooted in a shared commitment to excellence, service, and the well-being of our communities,” said Dee Anna Smith, chair of the Pepperdine Board of Regents. “We are proud to prepare exceptional nursing professionals whose knowledge, compassion, and leadership will serve individuals and families here in Southern California and around the world. HCA Healthcare's confidence in our mission and in our students inspires us as we work together to elevate the next generation of healthcare leaders."
Pepperdine’s School of Nursing opened this fall and currently enrolls 68 students. The school provides undergraduate and graduate nursing degree programs, including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and an Entry Level Master of Science, Clinical Nurse Leader (ELM-CNL).
Applications for Fall 2026 are now open for both programs. As part of their curriculum and budding partnership, nursing students will have the opportunity to complete clinical rotations at HCA Healthcare’s Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, California.
This gift contributes to the development of Pepperdine’s new 30,000-square-foot facility, located on the University’s Calabasas campus. The structure features clinical learning laboratories, simulation exam rooms, and welcoming third spaces where students will be equipped to join the healthcare industry. Additionally, this state-of-the-art learning facility has created a unique place aimed at fostering the next generation of purposeful and competent leaders in medicine.
HCA Healthcare has a long and meaningful history of supporting its communities through donations, foundation investments, and colleague-driven giving and volunteer initiatives. Founded with a vision to unite hospitals in the pursuit of advancing medical care, the organization serves patients across 191 hospitals and approximately 2,500 outpatient care locations across the US and the UK.
To learn more about Pepperdine’s School of Nursing program, visit the College of Health Science website.