Kimberly Spiro makes $3.5 million gift to establish nursing simulation lab at Loyola
A $3.5 million gift from Kimberly Spiro will support the establishment of a nursing
simulation lab for Loyola University Maryland’s new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program. The lab will be named the Spiro Nursing Simulation Lab in recognition of her support.
“A gift like this can be truly transformative, especially for a new program like Loyola’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing,” said Brian M. Oakes, ’99, MBA ’10, vice president for advancement. “Kimberly Spiro’s significant investment in Loyola and her deep commitment to excellence in nursing education will benefit students and faculty for years to come. The impact of this gift will extend far beyond the classroom, too. Students who learn in the Spiro Nursing Simulation Lab will graduate and enter the workforce as highly qualified, compassionate caregivers who are ready to serve.”
The gift will outfit the lab with equipment and materials, as well as create an endowed fund to cover expenses such as training lab operators, additional operating costs, equipment, and supplies.
Sharon P. O’Neill, DNP, J.D., CRNP—who became the inaugural director of Loyola’s BSN program in August 2024—understands the importance of simulation in nursing education, having played a pivotal role in the early adoption of simulation across the curriculum during her tenure at The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.
“Clinical simulation is a critical part of a modern nursing curriculum,” said O’Neill. “We are extremely grateful for this generous and impactful gift from Kimberly Spiro, which will allow us to train students in scenarios that will replicate what they will see in the field as nurses.”
Spiro first became involved in the Loyola community when her daughter, McKenzie Gaw, ’18, was a student.
“My daughter absolutely loved her experience at Loyola,” Spiro shared. “I served on the Parents Council while she was a student, and the parents understood the Jesuit way of giving back to your community. It’s just been a perfect marriage.”
Spiro currently serves on the Nursing Advisory Board at The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, the Board of Trustees at Wagner College, and the Evelyn L. Spiro School of Nursing Advisory Council at Wagner College, named for her late mother, Evelyn, a graduate and nurse.
“One thing that I hold close to my heart is the vision that Loyola has for their nursing program. It’s just like the school of nursing on Staten Island that gave my mother the opportunity to fulfill her dream of becoming a nurse,” shared Spiro. “I'm very, very happy that Loyola will be there to fulfill other students' dreams.”
About Loyola’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Loyola’s upcoming BSN degree program, which has been approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) and the Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON), is uniquely designed to integrate an exceptional liberal arts foundation
with a holistic nursing education, steeped in the Jesuit tradition of care and social
justice. Education in direct patient care includes a wide range of clinical rotations
at the University’s nursing education partner, Mercy Medical Center, a hospital recognized nationally for nursing excellence. Loyola is preparing to
welcome the first BSN cohort in Fall of 2025. The graduates of Loyola’s BSN program
are eligible for Registered Nurse licensure in Maryland. Maryland is a member of the
Nurse Licensure Compact for RN licensure. For more information on multistate compact
licensure, visit the NCSBN website on the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) and APRN Compact. More licensure information and disclosures can be found on Loyola's website.