The University of Florida College of Nursing and UF Health Archer Family Health Care celebrated 25 years of nurse-led care, community partnership and service on May 21 during a community event in Archer that brought together faculty, staff, alumni, students and residents from across the region.
The celebration featured food, music, games and reflections on the clinic’s impact since opening in 2001 in a small cottage in the Archer community. Over the past quarter-century, Archer Family Health Care has grown into an important health care resource for rural North Central Florida while also serving as a clinical training site for Gator Nursing students.
The event highlighted a milestone year for the college, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary alongside the 10th anniversary of the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the Jacksonville campus.
“This celebration is really about the people who made Archer Family Health Care what it is today,” said Shakira Henderson, PhD, DNP, MS, MPH, MBA, IBCLC, RNC-NICC, dean, chief administrative officer, Linda Harman Aiken chair for the UF College of Nursing, associate vice president for nursing education, practice and research and system chief nurse executive for UF Health. “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who came out to celebrate with us and to the many faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners who have supported this clinic over the past 25 years. Archer has had a tremendous impact on this community, and we are proud of the care, compassion and service that continue to define this special place.”
Denise Schentrup, DNP, APRN, director of Archer Family Health Care, reflected on the dedication of the clinic’s providers and staff over the years.
“For 25 years, this clinic has been built on relationships, trust and a commitment to caring for this community,” Schentrup said. “Every provider, nurse, staff member and student who has walked through these doors has helped shape Archer Family Health Care into the special place it is today. We are honored to serve this community and grateful for the support that has allowed us to continue growing and caring for generations of families.”
Joan Walker, who worked at the clinic for 20 years, remembers how the community sought a long-term health provider.
“There were some who thought we would be here for a year or two and then leave. It had happened before with other providers,” said Walker, who retired four years ago. “We have been able to continue here all these years and it was a pleasure serving all the patients we saw.”
Walker still remembers the cramped little cottage where the clinic began.
“The bedrooms were the exam rooms, the kitchen was the lab, the living room was the waiting room, and my office was in the attic. It was only about 900 square feet, so we were in there tight,” she said. “But it was great, we helped so many people and continue to help so many.”
The celebration also included the announcement of a $100,000 gift from Dr. Kathleen Long, the College of Nursing dean when the clinic was established, in support of Archer Family Health Care and its continued mission of providing accessible, community-centered care. Leaders recognized the transformational impact the investment will have on the clinic’s future, helping expand resources and strengthen care for patients and families across the region.
“We are deeply grateful for Dean Long’s generosity and belief in our mission,” Schentrup said. “This gift is an investment in the health of this community and in the future of Archer Family Health Care. Support like this allows us to continue providing compassionate, high-quality care while preparing the next generation of nurses and health care providers.”