SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – American International College nursing and occupational therapy students have returned to one of the campus’s health and science labs following a fire which resulted in damage to two buildings last year.

Director of Nursing Ellen Furman said the renovations to the Lissa Building, which sustained most of its damage from the sprinkler system going off, has served as the home for AIC's human anatomy labs and are now more equipped to support their academic programs.

"So this space is much bigger," said Furman. "We have many more simulators and mannequins in general. They're state-of-the-art. All the equipment is state-of-the-art. We have the capacity to record every simulation experience and play it back for students."

Furman said AIC nursing students were sent to the UMass Amherst Center in Springfield for the entire 2023-24 academic year while the repairs were being made.

"It took everything away from us," Furman said. "All of our equipment, the lab itself, faculty offices and now we're all back here functioning, which makes it more convenient for students and it gives them easy access here on this very campus."

On Tuesday, students were in the Lissa labs gaining firsthand experience working with medicine.

The ones we spoke with said being able to use the campus building has been great. 

"Especially, as incoming nursing students and transfer students, being here and this experience, it's our first time and especially with something new," said AIC nursing student Destiny Santos. "This is exponential for us. We love this and this is all we wanted. And it's really a blessing for us to have it, and  is great for our learning process as well."

Furman said the Lissa Building plays a critical role for the AIC nursing students because the training can better prepare them for careers in the medical field.

"What they did, that they did really well, and then also those things that next time," Furman said. "They would approve upon if they could and so ultimately it gives them a very safe space for them to practice, and so when they get out into the clinical setting and are treating actual patients, they will be quite comfortable."

Furman said the Courniotes Hall, which suffered the most damage from the fire, is still under construction, but will provide more advanced support for AIC nursing and science students once it's completed.