Endowed Chair Vicki Loerzel ’07PhD will lead UCF’s nursing degree programs that prepare students for direct care roles as chair of the Department of Nursing Practice.
The University of Central Florida has named Vicki Loerzel ’07PhD as the new chair of the Department of Nursing Practice at the College of Nursing.
Loerzel had served as interim department chair since August 2025 after the previous chair, Sharon J. Tucker, was appointed to dean of the college. In addition to her leadership appointment, Loerzel holds the Beat M. and Jill L. Kahli Endowed Professor in Oncology Nursing and is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing — the profession’s most prestigious designation.
An alumna of the first graduating cohort from UCF’s Nursing Ph.D. program, Loerzel has served in various roles at the college for nearly two decades and brings prior direct care experience as an oncology nurse. Learn more about the new department chair below.
- Your research focuses on improving quality of life for older adults with cancer. What inspired your research and interest in that patient population?
My parents were aging and I wanted to be prepared for helping them care for themselves if they ever developed cancer. Older adults are at high risk for cancer. In fact, more than 60% of cancer diagnoses occur in adults over the age of 65.
That was alarming, but what was more alarming was the fact that most of the research lumped older people in with younger populations. There is a big difference in how a 50-year-old responds to cancer compared to an 80-year-old.
- Your clinical career has been in oncology. What inspired you to pursue a nursing career and why did you choose that specialty?
Fate led me to oncology nursing. After I graduated with my nursing degree, there was an opening for a bone marrow transplant nurse position. I took the job and loved it right away. I was able to develop relationships with patients and their families, and make a difference in their lives as they were undergoing cancer treatment.
- What career achievement are you most proud of and why?
While I am honored to have been awarded Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), I am most proud of my impact as a student mentor and the work I did as the college’s Honors Undergraduate Thesis program coordinator. When I started the role, the program was small and I grew it into one of the top programs per student population at UCF. Being part of the process and mentoring a student in research, writing and disseminating their work, gives me a lot of pride.
- How would you describe your leadership style?
I would describe myself as a deliberative leader. I like to gather information to make an informed decision and speak to those who will be impacted by it. I am also empowering, giving individuals the latitude and resources to do their jobs effectively.
- What inspires you each day to continue your work?
I feel energized in my new role as department chair, looking at how we can make good processes even better. There is always room for growth, and healthcare and nursing are always evolving. I truly enjoy my work and waiting to see what the day will bring.
- There are many challenges in today’s health care environment. In your opinion, what are the biggest ones that nurses at all practice levels face?
Burnout is a challenge for nurses no matter where they work. This profession can be hard. Also, health care has changed so much from when I was a new nurse. Patient acuity is much higher and the care is really complex. It can be a lot to keep with.
- How is UCF preparing future generations of practitioners to address these and future challenges?
UCF is committed to graduating nurses who are practice ready, and to do that, the college provides rigorous, multi-faceted experiences through simulations, clinicals and service learning.
In addition, Spring 2026 semester, UCF began offering a “Transitions to Practice” for pre-licensure undergraduate student to prepare students for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam and the challenges and responsibilities of entry-level nursing roles. The course, which was championed by Program Director Melissa Radecki ’10BSN, ’12MSN, includes collaborative and reflective activities, and the initial feedback has been very positive.
- As the new chair of the Department of Nursing Practice, you manage programs that prepare students for direct nursing care roles — from new RNs to advanced practice providers. What qualities do you think are important for these nurses today?
At any practice level, it is critical for nurses to have strong people skills. People are challenging and nurses need to be able to communicate with their patients and patient families on a human level.
It is also important for nurses to be empathetic, perceptive and non-judgmental — to be able to look at individuals holistically and accept people where they are at, without assumptions, because lives are complicated.
To prepare future nurses with these skills, UCF exposes students to a lot of different healthcare environments and patient situations. We’re helping students understand that everyone is different and brings unknown experiences into their healthcare encounters — illness is experienced in the context of complicated lives.
- You’re an alumna and have been at UCF’s College of Nursing for more than two decades now. What are your plans and goals to shape the future of the department?
Our programs are among the nation’s best and our graduates are exceeding national and state averages on their licensure and board certification exams. We will continue to focus on academic excellence while continuing to innovate and evolve to meet healthcare’s dynamic environment.
Putting the right experts in the right situations to provide our students with amazing experiences is also important. I want to support success among our students and all of our educators. I plan to foster an encouraging environment and create more professional development opportunities for our educators to grow.
- If you could offer one piece of advice to incoming UCF nursing students, what would it be?
To be open to new experiences and opportunities. Sometimes students arrive with preconceived notions about where they want to go in nursing. But there are lots of options beyond the emergency department or intensive care unit (ICU). Give yourself time to explore and discover your interests.
Article by Julie Harper ’01
Photo by Melanie Cedeño-Lopez ’23
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