Harry Moon, President & Chief Executive Officer, Nova Southeastern University

In an interview with Invest:, Nova Southeastern University President and CEO Harry K. Moon, M.D., discussed the university’s R1 status, interdisciplinary collaboration, AI integration, and expanded industry partnerships. “Our goal is to leverage our assets to benefit students and the broader community,” he said.

What have been the key milestones for the university over the past year?

Attaining R1 status from the Carnegie Foundation has been our most significant achievement. This designation places us among universities with the highest levels of research activity, based on monetary expenditures and the number of Ph.D. programs offered. Of the approximately 4,000 universities in the United States, only 187 hold R1 status. This distinction fosters groundbreaking research and innovation, positioning us for growth in both education and healthcare as Florida’s healthcare sector expands.

From a business perspective, our impact on Broward County and Florida is substantial. We graduate more healthcare providers than any other university in the state. As Florida’s economy grows — currently the 18th largest globally and projected to be the 10th by 2030 — our role in training healthcare professionals will be even more critical. With an aging population living longer and healthier, our graduates will continue to play a vital role in improving public health.

How is the university adapting its programs to meet the evolving demands of the healthcare industry?

Higher education is at an inflection point, and rising tuition costs and student debt remain key challenges. To address this, we are introducing programs that shorten the time required to earn both a primary and a terminal degree.

This fall, we will launch a six-year dual-admission program for a select group of students entering our osteopathic medical school. Traditionally an eight-year process, this accelerated track allows students to complete prerequisites in two years, begin medical school in their third year, and earn their bachelor’s degree simultaneously. This enables them to enter the workforce two years earlier.

We plan to expand these pathways across graduate programs in law, business, psychology, dentistry, nursing, and pharmacy. This initiative helps identify highly focused students while also improving their return on investment.

Beyond education, we are deepening our involvement in clinical healthcare. We are integrating medical education with real-world experience in inpatient and outpatient facilities and ambulatory surgery centers. Additionally, we are enhancing graduate medical education, allowing doctors in specialties like pulmonology and gastroenterology to begin their training earlier. By merging the fourth year of medical school with the first year of residency, we can shorten the training period by at least a year.

This accelerated model is challenging but well-established in Europe. Countries like the U.K., France, Germany, and Switzerland have successfully implemented six-year medical education programs, and we are drawing from their experiences to refine our approach.

How is NSU fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among students and faculty?

Traditionally, education has been siloed, limiting collaboration across disciplines. We are changing that by embedding integrative programs across our professional and graduate schools.

NSU is primarily a graduate and professional university, with 70% of students in these programs and 30% in undergraduate studies. Moving forward, we are incorporating interdisciplinary elements into our curricula, integrating business concepts into law, dentistry, and nursing, and exposing law students to environmental issues through our oceanographic center.

Our research spans diverse fields, from studying seagrass and coral ecosystems to examining climate change in Greenland. By fostering cross-disciplinary engagement, we provide students with broader perspectives, deeper insights, and greater collaboration opportunities.

How is NSU strengthening its partnerships with industry, government, and research institutions?

We currently have existing partnerships and are working to expand additional partnerships across multiple sectors. 

One example: we are planning an expedition to Greenland led by climatologist John Englander. Our goal is to establish a permanent research site in collaboration with Greenland’s government. Understanding changes in the tundra and their impact on coastal resilience will be crucial for Florida’s future. Studying the connections between Greenland’s melting ice, Florida’s seagrass ecosystems, and broader environmental shifts will position NSU as a leader in climate research and sustainability.

How is NSU integrating innovation into its academic programs?

AI is still in its early stages, but advancements in machine learning are already proving transformative. AI will play a critical role in our future, and we are integrating it into our IT programs and broader academic initiatives.

One key application is in healthcare. AI’s ability to process large amounts of data in real time will enhance diagnostics by identifying patterns in symptoms, chemical profiles, and patient histories. This will enable more precise, personalized treatment plans tailored to genetic makeup, environmental factors, and medical history.

In education, AI will help analyze student progress and predict learning outcomes more accurately. Every student learns differently, and AI allows us to create customized experiences that optimize how information is presented and retained.

How do you envision NSU’s role on the national and global stage in the next few years?

Our goal is to leverage our assets to benefit students and the broader community. One of our greatest strengths is research, particularly in climatology and environmental sciences. We aim to become the “Woods Hole of Florida,” conducting cutting-edge research at our state-of-the-art facilities, including the planetarium funded by the National Institute of Technology.

In healthcare, we are shifting from a reactive approach to a preventive one, training professionals not just to treat disease but to understand its origins. By integrating disciplines across the university, we will take a more holistic approach to healthcare education and research.

NSU is also positioning itself as a destination for students with a clear professional focus. While some universities cater to students still exploring their career paths, our strength lies in attracting those with a defined direction who are eager to engage in specialized, career-driven education.

How is NSU expanding its presence beyond its main campus?

We have a strong footprint in Florida, with regional campuses from Jacksonville to Puerto Rico, as well as a presence in Denver, Colorado. Our goal is to expand our core educational and clinical programs across the state, establishing NSU as Florida’s premier private university.

By offering programs closer to home, we help students reduce costs while maintaining access to high-quality education. Additionally, we are diversifying revenue streams by expanding our clinical services, reducing reliance on tuition as the primary funding source.

Financially, NSU is in a strong position. We have ongoing discussions with major credit rating agencies, and Fitch recently upgraded our rating from A- to A+, with a positive outlook. However, growing our endowment remains a priority to ensure long-term financial stability through economic fluctuations. A strong endowment will allow us to sustain our mission and continue providing top-tier education, no matter what challenges arise.