Allina Health Simulation Lab sustained with ongoing generosity from Julie and Steve Vanderboom

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (June 12, 2025) – The Allina Health Foundation is thrilled to announce a generous philanthropic commitment of $2,500,000 by Julie and Steve Vanderboom. 

The contribution will support the ongoing expenses of the Vanderboom Simulation Center in the MacMillan Community and Education Center operated by Allina Health. The pledge will be payable over the coming ten years to sustain and continue developing the Vanderboom Simulation Center.

“We are deeply grateful to Julie and Steve for their extraordinary generosity. They truly understand the importance of training current and future health care providers to ensure exceptional care for Allina Health patients and our community,” said Troy Lindloff, Allina Health vice president and chief development officer. 

“As a former nursing leader with Allina Health, I know how important it is to have ongoing education and training for medical providers,” said Julie Vanderboom. “Steve and I are so pleased that we’re able to help provide the latest in training technology for the doctors, nurses and first responders of Allina Health and throughout our community. That truly makes for world-class health care.”

The Vanderbooms provided generous philanthropic support for the development of the Simulation Center in 2023. The Simulation Center has allowed for transformative education of both Allina Health care team members and outside groups. Five labs and adjacent control rooms provide customization and flexibility for hands-on skills training needed for critical care, surgery, emergency and trauma care, Cesarean sections and more. The labs are used daily for ongoing training of staff. In addition, outside groups use the space for health specialty conferences, school groups learning about health care careers and training security staff on de-escalation practices.