Celebrating Art: Dr. Jack Kurtz Artwork Reception

On December 9, 2025, the UCLA Simulation Center gathered colleagues, friends, and supporters in the newly remodeled lobby of Rosenfeld Hall to celebrate a milestone two years in the making.

After the building's extensive renovation, the walls of our simulation center had remained bare—until Dr. Jack Kurtz, a distinguished UCLA alumnus (BS 1972, DDS 1976) and accomplished landscape photographer, transformed our learning environment with a breathtaking gift of his photographic artistry.

Nearly thirty guests assembled for an intimate reception and guided tour, led by Executive Director Yue-Ming Huang, EdD, MHS, FSSH. 

The atmosphere buzzed with appreciation as attendees moved through the building, discovering hidden wonders captured through Dr. Kurtz's lens. The collection centers on aerial photography of braided Icelandic rivers, captured at 1,200 feet altitude. These ethereal images reveal the serpentine beauty of the Þjórsá and Tungnaá rivers as they wind through volcanic highlands.

Complementing the Icelandic series, Dr. Kurtz's "Nature's Sculptures: Five Hidden Southwestern Wonders" installation in the Level A Gallery showcases the American Southwest's geological marvels. From the swirling sandstone of North Coyote Buttes to the slot canyon mysteries of Antelope Canyon.

The placement of each piece was thoughtfully curated by Clarice Gerstel of Gerstel Designs. Visitors entering Rosenfeld Hall are immediately greeted by an aerial view of the Þjórsá River at Thjórsárver, while the main lobby's centerpiece—a sweeping view of the same river meeting the Atlantic—commands attention above the central seating area. 

The concrete walls throughout the building now serve as galleries for additional works, including Panther Falls from Washington State and various Southwestern landscapes. 

Dr. Kurtz himself guided guests through the technical and creative journey behind his Iceland photographs, sharing stories of flying at low altitude in challenging conditions to capture the perfect interplay of light, water, and volcanic terrain. 

His passion for both photography and his alma mater resonated throughout the evening.

Executive Director Yue-Ming Huang expressed the Sim Center's profound gratitude for Dr. Kurtz's generosity, noting how the artwork creates an inspiring environment that elevates the learning experience for medical students, nursing students, residents, and faculty who train in our facility. 

"For two years, we've worked in a beautiful new space that felt incomplete," Dr. Huang remarked. "Dr. Kurtz's gift doesn't just fill our walls—it fills our center with inspiration, reminding everyone who enters that precision, perspective, and artistry matter in everything we do." 

Mallory Gompert, Senior Executive Director of Health Sciences Development at UCLA Health, also spoke at the reception, acknowledging Dr. Kurtz's meaningful contribution to the educational mission of the Simulation Center and the lasting impact of his philanthropic support.

The Simulation Center technology team attended the event to personally thank Dr. Kurtz, whose artwork now accompanies them through their daily work supporting thousands of learners each year. The reception concluded with a toast to Dr. Kurtz and a collective appreciation for the intersection of art, education, and healing that now defines the aesthetic identity of Rosenfeld Hall.

Dr. Kurtz's photographs will inspire tens of thousands of healthcare professionals who train at the UCLA Simulation Center in the years to come—a lasting legacy that bridges natural beauty, educational excellence, and the generous spirit of a devoted Bruin.