The needed breakthrough may be just around the corner with the development of an online dashboard DrugTRAC, which uses an AI-powered algorithm to synthesize information provided from statewide lab records 鈥� allowing for nearly real-time insights on the local drug supply.

鈥淓ven though I鈥檓 an administrator, this research is something I think I鈥檒l always be involved in because it is so important,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his is how we save lives 鈥� by reaching out and doing things proactively instead of retrospectively.鈥�

This initiative was created through Project Overdose, a community-based nonprofit focused on combating overdoses resulting from the opioid and drug epidemic that Cortelyou worked with for six years. Formerly called Project Opioid, Project Overdose partners with local business, faith, philanthropy and public health leaders to address substance use in Florida.

How DrugTRAC Works

Cortelyou collaborated with tech developer Social Innovation Technologies to help design DrugTRAC, which stands for tracking, reporting, advocacy and coordination. The data, which is anonymized and privacy-protected, relies on routine lab tests like urine and toxicology screens to offer researchers new insights into which substances are circulating in Florida communities.

鈥淥ne of the biggest challenges in this field is that we鈥檝e always been behind,鈥� Cortelyou says. 鈥淭he only real data about what is happening in the drug supply in your community has been from mortality data, which takes almost 12 to 18 months to get after someone dies from an overdose. That means you鈥檙e dealing with yesterday鈥檚 problem. If you’re trying to make decisions based on trends that were happening a year ago, you’re always behind.鈥�

The dashboard compiles nightly drug-screen results and tracks more than 90 different substances before mapping emerging trends down to the ZIP code level. That information can then be used to alert community leaders and first responders to potential spikes and co-occurring substances, like the presence of fentanyl in cocaine.

DrugTRAC鈥檚 Current and Future Impact

The tool recently detected the presence of carfentanil, an extremely dangerous synthetic opioid that is nearly 1,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more than regular fentanyl. It could require four or five administrations of Narcan to revive someone from a fatal overdose, making it crucial that first responders and community leaders are alerted to any presence in the community.

However, artificial intelligence will take the tool鈥檚 impact to the next level. Cortelyou and the Social Innovation Technologies team anticipate being able to launch a more proactive approach with the help of AI in the next six months. By integrating an innovative, AI-powered algorithm into the system based on a range of data 鈥� including economic indicators, major events, arrest records and time of year 鈥� to predict future trends. That information can be used to provide early warnings to hospitals, emergency medical services, law enforcement and community organizations.

鈥淚’m working with the programmer to help them identify the data sources that will feed into the algorithm, like the factors that cause spikes in drug usage,鈥� Cortelyou says. 鈥淭he dream is that once this system becomes predictive, we鈥檒l be better prepared and able to say, 鈥楬ey, in the next couple of weeks, we’re expecting to see X, Y and Z happen in your community. Get ready.鈥欌��

Cortelyou says they are also currently investigating ways to make the alerts and information more accessible, like social media content targeted toward younger, more at-risk age groups.

Ultimately, Cortelyou hopes this technology can help communities get ahead of drug overdoses and help communities respond faster than ever before.

麻豆原创 Associate Professor Keith Brazendale believes society is overlooking a simple intervention that could be a major game-changer for kids everywhere, so much so that the National Institutes of Health awarded him a $453,000 funding grant to move forward with his study.

The solution? Free summer camp for kids.

鈥淭his won鈥檛 require 20 years in a lab,鈥� Brazendale says of his study over the next two summers. 鈥淓verything is already in place to impact childhood obesity. I think that鈥檚 what raised so much curiosity from my proposal. Can it really be this simple?鈥�

Why Summer Camp?

鈥淢y ultimate goal is to shift our mindset about how we improve the health of kids,鈥� Brazendale says from his office in 鲍颁贵鈥檚 College of Health Professions and Sciences, 鈥渂ecause up until now, I believe we鈥檝e gotten it all wrong.鈥�

Getting it right has inspired Brazendale鈥檚 research across two decades, including his next project on combatting childhood obesity.

Brazendale鈥檚 project will bring together community pediatricians, organizers of summer day camps, and low-income families. Before the summers of 2026 and 2027 begin, the pediatricians will provide camp vouchers to 40 kids who meet certain weight and body mass index (BMI) criteria. Data collected before camp and after camp will build upon Brazendale鈥檚 Structured Day Hypothesis.

鈥淚t鈥檚 clear that structure is enough to mitigate much of the weight gain we鈥檙e observing in American children. I鈥檓 hopeful a study like this will affect change in public health policy.鈥�
鈥� Keith Brazendale, 麻豆原创 associate professor

鈥淲e know what happens when kids have no structure,鈥� says Brazendale, a father of two. 鈥淲hen schools closed during COVID, it became our largest experiment of unstructured days. Children鈥檚 obesity levels went through the roof. It鈥檚 clear that structure is enough to mitigate much of the weight gain we鈥檙e observing in American children. I鈥檓 hopeful a study like this will affect change in public health policy.鈥�

If this is true, then it raises the question, 鈥淲hy have we overlooked a structured summer as a solution to childhood obesity?鈥�

Consider that more than 90% of past studies have taken place during the school year 鈥� the most convenient time to find kids for research. The timing has led to a repetitive focus on school lunch programs and physical education. Brazendale, however, draws upon his own experiences with kids from low-income communities and believes that studies on schools may be occurring where a natural intervention is already happening.

鈥淪chools actually do a great job because of structure built into each day鈥� he says. 鈥淢eanwhile, we鈥檝e ignored 20 years of evidence showing weight gain and loss of fitness occurring during summer.鈥�

He鈥檚 referring to evidence which had become 鈥渂ricks buried in a brickyard.鈥� It happens with a lot of studies. They鈥檙e filed away, waiting for another researcher to come along and dig them up years later. That鈥檚 how Brazendale began to learn about the link between summer breaks and childhood obesity.

鈥淧ediatricians have reported for years that children are heavier toward the end of summer,鈥� he says. 鈥淧eople my age think of summer as an active time when it really isn鈥檛, especially for kids whose families can鈥檛 afford pricey camps and club sports. So, let鈥檚 see what happens when we help them fill those empty weeks with free and fun structured activity.鈥�

Community Buy-In

If Brazendale鈥檚 hypothesis is correct, it could cultivate the kind of healthy long-term lifestyle Brazendale experienced while growing up in Scotland. His intrigue about children鈥檚 health brought him to study in the U.S., where his research momentum eventually landed at 麻豆原创. Among his first action items upon arriving was to contact pediatricians at Nemours and leaders of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida.

鈥淲hen I mentioned bringing all of us together as a potential health intervention for kids, they said, 鈥榃e鈥檙e in,鈥� 鈥� Brazendale says. 鈥淗aving them involved means we have trusted people in the community to create bridges rather than hoping families respond to a researcher out of nowhere asking them to sign up for a study.鈥�

The research side will include experts from 鲍颁贵鈥檚 College of Nursing, a statistician, a pediatrician and consultants from the University of South Carolina. They鈥檒l compare health markers for the 40 kids who attend summer camp with 40 kids who spend summer at home. Then they鈥檒l do it again with two more groups the following summer.

With additional funding, a second research phase would include hundreds of children nationwide. The results鈥� ripple effects would be monumental.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 鈥渋n 2019, the estimated annual medical cost of obesity among U.S. children was $1.3 billion. Medical costs for children with obesity were $116 higher per person per year than for children with healthy weight. Medical costs for children with severe obesity were $310 higher per person per year than for children with healthy weight.鈥�

鈥淚magine where this could lead,鈥� Brazendale says. 鈥淧ediatricians would prescribe summer camp as medicine. The health of children would not be limited by family incomes. The research findings would encourage public policy to subsidize camp enrollment the way we do with Head Start. There would be relief on our medical practitioners and on our healthcare system. Childhood obesity rates would decline and long-term health would improve.鈥�

Project Harmony, a grant-funded research project initially funded and launched at 麻豆原创 in 2015, helps couples connect and strengthen their relationships by equipping them with skills for improving communication and resolving conflict. It uses Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP), an established evidence-based relationship intervention curriculum, to teach core skills but also offers a personalized approach through tailored programming and relationship coaching.

Participants learn strategies for effective communication, hone active listening and conflict management skills, and gain tools for coping with stressful situations 鈥� all taught in a group format with flexible scheduling options to accommodate participants, who also receive free childcare, meals and gift cards to help mitigate barriers to participation.

鈥淲e talk about what healthy relationships look like, the communication pitfalls we can fall into when we feel invalidated or unheard, and understanding love languages and styles,鈥� says , professor of counselor education and Project Harmony鈥檚 principal investigator. 鈥淯ltimately, it leaves couples with a new curiosity for what their needs are and how to meet their partner鈥檚 needs with consideration for who and where they are now. By knowing that relationships are constantly evolving, they can use these skills to position themselves to evolve together as opposed to growing apart.鈥�

Meeting a Need in the Community

Funded by a five-year, $6.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Project Harmony builds on decades of relationship education research through the MFRI. Couples will be placed in one of three subgroups tailored to their needs: Unite in Harmony for general relationship education, Shield in Harmony for first responders and their partners, or Raise in Harmony for couples who are also parents.

Barden says the tailored programming stems from both research and prior feedback indicating a need for relational support based on specific stressors unique to couples in these subgroups. All couples participate in the core PREP curriculum, but those in the Shield and Raise groups will engage in four to five hours of their own unique curriculum 鈥� something that is being developed with input from members of the first responder community and parenting experts, respectively.

For first responders and their partners, relationship stressors can be more nuanced due to the nature of the job. These can include varying shift schedules, occupational hazards and the stress that often accompanies them. Barden鈥檚 team is currently conducting focus groups with Central Florida-area firefighters, law enforcement officers and paramedics, as well as their partners, to learn more about their experiences.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we can underestimate the impact of the occupational demands of being a first responder, not only on the individual but on the family dynamic at home,鈥� Barden says. 鈥淭hey keep our communities safe, so the least we can do is provide a service back to them.鈥�

Designed With a First Responder for First Responders

It’s a group that Benoit Aubin, a first-year student in the counselor education doctoral program, is particularly passionate about. A former medic in the U.S. Navy and firefighter/paramedic, Aubin found himself assisting with the peer support team while in the fire service 鈥� an experience that inspired him to pursue further education and a career in clinical mental health counseling.

Now a mental health clinician for the District Fire Department that services the Walt Disney World Resort area, Aubin is not only working on his doctorate, he鈥檚 also a graduate research assistant helping to build the curriculum for Shield in Harmony. He has facilitated outreach and recruitment of focus group members, fostered connections between fire service leadership and MFRI staff, analyzed prior research and educated colleagues on the fire service culture.

鈥淎 lot of what I鈥檓 hearing from participants is that they didn鈥檛 know other first responders were having the same issues regarding the mental health crisis and relationships,鈥� he says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a powerful stigma with mental health among first responders, but I didn鈥檛 know it was to that extent. It showed me how important this is and fuels me to spend countless hours assisting in curriculum development.鈥�

Under Barden鈥檚 mentorship, Aubin is gaining hands-on experience in synthesizing and incorporating what he鈥檚 hearing in focus groups to ensure the training modules are addressing real experiences in alignment with the core content. For example, he鈥檚 creating a module focused on empowering first responder couples to help their partners decompress after coming home from a stressful shift. He also tailors the language to first responders while being mindful of stigmatizations and other barriers that prevent them from accessing mental health services.

鈥淲hen I started recruiting and telling people about a free relationship education program that鈥檚 being created with a first responder for first responders, people were so enthusiastic about it,鈥� Aubin says. 鈥淚 think of and picture the people that this will help, hold onto those images, and that gives me the motivation to do this because it鈥檚 something that we know is so needed.鈥�

Life-Changing Education

For couples who are also parents, the work lies in not just learning to connect and communicate with each other but also with their children, including navigating how to parent adolescents through the prevalence of social media. This curriculum is being developed through focus groups with parents and feedback from parenting experts around the country.

鈥淲e want to ensure parents have the tools for connecting with each other through the more challenging chapters in life and in parenthood.鈥� 鈥� Sejal Barden, MFRI鈥檚 executive director

鈥淲e want to ensure parents have the tools for connecting with each other through the more challenging chapters in life and in parenthood, which includes helping them translate these skills into building stronger relationships with their children,鈥� Barden says.

Barden and her team hope to begin enrolling couples in the Unite group in the spring, with Raise and Shield to follow shortly after. Although word of mouth is their top source of referral, the MFRI team will also be out in the community recruiting participants at fire stations, police stations, libraries, health departments and wellness events.

鈥淟earning that we can change the trajectory of a couple鈥檚 life and their connection with a short amount of education and intervention is life-changing,鈥� Barden says. 鈥淚f we know that this works, how could we not do it? It feels like a calling and commitment I couldn鈥檛 imagine not being a part of.鈥�

Researcher Credentials

Barden received her Ph.D. in counseling and education development from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and both her master鈥檚 and education specialist degrees in marriage and family therapy from the University of Florida. She joined , part of the , in 2011, and has served as MFRI鈥檚 executive director and the principal investigator of Project Harmony since 2015.

鈥淧oetry gives us permission to feel without judgment,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd when we share those feelings out loud, we remember that we鈥檙e not alone.鈥�

As a mental health therapist at Heart Bonds Counseling, working toward becoming a licensed social worker, Gaither has built her life around helping people find their voice. Whether she鈥檚 guiding veterans through trauma, leading poetry workshops for youth or performing for packed audiences, her message is the same: words can transform pain into power.

鈥淧oetry gives us a place to put pain,鈥� says Gaither, who earned a master’s in social work from 麻豆原创. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an accessible way to approach emotions that feel too threatening to face directly.鈥�

A Call for Change

Before she ever found the courage to share her poetry publicly, Gaither was navigating a season of change. Seven years ago, she and her husband moved to Orlando with their infant daughter, drawn by opportunity and the promise of new beginnings. Gaither had worked in the nonprofit sector for several years but felt called to something deeper 鈥� something that could merge advocacy, creativity and care.

When the pandemic arrived, that call grew louder.

鈥淚 realized I couldn鈥檛 keep waiting for the perfect time to go back to school,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he world was changing 鈥� and so was I.鈥�

She applied to 鲍颁贵鈥檚 social work program in the College of Health Professions and Sciences, drawn by its emphasis on evidence-based practice and serving others. The program offered her flexibility to balance graduate studies with motherhood and work, and it challenged her to explore the intersections between mental health, identity and storytelling.

A Transformative Journey

During her field placement at the Orlando Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Gaither worked closely with veterans processing trauma and loss. There, she saw the power of creative expression in action.

鈥淲hen we create a metaphor for something painful, we give ourselves a little space from it 鈥� enough to begin understanding,鈥� she says. 鈥淎 veteran once described grief as 鈥榤y neighbor.鈥� That line stuck with me. It gave him language for something that felt impossible to name.鈥�

Camara Gaither 鈥�23MSW now uses her training to lead workshops that help trauma survivors, caregivers and young people reclaim their narratives.

That moment became a turning point. Gaither began studying poetry therapy, a clinical practice that uses creative writing to foster emotional healing. She later trained through the International Federation for Biblio/Poetry Therapy and now facilitates workshops that help trauma survivors, caregivers and young people reclaim their narratives.

鈥淧eople who have been silenced in different ways often rediscover their agency through language,鈥� Gaither says. 鈥淧oetry becomes a form of resistance and restoration.鈥�

Her dual background in art and social work allows her to see poetry as both medicine and a mirror. In her therapeutic work, she encourages clients to explore their experiences through metaphor and rhythm. In her performances, she models that same courage, voicing joy, grief and transformation in equal measure.

鈥淭he holes in our lives 鈥� the losses, the wounds 鈥� they can be filled with good things,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what poetry has done for me.鈥�

Gaither鈥檚 own journey with spoken word began as an undergraduate student in Tampa, where she first encountered the art form that would later shape her identity. She had been writing poetry since childhood, but the first time she experienced the spoken word genre was pivotal to her journey as a poet.

鈥淚t was the first time I saw poetry embodied,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he way performers used not only words, but also vocal cadence and physicality to tell a story 鈥� it all expanded what I believed poetry could be. I remember thinking, 鈥業 want to do that.鈥欌��

After graduation, she continued writing and performing, eventually becoming a fixture in Orlando鈥檚 poetry community. Her work, known for its emotional depth and precise rhythm, explores themes of identity, mental health and faith. She has performed at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and at events across Central Florida, earning recognition as one of the region鈥檚 most resonant and thoughtful voices.

Strengthening Orlando鈥檚 Community

In 2025, the City of Orlando named Gaither its third poet laureate 鈥� and the third consecutive 麻豆原创 alumni to hold the title ( and Shawn Welcome 鈥�17 鈥�25MA in 2021. In this role, Gaither will use poetry to connect communities, celebrate culture and promote literacy across the city. She plans to create youth workshops, write commissioned works for civic events, and lead Orlando鈥檚 Words and Wonders poetry contest, where winning poems are displayed at the Orlando International Airport.

鈥淏eing poet laureate isn鈥檛 just about performing, it鈥檚 about service 鈥� showing people that poetry belongs to everyone.鈥�

Despite the growing spotlight, Gaither remains grounded in her purpose as both a clinician and an artist. She continues to work in mental health, blending her clinical training with creative approaches to trauma recovery. She says she believes that healing often begins with expression 鈥� with finding a way to say what has long gone unsaid.

鈥淲hen someone writes, I鈥檓 angry, that鈥檚 a start,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut when they write, my anger is a storm that doesn鈥檛 know where to land, suddenly, we have something to hold and understand. That鈥檚 the power of poetry.鈥�

For Gaither, every poem is an act of courage and an invitation to connection. It鈥檚 a truth she carries from her 麻豆原创 days to every stage she stands on: that the human voice, when used with honesty and empathy, can help others heal.

The clinic also serves as a mobile classroom, preparing 麻豆原创 healthcare students in programs including medicine, nursing, physical therapy and speech-language pathology with hands-on experience delivering community-based care.

The clinic is the first interdisciplinary clinical care program offered by 鲍颁贵鈥檚 Academic Health Sciences Center (AHSC). The center unites 鲍颁贵鈥檚 colleges of Health Professions and Sciences, Medicine and Nursing to create more interprofessional health education, research and patient care efforts.

鈥淭his new mobile health clinic is expanding access to healthcare in our community,鈥� says Deborah German, who as vice president for health affairs leads the AHSC and serves as College of Medicine dean. 鈥淥ur goal is simple and powerful 鈥� when healthcare providers work together, the patient receives better care.鈥�

The clinic is focused on low income, uninsured and underinsured populations in Orange and Osceola counties, helping patients who face transportation, mobility or financial barriers that restrict their access to healthcare.

Services include screenings for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol and hearing, along with chronic disease monitoring, fall-risk assessments, medication reviews, audiology services and health education.

With two private exam rooms, diagnostic equipment, and point-of-care testing capabilities, the clinic is aiming to reduce preventable conditions and improve long-term health for the Central Florida region.

鈥淭he 麻豆原创 Health Mobile Health Clinic is designed to complement the incredible work being done by community health centers, federally qualified health centers and charitable clinics across Central Florida,鈥� says Caridad Hernandez, chair of medical education at the College of Medicine, who has worked for years to make the mobile clinic a reality. 鈥淥ur goal is to fill gaps and meet people where they are, working hand in hand with these organizations to amplify resources and create a seamless continuum of care.鈥�

Training Future Health Leaders

鲍颁贵鈥檚 Academic Health Sciences Center is made up of healthcare providers, faculty, researchers, staff and students committed to improving healthcare. It is focused on educating the next generation of healthcare leaders and finding better ways to treat disease through innovation, discovery and collaboration.

The mobile clinic serves as a classroom on wheels that provides future 麻豆原创 physicians, nurses, audiologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists and others with the opportunity to learn in real-world settings, side by side, as part of interprofessional teams.

鈥淭hese experiences prepare graduates who are not only clinically skilled but know how to work and communicate better in healthcare teams.鈥� 鈥� Caridad Hernandez, chair of medical education at the College of Medicine

鈥淭hey will see firsthand how life and social circumstances impact health and care, and how collaboration strengthens outcomes,鈥� Hernandez says. 鈥淭hese experiences prepare graduates who are not only clinically skilled but know how to work and communicate better in healthcare teams. That training stays with them when they go into clinics and hospitals to care for us all.鈥�

Mimi Alliance 鈥�22 is a family nurse practitioner doctoral student at 鲍颁贵鈥檚 College of Nursing who is providing care on the mobile health unit and conducting doctoral research on hearing screenings for seniors.

鈥湵涔筲�檚 mobile health clinic is an incredible and innovative tool that will allow us, as a group of providers, the ability to care for patients by serving them where they are,鈥� she says. 鈥淯ltimately, this is going to improve the health of our communities.鈥�

Addressing a Community Need

The mobile clinic serves Florida residents who are uninsured or underinsured with income levels at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. Nearly 15% of both Orange and Osceola County residents are not insured, regardless of income level. In addition, 27% of Floridians say they do not have a personal physician.

Since March, almost 500 patients have visited the clinic for blood pressure checks, hearing screenings and point-of-care testing for blood sugar levels and cholesterol. It has provided care at Four Roots Farm, Kinneret Council on Aging, Grace Medical Home, the Central Florida Fairgrounds and four Central Florida YMCA locations. 麻豆原创 has also reached an agreement with Osceola County to provide care at community centers in the future.

Thanks to a grant from the Florida Department of Health, the clinic is working to improve care for the community鈥檚 diabetic patients with limited access to care.

Diabetes is a worldwide epidemic. In Florida, at least 2.17 million adults have been diagnosed with diabetes and an estimated 550,000 more are unaware they have it. The state鈥檚 diabetes rate is higher than the national average and it is getting worse 鈥� an additional 6 million adults in Florida have prediabetes.

鈥淢any of our neighbors with diabetes have no access to healthcare. That leads to premature death, blindness, loss of limbs and kidney failure,鈥� Hernandez says. 鈥淭hrough the FDOH grant, we can help provide these patients with needed care. We screen patients for diabetes, can provide prescriptions at no cost, and offer education on diet changes that will help them manage their disease.鈥�

As one recent patient at Kinneret Council on Aging explains, 鈥溌槎乖� helped me know what kind of food and protein I can eat to help my blood sugar not get too high or too low. Thank you so much. You are helping.鈥�

The clinic also started a diabetic foot program after one of the Kinneret patients said she and other diabetics lacked mobility and eyesight to regularly check their feet for ulcers or blisters. Diabetes increases a patient鈥檚 risk for foot ulcers that can lead to amputation. Thanks to the foot program, 麻豆原创 College of Nursing faculty and students are providing hands-on education and preventive screenings to patients, who also received their own telescoping mirrors to do regular foot checks at home.

Providing Needed Audiology Care

One of the clinic鈥檚 major health services is hearing health and the prevention of hearing loss.

鈥淭his is not just a 鈥榥ice to have鈥� screening,鈥� says Bari Hoffman 鈥�96 鈥�98MA, associate dean for clinical affairs at 鲍颁贵鈥檚 College of Health Professions and Sciences and a certified speech pathologist who has helped lead the mobile clinic effort. 鈥淗earing loss is linked to diabetes, cardiovascular and cardiometabolic conditions, balance, cognition and overall health. When we catch hearing loss early, we can intervene before it affects someone鈥檚 safety, memory, their social connections, or their long-term health trajectory.鈥�

Thanks to a gift from the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation, 麻豆原创 purchased diagnostic hearing equipment to provide clinical-grade hearing assessments in the community. And though a collaboration with Central Florida Hearing Aid Recycling Programs, the mobile clinic can help connect patients with reprogrammed, refurbished hearing aids at no cost.

鈥淭his is such a meaningful addition,鈥� Hoffman says. 鈥淚dentifying hearing loss is important, but ensuring people have access to hearing aids is what truly changes lives.鈥�

The mobile unit is also supported by the Community Fund of our teaching hospital 鈥� 麻豆原创 Lake Nona Hospital and our partners HCA Florida Healthcare and The Jules B. Chapman MD and Annie Lou Chapman Private Foundation.

Stephanie Garris is CEO of Orlando鈥檚 Grace Medical Home, which provides high-quality, continuous care to some of Orange County鈥檚 more than 160,000 uninsured residents. Grace patients have received audiology care from the 麻豆原创 mobile clinic.

鈥淭his mobile clinic is an incredible resource for our patients, offering essential services they otherwise wouldn鈥檛 have access to.鈥� 鈥擲tephanie Garris, CEO of Orlando鈥檚 Grace Medical Home

鈥淭his mobile clinic is an incredible resource for our patients, offering essential services they otherwise wouldn鈥檛 have access to,鈥� Garris says. 鈥淭hrough our partnership with 麻豆原创, we are expanding access to care鈥攅specially for the working poor, whose jobs often don鈥檛 include healthcare benefits.鈥�

Expanding Efforts

Mobile clinic leaders are eager to expand services and work with additional community organizations.

Plans also include expanding the mobile clinic into an innovation hub to pilot and evaluate emerging aging-in-place and digital health technologies and integrate new diagnostic and disease prevention tools.

麻豆原创 research faculty also want to use the vehicle鈥檚 services to study better ways to advance health accessibility and chronic disease management. Educators from the AHSC鈥檚 three colleges also plan to grow interdisciplinary student training across areas including audiology, nursing, medicine, physical therapy and speech language pathology.

Community organizations wishing to partner with the mobile health clinic can contact anna.cisneros@ucf.edu.

For the third year in a row, Orlando ranks as the No. 2 Best College City in America among large cities, according to WalletHub鈥檚 2026 list. The City Beautiful maintained the No. 3 spot among cities overall 鈥� making this the fifth year Orlando has placed in the top five nationally.

The rankings serve as a go-to guide for prospective college students deciding where to pursue their college journey. WalletHub dives deep, considering 31 key factors, from the quality of higher education to academic, social and economic opportunities, to pinpoint the best of the best college towns and cities among more than 400 U.S. cities.

As WalletHub puts it, a college’s geographical location matters as much as its curriculum and social environment. And Orlando has all the perks you鈥檇 imagine 鈥� from a reasonable cost of living to academic and work prospects to a wide variety of activities that make for a fun social environment for students. To top it off, WalletHub named Orlando the No. 1 Best Foodie City in America for 2023, and it has remained in the top five ever since 鈥� solidifying its reputation as a food lover鈥檚 paradise.

鈥淎ll of the restaurants [in Orlando] are incredible, and it鈥檚 so fun finding 鈥榟ole-in-the-wall鈥� restaurants and sharing them (with) your friends,鈥� says Jean-Thomas Mateesco ’24, an advertising and public relations alum.

Opportunity abounds in Orlando 鈥� one of the fastest-growing cities in Central Florida and home to 麻豆原创.

Many factors led Shannon Nauta ’24, a 麻豆原创 art alum who minored in event management and art history, from her home state of New Jersey to 麻豆原创 鈥� including its internationally recognized Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

鈥淚 decided on 麻豆原创 because I am interested in pursuing a career within the industry,鈥� Nauta says. 鈥溌槎乖� has amazing programs that provide opportunities for experience and immersion in the creative and hospitality fields, with Orlando as the perfect location [home to world-famous attractions, resorts, restaurants and more].鈥�

麻豆原创 is uniquely positioned amongst a variety of industries, including hospitality, healthcare, tech and aerospace. And some of the nation鈥檚 top companies, such as Electronic Arts, Lockheed Martin, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Nemours Children鈥檚 Hospital and Walt Disney World Resort have all planted roots in Orlando and have partnerships with 麻豆原创. Students can chart their path to success by accessing industries and experiences that are connected to their coursework. The knowledge they鈥檒l gain, discoveries they鈥檒l make and personal growth they鈥檒l achieve while studying at 麻豆原创 will come to benefit them for a lifetime.

Among factors like abundant activities, safety and plenty of jobs, 鈥渟ome of the best college towns blend great academics with low costs,鈥� says WalletHub Analyst Cassandra Happe.

Orlando ranks among the top 40 cities with the best cost of higher education, per WalletHub鈥檚 2024 rankings release. Here, the cost of 鈥渋n-state tuition, room and board and other college expenses are among the lowest in the country,鈥� Happe says.

For the ninth year in a row, U.S. News & World Report has ranked the state of Florida No. 1 in the nation for higher education, with Orlando offering the 14th-lowest tuition (including room and board) for in-state students.

A thriving hub of innovation and economic growth, Orlando maintained the No. 1 spot for Best City to Start a Career among Florida cities, according to WalletHub’s 2025 list. The city retains the No. 2 spot among cities overall. WalletHub compared the relative market strength and overall livability of more than 180 U.S. cities to achieve these rankings. Each city was examined by 26 key factors, ranging from the availability of entry-level jobs to the monthly average starting salary to housing affordability.

Orlando’s thriving job market is one of the main reasons Nauta, an out-of-state student, moved to Orlando. While studying at 麻豆原创, she says she was able to work within the entertainment industry.

Mateesco shares a similar sentiment, adding that 鈥渙ther cities are becoming [overly saturated while] Orlando is an ever-growing city with loads of jobs and cool opportunities.鈥�

Fortunately, new graduates are entering the workforce at a good time, with the current employment shortage and companies eager to hire.

鈥淥rlando has the highest job growth rate of any city, at 8.69%, so it鈥檚 a good place for students to stay even after they鈥檝e graduated,鈥� Happe says.

Elected leaders joined founding donors to celebrate the pavilion鈥檚 opening on 鲍颁贵鈥檚 at Lake Nona. They gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and toured the pavilion, which will help to address Florida鈥檚 critical nursing shortage. Fittingly for Florida鈥檚 Premier Engineering and Technology University, the pavilion also features the latest in immersive modeling and simulation technologies.

“This facility will help strengthen Florida鈥檚 nursing talent pipeline in ways that make communities across our state healthier.” 鈥� 麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright

鈥淭he Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion is a powerful example of what is possible when vision, community and partnership come together. Built with the generous support of state leaders, donors and health care champions, this facility will help strengthen Florida鈥檚 nursing talent pipeline in ways that make communities across our state healthier,鈥� says 麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright. 鈥淭ogether, we are fueling hands-on learning, enabling new research and discovery, and preparing generations of Knight Nurses who will have a lasting impact on the lives of those they serve.鈥�

With the opening, 麻豆原创 will increase access to its accredited and nationally ranked nursing degree programs and graduate an additional 150 newly licensed nurses annually. These graduates will have a direct impact on the state. Of the 17,000 Knight nurse alumni, 85% live and work in Florida, and nearly 60% remain in Central Florida.

Located next to the College of Medicine and in Lake Nona鈥檚 Medical City, a nationally recognized hub of healthcare innovation, the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion will bolster interdisciplinary collaboration to prepare providers to thrive in the workforce and deploy cutting-edge research to solve the industry鈥檚 greatest challenges and ensure a healthier future for all.

Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson played a vital role as Senate President in securing about $43 million in state funding for the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, as well as additional funding for state university and state college nursing initiatives throughout Florida.

鈥淲e worked very hard to secure the funding,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hen you think about state-of the-art nursing, when you think about doubling the capacity of nursing, this couldn鈥檛 come at a better time. Florida is growing 400,000 people a year still. We鈥檙e going to continue to grow.鈥�

“Thanks to the leadership of Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature, the state continues to invest in key academic programs that set an example nationwide,鈥� says State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues. 鈥淭he new Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion at the 麻豆原创 is no exception 鈥� by providing innovative educational opportunities for nursing students now, Florida is ensuring a promising future of skilled nurses that will care for our communities.鈥�

The Power of Partnerships

The Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, which came to fruition through $43 million from the State of Florida and over $29 million from private donors, will directly impact the community that created it and will be a longstanding symbol of what can be achieved through the power of community partnerships 鈥� unleashing potential for generations to come.

鈥淲e are honored to be part of this transformative moment for Central Florida,鈥� says Kenneth Robinson, president and CEO of Dr. Phillips Inc. and the Dr. Phillips Foundation. 鈥淭his investment will help address the nursing shortage, strengthen our healthcare system, and expand access to exceptional education and career opportunities. By supporting this project, we鈥檙e helping to graduate more Knight nurses who will make a lasting impact. We鈥檙e proud to stand with 麻豆原创 and our community partners to shape a healthier, brighter future.鈥�

Founding donors of the facility also include the Helene Fuld Health Trust; 麻豆原创 Pegasus Partners AdventHealth, Orlando Health, Nemours Children鈥檚 Health and Addition Financial; Zaby and Suree Vyas; and many others.

鈥淭oday we are witnessing the power of partnerships,鈥� says Professor Emerita Mary Lou Sole, who, as the previous College of Nursing dean, led the efforts to advocate and raise funds for the new building. 鈥淭he Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion is the result of the collective efforts of 麻豆原创 and this community to come together to solve one of our greatest healthcare challenges. We are incredibly grateful for the support, which will have an immeasurable impact for generations to come.鈥�

Inside the Future of Nursing

Every aspect of the 90,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility was thoughtfully designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and student success and well-being.

鈥淭he Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion will serve as a catalyst for ensuring a brighter, healthier future,鈥� says new College of Nursing Dean Sharon Tucker. 鈥淚n this space, 麻豆原创 will strengthen and empower future nurses and nurse leaders to advance healthcare innovation and collaboration to improve evidence-based patient care and outcomes.鈥�

On the second and third floors is a hub of healthcare innovation, the Helene Fuld Health Trust Simulation, Technology, Innovation and Modeling (STIM) Center. 麻豆原创 is Florida鈥檚 first simulation center to earn three international accolades in the field and the new, expanded space will build upon its global leadership to innovate healthcare education using the latest immersive technologies to prepare nurses for practice as compassionate, skilled providers.

The second floor also features the Dr. Colleen Conway Welch Virtual Reality Learning Studio, a makerspace design studio to accelerate nurse-led innovations, a home health apartment to meet growing demand for home-based healthcare, and the Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation Healthy Aging Research Lab for interdisciplinary research and innovations led by renowned aging expert Ladda Thiamwong.

Upon entering the pavilion, students, faculty, staff and visitors are greeted with the inspiring 鈥溾�� public art commissioned by Florida鈥檚 Art in State Building program. The first floor also includes three large high-tech learning studios, the Zaby and Suree Vyas Collaboration Concourse, the Martin Andersen-Gracia Andersen Foundation Study Cafe and a student success suite.

The opening comes a little over a year and a half after the groundbreaking in January 2024. 麻豆原创 built the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion in conjunction with HuntonBrady Architects, Ayers Saint Gross and DPR Construction.

鲍颁贵鈥檚 Industry Partners Highlight Transformational Impact

AdventHealth

鈥淎t AdventHealth, we鈥檝e seen firsthand the extraordinary caliber of nurses who graduate from 麻豆原创. They bring clinical excellence, compassion and an unwavering commitment to their patients 鈥� values that perfectly align with our mission to provide whole-person care. As the demand for skilled nurses continues to grow, we鈥檙e happy to support this exciting new chapter for the 麻豆原创 College of Nursing. And as a 麻豆原创 alum, I鈥檓 excited to welcome even more outstanding Knight nurses to AdventHealth.鈥�

-Cathy Stankiewicz, (MSN鈥�11), chief nursing officer, Central Florida Division

Helene Fuld Health Trust

鈥淭he Helene Fuld Health Trust Simulation, Technology, Innovation and Modeling Center at 麻豆原创 exemplifies our mission to support the education of nursing students. Simulation is a critical component [of] nursing education and will continue to be in the future, and we鈥檙e proud to make this investment to strengthen nursing skills and improve the welfare of our communities.鈥�

-Robert Campbell, vice president of Trust & Fiduciary Services at HSBC, who oversees the trust

Nemours Children鈥檚 Health

鈥淕rowing and solidifying the nursing workforce is critical to care delivery across the healthcare sector. Through our longtime relationship with the 麻豆原创 College of Nursing, we have seen firsthand the benefits of hiring their well-trained, work-ready graduates. The new nursing pavilion will be a tremendous asset in our continued collaboration, partnership, and investment to support the education, development, and maturation of emerging nurses.鈥�

-Nicole Johnson, (DNP鈥�17), senior vice president and chief nursing and patient operations officer 聽

Orlando Health

鈥淚t is an honor and privilege to be associated with 麻豆原创, and we are thankful for our partnership with the university, nursing professors, and students.鈥�

-David Strong, president and CEO

That鈥檚 the understanding 11th grader Micah Terry now has about photonics after spending a week at CREOL, the College of Optics and Photonics鈥� Laser and Photonics Summer Camp. The Orlando Science High School student learned how to solder, constructed a pinhole camera, built a homemade telescope and brainstormed some ideas for his future.

鈥淚鈥檓 definitely considering photonics as a career,鈥� he says.

Terry was one of about 50 high school students from across Central Florida 鈥� and the world 鈥� who will return to their classrooms with a new understanding of the science of light and as an advocate for Florida鈥檚 only bachelor鈥檚 degree in photonic science and engineering.

“There are only six universities in the United States with this degree,鈥� CREOL Undergraduate Adviser Mike McKee says. 鈥淏ecause of that, students don’t know that this is a potential career that they could go into.鈥�

This is the third year CREOL has hosted the camp and the second year that organizers expanded the program into three one-week sessions to meet the demand. Each week, about 15 students collaborated in the teaching lab, helping each other assemble their projects in between talks by CREOL students and faculty members.

“It’s an opportunity for high school students to learn about the many important things that you can do with the science of light, whether it’s applications in imaging or in measuring distances, such as LIDAR in cars or fiber optic communications,鈥� CREOL Dean David Hagan says.

Those connections aren鈥檛 always made in high school classrooms. CREOL senior Kiva McCracken kept that in mind as she planned the activities for the camp.

“There’s very few programs that teach photonics, and there’s basically no exposure on a pre-college level,鈥� McCracken says.

Changing that reality promises to grow enrollment in the bachelor鈥檚 program as the awareness grows, but there are broader implications for the photonics industry. The聽U.S. Department of Labor聽projects that each year, there are more than 10,000 job openings for photonics engineers 鈥� 700 of which are in Florida. But only 80 to 100 students in the聽entire U.S.聽graduate with bachelor鈥檚 degrees in photonics engineering. 麻豆原创 and CREOL proudly supply more than one third of those graduates.

鈥淭hey’re high-paying jobs, and some of them are companies in the Central Florida area,鈥� McKee says. 鈥淲ith CREOL, they’re going to be able to get home-grown people, versus going outside of the state and bringing them in, so we’re going to enable some of these companies to continue to grow and advance in photonics locally.”

Often, local growth is made possible by international talent. Chloe Phung attends high school in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. She was awarded a scholarship to make the trip to Orlando to learn about photonics.

“I had the chance to learn many things, to know more about optics and lenses, and lasers,” Phung says.

Orange County Public Schools teachers Bill Young and Jorge Vallin helped McCracken facilitate the lessons and activities. At the end of the camp, parents gathered to watch their students present what they learned. Campers explained the science behind printed circuit boards, LED lighting, lasers and light diffraction. Parents were also given information about what classes their children might take to get on the right track for the bachelor鈥檚 degree program. There are multiple pathways, including earning credits at Valencia College that will ultimately transfer. One day of the camp was dedicated to a tour of Valencia鈥檚 Osceola campus, which offers introductory courses in photonics.

“We have a really strong undergraduate program in optics and photonics at 麻豆原创, and not many people know about it,鈥� Hagan says. 鈥淭his is a chance for students to get familiar. It’s also just as important for them to get a broader view of science than they might get in high school.”

The camp follows an inaugural Teacher Ambassador Program at CREOL. Eight teachers from across Central Florida spent three days doing similar hands-on activities that they could bring back to their classrooms. Unlike normal professional development workshops, the sessions also empowered teachers to become representatives for the college 鈥� and in turn, introduce more high school students to what CREOL has to offer.

To honor their legacy and ensure their stories aren鈥檛 forgotten, the (FFSS) project, through 鲍颁贵鈥檚 , recognizes the Floridians who fought and died in Europe during World War II and are now buried in the American Battle Monuments Commission cemeteries in France.

The project, which intends to memorialize Gold Star Floridians from World War II, also teaches history students how to conduct research and construct a historical narrative. This year 10 new biographies are being published through the project in honor of VE Day on May 8 and Memorial Day on May 26.

鈥淭he young men whom our 麻豆原创 students learn about died [around] the age [they] are when they research these stories. [Students] learn valuable research and writing skills, as well as about an individual who paid the ultimate price during World War II,鈥� says Amelia Lyons, leader of the FFSS project and an associate professor in the 麻豆原创 history department.

鈥淸FFSS] is bringing back all these men who died in service,鈥� says history graduate student Marie Oury. 鈥淭oday they teach students how to be better historians. Without their willingness to serve again, we couldn鈥檛 do the project. It鈥檚 a bridge between Florida and France, where local histories in two places become one.鈥�

FFSS graduate students verify all sources, edit biographies written by undergraduates and manage the FFSS website. In the process, they develop a range of professional skills they can carry into their careers after graduation.

Michael Richardson ’22, a U.S. Navy veteran and history graduate student, recently edited the biography of Steward鈥檚 Mate Second Class Charles Stripling. Stripling is the FFSS鈥檚 first biography from the Normandy American Cemetery and one of the African American sailors to pay the ultimate price during the Allied invasion in June 1944.

鈥淐harles is FFSS鈥檚 first U.S. Navy biography, and to tell my brother鈥檚 story means a lot,鈥� Richardson says. 鈥淸He] served at the front of the ship, right where the sea mine hit his Landing Ship Tank on June 11, 1944. The fact that he was reported missing and never recovered really hits home. It lets students share the veteran鈥檚 perspective.鈥�

This summer, Oury and Lyons will travel to Alsace in eastern France to meet with U.S. Consulate representatives, officials from France鈥檚 Ministry of Culture, and regional officials and WWII museums that have expressed interest in featuring 麻豆原创 student-authored stories of American soldiers in their exhibits.

鈥淢arie and I are excited to meet with so many people in Alsace who care about the Floridians who liberated their hometowns. In addition to local interest, WWII museums along the Rhine River get many American tourists who want to know more about the American experience in WWII,鈥� Lyons says. 鈥淥ur project provides these personal narratives through our rigorously researched biographies. This summer Marie and I will be working where this project started in 2015, with the first biographies our students wrote about Floridians buried in the Epinal American Cemetery.鈥�

This project is deeply personal for Richardson, past president of 鲍颁贵鈥檚 Student Veterans of America chapter.

鈥淚t gives me a mission in peacetime. It allows me to serve my community by ensuring that these stories are told professionally and with respect for the men whose stories we tell,鈥� Richardson says. 鈥淎 lot of our students have not even been in the same room as a veteran, and this project helps history and veterans’ experiences come to life.鈥�

As we pay tribute to our nation鈥檚 fallen on Memorial Day, we invite you to read some of the newly published biographies by the Florida France Soldier Stories project. Many of these men never had the chance to start families, and those who did often didn鈥檛 live to see them grow up. Memorial Day is a time to reflect and honor those who are no longer with us, but whose sacrifice allows us to celebrate this holiday weekend.

New Florida France Soldier Stories

*Cities in parentheses indicate where the veterans are buried.

• (Rhone)
• (Lorraine)
• (Rhone)
• (Epinal)
• (Lorraine)
• (Lorraine)
• (Normandy)
• (Epinal)
• (Lorraine)
• (Epinal)

His legal guardian 鈥� the woman who raised him and whom he considers his mom 鈥� was notified in June that her property manager had sold the home they were renting, and they had 30 days to move out. He bounced around a bit, living in his car briefly and with another family that proved toxic, before he was able to secure a room in 鲍颁贵鈥檚 NorthView.

It came with a cost: That was the first time in his four years in college that Hatcher, who paid for both Valencia and 麻豆原创 with the Department of Children and Families鈥� Foster Child Tuition Waiver, had taken out a student loan. He needed the money to cover the cost of his apartment.

麻豆原创 Day of Giving is April 10. Consider supporting 麻豆原创 students through difficult times .

Then, he learned he also needed an emergency root canal.

鈥淚鈥檓 someone who doesn鈥檛 really like to ask for support until I really feel like I need it,鈥� Hatcher says. 鈥淚 try to do things by myself as much as I can. But I didn鈥檛 have insurance, and I didn鈥檛 have the money to pay for a root canal.鈥�

It鈥檚 exactly the type of unplanned predicament that 麻豆原创’s Student Emergency Fund is designed to help with.

鈥淭he purpose of the Student Emergency Fund is to ensure that students have the financial support they need when faced with those short-term crises or emergencies, which can look different for each and every student,鈥� says Tammie Nadeau, director of Student Care Services. 鈥淥ur role is to ensure that those basic, short-term needs 鈥� whether it鈥檚 housing, food, transportation or medical 鈥� are met by the Emergency Fund Committee so that students can be successful and move forward.鈥�

According to Nadeau, her team receives roughly 100 requests a month for assistance. Typically, they鈥檙e in response to an emergency, such as the loss of a job or a natural disaster, including when a nearby apartment complex flooded and students needed to find 鈥� and pay for 鈥� temporary housing. But there are also simply random events, such as when a student鈥檚 car caught on fire and she lost her textbooks and laptop and didn鈥檛 have the money to replace everything.

That鈥檚 when students can apply for up to $2,500 per degree for assistance. Every Thursday, a committee comprised of Nadeau and staff members from Student Care Services, financial aid, the Registrar鈥檚 Office and Student Accounts Services gather to review applications and ensure students have exhausted every other resource. Not every student will qualify for financial aid reasons. Those that do are invited to meet remotely with the committee and review their request. For Hatcher, that included sharing his X-rays, the cost of the procedure and how he had used his other funding.

“It鈥檚 nice to know that as a student, 麻豆原创 provides a security net in the form of the Student Emergency Fund.鈥� 鈥� Ryan Hatcher 鈥�23

鈥淚t鈥檚 remarkable how this fund has been elevated to a place where we鈥檙e not only able to support our students with their basic needs, but also to respond to emergencies and crises as they occur,鈥� says Nadeau, who says they often receive calls from other universities asking how they鈥檙e able to get so many different departments to the table and award funds so quickly. 鈥淏ecause it鈥檚 so easy to get derailed when something unexpected comes up. Without this funding, many of our students probably wouldn鈥檛 still be at 麻豆原创 鈥� or in college. Many times, this fund is a last resource for students who have nowhere else to go.

For Hatcher, the funding helped ensure he completed his bachelor鈥檚 on time 鈥� as the first person in his birth family to earn a college degree. He鈥檚 now in his second semester of grad school at 麻豆原创, pursuing a master鈥檚 in public administration because he wants to 鈥渉elp others like myself.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 corny to say this, but the people at Student Care Services really do care,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e consistently at the forefront of making going to 麻豆原创 the best experience possible for students. And it鈥檚 nice to know that as a student, 麻豆原创 provides a security net in the form of the Student Emergency Fund.鈥�

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