鲍颁贵鈥檚 leading space medicine experts, valued strategic partners and an astronaut who holds NASA鈥檚 record for spacewalks will gather April 10 in Lake Nona鈥檚 Medical City to discuss how they can work together to keep space travelers healthy and use that research to create groundbreaking clinical innovations on Earth.

The 鈥淪tar Nona 2026鈥� event is led by the Lake Nona Research Council, which is focused on encouraging interdisciplinary scientific partnerships between industry, academia and healthcare.

The council includes physicians and researchers from 麻豆原创, Orlando Health, AdventHealth, the , the Orlando VA Medical Center, Nemours Children鈥檚 Health, business and industry.

Star Nona 2026 Event Details

鈥淥ur goal is to bring together space medicine leaders and experts from academia, medicine and the space industry to find more ways we can work together to research the health impacts of space flight and how our discoveries can also improve healthcare on Earth,鈥� says Michal Masternak, 麻豆原创 professor of medicine.

An anti-aging and cancer researcher, Masternak leads the Lake Nona Research Council鈥檚 space medicine research group. He also leads the College of Medicine鈥檚 program that processes astronaut samples so physicians and scientists can analyze the immediate impact of space travel on astronauts鈥� bodies.

Sessions will include presentations on:

• Microgravity and radiation exposure and their impact on human physical and mental health
• How space travel affects muscles, bones, cells, vision and the brain
• Protecting muscles in space (led by AdventHealth researchers)
• Next generation of the space station
• New technologies for diagnosing how space travel impacts human cells.

These presentations will feature 麻豆原创 researchers from medicine, , and . 麻豆原创 graduate students and post-doctoral scientists will also present research posters on space medicine.

The plenary speaker is NASA astronaut Robert Curbeam, a U.S. Navy captain who completed four spacewalks during space shuttle Discovery鈥檚 2006 mission to the International Space Station.

The Space Coast鈥檚 College of Medicine

Located 45 miles west of the Space Coast and Kennedy Space Center, 鲍颁贵鈥檚 College of Medicine is the perfect partner to chart a new frontier in healthcare as humans prepare for longer missions to the moon and Mars, and commercial space flights take more civilians into space.

The goal: explore how factors such as microgravity, radiation and isolation impact the human body in space and how that knowledge can drive innovation into diagnostics, treatment and disease prevention on Earth.

To further those efforts, 麻豆原创 has created a new Center for Aerospace and Extreme Environments Medicine (CASEEM), which includes 麻豆原创 faculty experts in medicine, engineering, computer science, psychology, arts and educational leadership. This interdisciplinary group will work together to research and develop new technologies for keeping space travelers healthy, as well as soldiers on military missions, deep sea explorers and mountain climbers.

About the Lake Nona Research Council

Edward Ross, the College of Medicine鈥檚 chair of medicine and assistant dean for research, leads the Lake Nona Research Council.

Ross says Star Nona and the partnerships it creates will help solidify 麻豆原创 and Medical City鈥檚 reputation as a premier center for space medicine.

鈥淲hen people think of keeping space visitors healthy, we want them to immediately think 麻豆原创.鈥� 鈥� Edward Ross, College of Medicine鈥檚 chair of medicine

鈥淎s a university, 麻豆原创 was born to create the workforce to send humans to the moon,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e continuing that legacy with space medicine. When people think of keeping space visitors healthy, we want them to immediately think 麻豆原创.鈥�

Event Registration

Star Nona 2026 will be held at the 麻豆原创 Lake Nona Cancer Center, with registration beginning at 8:15 a.m. Star Nona is made possible by support and sponsorships from Dr. Jogi Pattisapu and the Hydrocephalus and Neuroscience Institute, Tavistock Development Company and the Florida Space Institute. To sign up to attend the event, please visit .

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

The Board of Trustees this week approved the use of state allocated funds to begin the planning and design phase for the projected 90,000-square-foot College of Nursing building at the 麻豆原创 Academic Health Sciences Campus in Lake Nona. With state allocated funding estimated to pay for less than half of the new building, the college will launch a strategic fundraising campaign to secure private support for the project.

鈥湵涔筲�檚 College of Nursing leverages the innovation and collaboration our university is known for to educate the nurse caregivers, researchers and educators of tomorrow,鈥� says President Alexander N. Cartwright. 鈥淲e are incredibly excited to have our nursing students join our Academic Health Sciences Center in Lake Nona, and we look forward to increasing the excellence of our programs and our impact in our community through the partnerships and opportunities that this move will enable.鈥�

鈥湵涔筲�檚 College of Nursing leverages the innovation and collaboration our university is known for to educate the nurse caregivers, researchers and educators of tomorrow.鈥� 鈥� Alexander N. Cartwright, 麻豆原创 president

鈥淭his is an incredible milestone for 麻豆原创, and we鈥檙e laser focused on moving from vision to reality,鈥� says Mary Lou Sole, dean of the College of Nursing. 鈥淭his is a transformational project that has wide-reaching impact for our region, and we will need the support of our entire community to help us reach our goal of educating more Knight nurses to positively impact more patient lives, and guide 21^st century healthcare.鈥�

The new home of the College of Nursing will sit on the 50-acre property already home to the 麻豆原创 College of Medicine and the 麻豆原创 Lake Nona Hospital. Preliminary plans include classrooms as well as state-of-the-art learning labs for health assessment, essential skills and virtual reality located in an expanded space for the College of Nursing鈥檚 accredited Simulation, Technology, Innovation & Modeling Center, an international leader in providing high-quality simulation experiences to prepare students for clinical practice.

The design also calls for new research space 鈥� to include wet and dry labs 鈥� along with a host of student study spaces. When the new building is complete, the College of Nursing will relocate from its current location in Research Park and will have almost double its current square footage.

The location at the 麻豆原创 Academic Health Sciences Campus will offer students and faculty new opportunities for collaboration and enhanced learning and research experiences.

鈥淥ur longstanding partnerships with the healthcare providers in our region have been invaluable,鈥� says Sole. 鈥淏eing physically situated in this hub of healthcare innovation is going to offer a host of new possibilities for teaching and research.鈥�

The new building is a much-needed investment for the region and the state, both of which are facing a critical healthcare worker shortage. The Florida Hospital Association projects a shortage of 37,400 RNs by 2035 and has actively advocated to increase the supply of quality faculty and campus resources for nursing programs. The association estimates that an additional 2,300 RNs are needed to enter the workforce each year to address the projected state shortage.

The College of Nursing currently educates more than 2,900 undergraduate and graduate students and awards approximately 800 degrees annually. Enrollment has grown more than 240% since 2003. In the last five years, the college has been forced to decline admission to more than 860 qualified applicants due to physical capacity limits.

麻豆原创 already graduates the most newly licensed registered nurses annually than any other institution in the State University System, with approximately 260 Knight nurses entering the workforce each year. Once the building is complete and fully funded, the College of Nursing expects to increase enrollment for new nurses and future nurse educators, grow the number of existing 麻豆原创 faculty, and ultimately graduate an additional 150 new nurses annually to enter the healthcare industry 鈥� primarily in Florida.

Approximately 85% of 麻豆原创 nursing alumni live and work in Florida, and almost 60% live and work in the six-county Central Florida area.

鈥淭he community is growing,鈥� says Sole, who notes that Florida鈥檚 population is rising at rapid rates that exceed the national average. 鈥淥ur population is also aging, which is increasing demand on our healthcare systems. As a region, we need to be able to provide high quality, compassionate care to all of our residents who live here now and those coming here in the future.鈥�

That鈥檚 where more Knight nurses will help. 鲍颁贵鈥檚 nursing graduates are well prepared for clinical practice, consistently surpassing the national average on the licensure examination for RNs and nurse practitioners.

鈥淎s a region, we need to be able to provide high quality, compassionate care to all of our residents who live here now and those coming here in the future.鈥� 鈥� Mary Lou Sole, 麻豆原创 College of Nursing dean

With additional faculty, staff and space, the college will also grow enrollment capacity for its doctoral and master鈥檚 degree programs. These programs help educate more advanced practice providers, nurse leaders and executives, and nurse educators who will fuel the pipeline of nursing faculty, which is essential for combating the nursing shortage.

鈥淭he ripple effects that a nurse educator has on the profession and patient lives are immeasurable,鈥� says Sole. 鈥淭hey teach and mentor countless nursing students, year after year, who then go out and care for patients, and they conduct invaluable research to impact the health of communities.鈥�

The College of Nursing has been leading the charge in educating the next generation of nurses since 1979 and is ranked among the best in the nation. It is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and recently was one of nine programs worldwide 鈥� the only one in Florida 鈥� to receive an endorsement from the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning.

The Florida Legislature allocated $29 million to 麻豆原创 during the 2022 legislative session for the new building. The total cost for the new building is estimated to be just under $64 million.

Once funding is secured and planning goals are met, the college will break ground on the new building, which is anticipated to open during the 2025-2026 academic year.

麻豆原创 Lake Nona Medical Center, which will be built adjacent to the 麻豆原创 College of Medicine, is a public-private partnership with 麻豆原创 Academic Health, a direct support organization to the university, and the North Florida Division of Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), the nation鈥檚 largest hospital company.

Focused on providing healthcare services to the community as well as education and research, the hospital will help the College of Medicine increase residencies and clinically based research, and ultimately help build Medical City into more of a healthcare destination providing first-class health care.

The hospital 鈥渨ill fulfill our promise to become a hub of innovation and a healthier Orlando,鈥� said 麻豆原创 Board of Trustees Chairman Marcos Marchena.

鈥淭he aspirations that we have worked on from day one are that we would have a first-rate, top-tier medical school. It is clear to me that we need a hospital if we are going to achieve our highest ambitions for the medical college,鈥� said 麻豆原创 President John C. Hitt.

Under the agreement, HCA will spend $175 million in cash to build and begin operations of a 100-bed hospital. No state money will be used and 麻豆原创 will not incur any debt. 麻豆原创 and HCA will share governance, each appointing four members to the hospital board.

Dr. Deborah German, vice president for medical affairs and founding dean of the College of Medicine, said the hospital is necessary for 麻豆原创 to deliver on the economic development promises it made when the college was approved more than 10 years ago. 鈥淚n the United States and around the world, the best health systems have an academic component at their heart and the best medical schools have hospitals,鈥� she said.

In 2012, the university purchased the land in Medical City and began seeking partners. Last summer, 麻豆原创 formally invited hospitals nationwide to submit partnership proposals. HCA, Florida Hospital and Orlando Health did. In September, 麻豆原创 trustees approved a partnership with HCA, citing its nationwide hospital operations experience, financial strength and extensive research programs.

鈥淲e are grateful to the Board of Governors for their approval and very excited to move forward in building a community-based teaching facility,鈥� said Michael P. Joyce, FACHE, President of HCA鈥檚 North Florida Division. 鈥淭oday marks a milestone for all of us at HCA. This investment benefits the future physicians we鈥檙e privileged to train, as well as the entire Lake Nona community. It also allows us to expand our footprint in the Orlando area, making healthcare more accessible for Central Floridians.鈥�

Lake Nona is one of the Top 10 fastest-selling master-planned communities in the United States and the fastest-selling in Orlando. More than 1,000 families are moving to Lake Nona every year.

Today, the next phase of that mission begins to takes shape.

麻豆原创 is seeking a partner to build a university-based teaching hospital in the heart of Lake Nona鈥檚 Medical City. The proposal will be open to local, state and national health care institutions.

鈥淲e have talked for years about when would be the right time to build a university-based teaching hospital. That time is now,鈥� said 麻豆原创 President John C. Hitt. 鈥淎 麻豆原创 teaching hospital is needed to fulfill our commitment to Central Florida 鈥� and to all of the citizens of this state 鈥� to build a healthier community, train more doctors, and power economic growth through research.鈥�

The new teaching hospital would be located adjacent to the College of Medicine on property already owned by 麻豆原创. The university will not seek new state funds for this project.

鈥淥ur invitation will look for a partner to bring most, if not all, of the funds needed to build a hospital,鈥� said 麻豆原创 Board Chairman Marcos Marchena. 鈥淭his invitation is open to all and we look forward to combining our academic and research expertise with a hospital-focused partner.鈥�

On Aug. 5, the 麻豆原创 Board of Trustees approved having 麻豆原创 Academic Health, a direct support organization to the university, pursue finding a partner to build a university-based teaching hospital and obtain a certificate of need from the State of Florida.

Established in 2006, the 麻豆原创 College of Medicine was created with an explicit economic development purpose, as well as its teaching and research mission. University leaders believe a new teaching hospital will be a great investment for the region and beyond.

鈥淲ithout a university-based teaching hospital, the research mission and the economic impact promised to our community cannot be fully realized,鈥� said Dr. Deborah German, founding dean of the College of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs. 鈥淭his will help Central Florida become a national, then global, health care destination that will benefit all of our partners and our community.鈥�

David Silbersweig, of Brigham and Women鈥檚 Hospital and the Harvard Medical School, recently wrote in The Washington Post about the benefits of teaching hospitals: 鈥淭hey are major life science and biotechnology incubators/attractors (sought-after 鈥榚xternal innovation鈥� partners of choice and recruitment pipelines for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries), economic engines, large-scale job creators, and talent magnets for the cities, regions and states in which they reside. They are the place where the next generation of physicians and other clinicians are trained. This is particularly relevant in light of the aging population and the large predicted physician shortage by the year 2025. They are the birthplace of many latest scientific and technological discoveries, and their translation into improved care with near-term and long-term impact.鈥�

Said German: 鈥淚n the United States and around the world, the best health systems have an academic component at their heart and the best medical schools have teaching hospitals.鈥�

麻豆原创 was ranked 13 of the 40 most attractive medical school campuses in the United States. In making the top of the list, the College of Medicine joined established medical schools including Harvard, Boston University, Duke, Vanderbilt, Stanford and Yale.

鈥淪tudents at the 麻豆原创 College of Medicine experience a unique environment, living in a 鈥榤edical city鈥� that includes a number of hospitals and health institutes set within a 650 acre park-like environment,鈥� the editors wrote. They praised the medical school鈥檚 modern architecture, landscaping, palm trees and lakes, calling the college a beautiful location 鈥渢o practice the healing arts.鈥�

The editors took into account the architecture, campus landscape and local environment in making their choices. 鈥淥bviously, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and there鈥檚 nothing scientific or objective about this list, but we hope you enjoy looking at it as much as we enjoyed putting it together,鈥� they said.

Dr. Deborah German, vice president for medical affairs and dean of the medical school, said she was 鈥渢otally delighted鈥� with the designation. 鈥淥ur vision in creating our campus was to create a place that would inspire and instill the values needed by our future physicians and scientists and to do so within the parameters of a state budget.鈥�

To see the nation鈥檚 most beautiful medical schools, please visit

Over 26 million Americans — 1 in 9 adults — have chronic kidney disease, and most don鈥檛 know it. Because symptoms may not appear until the kidneys are actually failing, millions of people with kidney damage remain unaware and are not taking steps to protect their health.

Currently, about 400,000 Americans depend on kidney dialysis to stay alive and close to 90, 000 are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. Each year, 112,000 people are diagnosed with kidney failure 鈥� one person every five minutes.

Dr. Abdo Asmar, assistant professor of internal medicine at the College of Medicine, and a practicing nephrologist at 麻豆原创 Pegasus Health, the college鈥檚 physician practice, serves on the board of the Florida NKF. He helped get this year鈥檚 walk at Medical City and welcomed participants to the event. Walkers included kidney patients, those who had received transplants and 鈥渉eroes,鈥� who had donated a kidney to a person in need. Thanking participants on behalf of 鈥測our College of Medicine,鈥� Dr. Asmar told the crowd, 鈥淲e鈥檙e walking to help all of those who are dealing with chronic kidney disease.鈥�

First-year medical student Andrew Schiff had a personal reason for walking. His mother was recently diagnosed with kidney disease. She didn鈥檛 know she had the condition until she tried to get life insurance for her two sons and a physical found an inflammatory kidney condition called Minimal Change Disease in which large amounts of protein is abnormally lost in the urine.

At Andrew鈥檚 suggestion, the College of Medicine walkers designed their own T-shirts with slogans, pictures of kidneys and hearts to show that 鈥淐OM Cares About Kidneys.鈥� Andrew鈥檚 shirt had a large sun and the words, 鈥淢omma鈥檚 Boy.鈥�

鈥淢y mom鈥檚 condition really puts into perspective why I came to medical school,鈥� he said. 鈥淏eing able to get up on a Sunday morning and walk for someone else, it鈥檚 why I鈥檓 here. Why I wanted to go into medicine.

First-year medical students Alex Eskandari and Jasmine Steele helped lead the Renal 9-1-1 team and both are studying aspects of kidney disease for their Focused Inquiry and Research Experience (FIRE) projects. They are examining the prevalence of foot ulcers in non-diabetic kidney patients, why such patients are prone to the ulcers, and how to prevent the condition. Such ulcers can be difficult to treat and may result in leg amputation. Alex, Dr. Asmar and other walkers said they hope events like the 5K help increase awareness of kidney disease.

鈥淲hen you have kidney disease, everything changes,鈥� said Alex. 鈥淵et the public and families don鈥檛 seem to know how serious a problem kidney disease is.鈥�

Students are pursuing a variety of specialties, from primary care to highly competitive sub-specialties like neurosurgery, diagnostic radiology and orthopedic surgery. They will train in hospital programs across Florida, including Orlando Health and the University of Florida, and across the nation, including the Mayo Clinic, Duke, Tufts, Brown and the University of Washington.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a great day for our university and our community,鈥� said President John C. Hitt. 鈥淥ur students have followed their pioneering spirits and accomplished so much with the help of our talented faculty and staff members and the support of so many generous scholarship donors. When our students move on to their residencies, they will be exceptional ambassadors for the College of Medicine, 麻豆原创 and Central Florida.鈥�

Thirty-five students from the College of Medicine鈥檚 charter class participated in Match Day 2013. More than 40,000 participated nationwide. Most medical institutions will not hire doctors unless they complete a residency, so there鈥檚 a lot riding on Match day. Results are kept secret until noon EST on national Match Day.

鈥淚 am happy with our match results,鈥� said Dr. Deborah German, vice president for medical affairs and founding dean of the College of Medicine. 鈥淥ur students reached for the stars in pursuing their dreams. They will continue their training in Florida and across the nation representing Central Florida as the first group of 麻豆原创-educated physicians.鈥�

The match is similar to an online dating service. Medical students select their preferred residency program from a list of possibilities nationwide. Residency programs housed at universities and hospitals alike list their top picks. A centralized computer spends weeks sorting and coming up with the best 鈥渕atch,鈥� which is announced on the designated Match Day.

There was a lot of anticipation leading up to Friday at 麻豆原创 and beyond. The community eagerly awaited results after donating more than $6.5 million to fund full scholarships for every student in the class of 2013, making 麻豆原创 the first medical school in U.S. history to provide full scholarships to an entire class. The scholarships provided $160,000 for tuition, fees and living expenses for all four years of medical school.

Students stood in front of an overhead banner where gold glittered clothespins held sealed white envelopes. Each envelope held a letter telling them where they had placed. As the medical school clock tower struck noon, the class, their families, donors, faculty and staff began counting down at 10鈥�9鈥�8鈥t 鈥�1鈥� students tore into their envelopes to get the news. Tears, laughter and cheers erupted throughout the halls. Hugs and tears were common as parents and donors congratulated their students.

“I’m on Cloud Nine,” said M.D. student Mitch Popevetsky, who matched in internal medicine at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. “Every day this week has been a countdown until now. I was so excited I had to read my letter four times just to be sure.”

The College of Medicine was the first building to call Medical City home. Today the growing biomedical cluster located near the Orlando International Airport includes Nemours Children鈥檚 Hospital, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, a University of Florida Research and Academic Center and the Orlando VA Medical Center under construction. Collaboration among these institutions and hospital chains such as Orlando Health and Florida Hospital also gave the charter class students unique opportunities for hands on training.

Tiffany Chen is one of five 麻豆原创 students going to the University of Washington Affiliated Hospitals. “”I’m ecstatic,” said Tiffany, who opened the envelope announcing her obstetrics-gynecology residency, screamed and then turned to hug her mother.”I was in rounds all week, which was good because working distracted me. But it was hard to sleep last night.”

The match is the last big hurdle for charter class medical students before graduation on May 17 and the start of their medical careers.

The class became the first in U.S. medical school history in which every student received a full scholarship, thanks to generous donations from the Central Florida community. However, the students enrolled knowing they would not find out until a few months before graduating whether the college would earn the full accreditation necessary for them to advance to their residencies and begin pursuing careers as doctors.

Those pioneering students can now celebrate. The 麻豆原创 College of Medicine has earned full accreditation following a rigorous, independent review of its educational program.

鈥淭his achievement is a credit to the efforts of our outstanding College of Medicine staff members and faculty members. They are preparing our students for a lifetime of providing high-quality, compassionate care,鈥� said 麻豆原创 President John C. Hitt, who made the announcement at a news conference Monday with Dr. Deborah German, vice president for medical affairs and founding dean of the College of Medicine.

鈥淎ccreditation also is a testament to the generosity of our Central Florida community. From government and health-care partners to volunteer faculty members and scholarship donors, many supporters stepped up to make this our community鈥檚 medical school.鈥�

The accreditation was granted by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the national accrediting authority for all medical schools in the United States and Canada. Accreditation provides assurances that 鈥済raduates exhibit general professional competencies that are appropriate for entry to the next stage of their training and that serve as the foundation for lifelong learning and proficient medical care.鈥�

Earning full accreditation has been one of German鈥檚 top priorities since she was hired in December 2006. She recruited top faculty members and community partners who collaborated with her to set up an innovative curriculum, and she oversaw construction of the college鈥檚 state-of-the-art facilities at Lake Nona. The curricula and facilities are both key components of earning full accreditation.

German thanked the community, donors, business leaders, the college鈥檚 health-care partners and more than 2,000 volunteer faculty members for 鈥渉elping this medical school grow from a cattle pasture to an educational cornerstone of a thriving Medical City. I am sincerely and humbly grateful to all of you.鈥�

鈥淭his is just the latest example of the collaboration that makes things happen here,鈥� German added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also the reason why our college is the community鈥檚 medical school. You made this possible through your financial donations, countless volunteer hours and commitment to our students. This is a day of celebration for all of us.鈥�

Full accreditation is the first in a series of milestones this year at the young medical school. On March 15, members of the charter class will participate in Residency Match Day 2013, when students learn where they will attend their residencies. The charter class will graduate on May 17.

The college selected the 41 charter students out of more than 4,000 applicants. The medical school opened in 2009 in temporary facilities near the main 麻豆原创 campus. In 2010, the students and faculty members moved into a $65 million, 170,000-square foot medical education building at Lake Nona that includes state-of-the-art labs, classrooms, technology and a library that is 98 percent digital.

Today, the College of Medicine is the centerpiece of a growing Medical City that also features the Sanford-Burnham Institute for Medical Research, Nemours Children鈥檚 Hospital, the MD Anderson Cancer Center, the VA Hospital, and a University of Florida research facility, among other buildings. Together, 麻豆原创 and its Medical City partners are projected to create 30,000 jobs and an annual economic impact of $7.6 billion by the end of 2017.

鈥淚nitially, many people questioned whether the plans for our College of Medicine would ever materialize,鈥� Hitt said. 鈥淭oday, our fully accredited college is part of a bustling Medical City considered by many to be the biggest economic game changer for Central Florida since Walt Disney World.鈥�

鈥淕overnment, business, education鈥攅verybody cooperates. How did Orlando become the computer simulation capital of America? 鈥� Because of 麻豆原创,鈥� said Clinton. 鈥淏ecause every semester, you train people for the jobs that are going to be there, not the jobs that aren鈥檛.鈥�

In addition to highlighting Central Florida鈥檚 simulation industry, Clinton also spoke about 鲍颁贵鈥檚 involvement with the medical city at Lake Nona.

Obama was scheduled to speak at Monday鈥檚 rally but canceled his appearance because he returned to Washington, D.C., to advise on relief efforts for Hurricane Sandy.

Monday鈥檚 event was the third presidential campaign event held at 麻豆原创 this year. In July, first lady Michelle Obama campaigned for her husband鈥檚 re-election at the Venue. Rep. Paul Ryan visited the Venue last month for an event supporting his and Gov. Mitt Romney鈥檚 Republican ticket.