麻豆原创鈥檚 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, 麻豆原创鈥檚 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 .

Growing up, Gabie and Zoe were typical sisters 鈥� riding bikes, baking and going on picnics together. They shared everything with each other, including their dreams for the future. Gabie saw herself becoming a marine biologist, and Zoe saw herself following in her parents鈥� footsteps and becoming a nurse.

But their paths began to change when Zoe was 14 years old and started to experience severe headaches and nausea. With no known cause, her symptoms persisted for a little over a year until April 2017, when she had a minutelong, unexpected seizure.

鈥淚 called 911, and the ambulance came right away to pick Zoe up with my mom to go to Seattle鈥檚 Children鈥檚 Hospital,鈥� said Gabie. 鈥淓veryone was very frazzled. We didn鈥檛 know what was going on.鈥�

Zoe had another seizure the next day at the hospital. This one, considerably longer than the first, was 10 minutes long. She received an MRI shortly after the seizure ended, and doctors found a benign brain tumor the size of a golf ball at the base of Zoe鈥檚 brain stem. It was pilocytic astrocytoma, a low-grade, central nervous system tumor that occurs most commonly in children and young adults.

Following the discovery, Zoe went straight into surgery to remove the mass. Post-surgery, she entered a monthlong coma.

鈥淪he was just in the hospital bed, not able to move a finger or her toes,鈥� said Gabie. 鈥淪he couldn鈥檛 stick out her tongue or even blink.鈥�

Waking Up

When Zoe woke up, she began to experience the onset of posterior fossa syndrome 鈥� a condition that causes speech impediments, difficulties in muscle control and coordination, and mood changes. The condition impaired Zoe鈥檚 everyday functions.

Following the surgery, Zoe was unable to speak for six months.

She began a multitude of rehabilitative therapies, including speech, physical, occupational and vestibular therapy, to help restore her functions to their previous capabilities.

鈥淪he had to learn how to do everything again,鈥� said Gabie. 鈥淪he had to learn how to eat, how to talk, how to walk, how to balance 鈥� all over again.鈥�

鈥淚 don鈥檛 remember much after the surgery,鈥� says Zoe. 鈥淏ut I remember how much my family was supportive of me during that time.鈥�

Almost every day after school, Gabie began accompanying Zoe to her therapy appointments, something she would continue to do in the years that followed.

鈥淚 really had to narrow down what was most important in my life, and it was a no-brainer,鈥� says Gabie. 鈥淚 wanted to be right by her side, holding her hand through it all.鈥�

After years of accompanying her sister to therapies, Gabie began to realize her increasing interest and fascination for one 鈥� physical therapy.

鈥淚 was able to see Zoe take her first steps again and that sparked some interest in me,鈥� says Gabie. 鈥淚 loved how they not only were patient with Zoe, but they also reminded her that she could do it with the right mindset and determination. I knew right then that鈥檚 what I wanted to do.鈥�

Looking Forward

Zoe would miss a year of high school following her surgery, but with the aid of her parents and a paraprofessional, she returned to complete her classes. She was active in student government, serving as the secretary. Never far away, Gabie served as their high school鈥檚 executive president.

After graduation, Gabie enrolled at 麻豆原创, completing her bachelor鈥檚 degree in kinesiology in Spring 2023 and enrolling in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program that summer. Zoe obtained her associate degree at Valencia College and then transferred through DirectConnect to 麻豆原创, where she now studies social work.

Zoe, who still experiences challenges with speech and balance, served as a guest speaker in Gabie鈥檚 Patient Care Skills class, sharing more about her recovery and demonstrating the assistive devices she uses to maintain her independence. She uses a wheelchair for mobility and a quad cane to assist with her balance. Zoe has chosen a new path to help fulfill her dreams of helping others; she has decided to become a pediatric social worker to help children who have had similar experiences.

鈥淚 feel as though I still have the opportunity to help people,鈥� says Zoe. 鈥淢y dream job is to work in a pediatric department, specifically in pediatric neurology, to help children emotionally with what they鈥檙e going through.鈥�

鈥淚n social work, you鈥檙e helping people with the emotional aspect, instead of the physical, and that sometimes is most important because without a good mindset or perspective then we probably won鈥檛 get anything done,鈥� says Zoe. 鈥淵ou can have the best OT, PT or doctor, but if your mind isn鈥檛 willing then you won鈥檛 really get through.鈥�

Defying Limits

Beyond serving as professional inspirations to one another, Gabie and Zoe have encouraged each other鈥檚 personal growth as well. The two are finding ways to push their limits and test themselves physically. 聽They鈥檙e looking to conquer Spartan races 鈥� competitions in which athletes run long distances as well as take on obstacles that require them to scale walls, crawl under barbed wire, and traverse monkey bars.

In December, Gabie and Zoe spent their winter break completing a Spartan, which consisted of 20 obstacles over a 5K course through terrain covered in heavy mud. After completing a Spartan before with her father, Gabie wanted to do one again. This time though, the race would include the entire family.

鈥淎lmost a whole year ago, Zoe was like, 鈥業 want to do one,鈥欌�� said Gabie. 鈥淚 was like, 鈥極kay, let鈥檚 do it. Let鈥檚 train for it.鈥欌��

Zoe, who was a track and field athlete before the brain tumor, had begun weightlifting to help with her physical recovery. When the family signed up for the Spartan, the sisters began training regularly together.

Although Zoe was making strides in her physical and fitness goals, her balance was still a concern.

鈥淚 told her, 鈥榃e鈥檙e going to focus on your balance and on getting you stronger,鈥欌�� says Gabie.

Zoe didn鈥檛 use a wheelchair once during the race.

The only support she had was a gait belt around her waist while she held her father鈥檚 and Gabie鈥檚 hands. It took the Owens family five hours to complete the race.

More than just a race to test both sisters鈥� physical abilities, the Spartan allowed Zoe to showcase her progress after years of rehabilitative therapy.

鈥淭he race was just another thing that I could do to show the improvement I鈥檝e made,鈥� said Zoe. 鈥淚 was proud of myself because walking is not really in the cards for me.鈥�

Their next goal is to gradually increase their race distances to complete a 10K and then a 21K.

Beyond the trials and tribulations, Gabie and Zoe have become an inspiration for one another. Not only have they inspired each other to pursue a career in which they can share their stories and help others, but they have also shown what it means to be sisters and best friends through faith, grace and strength.

鈥淲e鈥檝e truly grown to push each other to be the best versions of ourselves,鈥� said Gabie.

Autism spectrum disorder affects about one in 36 children nationally, according to 聽the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

She was starting the 15-week , run by Associate Professor Jeanette Garcia of the . The program isn鈥檛 an ordinary judo lesson; it is specifically for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. Garcia and her team of 20 undergraduate health sciences students research how movement interventions like judo can help improve physical activity, sleep quality, social skills, self-confidence and academic performance in kids with ASD, which affects about one in 36 children nationally, according to a new report released from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just ahead of Autism Awareness Month, which occurs in April.

According to the CDC, autism is a developmental disorder that can result in a variety of symptoms, such as challenges with social communication and interaction skills, leading to impaired speech and language development. Some with ASD also may have sensory issues. For this young girl, judo brought her out of her shell.

鈥淓ven after the program, she continued to take lessons and earned a yellow belt. She ended up coming back to present with me at a conference about the benefits of judo,鈥� Garcia says. 鈥淪he had no issues demonstrating judo at the conference, and even went on to take the lead in her school play.鈥�

Garcia鈥檚 research is showing that kids with ASD enjoy structured formats, like judo and martial arts. Structure can help ease social anxiety, which often affects this population.

鈥淧rior research [on interventions for kids with ASD] didn鈥檛 examine whether kids enjoyed the program,鈥� Garcia says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 important to me because if they like it, it鈥檒l be sustainable.鈥�

The research is looking at benefits to parents of children with ASD, too, including changes in their sleep quality and stress levels, says Garcia. Family members often participate with their kids in the judo lessons.

The 麻豆原创 Judo Program is in its fourth semester thanks to grant funding and continuous interest from the community. It is just one of many ways the university supports the ASD community through resources and research.

Thanks to state legislative funding, individuals with ASD, their families and educators in the seven Central Florida counties surrounding 麻豆原创 have access to a vast array of resources. Beginning in 1999, the 麻豆原创 , located in Central Florida Research Park, hosts family education seminars, assists parents in the educational planning of their child, offers communication-development programs for toddlers and preschoolers, trains teachers in best practices to educate ASD students and much more.

鈥淲e serve the entire lifespan from the time a person is diagnosed with ASD,鈥� says Teresa Daly, director of CARD.

More than 20,200 families are registered with CARD, which brings its services to the community in schools, scout troop meetings, daycares, community agencies and others.

More than 20,200 families are registered with CARD, which brings its services to the community in schools, scout troop meetings, daycares, community agencies and others.

鈥淐ARD is not a place where you bring people for services,鈥� Daly says. 鈥淲e go out into the community to provide our services in the natural environment each case calls for.鈥�

Routinely, CARD develops new programs to serve the ASD community in all stages of life. Programs help young children with reading, math, behavior and social skills; teens with learning how to drive; and adults with living independently, attending college, and even in meeting others in the local ASD community with game nights and dinner outings.

Daly says CARD is expanding its capabilities to serve the growing Hispanic population in Central Florida, with four bilingual clinicians already on staff.

An additional perk families receive from CARD is they are first in line to participate in numerous research programs at the university that call for participation from those with ASD. Daly stays in close contact with 麻豆原创 researchers from the College of Health Professions and Sciences, the , and the to help them recruit participants for their studies. Garcia鈥檚 judo program is one of them.

Another study is , a summer program for kids with ASD who have a reading skill level from pre-kindergarten to third grade. Led by Carrie Loughran 鈥�99 鈥�08MA, an instructor in and graduate from the communication sciences and disorders program, and Nancy McIntyre, assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders, Camp iREAD examines how hands-on, interactive activities while reading improves comprehension.

鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping our program shows that when you make content from a book real and something you can physically engage with, it becomes meaningful and you can better comprehend the concepts you鈥檙e reading,鈥� Loughran says.

In just its second iteration, Camp iREAD will take place this summer along with an additional pilot program that can bring Camp iREAD to the next level. Using the College of Health Professions and Science鈥檚 new Blended Learning Interactive Simulation Suite (BLISS), a mixed reality space with 270-degree, floor-to-ceiling touchscreen walls, children will be immersed in virtual books, allowing them to interact with the words, characters and pictures, and giving them new means to engage with and comprehend what they are reading.

Loughran and McIntyre will study how immersive technology, such as what鈥檚 at BLISS, improves reading comprehension in children with ASD, and graduate students鈥� readiness to educate this population of students.

Similarly, McIntyre is analyzing data to understand how a bout of physical activity may enhance reading comprehension in children with ASD. Thanks to an internal grant, Garcia and McIntyre observed that 45 minutes of judo prior to reading may improve focus and attention during the reading lesson. They are in early stages of analyzing their results, and if found to be successful, they intend to seek a larger grant to continue studying the connection between physical activity and reading in ASD children, says Garcia.

Physical activity and learning are strongly linked in the ASD community, researchers are finding, and the and are expanding that understanding, too.

Popular toys and even books for children often are designed for neurotypical, able-bodied kids, leaving out those with different abilities. Thanks to the ECAP Lab and Go Baby Go! kids of all abilities have a chance to play and, as a result, learn.

Go Baby Go! for instance modifies ride-on toy cars for toddlers, giving those with limited mobility new means to play and interact with their environment, which often results in more communication and expression. This and other adaptive toys offered through these research programs help kids, including those with autism, learn through play and engage with their communities.

Participating families say opportunities like this are difficult to come by.

鈥淚t can be particularly challenging for our families because their children not only have autism, but oftentimes other complex medical conditions,鈥� says Clinical Associate Professor of Physical Therapy Jennifer Tucker, the director of Go Baby Go!

Approximately 40% of the children the Early Communication and Play Lab and 麻豆原创 Go Baby Go! serve are diagnosed with autism.

Approximately 40% of the children the ECAP Lab and Go Baby Go! serve are diagnosed with ASD. Together, they are studying how their interventions improve communication, mobility and participation. They accept new participants on an ongoing basis.

The work doesn鈥檛 stop there. The Center at 麻豆原创 connects Floridians with disabilities, including those with autism, with assistive technologies and related services to increase their independence. The Center pairs children and adults with the right devices, like specially designed communication apps, cognitive aides and adapted computer equipment, and helps families and service-providers learn how to support their use by individuals with disabilities in everyday environments.

At the College of Medicine, researchers are studying ASD on a molecular level, Daly says, and the in the College of Community Innovation and Education spearheads initiatives to prepare and retain teachers to serve students with special needs.

鈥淩eceiving an ASD diagnosis can be overwhelming,鈥� Daly says. 鈥淲e are here to help families get the resources and care they need at a time when we know their minds may be in a million different directions.鈥�

To help address this critical issue and reduce disparities, a team of 麻豆原创 researchers is partnering with the City of Orlando on a $2.3 million project funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.

The project seeks to address the public health problem and prevent falls with the optimization of technology that is low-cost and portable.

The work will help ensure older adults can 鈥渁ge in place,鈥� and supports the City Beautiful Action Plan 2022-2025, which, as one of its primary goals, prioritizes the development of affordable housing options and services to help older residents safely stay in their homes.

鈥淎s the population of our city ages and residents are living healthier, more active and longer lives, it鈥檚 important we ensure Orlando is a well-designed, livable community that promotes health and sustains economic growth, creating happier and healthier residents of all ages,鈥� says Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. 鈥淲e are excited to work with 麻豆原创 on this grant as it will play a significant part in understanding how we can improve the health and safety of our older adult population and better implement age-friendly initiatives, especially in underserved neighborhoods.鈥�

Innovative Approach

With the new funding, , an associate professor at the College of Nursing and the project鈥檚 principal investigator, will work with an intradisciplinary team of experts to roll out a large-scale pilot in low-income, senior communities in Central Florida of an fall assessment intervention they鈥檝e developed and tested.

鈥淭he primary goal is to prevent falls,鈥� Thiamwong says. 鈥淲ith this real-world testing, we hope to be able to prove it works and is sustainable in order to scale up and prevent falls in more communities.鈥�

The researchers鈥� Physio-Feedback and Exercise, or PEER, intervention program was successfully tested as part of an NIH-funded . Their work has also been published in Research in Gerontological Nursing.

The researchers showed that their intervention, which uses technology to help reduce people鈥檚 fear of falling and improve their balance, was feasible, safe, and improved balance, muscle strength and fall risk.

The technology resembles a small scale and links to a computer. It can be easily transported to rural or low-income communities to provide immediate physio-feedback.

The immediate part is important, Thiamwong says.

鈥淥lder adults trust the results more when it is immediate,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t begins a conversation and empowers them to do something about it, and with the technology able to show improvement over time, it is also encouraging.鈥�

Perception versus Reality

For more than half of older adults, their perception of their fall risk and actual physical fall risk are not aligned, Thiamwong says.

She says a fear of falling is just as risky as poor balance as it may limit their physical activity.

To address this, the researchers鈥� intervention includes a fall risk appraisal matrix that categorizes participants into quadrants looking at both their fear and balance.

The objective is to bring all participants to low fear and normal balance by the end of the eight-week intervention.

The program includes cognitive reframing to reduce fear and both a group- and home-based exercise program led by a trained peer coach to improve balance.

鈥淪ocial support from peers is important to build connections and hopefully continue to keep the physical activity going even after the intervention,鈥� Thiamwong says.

Critical Collaboration

The researchers say collaboration with an interdisciplinary team is critical to address older adults falling and other healthcare challenges.

Thiamwong 聽began her collaborations with the one of the聽 project鈥檚 co-investigators, , after seeing some of his publications on aging research shortly after she joined 麻豆原创.

Stout, who is director of the college鈥檚 , says the collaborations have developed into a research partnership that has been very successful.

鈥淭here is a聽great聽potential for collaboration between programs and faculty expertise in different colleges at 麻豆原创,鈥� Stout says. 鈥淚nterdisciplinary collaboration is important because it allows different fields to share knowledge and ideas, which can lead to new breakthroughs.鈥�

One of the ways 麻豆原创 fosters interdisciplinary collaboration is through research clusters, such as the Disability, Aging and Technology cluster that Thiamwong and project co-investigator Joon-Hyuk Park, an assistant professor in the , are a part of. The team has been successful in conducting NIH- and 麻豆原创-funded studies.

鈥淭he cluster is an excellent facilitator to promote interdisciplinary research,鈥� Park says. 鈥淭he most challenging questions we, as researchers and scientists, seek to address these days can鈥檛 be tackled from one discipline, especially when it comes to human science to understand human behavior and study instrumentations. We need expertise from various fields.鈥�

, an assistant professor of and project co-investigator, says that many factors influence older adults’ fall risk, including physical health, socioeconomic status, as well as psychological motivations and feelings.

鈥淚n addition, if you want to launch a fall-risk intervention that involves technology, you have to consider factors like older adults’ ability to use the technology and cost effectiveness,鈥� she says.

鈥淚t’s easy to see how problems like this require a team of experts that understand each factor and know how to conduct science across traditional disciplinary boundaries,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t’s a truly excellent team and an important problem we are trying to solve.鈥�

Research Team

Thiamwong received her doctoral degree in nursing from Mahidol University in Thailand.

She joined 麻豆原创 in 2016. She鈥檚 an expert in healthy aging, fall prevention and gerontological nursing. She is leading a 麻豆原创 research team in implementing preventive interventions to transform practice, especially for older adults with limited resources.

Stout received his doctorate in exercise physiology from the University of Nebraska 鈥� Lincoln. He joined 麻豆原创 in 2012. He鈥檚 an expert in physical assessments, such as body composition, handgrip strength and physical activity in aging populations, and he has published several studies examining the relationship between psychological and physical variables and the risk of falling.

Park received his doctorate in mechanical engineering from Columbia University. He joined 麻豆原创 in 2019. He鈥檚 an expert in engineering wearable sensors and assistive technologies. His role in the project is to apply his knowledge and experience in wearables-based physical activity monitoring and assessment.

Rui Xie is an assistant professor in the , which is in 麻豆原创鈥檚 . He received his doctorate in statistics from the University of Georgia. He joined 麻豆原创 in 2019.聽 Xie is an expert in designing study designs that are appropriate for collecting data, while minimizing the risk of bias and ensuring the validity of the results, as well as data analysis and result interpretation.

鈥淚 was inspired to join this research team because I was fascinated by the multidimensional and multidomain data the team plans to collect in the project,鈥� Xie says. 鈥淚 felt that my skills and experience in data analysis and modeling could be of great value to the research.鈥�

Lighthall received her doctorate in gerontology from the University of Southern California. She joined 麻豆原创 in 2015. She鈥檚 an expert in cognition and emotion across the adult lifespan, with a specific focus on age-related changes to decision processing and behavior. She is helping to determine the cognitive and motivational factors that impact older adults鈥� fear of falling by guiding the team鈥檚 measurement of these psychological factors.

a Beat M. and Jill L. Kahli Endowed Professor in Oncology and an associate professor in 麻豆原创’s College of Nursing, received her doctorate in nursing from 麻豆原创. She joined 麻豆原创 in 2005. She鈥檚 an expert in qualitative research and randomized clinical trials, aging populations, and health disparities, with experience in technology-based intervention development and testing.

鈥淚nterdisciplinary collaboration is important because one person cannot know it all or do it all,鈥� she says. 鈥淵ou need the different perspectives and experiences from other disciplines to make your own work more complete and more relevant.聽Without the teamwork of experts from different disciplines, your work and ideas will get stale very quickly.鈥�

The Blended Learning Interactive Simulation Suite, or BLISS, uses 270-degree, floor-to-ceiling touchscreen walls that display curated video and audio, providing an immersive view of any event, location or experience 鈥� either real or created. The technology was funded by a philanthropic gift from the Paul B. Hunter and Constance D. Hunter Charitable Foundation.

Acquired to better prepare students for the frontline roles they鈥檒l encounter as healthcare practitioners, the technology serves as a unique and hands-on learning tool.

鈥淚t allows us to create environments that have a higher level of realism,鈥� says Bari Hoffman, associate dean of clinical affairs for the College of Health Professions and Sciences. 鈥淲e want students to be used to the sights, sounds, stressors and energy associated with hospitals, clinics and other locations where they will be providing treatment.鈥�

BLISS is unique in that the user is fully immersed in the room with no headsets or tethers. Plans are in place to add smells and a floor that can vibrate and rumble, bringing another dimension to the experience.

The suite joins a host of other digital health technology tools already housed in the Rehabilitation Innovation Center, including a hologram machine, a maker space with a 3D printer used to adjust toys and household items for patients with rehabilitative needs, and a 鈥淪mart Home鈥� room designed to train clinicians, patients and caregivers how to adapt a home for safety and better navigation.

BLISS can be used to demonstrate a medical procedure, recreate an emergency or incident, or display anatomical models in greater detail. Students can be transported virtually to any environment in the world, enabling them to respond to treatment scenarios or practice skills in a more realistic environment. Faculty can lecture, demonstrate techniques and then engage students in applying their knowledge through exercises and skills stations.

For example, students studying to become speech language pathologists can examine anatomical models using touchscreen technology to rotate, zoom in and view inside the jaw, neck and throat. Skills stations for pre-med students in health sciences can take place in a mock hospital room where they can learn to navigate and gain information through patient charts and medical equipment. And students studying athletic training can practice first aid skills in a crowded football stadium with the roar of the crowd and the presence of anxious teammates, coaches and fans looking on.

“We can give students access to locations and experiences that might not be possible in person due to cost or geography considerations.鈥� 鈥� Bari Hoffman, associate dean of clinical affairs for the College of Health Professions and Sciences

鈥淲e can give students access to locations and experiences that might not be possible in person due to cost or geography considerations,鈥� says Hoffman. 鈥淲e can provide the backdrop for any clinical or non-clinical setting. It can be a patient鈥檚 home, the inside of an ambulance or a medical clinic 鈥� and it could also be a roadside traffic crash, a crowded airport terminal or an entertainment venue. The backdrop, combined with the use of our manikins and other high tech, hands-on equipment in the center, is what makes this truly unique.鈥�

Faculty are developing new scenes and scenarios for students, as well as tailoring existing healthcare lessons developed by hospitals and universities in the United Kingdom who are using the same system there.

Associate Professor Jennifer Tucker teaches a coursework on neurological physical therapy in which students study the evaluation and treatment of patients with movement problems due to disease or injury of the nervous system. This semester, her students will examine patient cases involving stroke, conduct a comprehensive assessment and develop short and long-term recovery treatment protocols. Their classroom will be in BLISS, giving them an up-close look at the course content.

鈥淭he space just lends itself to a higher level of student engagement,鈥� says Tucker, who has already taken students in for any early look and a basic skills exercise. 鈥淚t felt very real, very quickly for them and I could see how the environment required them to actively think on their feet and react and respond to what鈥檚 happening around them.鈥�

Research on the use of simulation in healthcare education聽supports that the more 鈥渞eal鈥澛爐he simulation, the more engaged students become, and the聽better learning outcomes they have. Having hands on and immersive experiences helps close the gap between the classroom and the real-world experience that students will encounter as health care practitioners.

In addition to serving as a learning lab and classroom for students, BLISS will also be a therapy tool for patients served by the college鈥檚 community clinics, including the Communication Disorders Clinic. Clinicians there assist patients who have communication and hearing challenges and they鈥檒l incorporate the tech in therapy sessions.

For example, a patient struggling with stuttering could undergo therapy at a simulated movie theater ticket counter, or a patient being treated at the Aphasia House might practice interacting with the cashier immersed in a grocery store setting.

The space can be transformed into a dentist鈥檚 office, barber鈥檚 shop or noisy shopping center to help children with autism adjust and manage heightened sensory reactions. Children with mobility impairments in the Go Baby Go! program can test drive their specially retrofitted cars against the backdrop of a simulated racetrack.

The new space is also expected to be a site for the clinic鈥檚 summer programs for children with reading challenges. Youth in the camp will be able to see their storybooks come to life and interact with the words and the characters.

鈥淭he possibilities are endless,鈥� says Hoffman who is working across 麻豆原创鈥檚 Academic Health Sciences Center to help make the technology accessible for faculty and students across all health-related disciplines to practice team-based care. 鈥淭he only limitation is your imagination.鈥�

According to the CDC, approximately 2,000 people under the age of 25 die each year due to sudden cardiac arrest. Hamlin鈥檚 injury has renewed conversations across the country about the importance of having certified athletic trainers and defibrillators on hand as young athletes practice and compete.

A panel of medical and rehabilitation experts from the College of Health Professions and Sciences weigh in聽on what happened, what his physical and mental recovery could look like, and protecting the heart health of athletes.

It seems probable that Hamlin experienced what鈥檚 known as commotio cordis. What is this?
鈥淐ommotio cordis is a life-threatening medical event mostly occurring when young athletes (typically between the ages of 8 and 18) are struck in chest with a hard ball like a baseball or a hockey puck or receive a hard hit to the chest while playing a contact sport like football or soccer,鈥� says Latifa Abdelli, a pathophysiology lecturer in the . 鈥淭he sudden impact occurring at just the right time during a heartbeat triggers a sudden change in the electrical signals generated by heart cells causing the heart to suddenly stop beating.鈥�

Are there ways athletes can minimize their risk?
It鈥檚 difficult to protect against this event occurring, experts say.

鈥淐hest protectors and vests may reduce trauma from blunt bodily injury, but they will not provide protection from commotio cordis,鈥� says Abdelli.聽 鈥淎thletes can be trained in techniques to avoid direct hits to the rib cage area. Using softer, more pliable balls for sports like baseball or lacrosse may reduce the seriousness of the impact.鈥�

The bottom line: 鈥淎utomated external defibrillator (AED) systems need to be present at any field where contact sports or sports that use pucks or hard balls are played. If possible, an athletic trainer should be present, but regardless, coaches and athletes must be taught how to recognize commotio cordis and how to perform CPR and use an AED when someone has a cardiac event,鈥� says Abdelli.

What is the athletic trainer鈥檚 role on a professional football team, and how critical were the early actions of the medical professionals there that day?
The athletic trainer is the primary healthcare provider and coordinator of care for a professional football team and takes primary role in designing, practicing and initiating the emergency action plan, says Carlos Gual, associate lecturer in the . In an incident like this, 鈥渋nitiating CPR and using an AED within minutes is absolutely imperative for the cardiac chain of survival,鈥� says Gual. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the role of the athletic trainer to do the primary assessment, recognize the condition and its severity, and initiate the appropriate plan of care.鈥�

What does physical fitness recovery look like for a professional athlete like Hamlin for this type of incident? Does an elite level of fitness contribute to a reduced recovery period?
鈥淔or elite professional athletes, their timeline for return will be most influenced by how long they have been held out,鈥� says Kristen Schellhase, director of the athletic training program and assistant director of the . 聽鈥淎ny athlete experiencing a medical condition like a cardiac arrest must progress through activities that increase cardiovascular exertion as part of a systematic and gradual plan.鈥�

Even though an athlete like Hamlin would be 鈥渉igher conditioned鈥� before the incident, deconditioning happens very fast 鈥� in a matter of days 鈥� says Schellhase. And elite athletes are also expected to return to a higher performance level than a non-elite athlete.

鈥淗amlin will have a specific recovery protocol with rules or stage timelines that he鈥檒l follow as part of his plan of care. He’ll have to be medically cleared before he can return to the field, but with the season nearly over, there鈥檚 no pressure for him to return quickly,鈥� says Schellhase.

What are some of the priorities or specific regimens could his healthcare providers have in mind as they help him recover?
There鈥檚 no 鈥渙ne size fits all鈥� for a recovery regimen, says Schellhase.

鈥淵ou would not train a cross country runner the same way you would train a weightlifter 鈥� they emphasize different muscles, perform different sport skills and use different energy systems,鈥� she says. 鈥淓ven if you look at one specific sport like football, the activities emphasized for a receiver are very different than the activities emphasized for a lineman.鈥�

Schellhase says a team of athletic trainers, physical therapists, and strength coaches will prescribe tailored activities for Hamlin that focus on the muscle groups, sport skills and his cardiovascular needs for his role as professional football safety.

Hamlin was placed in a medically induced coma and intubated for several days. What are some of the side effects a patient can experience from intubation?
Intubation effects and their severity can vary from patient to patient, say speech pathologists.

鈥淲ith a tube in place, the patient is not able to speak, and the muscles used for swallowing are immobilized,鈥� says Vicki Lewis, a speech-language pathologist and instructor in the . 鈥淥nce the tube is removed, a patient can experience weakness, discomfort, hoarseness or coughing while swallowing saliva, food or liquids.鈥�

Speech pathologists work with the medical team to examine a patient鈥檚 vocal folds and trachea for any resulting trauma.

鈥淪ome patients may experience edema (swelling of the throat), growths or ulcerations, reduced sensation, or muscle disuse atrophy following intubation,鈥� says Lewis.

What are the most important factors for voice and swallowing recovery?
After intubation, a speech pathologist will evaluate a patient and can make a recommendation regarding the need for additional rehabilitative treatment, such as swallowing or speech therapy.

鈥淭hese recommendations can be crucial to prevent aspiration pneumonia and the potential for the patient to be re-intubated and return to the ventilator,鈥� says Todd Fix, an instructor and speech-language pathologist in communication sciences disorders.

鈥淩ecovery will vary and depends on the length of intubation as well as the patient鈥檚 age, overall general and respiratory health and other medical conditions,鈥� says Fix. 鈥淧atient access to follow up care and patient motivation can also play into the recovery process.鈥�

Why are mental health supports in situations like this so important for athletes and the sports community?
Robin Kohn, a senior instructor and bachelor鈥檚 of social work program director for the says providing services is crucial to the sports community because it demystifies the stigma about mental health by providing a safe environment for members of a team to voice their concerns and feelings and support their sense of emotional and physical safety.

鈥淚n an aggressive sport like football, asking for help and showing vulnerabilities is a sign of strength, not a sign of weakness,鈥� says Kohn. 鈥淭here are overwhelming fears of being vulnerable and a fear of the unknown 鈥� that what happened to Hamlin, could happen to any athlete.鈥�

鈥淗amlin actively communicating a sense of resilience, like when he asked if his team won after regaining consciousness or using Twitter to let his teammates know he was watching, helped with their emotional healing enough to return to play the following week,鈥� she says.

After a traumatic experience like Hamlin鈥檚, what role do social workers play in the recovery process for him and his teammates?
Licensed clinical social workers can assist players recognize their own emotions; realize the impact of the trauma; encourage stability and predictability; validate feelings; restore resilience and regain control of the situation.

鈥淗amlin and his teammates witnessed a traumatic, horrific event that can have a lasting effect on his and his team鈥檚 functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional and spiritual well-being,鈥� says Kohn. 鈥淭here are overwhelming fears of being vulnerable, a fear of the unknown and they could experience grief associated with what happened.鈥�

鈥淭here will be a need for restoring or rebuilding,鈥� says Kohn. 鈥淪eeing other football players injured in the future could be a trigger that reignites intrusive thoughts and emotions. A licensed clinical social worker can help with healing from this post-traumatic stress and by reinforcing the importance of having a positive support system (which they have), changing overwhelming thought patterns, encouraging open discussions of emotions and providing effective coping skills to handle any symptoms related to the traumatic event.鈥�

The 麻豆原创 DPT program has achieved a 100% ultimate pass rate each year in its 12-year-history as a program 鈥� with eight of the these cohorts achieving a 100% pass rate on their first try. This 100% first-attempt pass rate achievement includes six out of the last seven cohorts. Over that time span, only one of the fifteen DPT programs in Florida has met this mark just three times, making 麻豆原创 by far the most successful in this metric in the state of Florida.

鈥淲e are so proud of the class of 2021 for joining the classes of 2020 and 2019 in this major achievement,鈥� says聽Patrick Pabian, division chair and program director of the doctor of physical therapy program. 鈥淚 wish the exam agency tracked this measure of student excellence beyond two years, because now with 麻豆原创 on year three, I know we are setting a very high record to break.鈥�

Pabian says it is the students鈥� dedication to being excellent clinicians, coupled with the expertise of the 麻豆原创 DPT faculty who prepare them not only to be successful on the licensure exam, but also empower students to be science-informed physical therapists who are dedicated to excellence in all facets of patient care.

鈥淭he students in our doctor of physical therapy program represent the best and brightest that the nation has to offer,鈥� says聽, founding director of the聽. 鈥淲e are so proud of what they have achieved thus far and know this is only the beginning of their achievements.鈥�

The new program in kinesiology explores physical activity and its impact on health, society and quality of life. It will be housed in 麻豆原创鈥檚 . The new degree program will be the first Ph.D. program offered within 麻豆原创鈥檚 College of Health Professions and Sciences. It also is the first program of its kind offered at a Hispanic Serving Institution in the state of Florida, providing career and research opportunities for a more students.

鈥淭hrough this unique program, 麻豆原创 will produce the next generation of leaders, who are advancing the broad discipline of kinesiology,鈥�

David H. Fukuda,聽 founding program director

鈥淭hrough this unique program, 麻豆原创 will produce the next generation of leaders, who are advancing the broad discipline of kinesiology through exploration of human movement, applied physiology, sports performance, sports medicine and clinical rehabilitation,鈥� says David Fukuda, the program鈥檚 founding director. 鈥淚n the coming years, we expect to see 麻豆原创 become a national leader in developing these professionals, who will play an integral and collaborative role in helping our society live healthier, happier and more active lifestyles.鈥�

The program鈥檚 predecessor at 麻豆原创, the Education Ph.D. track in Exercise Physiology, has had a 100% job placement rate for graduates since 2011. Over the next 10 years, the kinesiology field is expected to see up to a 20% employment growth. 麻豆原创 doctoral students will contribute to this growth by helping to develop a competent workforce and through collaborative efforts with local healthcare and fitness facilities, sports organizations, and the .

University officials say ample research opportunities help students foster a team approach to healthcare and wellness through interdisciplinary research conducted with faculty through the . Students contribute to educating future clinicians and scientists with research and teaching in a robust undergraduate kinesiology program.

鈥淭he new Ph.D. in kinesiology program builds upon the successful history of a top-ranked program, led by nationally-recognized researchers in the field of exercise physiology,鈥� says Christopher Ingersoll, dean of the College of Health Professions and Sciences. 鈥淭his degree, coupled with the mentorship of our esteemed faculty, will provide future scholars with a top-quality education and research experiences that jump start their careers.鈥�

For the doctoral program, a minimum of 63 credit hours beyond the master鈥檚 degree will be required. Students must complete 24 credit hours of core foundational research courses, 24 credit hours of specialization courses, and 15 credit hours of dissertation work. All students must also complete the candidacy requirements.

The program admits students once per year for the fall semester. Applicants must and all requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline. Applicants who plan to enroll fulltime in a degree program and who wish to be considered for university fellowships or assistantships should apply by the fall priority date.

Potential applicants to the doctoral program are encouraged to reach out directly to program to demonstrate interest and identify common goals that will facilitate mentorship and completion of the degree.

The Wellness鈥疪esearch鈥疌enter,鈥痑lso known as the employee gym,鈥痠s鈥痩ocated in鈥痶he Education Complex鈥痑nd鈥痟as undergone major renovations鈥痑nd鈥痚quipment enhancements鈥痮ver the past year. The facility will鈥痳eopen Aug. 23鈥痺ith the start of the鈥痜all鈥�2021鈥痵emester.

The facility is free to all faculty and staff at 麻豆原创聽and will be open during the following times Monday through Friday:

• 6听鈥撀�9鈥痑.尘.
• 11 a.m.聽鈥撀�1 p.m.
• 4聽鈥撀�7:30 p.m.鈥�(Fridays the gym will close at 6 p.m.)

More hours聽will be聽added if聽there is demand.

Adam Wells聽鈥�12MS 鈥�15PhD, an聽associate聽professor鈥痠n the Division of Kinesiology,鈥痬anages鈥痶he gym and鈥痷sed聽the鈥痯andemic shutdown as an鈥痮pportunity to continue鈥痳enovations to鈥痶he space.

鈥淥ne of the big goals we wanted to accomplish was making the gym a more welcoming place to鈥痺ork out鈥痠n,鈥� Wells says.鈥�淲e maintain a safe鈥痑nd clean鈥痚nvironment. Our hours are鈥痗onducive鈥痶o鈥痜aculty鈥痑nd staff鈥痬embers鈥欌�痵chedules;鈥痯eople can even come in and workout鈥痙uring their lunch鈥痓reak.鈥�

The first 50 faculty or staff to鈥痵ign up鈥痜or a free membership after the fall 2021 reopening will receive a WRC branded Blender Bottle, towel,鈥痓ag鈥痑nd ID lanyard.

Improvements in the gym include new鈥痗ardio鈥痓ikes,鈥痶wo Olympic鈥痳acks鈥痺ith鈥痯latforms, new鈥痙umbbells鈥痳anging from 5 pounds to 100 pounds,鈥痺eight plates, trap bars and a belt squat platform.

The gym also features the addition of a clean air system that will keep the facility cool, while also using integrated鈥痶echnology to help remove pathogens from the air.鈥� Another new feature coming in the spring of 2022 is the availability of workout videos on the WRC website, led by kinesiology students.

The showers鈥痑nd locker rooms were also renovated the year before.

Wells, who worked in the WRC during his time as a graduate student at 麻豆原创,鈥痠s committed to鈥痬aking the gym more user-friendly鈥痶hrough services and programs run by鈥痶he . In the future, Wells hopes to offer services鈥痵uch as鈥痓ody composition鈥痑nalysis鈥痑nd鈥痜itness assessments,鈥痑s well as other services鈥痶o help employees understand their fitness level.

The WRC鈥痮ffers鈥痮pportunities鈥痶o participate in鈥痳esearch鈥痺ithin鈥痶he Division of Kinesiology, where faculty and students explore鈥痶he efficacy of鈥痙ifferent exercise modalities.

鈥淭here has always been鈥痑 research component to the facility,鈥� Wells聽says. 鈥淚t doubles as a鈥痩ab for exercise physiology interventions鈥痺hen needed for鈥痳esearch.鈥疉nd鈥痠t serves as a鈥痯racticum site for our鈥痷ndergraduate kinesiology students.鈥�

Jeffrey Stout,鈥疨egasus Professor and聽director鈥痮f the聽School of聽Kinesiology聽and Physical Therapy, says that鈥痶he lab will be an asset鈥痜or researchers, as well as鈥痚mployees鈥痵triving to improve their health and wellness.

鈥淓xercise is medicine,鈥� says Stout. 鈥淲e want people to take charge of their health.鈥疕aving the Wellness Research Center available on campus for faculty and staff to鈥痺ork聽out, and a dedicated space where health and wellness research can take place, is鈥痑n asset to鈥痚veryone in the鈥槎乖� community鈥痺ho wants to improve their overall well-being.鈥�

For more information about the 麻豆原创 Wellness Research Center, visit鈥�.

As an extra perk, the first 50 faculty or staff to鈥痵ign up鈥痜or a free membership after the fall 2021 reopening will receive a WRC branded Blender Bottle, towel,鈥痓ag鈥痑nd ID lanyard.

鈥淲ith this new technology, we are able to聽provide a deeper experience, introducing聽students to聽a聽wide variety of聽patients聽at different severity levels聽through聽hologram technology,聽both聽live or聽pre-recorded,聽and have a very true-to-life interaction聽to teach our future healthcare providers humanistic care,鈥� says Bari Hoffman, associate dean of clinical affairs for聽the College of Health Professions and Sciences,聽who spearheaded the project.

The use of聽hologram patient simulation聽in healthcare was initiated by the College of Health Professions and Sciences through its Innovation Center.

The 麻豆原创 College of Health Professions and Sciences聽trains聽graduate聽students in a variety of聽healthcare disciplines such as speech-language pathology, physical therapy, athletic training听补苍诲听肠濒颈苍颈肠补濒 social work.聽Starting this fall,聽the tech聽will be incorporated聽into聽these programs,聽giving students a new way to learn how to assess and treat patients.

Adding the聽hologram technology聽broadens the variety of patients that聽students can learn from聽and聽helps聽bridge the gap when in-person interactions are not possible or cost-prohibitive.

These聽learning聽experiences聽have typically been聽limited to pictures and videos of聽patients,聽or聽relied on volunteers to come to class. Adding the聽hologram technology聽broadens the variety of patients that聽students can learn from聽and聽helps聽bridge the gap when in-person interactions are not possible or cost-prohibitive.聽The recordings also聽offer a better way of standardizing patient interactions to assess student competencies.

Research on the use of simulation in healthcare education聽supports that the more 鈥渞eal鈥澛爐he simulation, the more engaged students become, and the聽better learning outcomes they have.

Because the hologram is more聽lifelike,聽it helps to solicit better engagement and connection to students who are practicing their skills.聽Research on the use of simulation in healthcare education聽supports that the more 鈥渞eal鈥澛爐he simulation, the more engaged students become, and the聽better learning outcomes they have.

The聽tech聽allows students to see and聽examine聽the whole patient聽and pick up on nonverbal cues that could be missed with tools that聽have聽a limited view,聽like a video conference call.聽聽It also provides a means for students to be exposed to patients who are immune聽compromised聽without聽posing risk to the patient, while still getting a full view of the patient. 麻豆原创 will聽use the tech across聽different healthcare programs to foster more interprofessional learning聽and best prepare students to work as a healthcare team.

麻豆原创 was able to acquire the聽PORTL聽device thanks to a gift from Brooks Rehabilitation. The use of technology to better train future healthcare providers is a mutual goal of Brooks and the college, so pioneering the use of holograms as simulated patients was a natural fit.

鈥淚nnovation and continuous learning are core Brooks Rehabilitation values,鈥� says Doug Baer,聽president聽and聽CEO聽of聽Brooks Rehabilitation. 鈥淎s patients expect the delivery of care to expand and occur in new ways, ensuring students have access to cutting-edge technology for simulated patient training and learning is essential to advancing the health and well-being of our communities. Brooks is proud to provide this gift to 麻豆原创.鈥�

In addition to the teaching components of the tech, the College of Health Professions and Sciences also plans to聽utilize聽PORTL鈥檚 live 鈥渉oloportation鈥� capabilities聽in聽its clinical practices to expand care to rural areas, when in-person care is not聽feasible.聽The college also plans to聽host聽virtual case studies聽where聽experts from around the聽world聽present聽and show their patients聽using the聽3D technology.

PORTL Inc.聽makes聽hologram communication and content for聽a variety of applications in business,聽entertainment,聽and聽education. Its聽ability to聽present people in life-size, volumetric 4K for interactive experiences, both live and pre-recorded,聽has been used by executives and聽celebrities聽to make appearances across the globe, to cross COVID-19 quarantine lines safely,聽and to create fan experiences.

“We are gratified that鈥痮ur vision of connecting the world through聽holoportation聽is now taking root in healthcare education with this historic deployment with the 麻豆原创,” said David Nussbaum, CEO of PORTL Inc.鈥�”Our strategic partnership with Dr. Hologram now makes it easy for educators and healthcare leaders to further modernize their systems that can鈥痯ositively impact their organizations and the communities they support.”