UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 leading space medicine experts, valued strategic partners and an astronaut who holds NASA 麻豆精品 S檚 record for spacewalks will gather April 10 in Lake Nona 麻豆精品 S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 麻豆精品 S淪tar Nona 2026 麻豆精品 S� 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 UCF, Orlando Health, AdventHealth, the , the Orlando VA Medical Center, Nemours Children 麻豆精品 S檚 Health, business and industry.

Star Nona 2026 Event Details

麻豆精品 S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, 麻豆精品 S� says Michal Masternak, UCF professor of medicine.

An anti-aging and cancer researcher, Masternak leads the Lake Nona Research Council 麻豆精品 S檚 space medicine research group. He also leads the College of Medicine 麻豆精品 S檚 program that processes astronaut samples so physicians and scientists can analyze the immediate impact of space travel on astronauts 麻豆精品 S� 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 UCF researchers from medicine, , and . UCF 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 麻豆精品 S檚 2006 mission to the International Space Station.

The Space Coast 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Medicine

Located 45 miles west of the Space Coast and Kennedy Space Center, UCF 麻豆精品 S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, UCF has created a new Center for Aerospace and Extreme Environments Medicine (CASEEM), which includes UCF 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 麻豆精品 S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 UCF and Medical City 麻豆精品 S檚 reputation as a premier center for space medicine.

麻豆精品 S淲hen people think of keeping space visitors healthy, we want them to immediately think UCF. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Edward Ross, College of Medicine 麻豆精品 S檚 chair of medicine

麻豆精品 S淎s a university, UCF was born to create the workforce to send humans to the moon, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e continuing that legacy with space medicine. When people think of keeping space visitors healthy, we want them to immediately think UCF. 麻豆精品 S�

Event Registration

Star Nona 2026 will be held at the UCF 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 麻豆精品 S� 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 麻豆精品 S� 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.

麻豆精品 S淚 called 911, and the ambulance came right away to pick Zoe up with my mom to go to Seattle 麻豆精品 S檚 Children 麻豆精品 S檚 Hospital, 麻豆精品 S� said Gabie. 麻豆精品 S淓veryone was very frazzled. We didn 麻豆精品 S檛 know what was going on. 麻豆精品 S�

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 麻豆精品 S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.

麻豆精品 S淪he was just in the hospital bed, not able to move a finger or her toes, 麻豆精品 S� said Gabie. 麻豆精品 S淪he couldn 麻豆精品 S檛 stick out her tongue or even blink. 麻豆精品 S�

Waking Up

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

麻豆精品 S淪he had to learn how to do everything again, 麻豆精品 S� said Gabie. 麻豆精品 S淪he had to learn how to eat, how to talk, how to walk, how to balance 麻豆精品 S� all over again. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淚 don 麻豆精品 S檛 remember much after the surgery, 麻豆精品 S� says Zoe. 麻豆精品 S淏ut I remember how much my family was supportive of me during that time. 麻豆精品 S�

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

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

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

麻豆精品 S淚 was able to see Zoe take her first steps again and that sparked some interest in me, 麻豆精品 S� says Gabie. 麻豆精品 S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 麻豆精品 S檚 what I wanted to do. 麻豆精品 S�

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 麻豆精品 S檚 executive president.

After graduation, Gabie enrolled at UCF, completing her bachelor 麻豆精品 S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 UCF, where she now studies social work.

Zoe, who still experiences challenges with speech and balance, served as a guest speaker in Gabie 麻豆精品 S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.

麻豆精品 S淚 feel as though I still have the opportunity to help people, 麻豆精品 S� says Zoe. 麻豆精品 S淢y dream job is to work in a pediatric department, specifically in pediatric neurology, to help children emotionally with what they 麻豆精品 S檙e going through. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淚n social work, you 麻豆精品 S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 麻豆精品 S檛 get anything done, 麻豆精品 S� says Zoe. 麻豆精品 S淵ou can have the best OT, PT or doctor, but if your mind isn 麻豆精品 S檛 willing then you won 麻豆精品 S檛 really get through. 麻豆精品 S�

Defying Limits

Beyond serving as professional inspirations to one another, Gabie and Zoe have encouraged each other 麻豆精品 S檚 personal growth as well. The two are finding ways to push their limits and test themselves physically. 聽They 麻豆精品 S檙e looking to conquer Spartan races 麻豆精品 S� 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.

麻豆精品 S淎lmost a whole year ago, Zoe was like, 麻豆精品 S業 want to do one, 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� said Gabie. 麻豆精品 S淚 was like, 麻豆精品 S極kay, let 麻豆精品 S檚 do it. Let 麻豆精品 S檚 train for it. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S�

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.

麻豆精品 S淚 told her, 麻豆精品 S榃e 麻豆精品 S檙e going to focus on your balance and on getting you stronger, 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� says Gabie.

Zoe didn 麻豆精品 S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 麻豆精品 S檚 and Gabie 麻豆精品 S檚 hands. It took the Owens family five hours to complete the race.

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

麻豆精品 S淭he race was just another thing that I could do to show the improvement I 麻豆精品 S檝e made, 麻豆精品 S� said Zoe. 麻豆精品 S淚 was proud of myself because walking is not really in the cards for me. 麻豆精品 S�

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.

麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檝e truly grown to push each other to be the best versions of ourselves, 麻豆精品 S� 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 麻豆精品 S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.

麻豆精品 S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, 麻豆精品 S� Garcia says. 麻豆精品 S淪he had no issues demonstrating judo at the conference, and even went on to take the lead in her school play. 麻豆精品 S�

Garcia 麻豆精品 S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.

麻豆精品 S淧rior research [on interventions for kids with ASD] didn 麻豆精品 S檛 examine whether kids enjoyed the program, 麻豆精品 S� Garcia says. 麻豆精品 S淭hat 麻豆精品 S檚 important to me because if they like it, it 麻豆精品 S檒l be sustainable. 麻豆精品 S�

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 UCF 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 UCF have access to a vast array of resources. Beginning in 1999, the UCF , 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.

麻豆精品 S淲e serve the entire lifespan from the time a person is diagnosed with ASD, 麻豆精品 S� 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.

麻豆精品 S淐ARD is not a place where you bring people for services, 麻豆精品 S� Daly says. 麻豆精品 S淲e go out into the community to provide our services in the natural environment each case calls for. 麻豆精品 S�

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 UCF researchers from the College of Health Professions and Sciences, the , and the to help them recruit participants for their studies. Garcia 麻豆精品 S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 麻豆精品 S�99 麻豆精品 S�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.

麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S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 麻豆精品 S檙e reading, 麻豆精品 S� 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 麻豆精品 S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 麻豆精品 S檚 at BLISS, improves reading comprehension in children with ASD, and graduate students 麻豆精品 S� 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.

麻豆精品 S淚t can be particularly challenging for our families because their children not only have autism, but oftentimes other complex medical conditions, 麻豆精品 S� 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 UCF 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 麻豆精品 S檛 stop there. The Center at UCF 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.

麻豆精品 S淩eceiving an ASD diagnosis can be overwhelming, 麻豆精品 S� Daly says. 麻豆精品 S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. 麻豆精品 S�

To help address this critical issue and reduce disparities, a team of University of Central Florida 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 麻豆精品 S渁ge in place, 麻豆精品 S� 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.

麻豆精品 S淎s the population of our city ages and residents are living healthier, more active and longer lives, it 麻豆精品 S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, 麻豆精品 S� says Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. 麻豆精品 S淲e are excited to work with UCF 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. 麻豆精品 S�

Innovative Approach

With the new funding, , an associate professor at the College of Nursing and the project 麻豆精品 S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 麻豆精品 S檝e developed and tested.

麻豆精品 S淭he primary goal is to prevent falls, 麻豆精品 S� Thiamwong says. 麻豆精品 S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. 麻豆精品 S�

The researchers 麻豆精品 S� 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 麻豆精品 S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.

麻豆精品 S淥lder adults trust the results more when it is immediate, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S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. 麻豆精品 S�

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 麻豆精品 S� 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.

麻豆精品 S淪ocial support from peers is important to build connections and hopefully continue to keep the physical activity going even after the intervention, 麻豆精品 S� 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 麻豆精品 S檚 co-investigators, , after seeing some of his publications on aging research shortly after she joined UCF.

Stout, who is director of the college 麻豆精品 S檚 , says the collaborations have developed into a research partnership that has been very successful.

麻豆精品 S淭here is a聽great聽potential for collaboration between programs and faculty expertise in different colleges at UCF, 麻豆精品 S� Stout says. 麻豆精品 S淚nterdisciplinary collaboration is important because it allows different fields to share knowledge and ideas, which can lead to new breakthroughs. 麻豆精品 S�

One of the ways UCF 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 UCF-funded studies.

麻豆精品 S淭he cluster is an excellent facilitator to promote interdisciplinary research, 麻豆精品 S� Park says. 麻豆精品 S淭he most challenging questions we, as researchers and scientists, seek to address these days can 麻豆精品 S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. 麻豆精品 S�

, 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.

麻豆精品 S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, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

麻豆精品 S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, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚t’s a truly excellent team and an important problem we are trying to solve. 麻豆精品 S�

Research Team

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

She joined UCF in 2016. She 麻豆精品 S檚 an expert in healthy aging, fall prevention and gerontological nursing. She is leading a UCF 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 麻豆精品 S� Lincoln. He joined UCF in 2012. He 麻豆精品 S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 UCF in 2019. He 麻豆精品 S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 UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 . He received his doctorate in statistics from the University of Georgia. He joined UCF 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.

麻豆精品 S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, 麻豆精品 S� Xie says. 麻豆精品 S淚 felt that my skills and experience in data analysis and modeling could be of great value to the research. 麻豆精品 S�

Lighthall received her doctorate in gerontology from the University of Southern California. She joined UCF in 2015. She 麻豆精品 S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 麻豆精品 S� fear of falling by guiding the team 麻豆精品 S檚 measurement of these psychological factors.

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

麻豆精品 S淚nterdisciplinary collaboration is important because one person cannot know it all or do it all, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S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. 麻豆精品 S�

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 麻豆精品 S� 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 麻豆精品 S檒l encounter as healthcare practitioners, the technology serves as a unique and hands-on learning tool.

麻豆精品 S淚t allows us to create environments that have a higher level of realism, 麻豆精品 S� says Bari Hoffman, associate dean of clinical affairs for the College of Health Professions and Sciences. 麻豆精品 S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. 麻豆精品 S�

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 麻豆精品 S淪mart Home 麻豆精品 S� 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. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Bari Hoffman, associate dean of clinical affairs for the College of Health Professions and Sciences

麻豆精品 S淲e can give students access to locations and experiences that might not be possible in person due to cost or geography considerations, 麻豆精品 S� says Hoffman. 麻豆精品 S淲e can provide the backdrop for any clinical or non-clinical setting. It can be a patient 麻豆精品 S檚 home, the inside of an ambulance or a medical clinic 麻豆精品 S� 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. 麻豆精品 S�

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.

麻豆精品 S淭he space just lends itself to a higher level of student engagement, 麻豆精品 S� says Tucker, who has already taken students in for any early look and a basic skills exercise. 麻豆精品 S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 麻豆精品 S檚 happening around them. 麻豆精品 S�

Research on the use of simulation in healthcare education聽supports that the more 麻豆精品 S渞eal 麻豆精品 S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 麻豆精品 S檚 community clinics, including the Communication Disorders Clinic. Clinicians there assist patients who have communication and hearing challenges and they 麻豆精品 S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 麻豆精品 S檚 office, barber 麻豆精品 S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 麻豆精品 S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.

麻豆精品 S淭he possibilities are endless, 麻豆精品 S� says Hoffman who is working across UCF 麻豆精品 S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. 麻豆精品 S淭he only limitation is your imagination. 麻豆精品 S�

According to the CDC, approximately 2,000 people under the age of 25 die each year due to sudden cardiac arrest. Hamlin 麻豆精品 S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 麻豆精品 S檚 known as commotio cordis. What is this?
麻豆精品 S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, 麻豆精品 S� says Latifa Abdelli, a pathophysiology lecturer in the . 麻豆精品 S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. 麻豆精品 S�

Are there ways athletes can minimize their risk?
It 麻豆精品 S檚 difficult to protect against this event occurring, experts say.

麻豆精品 S淐hest protectors and vests may reduce trauma from blunt bodily injury, but they will not provide protection from commotio cordis, 麻豆精品 S� says Abdelli.聽 麻豆精品 S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. 麻豆精品 S�

The bottom line: 麻豆精品 S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, 麻豆精品 S� says Abdelli.

What is the athletic trainer 麻豆精品 S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, 麻豆精品 S渋nitiating CPR and using an AED within minutes is absolutely imperative for the cardiac chain of survival, 麻豆精品 S� says Gual. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S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. 麻豆精品 S�

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?
麻豆精品 S淔or elite professional athletes, their timeline for return will be most influenced by how long they have been held out, 麻豆精品 S� says Kristen Schellhase, director of the athletic training program and assistant director of the . 聽 麻豆精品 S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. 麻豆精品 S�

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

麻豆精品 S淗amlin will have a specific recovery protocol with rules or stage timelines that he 麻豆精品 S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 麻豆精品 S檚 no pressure for him to return quickly, 麻豆精品 S� says Schellhase.

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

麻豆精品 S淵ou would not train a cross country runner the same way you would train a weightlifter 麻豆精品 S� they emphasize different muscles, perform different sport skills and use different energy systems, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S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. 麻豆精品 S�

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.

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

Speech pathologists work with the medical team to examine a patient 麻豆精品 S檚 vocal folds and trachea for any resulting trauma.

麻豆精品 S淪ome patients may experience edema (swelling of the throat), growths or ulcerations, reduced sensation, or muscle disuse atrophy following intubation, 麻豆精品 S� 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.

麻豆精品 S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, 麻豆精品 S� says Todd Fix, an instructor and speech-language pathologist in communication sciences disorders.

麻豆精品 S淩ecovery will vary and depends on the length of intubation as well as the patient 麻豆精品 S檚 age, overall general and respiratory health and other medical conditions, 麻豆精品 S� says Fix. 麻豆精品 S淧atient access to follow up care and patient motivation can also play into the recovery process. 麻豆精品 S�

Why are mental health supports in situations like this so important for athletes and the sports community?
Robin Kohn, a senior instructor and bachelor 麻豆精品 S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.

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

麻豆精品 S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, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

After a traumatic experience like Hamlin 麻豆精品 S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.

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

麻豆精品 S淭here will be a need for restoring or rebuilding, 麻豆精品 S� says Kohn. 麻豆精品 S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. 麻豆精品 S�

The UCF DPT program has achieved a 100% ultimate pass rate each year in its 12-year-history as a program 麻豆精品 S� 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 UCF by far the most successful in this metric in the state of Florida.

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

Pabian says it is the students 麻豆精品 S� dedication to being excellent clinicians, coupled with the expertise of the UCF 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.

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

The new program in kinesiology explores physical activity and its impact on health, society and quality of life. It will be housed in UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 . The new degree program will be the first Ph.D. program offered within UCF 麻豆精品 S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.

麻豆精品 S淭hrough this unique program, UCF will produce the next generation of leaders, who are advancing the broad discipline of kinesiology, 麻豆精品 S�

David H. Fukuda,聽 founding program director

麻豆精品 S淭hrough this unique program, UCF 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, 麻豆精品 S� says David Fukuda, the program 麻豆精品 S檚 founding director. 麻豆精品 S淚n the coming years, we expect to see UCF 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. 麻豆精品 S�

The program 麻豆精品 S檚 predecessor at UCF, 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. UCF 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.

麻豆精品 S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, 麻豆精品 S� says Christopher Ingersoll, dean of the College of Health Professions and Sciences. 麻豆精品 S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. 麻豆精品 S�

For the doctoral program, a minimum of 63 credit hours beyond the master 麻豆精品 S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 麻豆精品 S疪esearch 麻豆精品 S疌enter, 麻豆精品 S痑lso known as the employee gym, 麻豆精品 S痠s 麻豆精品 S痩ocated in 麻豆精品 S痶he Education Complex 麻豆精品 S痑nd 麻豆精品 S痟as undergone major renovations 麻豆精品 S痑nd 麻豆精品 S痚quipment enhancements 麻豆精品 S痮ver the past year. The facility will 麻豆精品 S痳eopen Aug. 23 麻豆精品 S痺ith the start of the 麻豆精品 S痜all 麻豆精品 S�2021 麻豆精品 S痵emester.

The facility is free to all faculty and staff at UCF聽and will be open during the following times Monday through Friday:

• 6听 麻豆精品 S撀�9 麻豆精品 S痑.尘.
• 11 a.m.聽 麻豆精品 S撀�1 p.m.
• 4聽 麻豆精品 S撀�7:30 p.m. 麻豆精品 S�(Fridays the gym will close at 6 p.m.)

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

Adam Wells聽 麻豆精品 S�12MS 麻豆精品 S�15PhD, an聽associate聽professor 麻豆精品 S痠n the Division of Kinesiology, 麻豆精品 S痬anages 麻豆精品 S痶he gym and 麻豆精品 S痷sed聽the 麻豆精品 S痯andemic shutdown as an 麻豆精品 S痮pportunity to continue 麻豆精品 S痳enovations to 麻豆精品 S痶he space.

麻豆精品 S淥ne of the big goals we wanted to accomplish was making the gym a more welcoming place to 麻豆精品 S痺ork out 麻豆精品 S痠n, 麻豆精品 S� Wells says. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S淲e maintain a safe 麻豆精品 S痑nd clean 麻豆精品 S痚nvironment. Our hours are 麻豆精品 S痗onducive 麻豆精品 S痶o 麻豆精品 S痜aculty 麻豆精品 S痑nd staff 麻豆精品 S痬embers 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S痵chedules; 麻豆精品 S痯eople can even come in and workout 麻豆精品 S痙uring their lunch 麻豆精品 S痓reak. 麻豆精品 S�

The first 50 faculty or staff to 麻豆精品 S痵ign up 麻豆精品 S痜or a free membership after the fall 2021 reopening will receive a WRC branded Blender Bottle, towel, 麻豆精品 S痓ag 麻豆精品 S痑nd ID lanyard.

Improvements in the gym include new 麻豆精品 S痗ardio 麻豆精品 S痓ikes, 麻豆精品 S痶wo Olympic 麻豆精品 S痳acks 麻豆精品 S痺ith 麻豆精品 S痯latforms, new 麻豆精品 S痙umbbells 麻豆精品 S痳anging from 5 pounds to 100 pounds, 麻豆精品 S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 麻豆精品 S痶echnology to help remove pathogens from the air. 麻豆精品 S� 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 麻豆精品 S痑nd locker rooms were also renovated the year before.

Wells, who worked in the WRC during his time as a graduate student at UCF, 麻豆精品 S痠s committed to 麻豆精品 S痬aking the gym more user-friendly 麻豆精品 S痶hrough services and programs run by 麻豆精品 S痶he . In the future, Wells hopes to offer services 麻豆精品 S痵uch as 麻豆精品 S痓ody composition 麻豆精品 S痑nalysis 麻豆精品 S痑nd 麻豆精品 S痜itness assessments, 麻豆精品 S痑s well as other services 麻豆精品 S痶o help employees understand their fitness level.

The WRC 麻豆精品 S痮ffers 麻豆精品 S痮pportunities 麻豆精品 S痶o participate in 麻豆精品 S痳esearch 麻豆精品 S痺ithin 麻豆精品 S痶he Division of Kinesiology, where faculty and students explore 麻豆精品 S痶he efficacy of 麻豆精品 S痙ifferent exercise modalities.

麻豆精品 S淭here has always been 麻豆精品 S痑 research component to the facility, 麻豆精品 S� Wells聽says. 麻豆精品 S淚t doubles as a 麻豆精品 S痩ab for exercise physiology interventions 麻豆精品 S痺hen needed for 麻豆精品 S痳esearch. 麻豆精品 S疉nd 麻豆精品 S痠t serves as a 麻豆精品 S痯racticum site for our 麻豆精品 S痷ndergraduate kinesiology students. 麻豆精品 S�

Jeffrey Stout, 麻豆精品 S疨egasus Professor and聽director 麻豆精品 S痮f the聽School of聽Kinesiology聽and Physical Therapy, says that 麻豆精品 S痶he lab will be an asset 麻豆精品 S痜or researchers, as well as 麻豆精品 S痚mployees 麻豆精品 S痵triving to improve their health and wellness.

麻豆精品 S淓xercise is medicine, 麻豆精品 S� says Stout. 麻豆精品 S淲e want people to take charge of their health. 麻豆精品 S疕aving the Wellness Research Center available on campus for faculty and staff to 麻豆精品 S痺ork聽out, and a dedicated space where health and wellness research can take place, is 麻豆精品 S痑n asset to 麻豆精品 S痚veryone in the 麻豆精品 S疷CF community 麻豆精品 S痺ho wants to improve their overall well-being. 麻豆精品 S�

For more information about the UCF Wellness Research Center, visit 麻豆精品 S�.

As an extra perk, the first 50 faculty or staff to 麻豆精品 S痵ign up 麻豆精品 S痜or a free membership after the fall 2021 reopening will receive a WRC branded Blender Bottle, towel, 麻豆精品 S痓ag 麻豆精品 S痑nd ID lanyard.

麻豆精品 S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, 麻豆精品 S� 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 UCF 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 麻豆精品 S渞eal 麻豆精品 S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 麻豆精品 S渞eal 麻豆精品 S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. UCF 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.

UCF 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.

麻豆精品 S淚nnovation and continuous learning are core Brooks Rehabilitation values, 麻豆精品 S� says Doug Baer,聽president聽and聽CEO聽of聽Brooks Rehabilitation. 麻豆精品 S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 UCF. 麻豆精品 S�

In addition to the teaching components of the tech, the College of Health Professions and Sciences also plans to聽utilize聽PORTL 麻豆精品 S檚 live 麻豆精品 S渉oloportation 麻豆精品 S� 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 麻豆精品 S痮ur vision of connecting the world through聽holoportation聽is now taking root in healthcare education with this historic deployment with the University of Central Florida,” said David Nussbaum, CEO of PORTL Inc. 麻豆精品 S�”Our strategic partnership with Dr. Hologram now makes it easy for educators and healthcare leaders to further modernize their systems that can 麻豆精品 S痯ositively impact their organizations and the communities they support.”