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College of Health Professions and Sciences

UCF Hosts Summer 2023 Commencement Aug. 4-5

UCF will award more than 3,860 degrees during three commencement ceremonies at Addition Financial Arena Aug. 4-5, sending a talent pipeline of highly skilled graduates into careers that are vital for our region and our state. Of the degrees UCF expects to award, 2,986 are bachelor’s, 615 are master’s, 152 are doctoral and 6 are education specialist…

UCF is Exploring the Intersection of Art and Artificial Intelligence

When photography was invented in 1822, some painters believed it was the end of art. But in fact, photography became its own medium that helped launch the modern art movement. Today, artificial intelligence (AI) — the simulation of human intelligence processes by computer systems — is transforming the art world, among several other industries, as we…

New UCF Project Works to Help Keep Victims of Intimate Partner Violence Safe

Researchers from UCF’s Violence Against Women Cluster have partnered with UCF Student Health Services and UCF Victim Services to develop and implement a screening tool that can help identify intimate partner violence (IPV) among college students. The work can help health care workers implement strategies for prevention and response. Recent research indicates that a significant number of college students, particularly those…

How UCF’s Aphasia House Helps Patients Like Kyle Burke

It’s a Thursday morning in late April and the sound of excited voices and laughter are emanating from the large kitchen at the Aphasia House. Gathered inside are a small army of graduate students, clad in matching black polos embroidered with the name of their program: Communication Sciences and Disorders. They are all studying to…

UCF Hosts Spring 2023 Commencement May 5-6

UCF will award more than 9,000 degrees during six commencement ceremonies at Addition Financial Arena May 5-6, sending a talent pipeline of highly skilled graduates into careers that are vital for our region and our state. Of the degrees UCF expects to award, 7,548 are bachelor’s, 1,291 are master’s, 171 are doctoral and 12 are education specialist…

Orlando Magic Youth Foundation Awards UCF $50,000 to Support Local Young Readers

The Orlando Magic Youth Foundation is gifting $50,000 to support UCF’s iREAD program, an intervention program for students who do not show reading proficiency. The funds will help bolster reading skills in schoolchildren who participate in iREAD (intensive Reading Enrichment for Academic Development). The iREAD program, within UCF’s Communication Disorders Clinic, is a four-week course that addresses…

UCF Supports Autism Community With Resources, Research

One Saturday morning at UCF, a shy, young girl began to learn the basics of judo practice — the proper stance, movements, how to hold opponents and how to safely fall to the mat. Autism spectrum disorder affects about one in 36 children nationally, according to  the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention She was…

UCF Student Honors Celebration Spotlights Top Achievers

UCF’s stellar students being honored on Wednesday for Founders’ Day have unleashed their potential and excelled in colleges and disciplines across the university. Among the undergraduate and graduate students are groundbreaking national and global scholarship winners, researchers, athletes, teaching assistants, residence assistants and leaders in campus organizations such as Student Government, LEAD Scholars and the…

Awardees Announced for 2023 Founders’ Day Faculty Honors Celebration

UCF will showcase more than 200 faculty members for academic excellence and service Wednesday at the Founders’ Day Faculty Honors Celebration in the Student Union’s Pegasus Ballroom. The celebration runs 3-5 p.m. and includes a reception after the formal program. Highlighted are recipients of the Pegasus Professor Award, UCF’s highest faculty honor; recipients of the…

UCF Team Awarded $2.3M Grant for Innovative Intervention to Prevent Falls

Falls — and the fear of falling — are the leading cause of injury, disability and hospitalization among racially diverse, low-income older adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To help address this critical issue and reduce disparities, a team of University of Central Florida researchers is partnering with the City…

7 Unique Funds to Support on UCF Day of Giving

We’ll bounce, stomp and celebrate UCF Day of Giving on April 13 this year. With this celebration of all things Black & Gold, we wanted to highlight a few unique funds for those who are looking for the right area to support. Girls EXCELing in Math and Science (GEMS)  The GEMS program is dedicated to…

Meet UCF’s 4 Pegasus Professors for 2023

Four UCF professors have been named this year’s Pegasus Professors, UCF’s highest faculty designation. Pegasus Professors are selected by the president and provost and are recognized for excellence in the teaching, research and service. This year’s honorees include innovative researchers who have not only made a difference at UCF, but nationally and internationally. Stephen Fiore’s…

Getting to the Heart of the Matter

Cardiovascular disease, which includes heart attacks and stroke, is the leading cause of death in the U.S. But it doesn’t have to be. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), an estimated 80% of cardiovascular disease is preventable. However, there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to prevention. According to the CDC, healthcare disparities, including…

American Physical Therapy Association Honors CHPS Associate Professor, Student and Alumni

The College of Health Professions and Sciences’ Division of Physical Therapywas well-represented at the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Combined Section Meeting with recognitions presented to a faculty member, a student and two alumni. Clinical Associate Professor Morris “Rick” Beato was honored with the Distinguished Mentor in Residency/Fellowship Education Award. Beato led the development of the UCF and Orlando…

Using Smart Home Technology for Innovative Solutions in Assistive Healthcare

A new “Smart Apartment” equipped with assistive technology is helping individuals with disabilities gain greater independence while preparing students for future roles in rehabilitative care. The room in UCF’s Rehabilitation Innovation Center mimics a residential living space and is equipped with a hospital bed, Hoyer lift, television, Nest thermostat, fan, lamp, and window shutters — all of…

Rising Together

Darryl Gordon has carved one hour out of his wall-to-wall schedule to take this phone call. He doesn’t sound hurried or tired. He sounds … enthused when he says, “This isn’t a job to me. I love pouring into the lives of others. It’s my passion.” He has two full-time passions then: Advisor and coordinator in the College…

Health Sciences Student Carina McClean Pursues Excellence Through Mentorship

Health Sciences student Carina McClean helped establish the UCF chapter of the National Society of Black Women in Medicine (NSBWM) as treasurer in her sophomore year to support Black women on campus who are pursuing careers in healthcare and other scientific disciplines. The UCF chapter is one of 10 collegiate sections around the nation that promote advancement through…

National Black Association for Speech-Language Hearing Starts New Chapter at UCF

Students in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders have launched a new student organization focused on meeting the needs of Black professionals, students and individuals that have communication disorders. The UCF chapter of the National Black Association for Speech-Language Hearing (NBASLH) is just a few months old and has already grown to 15 student…

New Immersive Simulation Suite Will Teach UCF Students, Help Patients

UCF’s College of Health Professions and Sciences has again expanded its state-of-the-art Rehabilitation Innovation Center with the addition of a new immersive, mixed reality room that will be used for both student learning and patient care. The Blended Learning Interactive Simulation Suite, or BLISS, uses 270-degree, floor-to-ceiling touchscreen walls that display curated video and audio, providing an…

UCF Nutrition Educator Helps Improve Health at KNIGHTS Clinic

Patients at a free College of Medicine clinic for Orlando’s disadvantaged are getting nutritional counseling, thanks to the expertise of registered dietician/nutritionist Steven Burroughs, a faculty member in UCF’s College of Health Professions and Sciences. Burroughs leads nutritional patient education consultations at the student-run KNIGHTS Clinic at Orlando’s Grace Medical Home. The clinic is staffed…