The UCF College of Medicine Celebrates 10 Years
This fireworks photo hangs in my office as a constant reminder of what we can accomplish when we work together. Here is the story behind the picture.
In October 2010, after moving to our new Medical City campus, the College of Medicine held a celebration gala. As we planned the event, I told my team that I would love to end the party with fireworks and an orchestra playing the “1812 Overture.” While my motto has always been “Dream Big,” the reaction of my team was, “We can’t do that! We’ll hit airplanes!”
However, in the weeks ahead, the team got Sea World to donate fireworks, worked with UCF’s Music Department to get the orchestra, and even arranged with the FAA to divert all flights going over the medical school. The night was spectacular – and ended in spectacular fashion thanks to their teamwork.
On Nov. 5, we’ll hold an even bigger event to celebrate our 10-year anniversary. You can get information on the event at https://med.ucf.edu/10th-anniversary/. I hope many of you will be able to join us. What’s most important as we celebrate is to reflect on the partnership that created our new kind of medical school that anchors a Medical City.
Ten years ago, when the legislature and governor approved Orlando’s new medical school, they did so for one key purpose – to drive economic development. I remember driving out here after arriving in December 2006 as dean. Lake Nona was virtually a green field – a giant cow pasture. We had no exit on 417, no research labs, hospital rooms, classrooms, restaurants, hotels or homes. Today, we are on our way to becoming a global healthcare destination where medical education, research and patient care thrive and in doing so serve others.
We are a place where M.D. students train as they care for veterans and children. Where students training to be doctors and pharmacists work side-by-side to provide more coordinated care. We are a place where biomedical scientists and their young protégés teach and learn while finding better treatments for cancer, heart disease, tuberculosis and dementia. We are a place where residents train in the nation’s top VA simulation center, and medical students donate a piano so hospitalized children and their families can enjoy the healing aspects of music.
Soon, we hope to be a place with a university-based teaching hospital where research, clinical care and medical education are fully integrated into the care of every patient.
As our Medical City continues to grow and thrive, we will bring even more economic development to our community and state. We’ll see more start-up companies, more life sciences clusters and entrepreneurships, more opportunity for joint hires and collaborative research projects. We’ll see more centers of excellence and specialization, more opportunities to have researchers partner with clinicians to solve medicine’s unanswered questions.
We’ll help Orlando become known as a medical destination in addition to its reputation for tourism. And we’ll become a place like Johns Hopkins, Duke and Cleveland clinics, where patients come when they’ve run out of treatment options in their own community.
This future will happen if we continue to do what created Medical City and the College of Medicine in the first place – working together for a greater good. As we approach our 10th anniversary, I’m reminded how far we’ve come from our days as a cow pasture – and how far our dreams are taking us.
A Decade Together
To mark the 10th anniversary of the UCF College of Medicine, we’re hosting a very special evening — and you’re invited. On Nov. 5, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., join us for a progressive dinner and cocktails by Orlando’s top chefs while you enjoy live entertainment culminating with a spectacular fireworks display.
For tickets and more information, visit med.ucf.edu/10th-anniversary.
