To reduce these challenges, associate professors of health sciences Michael Rovito and Keith Brazendale in UCF’s Department of Health Sciences are conducting a 6-month intervention study, which is funded by the Florida Department of Health Cancer Innovation Fund.

The National Cancer Institute estimates survival rates for testicular cancer are high, as about 10,000 men are diagnosed each year and fewer than 5% die from the disease — underscoring the need to improve quality of life for these patients.

“Our focus is on finding ways to improve the quality of life for these survivors, and to improve their mental, emotional and social health,” says Rovito, who has researched testicular cancer and men’s health for nearly two decades.

A New Approach to Survivorship Care

Previous survivorship programs have often focused on high-intensity exercise, which can be difficult for patients managing recovery, work and family demands. To develop a more sustainable path to recovery, Rovito and Brazendale are testing a uniquely designed intervention in Florida, known as the Physical Activity and Connectivity for Testicular Cancer Survivors (PACT) program.

PACT combines low-impact, remote, physical activity with an online support network to help survivors navigate psychosocial challenges. Participants engage in regular low-intensity physical activity, such as walking or taking the stairs, and track their progress using Fitbit devices. The devices provide real-time feedback, allowing researchers to set weekly goals and offer personalized guidance. This feedback loop helps participants stay engaged while building sustainable habits.

“We’re seeking an intervention they can do for the rest of their lives,” Brazendale says. “We want these healthy supports to become habit.”

Support Beyond Physical Recovery

Connected through Zoom sessions, PACT program participants receive personalized counsel and encouragement from the researchers directly. They also take part in virtual peer-support sessions led by a social worker and a survivor advocate trained in trauma-informed care. Monthly sessions include breathwork, meditation and discussions on common concerns such as fertility, relationship changes and fear of recurrence.

“The online support session provides coping strategies and tools for the participants to use during the day, when they can feel anxious or depressed or overwhelmed,” Rovito says.

Outside of the meetings, researchers stay in touch regularly with individual messages to participants, sending tailored motivational text messages.

“Our hope is that we are providing realistic physical activity changes that are sustainable when the monitoring ends,” says Brazendale. “We want these survivors to have adopted habits and skills that result in them being healthier over the long-term.”

The researchers say they hope to expand the program to other cancer survivor groups and integrate it into broader survivorship care across Florida, while securing additional funding for larger-scale trials.

The Feasibility of the Physical Activity and Connectivity for Testicular Cancer Survivors (PACT) program is supported by a grant from the Florida Department of Health Cancer Innovation Fund grant number 25C33. 

The pivotal investment closes an aggressive and purposeful capital campaign to raise more than $30 million in private funding, which together with $43 million from the State of Florida, has brought UCF’s bold vision of a new home for its College of Nursing to life.

“Purposeful partnerships are what move our people and ideas forward to shape the future,” says UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. “Our mission with this campaign was clear: to address Florida’s nursing shortage head-on by significantly increasing UCF’s capacity to prepare compassionate and highly skilled Knight nurses. Together, with the generous support of state leaders, donors and partners, we are moving healthcare forward by fueling talent and innovation.”

Opened in Fall 2025, the 90,000-square-foot Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion increases access to UCF’s accredited and nationally ranked nursing degree programs. One in four Florida nursing graduates already receive a degree from UCF, more than any other university in the state.

With the opening, UCF will graduate an additional 150 newly licensed eligible nurses annually and directly impact Florida communities. Of the more than 17,000 Knight nurse alumni, 85% live and work in the Sunshine State and nearly 60% remain in Central Florida.

The facility comes at a critical time for the profession and state, which is facing a projected shortage of 37,400 registered nurses by 2035. To meet demand spurred from Florida’s rapidly growing and aging population, an estimated 2,300 RNs are needed to enter the workforce annually.

“We are incredibly grateful to Bank of America Central Florida for their support that will impact generations in Central Florida and beyond,” says College of Nursing Dean Sharon Tucker. “Through philanthropic support and partnerships, UCF has turned a challenge into opportunity — one that improves lives with increased access to a high-quality education and increased collaboration to innovate patient care. Together we are ensuring a healthier future for all.”

In addition to expanding classroom space, the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion dramatically expands space for simulation and immersive technologies to prepare future healthcare providers in the Helene Fuld Health Trust STIM Center. ��AV is a global leader in healthcare simulation, and the first in Florida with three global accolades in the innovative field.

With an optimal location in Lake Nona, adjacent to UCF’s College of Medicine and in a hub of industry activity, the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion is fueling greater collaborative research and learning opportunities. UCF students gain hands-on clinical experiences at neighboring healthcare facilities and real-life practice in interdisciplinary care with the new UCF Health Mobile Clinic.

“This building is positively impacting how my peers and I learn, as community support is at the forefront and motivates our studies,” says Raquel Vargas, a current accelerated second degree BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) student at UCF. “In addition, the advanced technology in the simulation center is improving my ability to analyze and anticipate real-life patient scenarios, preparing me for my future clinical practice.”

The capital campaign launched in November 2022 anchored by a generous $10 million gift from Dr. Phillips Charities. Other founding donors of the facility include the Helene Fuld Health Trust, UCF Pegasus Partners AdventHealth, Orlando Health, Nemours Children’s Health and Addition Financial, Zaby and Suree Vyas, and many others.

“Through this grant, the Bank of America is bolstering the backbone of healthcare in one of our nation’s fastest-growing regions,” says Naveed Shujaat, president, Bank of America Central Florida. “Education and healthcare are powerful forces in communities – catalysts that transform lives. This support for the education of future UCF nurses will have an immeasurable impact on the patients and families they serve, especially in Florida.”

During the 2026 Society of Critical Care Medicine Congress, thousands of healthcare professionals gathered to advance patient care and recognize the experts leading the way — including UCF Nursing Associate Professor Brian Peach.

Peach was the only nursing expert in Florida inducted into this year’s class of fellows of the American College of Critical Care Medicine, a prestigious distinction recognizing healthcare leaders who’ve made outstanding contributions to critical care through clinical excellence, program development and scholarly activities.

Improving Patient Outcomes

Peach has dedicated nearly two decades to improving critical care — from the patient bedside as an intensive care unit (ICU) nurse and leader to advancing the field as an educator and researcher.

“… the best patient care and research outcomes are achieved through interdisciplinary teamwork.”

His clinical career spanned three teaching facilities — the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Florida Health Shands Hospital and Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center — where he advanced into leadership roles and collaborated across disciplines to improve patient outcomes and drive quality initiatives, including improving time-sensitive sepsis care to save lives.

“I firmly believe that the best patient care and research outcomes are achieved through interdisciplinary teamwork, where each professional’s expertise enhances the collective effort,” Peach says. “My experiences have reinforced my commitment to fostering collaborations that drive meaningful improvements in healthcare.”

Advancing Education and Science

While his clinical work laid the foundation, Peach recognized a broader purpose: preparing future nurses and advancing the science behind critical care.

At UCF’s College of Nursing, he’s led a critical care course that emphasizes essential concepts through case-based learning that prepare future nurses for real-world practice. He also serves as the college’s Honors Undergraduate Thesis liaison, advising nearly 25 undergraduate and graduate students in independent research in the field.

Nationally, Peach extends his impact through leadership and service. He’s served as a reviewer for multiple critical care publications and collaborates with experts on projects like the next tier of the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s Centers of Excellence program, which will recognize hospitals for excellence in ICU care.

His award-winning research, shared globally through publications and presentations, focuses on improving outcomes for septic patients and, more recently, advancing care for ICU delirium and post-intensive care syndrome (PICS).

Advocating for Intensive Care Survivors

PICS — a syndrome involving new or worsened physical, cognitive and mental health impairments following an ICU admission — affects a significant portion of survivors. Of the more than 5.7 million Americans admitted to ICUs each year, about 70% survive, and it’s estimated that more than half experience lasting impairments.

Peach has become an advocate for critical illness survivors, dedicated to raising awareness and improving care. He currently leads a virtual reality exposure therapy trial for the treatment of PICS in critical illness survivors and frequently speaks on the topic at conferences, healthcare facilities and to the media.

“Helping shed light on the hidden burden carried by ICU survivors — and the gap between survival and true recovery — motivates my work,” he says.

As a member of the PICS Advocacy Network, he was inspired to co-found Orlando’s Walk-4-PICS campaign in 2024. It’s now one of the largest events in a global effort to raise awareness and connect survivors and their families with resources and research opportunities.

“… by allowing researchers to track data nationwide, [the diagnostic code] could help make the case that PICS research warrants greater investment.”

Earlier this month, Peach presented a proposal to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advocating for a PICS ICD-10 diagnostic code. If approved, the code would allow providers to formally diagnose PICS and enable researchers to track its prevalence. A decision is expected by Summer 2026.

“This code has the potential to dramatically influence health policy and research funding,” Peach says. “Millions of people across the U.S. suffering from PICS conditions will officially be able to receive a diagnosis. Furthermore, by allowing researchers to track data nationwide, it could help make the case that PICS research warrants greater investment.”

For Peach, it’s the people behind the statistics that inspire his work. It’s the personal stories of the ICU survivors he meets, the achievements of the students he mentors and the thought leaders he collaborates with to create change.

“I look forward to [continuing] to advance critical care through collaboration and mentorship,” he says, “and to improving care for patients, survivors and their families.”

If you’re a critical illness survivor living with new or worsened physical, cognitive or mental health conditions, you may qualify for one of Peach’s studies.

AdventHealth Endowed Chair in Healthcare Simulation Gregory Welch has made countless contributions to the fields of virtual, augmented and mixed reality as an inventor and researcher, but some of the ones he’s most proud of aren’t documented in patent applications or peer-reviewed publications.

For more than two decades, Welch has extended his passion into purposeful action within and beyond the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Visualization and Graphics Technical Community (VGTC) to empower future generations, foster collaboration and growth, and advance the fields of visualization, computer graphics, and virtual/augmented reality. Through his dedication and leadership, he has made a sustained impact on the global community.

His service includes volunteering at dozens of IEEE VGTC conferences since 2000 and serving as general chair for three international events, each drawing hundreds of attendees.

“… I had the idea to bring VR demonstrations from Florida universities to the conference site, making it a fun evening where [attendees] … could experience VR technology.”

One of the most memorable was the 2013 Virtual Reality Conference in Orlando, which he co-chaired and where he created the Florida Academic VR Showcase (FLAVRS).

“Conferences typically bus attendees to the host institution for demonstrations, but nobody enjoys long bus rides late at night,” Welch says. “With FLAVRS, I had the idea to bring VR demonstrations from Florida universities to the conference site, making it a fun evening where [attendees] could bring their families and experience VR technology.”

Welch, IEEE VR 2013 co-chair, joined University of Florida Professor Benjamin Lok and a group of student volunteers to transform the event ballroom into the makeup of Florida, complete with cities, lakes and well-known landmarks. Twenty-two demonstrations from researchers across the state were arranged by their institutions’ geographic locations.

Attendees received “passports” to collect stamps at each demonstration and earn prizes.

“I still have people tell me that it was the best VR conference event they have ever attended,” Welch says.

Mentoring the VR Researchers of Tomorrow

To further advance the field, Welch serves as an associate editor for two journals and has organized several professional development opportunities for students, researchers and developers, including international research retreats focused on specific topics.

He has also focused on inspiring future generations of virtual reality researchers. One of the contributions he’s most proud of is the creation of the XR Future Faculty Forum, or F3.

“It’s been so rewarding to see the knowledge sharing between generations … and to build a community among future faculty.”

Launched in 2023 with UCF computer science doctoral student Matthew Gottsacker, F3 connects faculty volunteers with graduate students through panels, talks and one-on-one mentoring to prepare future scholars for careers in academia. What began as an idea has grown into an annual event supporting hundreds of participants, with plans to continue expanding. F3 will take place again at the 2026 IEEE VR Conference in Daegu, Korea, where Welch will be honored for his service.

“It’s been so rewarding to see the knowledge sharing between generations, to help reduce fears about research funding and tenure, and to build a community among future faculty,” Welch says. “It’s been so gratifying to see this idea impact real people and expand to other conferences.”

His impact on future generations extends to his work at UCF, where he has advised and mentored dozens of students from undergraduates to postdoctoral scholars.

Driving Discovery in Simulation and Technology

Welch has made sustained contributions to the field through innovative research in virtual/augmented reality, virtual beings, motion tracking display and healthcare technology.

He currently leads the development of the , supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation. VERA, which is the first large-scale system for extended reality research, aims to create a powerful platform for human subjects research and behavioral data collection in VR. IEEE VGTC Virtual Reality Lifetime Achievement awardee and Agere Chair Professor of Computer Science, Carolina Cruz-Neira, is also working on the project, which is a collaboration across multiple universities.

To date, Welch has authored more than 150 publications and his work has contributed to 25 patents. His 1995 Introduction to the Kalman Filter has been cited more than 12,500 times. His patented innovations span a wide range of applications, from projection mapping — like what’s used on Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom — to physical-virtual patient simulators, “smart” wound simulators, sterile field detection mechanisms, directional electrodes for deep brain stimulation, tactile telepresence for isolated patients and spatially explicit auditory cues for enhanced situational awareness.

A Legacy of Service

For his outstanding contributions and career achievements, Welch has earned numerous honors, including being named to the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida. He’s also a fellow of IEEE, a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and a Pegasus Professor — UCF’s highest faculty honor.

“[My] unique blend of analytical and creative thinking [inspires] my work to … create interactive experiences that … solve challenges and help people.”

Welch sees value in real-life events that bring people together. He attributes his dedication to service and success as an innovator to his family and upbringing.

“My mother was a mathematician and computer programmer, and my father was a musician, so I have this unique blend of analytical and creative thinking,” he says. “That has inspired my work to use computer science to create interactive experiences that feel like the real world to solve challenges and help people.”

Welch’s commitment to helping others began long before his noteworthy career, with involvement in service organizations dating back to high school. For him, service is a way of life — not an obligation, but an opportunity to make an impact.

“There is so much that we can and should do to help our communities,” he says. “It takes people to step up, commit and invest time to make things happen. I hope my service and leadership inspire others.”

“Because [Deb German] dared, the UCF College of Medicine is now an engine of talent, research and impact that is shaping healthcare for generations.” — Alexander N. Cartwright, Ů��AV president

German will remain in her roles while UCF conducts a national search for her successor. Following that transition, she will serve for one year as senior advisor for health affairs to the president and provost, supporting continuity during the next phase of growth.

When German arrived at Ů��AV in 2006, the College of Medicine existed only as a bold idea that many questioned. Today, it is a nationally respected medical school and the academic anchor of Orlando’s Lake Nona Medical City.

“When Dr. German came to UCF, many believed building a medical school from the ground up — at a young university, in a brand new medical city — was too ambitious, too complex and too risky. Deb saw possibility where others saw barriers,” says UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. “Because she dared, the UCF College of Medicine is now an engine of talent, research and impact that is shaping healthcare for generations.”

Building a Medical School and a Workforce Pipeline

German arrived at Ů��AV in 2006 as the medical school’s only employee. Her mission: build a medical school that would be the academic foundation of an emerging Medical City and inspire economic development in the community, region and state.

From its inception, the College of Medicine was designed to be research intensive and community connected.

To attract the best and brightest students, German helped secure more than $6.5 million to provide full four-year scholarships and living expenses for every member of the inaugural M.D. class — the first time in U.S. history a medical school fully funded an entire class. She also established the focused inquiry and research experience curriculum, requiring every medical student to conduct original scientific research. UCF medical students frequently achieve 100% residency placement rates.

Recognizing Florida’s growing physician shortage, German expanded graduate medical education in partnership with HCA Healthcare and the Orlando VA Medical Center. What began in 2014 with 17 internal medicine residents has grown to more than 720 residents and fellows training across Florida in high-need specialties including primary care, surgery, psychiatry, geriatrics and endocrinology.

This growth has strengthened Florida’s healthcare workforce at scale.

Advancing Academic Health Sciences

Under German’s leadership, UCF established an Academic Health Sciences Center uniting the colleges of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Professions and Sciences, along with UCF Health Student Health Services.

The Lake Nona Health Sciences Campus now includes the Medical Education Building, a new College of Nursing facility, UCF Lake Nona Hospital, the UCF Lake Nona Cancer Center, and the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences — home to nearly 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students preparing to become tomorrow’s scientific leaders.

In addition, the medical school’s Clinical Trials Division currently has 19 studies investigating new and better treatments for conditions including cancer, allergic asthma and Huntington’s disease.

In 2025, German also led the launch of UCF’s , leveraging UCF’s proximity to Kennedy Space Center to explore innovations that improve both space health and patient care on Earth.

“When we opened the medical school, we said we wanted to create a program that was locally, nationally and internationally relevant,” German says. “With our new space medicine program, we now can be galactically relevant.”

Expanding Patient Care for the Community

“Watching [UCF’s] growth and our impact on so many people, including my own family, has been both humbling and deeply rewarding.” — Deborah German, College of Medicine founding dean

German also led the creation of UCF Health Faculty Physician Practice and the student-run KNIGHTS Clinic in partnership with Grace Medical Home to serve uninsured patients.

Most recently, UCF unveiled a 38-foot Mobile Health Clinic, bringing free, high-quality healthcare directly to communities in need while serving as a hands-on training site for students across disciplines.

“Watching our growth and our impact on so many people, including my own family, has been both humbling and deeply rewarding,” German says. “My goal in coming to UCF was to create the academic anchor of a new Medical City.  That foundation is now fully in place; we have done a good job. Now it is time for new leadership that will take us to new heights.”

Thanks to a new National Institutes of Health grant, a  scientist is investigating a new approach to treat neuropathy without relying on pain pills and anti-depressants.

Assistant Professor Jim Nichols is focused on overlooked mechanisms in the body that may show how the inability to make insulin has “downstream” consequences in other areas, such as how the brain processes and registers sensation in the limbs.

People affected by Type 1 diabetes don’t produce insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar, so patients must inject themselves with insulin to survive.

Before joining UCF, Nichols spent many years looking for new causes of diabetic neuropathy. Nichols theorizes that irregularities in the insulin signaling pathway of peripheral nerves may be the key contributor to diabetic neuropathy. Based on the potential of his early findings, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, which is under the NIH, recently awarded UCF a $747,000 grant to expand that research.

Discovering New Pathways

One of the challenges of living with diabetes is that patients with neuropathy may lose feeling in their extremities and not feel a cut, blister or injury. Those injuries can become infected and even lead to amputation. Such diabetic complications occur more frequently in patients with poor blood sugar control, so Nichols is hoping that his research will find a treatment to regulate and improve neuron signaling that can be used as part of improved blood sugar management.

“We’re diving into an area that’s fresh,” he says. “The research aims we’re going after are based on the insulin signaling pathway, and how the neuropathy evolves due to insulin dysregulation. Ultimately, we’re looking at different ways to alter the insulin signaling pathway to prevent nerve degeneration.”

During the next three years, Nichols and his team will document the behavior of neurons, their signaling systems and surrounding cells to find ways to regulate them to alleviate symptoms of neuropathy.

While approved therapeutics such as opioids and antidepressants can curb those symptoms, Nichols hopes his investigational treatment can become a more viable alternative for diabetic patients.

“We’re trying to find better therapies.” — Assistant Professor Jim Nichols

“There are typical pain therapies out there, although we’re trying to move away from that because diabetic neuropathy isn’t very amenable to the basic treatments that we have,” he says. “We’re trying to find better therapies, and that is our goal.”

Inspired to Learn and Discover

Nichols arrived at Ů��AV in the summer of 2025, and says his goal is to inspire students to pursue bold new research directions. He encourages students to not fear the failures that lead to success.

“One of the things I tell the students is that we fail fast and we fail safe here,” he says. “What that means is that you want to fail as many times as you’re going to fail as fast as possible. You want to get those failures out as fast as possible so that you can learn as fast as possible without having an impact on you or your studies.”

��󾱲��dz������첹�Ծ�������’24�ѳ���completed her master’s degree in biotechnology at UCF after spending nearly five years working in the biomedical field in her home country of Nigeria. Now pursuing a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences, she joined Nichols’ lab because she wants to help patients like her parents, who both suffered from diabetes.

“This is personal to me because my mom was diabetic and she died from complications with it,” Akaniru says. “My dad now is showing signs of peripheral neuropathy. There are treatments for other comorbidities of diabetes, but I think it could go a long way to have something that could really help neuropathic pain better.”

Hollie Hayes ’20 graduated from UCF with her bachelor’s degree in biology and then worked in neuroscience research before joining Nichols’ lab as a manager. During her time at UCF, she worked on research to fight pediatric tumors and still carries that inspiration today.

“It got me really interested in focusing on helping people who are just suffering with chronic, debilitating pain, and especially anything that comes with nerves,” Hayes says. “My focus is, ‘How can I help advance the science and help as many people as possible?’ ”

Researcher Credentials:

Nichols is a graduate of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine dual degree program where he examined new therapeutics for multiple sclerosis while completing his veterinary training. He then worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at MD Anderson Cancer Center for five years where he explored pathological mechanisms of pain with a focus on diabetic peripheral neuropathy. After joining Ů��AV in 2025, Nichols and his team continue to explore the underlying mechanisms of diabetic neuropathy.

Funding and Disclosure:

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R00DK142197. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Arielle Patterson and Jemual Shaylor ’21, members of UCF’s M.D. Class of 2026, matched at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Naval Medical Center San Diego, respectively.

Both are recipients of the military’s Health Professions Scholarship, which covers tuition and living expenses for medical students who agree to serve their country for one year for each year of scholarship.

Walter Reed-Bound

Patterson is focused on improving health through physical activity, specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation.

“As a doctor who is really passionate about fitness and physical medicine and rehabilitation, I want to really inspire the next generation of younger people to live healthier lives, earlier,” she says.

She also wants to expand access to healthcare and encourage more students from medically under resourced communities to enter the field of medicine. Research shows that patients have better outcomes when they feel they can connect to their physician’s personal background.

“There’s a lot of times in medical school where we feel alone, or like the only ones who have gone through this, but so many people have done this before,” she says. “Hopefully I can help bring us a little bit more together.”

Patterson has already begun working toward that goal, serving as director for Region IV of the Student National Medical Association, a student organization committed to improving access to the medical field and building culturally competent and clinically excellent physicians. She helped organize SNMA’s annual regional conference that will be in Orlando, February 20-22, bringing together physicians and medical students from across the southeast United States.

Patterson completed her bachelor’s degree in cellular and molecular biology at Hampton University before joining UCF’s M.D. Class of 2026. She says she chose the UCF medical school for its youth and innovative, team-oriented culture.

Inspired to Serve

Shaylor was inspired to enter military service by former Assistant Professor Jose Borrero, who was a U.S. Air Force flight surgeon during Vietnam before becoming a founding faculty member at UCF. Now retired, Borrero continues to serve as a mentor to UCF medical students.

During medical school, military students have the opportunity to undergo active-duty and officer leadership training at military centers around the country. In April, Shaylor will follow in Borrero’s footsteps to attend flight surgeon training in Norfolk, Virginia.

Specializing in general surgery, Shaylor hopes to eventually become a hand surgeon.

“A hand surgeon is almost a working man’s surgeon. You need your hands to do your job, or almost anything so when you’re able to restore function to any level, it has a major impact on a person’s life,” Shaylor says. “If I can do that, especially in the military where hand injuries are quite common, that would be a calling I would love.”

Shaylor earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in bioengineering from UCF.

The Match Process

Before practicing medicine on their own, M.D. graduates must undergo residency training in their chosen specialty. This graduate medical education training takes three to seven years, depending on the specialty.

During their fourth year, medical students interview with residency programs across the country before ranking their top choices. Residency programs do the same before the National Residency Matching Service analyzes the rankings and matches graduates to GME programs. Most results are revealed on National Match Day, which is March 20 this year. Military programs and some specialties match early.

“We often hear that ‘we’re at a turning point in human history,’” Tian says, “and with AI research in a university setting like this, it’s true.”

This is just one example of AI innovations at UCF. Learn about more at the .

Tian has adapted quickly — and gladly — to life at UCF since arriving last May to teach computer science. He is now living what he once imagined as the idyllic scenario: talented artificial intelligence (AI) specialists coming from around the world to collaborate with medical experts and launch new projects, pressing each other through formidable challenges and achieving the unachievable.

“The ultimate goal for my team is to extend people’s lives, significantly,” Tian says.

Assembling a Dream Team

Tian’s ambition has eluded human pursuits for millennia. Even medical AI has barely begun to approach its potential impact — especially when compared with other AI applications like chatbots and fintech.

“There are two major limitations with medical AI,” Tian says. “One is the privacy of data — AI requires a lot of data. The other issue holding back progress is collaboration. Computer scientists working on AI typically don’t know medicine. We need input from doctors and biologists. In that sense, universities are uniquely positioned.”

“Universities bring together computer scientists, physicians and hospitals — allowing us to identify clinically meaningful problems, access real-world data responsibly and develop solutions that are grounded in medical practice.”

With all of this available to his AIM team, they’ve been building a system that can learn from each patient’s history, exams, MRIs, CTs and life information. Given the copious amount of data, the AI model would then predict the person’s future medical trajectory.

For example, a doctor could know the probability of dementia five years before onset. An oncologist could use MRI scans to determine the gene mutation associated with a tumor within seconds rather than performing surgery and then waiting weeks for the results of a genome test.

Diseases would be preventable. Treatment plans would be more effective and less costly. People would be healthier, happier and live longer.

How close are we?

“Close,” Tian says. “It’s sometimes hard for me to believe, too.”

At the Forefront of AI

As recently as 2020, Tian didn’t give much thought to topics like longevity or the location of Orlando.

While working to complete his Ph.D., Tian had immersed himself in familiar computer-science objectives at the University of Adelaide in Australia. Day and night, the lab became a replacement for the home he’d left on the Chinese peninsula of Liaodong. In just three years, he published more than 15 papers.

Yet something was missing: a greater purpose.

“I’ve always wanted to discover a solution to a mystery that has never been solved,” he says.

He didn’t know what that mystery might be until an advisor asked him, “Do you want to work on fun AI video projects, or do you want to really impact lives?”

The conversation grabbed Tian’s attention. He’d been reading about groundbreaking AI research in computer vision and medical imaging. Many of the papers came from an institution in the U.S., a place called UCF.

After finishing his Ph.D., Tian came to the U.S. for postdoctoral work at Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania, digging his attention deeper into not only medical AI, but also into UCF.

“I found out about UCF’s young medical school with physicians and scientists working together. And then I heard about the hospitals in the Orlando area, including AdventHealth and Orlando Health, and this freedom to explore AI applications. I wanted to be in an environment like that, where research can advance quickly.”

Tian fast-tracked his postdoctoral role so he could accept a position at UCF, participate in the collaboration, and continue his pursuit of the unsolved mystery: extend life. Shortly after he arrived, the Institute of Artificial Intelligence (IAI) opened its doors — and Tian went on to establish his lab, taking a significant step toward his long-term research goals.

Big Goals Leads to Big Impact

You can sense a profound energy inside AIM.

It’s a convergence of talent and enthusiasm. In addition to Tian, the institute has recruited two dozen faculty, more than 100 doctoral students and 10 postdocs to imagine and encourage progress. The expertise transcends domains, including computer science, robotics, finance, smart cities and medicine.

“We all have big goals,” Tian says.

Less than a year after heading up the AIM Lab, he says, “We aren’t far off from deploying AI models in hospitals to help doctors.”

Tian works at the same speed as technology (fast), until a certain topic comes up. Family. He looks up and begins to describe his hometown, his mother, and the sight of his dad walking in the door one night with the family’s first computer.

“He and I were fascinated. We went from trying to install the first software to building our own computers and robots. I could never get enough of it.”

Those memories motivate him to work even faster toward his ultimate goal.

“I want to help everyone have a quality life to 100 — or longer. My family. Me. All of us,” he says. “I love the possibility. I love being here, at this turning point, with the opportunity to make a huge impact.”

“UCF has been building the future of online education for more than 30 years,” says UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. “This recognition from U.S. News & World Report affirms the excellence of a people-first, technology-driven approach refined over decades. It reflects a university that has consistently led with innovation, delivered quality at scale and continues to set the standard for what online learning can be.”

This year, UCF also ranks:

• No. 3 nationally for Online Psychology Bachelor’s Programs
• No. 5 nationally for Online Master’s in Educational and Instructional Media Design
• No. 6 nationally for Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans
• No. 6 nationally for Online Business (Lodging and Restaurant Management) Bachelor’s Programs

Empowering Driven Non-Traditional Students

Ů��AV is a leader in how to support learners who don’t fit the traditional academic mold, says Thomas Cavanagh ’06PhD, vice provost for digital learning. These students are parents, working professionals, people with disabilities, those caring for loved ones in need and many others with distinct life circumstances.

UCF Online provides 9,000 students annually a path to a degree that may otherwise be impossible.

“Taking online classes was the best way for me to be efficient as a mom and a detective at the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office,” says Melissa Schuck ’25, a criminal justice alum and a Florida Army National Guard sergeant. “Being able to show my children that through two careers and being a full-time mom that I could still be a full-time student and be successful [makes all my hard work worth it].”

Shuck says she’s even considering the added challenge of pursuing an online graduate degree in criminal justice, which UCF ranks No. 17 for nationally and No. 10 among veterans.

How We Lead at Scale Without Compromise

Behind each online course is a deeply collaborative process. By investing in faculty development and support, UCF Online offers an accessible path to degrees without comprising on quality.

Each semester up to 40 faculty members complete a rigorous, graduate-equivalent course to prepare them for how to best teach students in the unique environment of online learning while meeting academic standards.

“The same faculty who teach on campus , teach online, which is a hallmark of our quality,” Cavanagh says. “We partner with faculty to develop intentionally designed, media-rich courses for our students. We emphasize that the proven practices of consistent assignment schedules, engagement and responsiveness lead to a more engaging learning experience for students, as well as achieve better outcomes.”

More than 150 Center for Distributed Learning staff members work with 2,000 faculty across the university to develop and enhance UCF’s online programs.

That same intentionality extends to student success. UCF Online’s dedicated coaching staff supports prospective and current students with the application process, applying for financial aid, signing up for classes, connecting them to resources and more.

“We meet students where they are — and we walk with them,” says Tasha Williams ’12 ’17MNM, director of student coaching for UCF Online.

Redefining Online Education for Tomorrow’s Workforce

This year’s recognition reflects that UCF Online continues to be at the forefront of digital learning. To lead this charge, instructional designer, multimedia specialists, assessment experts and other staff combine their insights with tools such as artificial intelligence to evolve academic offerings.

This includes exploring opportunities to redesign courses for disciplines like nursing — which UCF ranks No. 17 for online graduate programs nationally — from 16 weeks to eight weeks while meeting industry standards.

“We’re never finished,” Cavanagh says. “Continuous improvement is part of our culture — whether that’s refining how we support faculty, enhancing the student experience or rethinking how programs are structured to meet today’s workforce demands.”

Name: Brian Peach
Position(s): Associate professor of nursing; Honors Undergraduate Thesis Program director in the College of Nursing; Co-advisor to the Student Nurses Association, Orlando

Why are you interested in this research?
My interest in this research is rooted in nearly 20 years of nursing practice, most of it spent caring for critically ill patients in intensive care units. I worked alongside dedicated multidisciplinary clinicians to save lives, and I took pride in seeing patients survive conditions such as sepsis, respiratory failure, heart failure and gastrointestinal bleeds.

Are you a faculty member or student conducting research at UCF? We want to hear from you! 

I assumed that once they left the ICU, they would recover, reclaim their lives and enjoy the years we had helped them gain. During my doctoral program however, I learned something that fundamentally shifted my perspective. Survivors were not simply recovering — they were facing new or worsened long-term physical, cognitive and mental health challenges that persisted months or even years after discharge.

These chronic issues, collectively known as post‑intensive care syndrome (PICS), included something I found especially troubling: post‑traumatic stress disorder stemming from the ICU experience itself. This realization was unsettling.

As clinicians, we often celebrate when a patient survives and moves on to the next unit or facility. Once they leave our care, they tend to slip out of sight and out of mind. Yet if you asked any ICU clinician what they hope for their patients, none would say they want survivors to live with debilitating long‑term consequences. We want them to thrive.

Recognizing the hidden burden carried by ICU survivors — and the gap between survival and true recovery — motivates my work. I am committed to advancing research that acknowledges, prevents, and treats PICS conditions, with particular focus on PTSD. My goal is to ensure that surviving critical illness is not the end of the story. While many critical illness survivors may never return to their prior level of health, I hope we can effectively treat their PTSD and remove a major barrier to living a fulfilling post‑ICU life.

Who inspires you to conduct your research?
The critical illness survivors and their families motivate me to conduct this research. Through my research, I’ve heard their stories, and admittedly they trouble me. Their experiences remind me that survival is only the first step; what happens after the ICU matters just as much. I want survivors to have the chance at a meaningful, high‑quality life, and I want families to feel supported rather than blindsided by the long‑term effects of critical illness.

Part of my motivation is personal as well. I know that my own loved ones could one day find themselves in an ICU, and if they were to leave with PICS‑related challenges, I would want them to have access to timely, effective care.

This research has also opened doors to service opportunities that continually reinforce my commitment. Through the PICS Advocacy Network, the Society of Critical Care Medicine, and the American Psychological Association, I’ve met survivors, caregivers, clinicians, and researchers who are working tirelessly to improve post‑ICU outcomes.

Two years ago, I co‑founded Walk‑4‑PICS Orlando with a survivor and the spouse of a survivor. What began with a handful of determined individuals holding small walks in 2023 to raise awareness about PICS has grown into a global movement — now 20 walks across four countries with increasing numbers of attendees. Each year, our walk brings together survivors, families, clinicians, and community members, and I leave every event more inspired than when I arrived.

For the past two years, I’ve worn a Walk‑4‑PICS bracelet every single day. It’s a simple reminder of my “why”: the belief that we can do better for those whose lives have been devastated by critical illness.

How does UCF empower you to do your research?
UCF has empowered my research since my arrival in 2018. The College of Nursing has consistently supported my work with critical illness survivors by providing the facilities, staff assistance, and encouragement needed to pursue both intramural and extramural funding. This particular project was made possible through intramural support from the School of Social Work’s Center for Behavioral Research and Training, which allowed the study to take shape and move forward.

Through the university, I met my collaborator, Pegasus Professor Deborah Beidel. Our therapy study has been conducted at the UCF RESTORES Clinic, where she serves as executive director. The RESTORES team has been enthusiastic, skilled and deeply committed to adapting and testing their therapy for critical illness survivors. Their partnership has elevated the quality and reach of this work.

Students from the College of Nursing and other programs have played an important role as well, assisting with data collection and analysis and bringing fresh perspectives to the research. Their involvement has strengthened the project and given me the opportunity to train the next generation of clinicians and PICS researchers.

What major grants and honors have you earned to support your research?
I have received funding from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, Sigma Theta Tau International, and UCF’s Center for Behavioral Research and Training, each of which has supported different phases of my work with critical illness survivors. These awards have helped advance my research program and build the foundation for larger studies. I am now pursuing funding from the National Institutes of Health to further expand my work and strengthen its impact on post‑ICU care.

Why is this research important?
This research matters because the consequences of critical illness extend far beyond the ICU. More than half of the 5.7 million Americans admitted to an ICU each year develop at least one post‑intensive care syndrome (PICS) condition within the first year after discharge, and roughly 20% experience clinically significant PTSD symptoms within six months. These psychological injuries can disrupt survivors’ ability to work, care for their families, and maintain relationships, while placing substantial emotional and practical burdens on caregivers.

When survival comes with a cost of long‑term suffering, we have an obligation to find ways to treat PICS-related conditions. Identifying effective ways to treat PICS conditions — especially PTSD  —can help survivors regain stability, restore a sense of normalcy and reengage fully in their communities. And this isn’t an abstract issue. Any one of us, or someone we love, could find ourselves in an ICU because of an infection, an accident, or an unexpected medical crisis. Improving care for ICU survivors is not only a clinical priority; it is a societal responsibility.