UCF College of Medicine

08/27/2026

Congratulations to UCF medical student Natalya Kramer, winner of the inaugural Dean Deborah C. German, M.D. FIRE Impact Award, given to the student whose research shows the greatest potential impact to medicine and/or biomedical research. ✨

When Kramer lost her grandfather to lymphoma, she was inspired to pursue medicine with hopes of caring for cancer patients and their families.

She chose UCF for her medical education in part due to its focus on research and the FIRE (Focused Individualized Research Experience) course, which requires every student to conduct a two-year research project. The course was created by Dr. German.

Kramer's FIRE project focused on glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer with a very low survival rate. Her research discovered that extracellular vesicles responsible for cell-to-cell communication may influence non-cancer cells to take on cancer-like properties.

Learn more about Kramer, her research and the Dean Deborah C. German, M.D. FIRE Impact Award at https://med.ucf.edu/news/med-student-driven-to-create-hope-through-cancer-research-earns-inaugural-award/.

08/21/2026

He’s an experienced skydiver, private pilot and scuba diver whose hero since childhood has been moon-walker Neil Armstrong. And now Melchor Antuñano is a UCF Knight. ⚔️ 🚀

After 34 years with the Federal Aviation Administration - the longest term for any senior executive in the agency's history - Dr. Antuñano has joined the UCF College of Medicine's aerospace medicine team as a professor, and chief technologist and medical innovation officer.

At UCF, he’ll help design new procedures and technologies to keep astronauts, pilots and airplane passengers safer and help create a new UCF master’s degree in aerospace medicine and a residency program for aerospace medicine physicians. He’ll also teach across UCF colleges.

Learn more about Dr. Antuñano at https://med.ucf.edu/news/faa-executive-physician-scientist-joins-ucf-aerospace-medicine-team/.

08/19/2026

Meet Dr. Philippa Bright, family medicine physician at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital and a preceptor, helping teach UCF College of Medicine students.

Dr. Bright received her medical degree from the University of London before relocating to the United States to complete the Family Medicine Residency at the University of Florida. In 2024 she joined the UCF/HCA Graduate Medical Education Consortium Family Medicine Residency Program as an Assistant Professor and core faculty member.

Dr. Bright is committed to training the next generation of physicians to be excellent in providing patient-centered, evidence-based family medicine.

Here is what a UCF medical student said about Dr. Bright:

"Working with Dr. Bright has been an outstanding experience. Her calm demeanor in even the most hectic situations is truly impressive and sets a reassuring tone for the team. Dr. Bright’s extensive clinical knowledge is remarkable; she consistently provides guidance on the latest techniques and medications, enriching our learning experience. Her warm greetings and thoughtful questions always encourage us to deepen our understanding and improve our skills."

Learn more about Dr. Bright and see what other students said about their experience learning form her at https://med.ucf.edu/news/meet-our-preceptors-dr-philippa-bright-family-medicine-hca-florida-north-florida-hospital/.

08/18/2026

Congratulations to 2018 UCF College of Medicine graduate Dr. Shixie Jiang on this distinguished award to better understand delirium and its impact on the brain.

Shixie Jiang, MD, assistant professor in the University of Florida Department of Psychiatry, has been awarded a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23) from the National Institute on Aging. The highly competitive five-year award will supp...

08/14/2026

When Alexis Lichtenberger’s father was diagnosed with renal cancer, she began volunteering at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center where he was receiving care. Seeing the difference compassionate care could make, both for her father and the patients she worked with, inspired her to want to do more. Now, she’s taking the next step as a member of our UCF College of Medicine Class of 2030.

For Lichtenberger, the heart of care can be found in the small interactions. Asking about the day of a person she delivered meals to as a Meals on Wheels volunteer. Finding connections with the patients at the cancer center. Comforting patients experiencing the most challenging days of their lives when she was an EMT.

Now, as a future physician, her goal is to turn those moments into relationships that make patients feel seen. She believes that knowing patients, showing them you care and making them more comfortable can make the difference between understanding complex health topics, rather than being overwhelmed by them.

08/13/2026

Can we halt Lyme disease from taking hold in our bodies without general antibiotics? 🧫

Through her 3️⃣rd consecutive National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant renewal, University of Central Florida College of Medicine professor Dr. Mollie Jewett aims to “starve” Borrelia burgdorferi, preventing the tick-borne bacteria from spreading in humans & causing Lyme disease.

Because the bacteria must consume vitamin B2 to survive, Dr. Jewett & her lab are examining ways to disrupt its metabolism by targeting newly discovered genetic markers linked to consumption of vitamin B2, essentially "starving" B. burgdorferi as soon as it enters the human body via black-legged tick bite.

Learn more about this new research on our website ⤵️
https://med.ucf.edu/news/ucf-scientist-to-explore-precise-treatment-targeting-weak-spots-in-lyme-disease-bacteria/

08/12/2026

What does the first week at the UCF College of Medicine look like? ⚕️

While third- and fourth-year students are away at their clinical rotations, our first- and second-year students are here at the Lake Nona campus, ready to start their medical school year. 🩺

08/11/2026

Looking good in your fresh white coats, Class of 2030!

See all the photos of the Class of 2030's White Coat Ceremony at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD1x43. 📸

08/10/2026

🗣️ ¡Felicidades!

Third year med student Ava Singer and physician Knight Courtney Heitzler have recently passed the Physician Oral Language Observation Matrix exam to become certified in medical Spanish!

A total of 1️⃣3️⃣ students and graduates from UCF have advanced through our elective medical Spanish program and are certified to provide direct care to Spanish-speaking patients without needing an interpreter. The program is designed to ultimately help foster effective communication between clinicians and patients, which makes for better patient care.

College of Medicine students interested in elevating their care and becoming certified can learn more about our medical Spanish program: https://med.ucf.edu/news/new-language-certification-prepares-ucf-med-students-to-care-for-all/

08/07/2026

Want to show your UCF Med spirit?

The UCF College of Medicine apparel virtual pop-up is here for you with tees, hoodies, zip-ups and more!

Don't miss out. The pop-up is only open for orders until August 13.

Visit https://bsnteamsports.com and use access code: ucfcomfa26 to order your UCF College of Medicine merchandise today.