UCF College of Health Professions and Sciences

09/04/2026

They’re taking on a new academic year filled with opportunities to teach, research and grow. 🔬💪

Meet some of our kinesiology graduate assistants and hear what they’re looking forward to this year, from teaching undergraduate courses to conducting research on chronic pain, ACL recovery and injury prevention.

09/03/2026

We know healthcare is better with a team-based, collaborative approach.

A curriculum-embedded interprofessional education (IPE) program for CHPS students will be piloted this year to help our students prepare for careers with exactly this in mind.

This program kicked off last week with a social event complete with pizza, IPE bingo and a visit from Knightro. The goal for students was to learn about the roles and responsibilities of their peers in other health disciplines and communicate collaboratively and effectively.

What’s ahead for the program? We’ll introduce healthcare delivery topics such as social determinants of health and trauma-informed care, focusing on how these topics support patient care, and how interprofessional collaborative practice can further improve health outcomes.

08/31/2026

The College of Health Professions and Sciences (CHPS) welcomes a new school this fall with the addition of the UCF School of Global Health Management and Informatics (SGHMI), a move that aligns two key areas of UCF that excel in preparing future healthcare professionals and leaders.

“This is an innovative, forward-looking school that shares our commitment to student success,” says Dean Matthew Theriot. “There is a tremendous potential to build on our collective strengths, create new opportunities for students to learn across disciplines, enhance faculty research collaborations, and for our expanded college to make an even greater impact on the health and well-being of our communities.”

SGHMI prepares students for careers managing and leading complex healthcare systems by developing expertise in health data, technology and administration. The school, which has almost 40 faculty and staff and an enrollment of 1,100 students, was previously part of the College of Community Innovation and Education.

Read more:

The College of Health Professions and Sciences (CHPS) welcomes a new school this fall with the addition of the School of Global Health Management and Informatics (SGHMI), a move that aligns two key areas of UCF that excel in preparing future healthcare professionals and leaders. “This is an innova...

08/25/2026

We’re pleased to share that Associate Professor Grant Norte has been named the new chair of the Division of Kinesiology in the School of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences! A respected leader in sports medicine and neuromuscular rehabilitation, Norte joined UCF in 2023 and serves as the director of the kinesiology Ph.D. program. He is also the co-director of the Cognition, Neuroplasticity and Sarcopenia Laboratory and a faculty member in the university’s Disability, Aging and Technology Cluster. Norte’s research examines how neurophysiological adaptations influence recovery after musculoskeletal injuries.

"I’m excited for the opportunity to serve our faculty, staff, and students in this role and to build on the strong foundation already in place within the Division of Kinesiology,” Norte says. “We have outstanding people and programs, and I look forward to working together to strengthen the student experience, support our faculty and staff, and continue advancing our education, research, and service missions.”

Learn more https://healthprofessions.ucf.edu/news/grant-norte-named-new-kinesiology-division-chair/

08/21/2026

Amid the bustle of campus and with a new academic year just days away, we were grateful to gather today with the College of Health Professions and Sciences Dean’s Advocacy Board.

These dedicated industry and community leaders, academicians and alumni bring valuable perspectives, connections and expertise to the table. As trusted advisors and ambassadors, they help advance our strategic priorities, champion our college and cultivate partnerships that strengthen our research, teaching and community impact.

Thank you to our board members for sharing your time, insights and commitment with us. We are fortunate to have you in our corner.

Manish Hirapara ’98, CEO, Peak Activity
Matt Burkhalter ’08 ’11 DPT, Associate Chief Operating Officer, Orlando Regional Medical Center
Jessica Lerner, President and CEO, Community Care Plan Sunrise (not pictured)
Victor DeRienzo, COO, Brooks Rehabilitation
Camille Gardner, Co-Founder, Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida and UCF Parent
Judy Gizinski, MPH, RHIA,’78, Retired, Senior Healthcare Administrator
Mason Moore ’97, Industry Principal, Peak Activity
Joe Myszkowski ’11 ’13 MS, Vice President of Operations, HCA Florida Osceola Hospital
Teresa Pedroza, Volunteer and UCF Parent
Regina Natera '09 PT '15 DPT, Senior Clinic Manager, CORA Physical Therapy
Ali Polejes, Owner/Manager, Richards’s Incentives
Rob Nemes ’89, Head of Corporate Accounts, EMO Serono, Inc.
Rob Truckenmiller ’00, CEO, Valeris

Also pictured: CHPS Dean Matthew Theriot and Director for Advancement Darla Talley.

08/14/2026

Candidates selected for the highly competitive UCF and Orlando Health residency programs learn from expert faculty practitioners and top local clinicians in a rigorous program designed to strengthen their skills in specialty areas that include neurological, orthopedic, sports and pelvic/women’s health physical therapy.

We’re proud to fuel this pipeline of competent and compassionate physical therapists who demonstrate advanced clinical skills and a commitment to improving the quality of life for patients in our community.

Congratulations to our latest residency program graduates! We know they will make an incredible impact.

Sarah McLennan - Neurology
Gabriela Rodriguez - Neurology
Maya Edwards - Orthopedics
Maysam Kermalli - Orthopedics
Bransyl Boston - Pelvic and Women’s Health
Ashleigh Ditmyer - Pelvic and Women’s Health
Tsianna Barnwell (not pictured) - Sports
Alvaro Zapata - Sports

08/10/2026

Associate professor of physical therapy Nicole Dawson Loughran brought her expertise in geriatric rehabilitation and person-centered dementia care to the 2026 VISN 8 Annual Dementia Conference on Aug. 5–6 in Lake Nona.

She delivered the conference keynote, “Reimagining Dementia Care—Innovation, Humanity, & Workforce Readiness,” and presented three additional sessions focused on strength-based approaches, adapting interventions as dementia progresses, and using non-verbal communication and functional approaches to address resistance to activities of daily living.

Her presentations equipped VA clinicians and staff with practical, evidence-based strategies to better support Veterans living with dementia and their caregivers across care settings.

With more than 20 years of clinical experience as a geriatric physical therapist and a research focus on improving functional and psychosocial outcomes for older adults with dementia, Dawson Loughran is helping shape a more compassionate, person-centered approach to dementia care — while preparing the healthcare workforce to deliver it.

08/10/2026

Health-literate communication can improve patient understanding, engagement, and outcomes in speech-language pathology practice.

In Brainstorms: Functional Neurorehab for SLPs' latest episode, Professor Richard Zraick joins host Renee Garrett to share practical strategies for using plain language, reducing cognitive load, incorporating teach-back, and creating more accessible patient education.

Check out the full episode (and earn .10 ASHA CEUs) at the link below. 🎧

08/04/2026

Health sciences graduate Camila Niebla ‘26 has a new role proudly serving as an aerospace medicine navigator at UCF's new Aerospace Medicine Clinic in Lake Nona, where she'll serve alongside Ed Powers, chief medical officer and a certified aviation medical examiner.

“I didn’t even know aerospace medicine was a possibility,” she says. “I’ve always been interested in performance-driven medicine, like sports medicine, so this felt really exciting. It’s exciting to be part of something from the beginning and watch it grow.”

The clinic, located just minutes from the Orlando International Airport, was built to help pilots meet Federal Aviation Administration medical requirements for operating civilian aircraft.

Read more https://www.ucf.edu/news/from-the-clinic-to-the-cockpit-ucf-opens-new-faa-designated-clinic-for-pilots/

07/30/2026

Chronic pain can be multidimensional, deeply personal, and complex, so addressing it requires collaboration across disciplines.

For her independent study, kinesiology doctoral student Violette Gibbs developed a two-day workshop designed to introduce rehabilitation professionals to evidence-informed therapeutic yoga as a practical strategy for improving care for people living with chronic pain.

Why yoga? Chronic pain can create disconnection, from the body, from movement, from meaningful activities, and from others. Yoga, at its heart, is a practice of connection.

Through discussion, reflection, and experiential activities, participants explored how evidence-informed therapeutic yoga may help individuals reconnect with their bodies and move with greater confidence.

The workshop was attended by students in physical therapy, kinesiology, social work and athletic training and communication sciences and disorders, offering an exciting opportunity for interdisciplinary learning around a shared goal of helping people return to what matters most in their lives.

A special thank you to the faculty collaborators who were instrumental to the success of the project: professor of physical therapy William Hanney, clinical assistant professor of kinesiology Caitlin Cheruka, and clinical instructor Angela Ziegler in communication sciences and disorders.