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 Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ 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 ±«°ä¹ó’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.

Tomorrow’s leading video game developers are being built today at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½.

The university’s graduate video gaming program, , and undergraduate program continue to develop a pipeline of talent to fuel Florida’s economy at a standard of excellence few can match, affirmed by The Princeton Review and PC Gamer’s Top Video Game Design Schools 2026 rankings.

The Princeton Review and PC Gamer has recognized FIEA as one of the top two programs of its kind in the world six of the past seven years.

GaIM improved two spots from last year to its highest ranking, rising to No. 3 in the world. Both programs continue to hold the title of No. 1 in the South.

Strategy for Success

Since their inception, FIEA and GaIM have modeled their classrooms as close to a real-world, studio-like environment as possible, led by faculty with industry experience. That real-world perspective shapes every course, every project and every student who graduates.

“Our program intentionally emulates a collaborative ecosystem with a range of diverse talent in artists, designers and programmers, which is crucial to developing products and intellectual property,� says Nicholas Zuccarello, a 3D art instructor at FIEA who has previously worked for Sony Online Entertainment and Electronic Arts Tiburon. “We even structure projects to emulate real-world development pipelines as closely as possible within an educational setting.�

Orlando: A Leading Tech Hub

With Electronic Arts (EA) and Iron Galaxy Studios located less than a mile from the programs’ home base in downtown’s , Orlando is the perfect setting to transition from college to career and now mentioned in the same breath alongside traditional tech-giant territories San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles.

Many alums go directly into the game industry including Epic, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony and more.

FIEA has graduated 1,160 students since its first class in 2006 — about 100 of whom worked on several of the most popular games sold in the U.S. in 2025, including EA SPORTS College Football 26, EA SPORTS Madden NFL 26 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

But it’s not just the gaming companies that eagerly hire FIEA and GaIM graduates. The skills taught in the two programs align perfectly with some of Orlando’s top industries.

Graduates land roles in the modeling, simulation and training sector. Others find their footing in medical technology, where interactive systems and game-based design are transforming how clinicians train and how patients heal. Knights can be found at many of the region’s big-name employers, including Disney, EA, Lockheed Martin, and Universal Destinations & Experiences, among others.

“Our students don’t just make games, they develop the creative and technical fluency to work wherever those skills are needed.� — Associate Professor Peter Smith ’05MS ’12PhD

“Our students don’t just make games, they develop the creative and technical fluency to work wherever those skills are needed,� says Associate Professor Peter Smith ’05MS ’12PhD, who serves as the associate director of GaIM. “That’s what makes GaIM graduates competitive across industries. It is a true honor to see The Princeton Review recognizing this accomplishment of our students and faculty.�

Nitin Bakshi ’21, who joined FIEA’s faculty as a technical art instructor after graduating with his master’s in interactive entertainment, says the program takes great pride that many of our alumni continue to live and work in Florida, contributing directly to the local economy.

“These companies rely on artists, designers and programmers who understand real-time production,� he says. “That is exactly the kind of training our program is built around.�

Serious Business

Interest in the program has risen in the past year. FIEA recently drew its largest applicant pool with more than 200 applicants resulting in 90 new enrollees, the largest cohort to date.

For good reason.

The average starting salary for a FIEA graduate is $83,000, and 80% of graduates are in their desired fields at over 400 companies around the world.

The global market size for gaming, hardware and software sales is more than $189 billion (NewZoo’s 2025 Global Games Market Report), overshadowing music and movie industries combined.

“Adapting to the needs of the industry has always been one of our strengths,� Bakshi says. “Whether it is new real-time technologies, new platforms, or new ways of collaboration, we work hard to make sure the program grows along with the field. Seeing the program attract more talented students each year, while continuing to evolve with the industry, is what makes me most excited about the future and about the impact these programs will continue to have.�

Climbing the Leaderboard

±«°ä¹ó’s GaIM improved two spots from last year to its highest ranking, rising to No. 3 in the world and continues to hold the title of the No. 1 program in the South.

The bachelor’s in digital media with a track in game degree design blends theory and practice with a sharp focus on industry readiness. The program stands out as one of the few programs that combine a strong emphasis on both art and technology.

Students develop skills in programming, game design, game programming, as well as 2D and 3D art and visual effects.

The GaIM Maker Space lab, located on the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Downtown campus, reflects that commitment in concrete terms: nearly $500,000 in mixed-reality technology including augmented and virtual reality, motion capture, physical computing, 3D printing, and web and mobile development equipment, alongside dedicated research space for applied work.

The impact on the quality of the students’ education and training is undeniable.

“The tools the maker space provides are integrated deeply into virtually every class in GaIM,� Smith says. “Students in early classes are printing board games and 3D printing game pieces, seniors are recording audio and motion capture sequences that are integrated directly into their capstone projects.�

The Rankings’ Methodology

The Princeton Review and PC Gamer’s game design school rankings are based on more than 40 data points derived from the company’s survey of administrators at 150 schools offering game design courses and/or degrees. Most of the institutions are in the U.S., with two in Canada and four abroad. The 50-question survey covered four areas: academics, faculty, technology and career topics.

(IST) Director Carolina Cruz-Neira’s career in virtual reality (VR) began as a backup plan.

She spent her childhood training as a ballet dancer. When a knee injury at 21 ended her professional dance aspirations, she leaned on the engineering degree her father had encouraged her to pursue.

While earning her doctoral degree in electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Illinois Chicago, she discovered the Electronic Visualization Laboratory — and with it, a way to merge art and technology.

“My philosophy as a researcher has always been to take on projects that are a little risky.”

In 1992, she unveiled the Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE), an immersive VR system that transforms a room-sized cube into an interactive 3D digital world. Unlike early VR headsets that isolated users, the CAVE allows multiple people to step inside the same digital environment, fostering shared exploration and real-time collaboration.

Today, CAVE systems are used worldwide, from gaming and art installations to military training and automotive design, helping industries visualize complex problems, improve safety and refine products before building them in the real world.

Powering the Future of Simulation

Over nearly four decades, Cruz-Neira has made significant contributions to the fields of VR, interactive visualization, high-performance computing and digital twins, which are dynamic virtual replicas of real-world objects used for simulation and testing across industries. Her innovations have influenced training and research for NASA, the U.S. military and U.S. National Laboratories.

By the Numbers: A Lasting Impact

• Secured more than $200 million in research funding
• Authored more than 100 publications
• Elected to the National Academy of Engineering — one of the highest professional distinctions for engineers in the U.S.
• Named an IEEE fellow and Forbes’ 50 Over 50 honoree for innovation
• Inducted into the inaugural Augmented World Expo XR Hall of Fame and the Orlando Tech Community Hall of Fame for her contributions to Central Florida’s tech ecosystem
• Recognized in the U.S. Congressional Record for the national impact of her work

“My philosophy as a researcher has always been to take on projects that are a little risky,â€� says Cruz-Neira, ±«°ä¹ó’s Agere Chair Professor of computer science. “I tell my students that we do research with a purpose. And yes, it’s challenging. But if we have that vision of where this thing is going, our talent and creativity have a terrific playground.â€�

That bold spirit of exploration drew her to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ in 2020 — a university recognized for its strength in computer science and deep partnerships and collaborators across several sectors, including space, defense, entertainment and healthcare.

“There’s a whole community of researchers, faculty and students here who are passionate about this kind of work.”

Since arriving, she says she has found something even more powerful: a culture that pairs high-level excellence with a nurturing environment — where ambitious ideas are energized, challenged and brought to life through collaboration.

“There’s a whole community of researchers, faculty and students here who are passionate about this kind of work. That has allowed us to expand our ideas tremendously,� Cruz-Neira says. “We’re now collaborating with teams across the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the College of Medicine, the College of Arts and Humanities and the , which broadens what we’re able to do. It’s nice to have a tribe around you, where everyone helps each other and works together.�

Among those collaborators is longtime colleague and IEEE VGTC Virtual Reality Service awardee, Gregory Welch. Cruz-Neira says they first met as “Ph.D. babies,â€� beginning a collaboration that has now spanned nearly 38 years. Since joining Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, she has continued working closely with Welch and his team on several joint research projects and publications.

What’s Next: Blending Physical and Virtual Worlds

As IST director, Cruz-Neira is helping broaden ±«°ä¹ó’s modeling and simulation legacy while leading several cutting-edge research projects in collaboration with talented students and faculty. One such project explores humanoid robots as extensions of the human body, allowing a person to navigate remote or inaccessible locations in real time. Using artificial intelligence, the robot captures its surroundings and transmits a live digital replica into the CAVE, where a human operator’s movements control the robot, creating a seamless exchange between physical and virtual worlds.

“This project opens a lot of possibilities and aligns with where we want to go at IST and Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½,â€� Cruz-Neira says. “We do a lot of work with defense, first responders and healthcare professionals, and in many cases, we see the need for a human [presence in locations] that aren’t feasible. By combining mature technologies available in the commercial world with some of our more advanced algorithms and system designs at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, we’ve finally been able to come together to make this prototype and showcase it in December 2025 at [the Interservice/Industry Training Simulation and Education Conference], a major defense training environment.â€�

Cruz-Neira continues to push boundaries, bringing people together and asking questions like, “What can we create next?� and “How far can we take this?�

And despite a lifetime achievement award, she’s clear about one thing: “I’m not done yet.�

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 Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½? 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 Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ empower you to do your research?
Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ 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 Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ 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 ±«°ä¹ó’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.

Elected leaders joined founding donors to celebrate the pavilion’s opening on ±«°ä¹ó’s at Lake Nona. They gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and toured the pavilion, which will help to address Florida’s critical nursing shortage. Fittingly for Florida’s Premier Engineering and Technology University, the pavilion also features the latest in immersive modeling and simulation technologies.

“This facility will help strengthen Florida’s nursing talent pipeline in ways that make communities across our state healthier.” — Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ President Alexander N. Cartwright

“The Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion is a powerful example of what is possible when vision, community and partnership come together. Built with the generous support of state leaders, donors and health care champions, this facility will help strengthen Florida’s nursing talent pipeline in ways that make communities across our state healthier,â€� says Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ President Alexander N. Cartwright. “Together, we are fueling hands-on learning, enabling new research and discovery, and preparing generations of Knight Nurses who will have a lasting impact on the lives of those they serve.â€�

With the opening, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ will increase access to its accredited and nationally ranked nursing degree programs and graduate an additional 150 newly licensed nurses annually. These graduates will have a direct impact on the state. Of the 17,000 Knight nurse alumni, 85% live and work in Florida, and nearly 60% remain in Central Florida.

Located next to the College of Medicine and in Lake Nona’s Medical City, a nationally recognized hub of healthcare innovation, the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion will bolster interdisciplinary collaboration to prepare providers to thrive in the workforce and deploy cutting-edge research to solve the industry’s greatest challenges and ensure a healthier future for all.

Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson played a vital role as Senate President in securing about $43 million in state funding for the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, as well as additional funding for state university and state college nursing initiatives throughout Florida.

“We worked very hard to secure the funding,� he says. “When you think about state-of the-art nursing, when you think about doubling the capacity of nursing, this couldn’t come at a better time. Florida is growing 400,000 people a year still. We’re going to continue to grow.�

“Thanks to the leadership of Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature, the state continues to invest in key academic programs that set an example nationwide,â€� says State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues. “The new Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion at the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ is no exception — by providing innovative educational opportunities for nursing students now, Florida is ensuring a promising future of skilled nurses that will care for our communities.â€�

The Power of Partnerships

The Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, which came to fruition through $43 million from the State of Florida and over $29 million from private donors, will directly impact the community that created it and will be a longstanding symbol of what can be achieved through the power of community partnerships — unleashing potential for generations to come.

“We are honored to be part of this transformative moment for Central Florida,â€� says Kenneth Robinson, president and CEO of Dr. Phillips Inc. and the Dr. Phillips Foundation. “This investment will help address the nursing shortage, strengthen our healthcare system, and expand access to exceptional education and career opportunities. By supporting this project, we’re helping to graduate more Knight nurses who will make a lasting impact. We’re proud to stand with Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ and our community partners to shape a healthier, brighter future.â€�

Founding donors of the facility also include the Helene Fuld Health Trust; Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Pegasus Partners AdventHealth, Orlando Health, Nemours Children’s Health and Addition Financial; Zaby and Suree Vyas; and many others.

“Today we are witnessing the power of partnerships,â€� says Professor Emerita Mary Lou Sole, who, as the previous College of Nursing dean, led the efforts to advocate and raise funds for the new building. “The Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion is the result of the collective efforts of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ and this community to come together to solve one of our greatest healthcare challenges. We are incredibly grateful for the support, which will have an immeasurable impact for generations to come.â€�

Inside the Future of Nursing

Every aspect of the 90,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility was thoughtfully designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and student success and well-being.

“The Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion will serve as a catalyst for ensuring a brighter, healthier future,â€� says new College of Nursing Dean Sharon Tucker. “In this space, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ will strengthen and empower future nurses and nurse leaders to advance healthcare innovation and collaboration to improve evidence-based patient care and outcomes.â€�

On the second and third floors is a hub of healthcare innovation, the Helene Fuld Health Trust Simulation, Technology, Innovation and Modeling (STIM) Center. Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ is Florida’s first simulation center to earn three international accolades in the field and the new, expanded space will build upon its global leadership to innovate healthcare education using the latest immersive technologies to prepare nurses for practice as compassionate, skilled providers.

The second floor also features the Dr. Colleen Conway Welch Virtual Reality Learning Studio, a makerspace design studio to accelerate nurse-led innovations, a home health apartment to meet growing demand for home-based healthcare, and the Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation Healthy Aging Research Lab for interdisciplinary research and innovations led by renowned aging expert Ladda Thiamwong.

Upon entering the pavilion, students, faculty, staff and visitors are greeted with the inspiring “� public art commissioned by Florida’s Art in State Building program. The first floor also includes three large high-tech learning studios, the Zaby and Suree Vyas Collaboration Concourse, the Martin Andersen-Gracia Andersen Foundation Study Cafe and a student success suite.

The opening comes a little over a year and a half after the groundbreaking in January 2024. Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ built the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion in conjunction with HuntonBrady Architects, Ayers Saint Gross and DPR Construction.

±«°ä¹ó’s Industry Partners Highlight Transformational Impact

AdventHealth

“At AdventHealth, we’ve seen firsthand the extraordinary caliber of nurses who graduate from Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½. They bring clinical excellence, compassion and an unwavering commitment to their patients — values that perfectly align with our mission to provide whole-person care. As the demand for skilled nurses continues to grow, we’re happy to support this exciting new chapter for the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ College of Nursing. And as a Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ alum, I’m excited to welcome even more outstanding Knight nurses to AdventHealth.â€�

-Cathy Stankiewicz, (MSN’11), chief nursing officer, Central Florida Division

Helene Fuld Health Trust

“The Helene Fuld Health Trust Simulation, Technology, Innovation and Modeling Center at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ exemplifies our mission to support the education of nursing students. Simulation is a critical component [of] nursing education and will continue to be in the future, and we’re proud to make this investment to strengthen nursing skills and improve the welfare of our communities.â€�

-Robert Campbell, vice president of Trust & Fiduciary Services at HSBC, who oversees the trust

Nemours Children’s Health

“Growing and solidifying the nursing workforce is critical to care delivery across the healthcare sector. Through our longtime relationship with the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ College of Nursing, we have seen firsthand the benefits of hiring their well-trained, work-ready graduates. The new nursing pavilion will be a tremendous asset in our continued collaboration, partnership, and investment to support the education, development, and maturation of emerging nurses.â€�

-Nicole Johnson, (DNP’17), senior vice president and chief nursing and patient operations officer  

Orlando Health

“It is an honor and privilege to be associated with Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, and we are thankful for our partnership with the university, nursing professors, and students.â€�

-David Strong, president and CEO

A Leader in Simulation

The study noted Orlando’s strength in the simulation technology field and the robust talent pipeline from Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½. The Institute for Simulation and Training, based at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ and partnering with government and industry for more than 40 years, boasts a statewide economic impact of $11.6 billion. Within the College of Engineering and Computer Science, ±«°ä¹ó’s School of Modeling, Simulation and Training has awarded more than 550 graduate degrees since its founding in 2018, advancing both research and workforce development in the field.

“At Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ — and especially within the Institute for Simulation and Training — we have a long-standing commitment to cutting-edge research at the intersection of humans and technology, particularly through simulation and training,â€� Agere Chair Professor in Computer Science Carolina Cruz-Neira says. “Our integration of advanced research with academic programs has become a cornerstone of Central Florida’s simulation ecosystem. We produce a strong talent pipeline, graduating thousands of well-trained professionals each year, from undergraduate to highly specialized graduate degrees, many developed in close collaboration with industry and government.â€�

The university’s impact in the simulation sector also includes startups developed through ±«°ä¹ó’s Business Incubation Program, which has supported more than 1,000 companies in the region over the past 25 years. One of the most recent simulation-based businesses includes ZuLeris Interactive, a Knight-founded startup that develops virtual training for the defense industry.

Developing Game Design

Orlando has emerged as one of the fastest-growing regions for video game development — part of an industry that generated nearly $455 billion in global revenue last year. Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ is contributing to the industry through talent educated in the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA), ±«°ä¹ó’s graduate game design program located at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Downtown and surrounded by major companies. FIEA has ranked No. 1 in the world for four of the last five years, and the undergraduate program holds the No. 5 spot globally.

“Most great and growing cities have university presences in their downtown,â€� says Ben Noel, executive director of FIEA. “In terms of FIEA and Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Downtown, we are a short walking [distance] to thousands of developers and dozens of video game and simulation companies. The Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Downtown campus investment near Creative Village, as well as FIEA’s reputation in the video game industry, have provided proven results.â€�

±«°ä¹ó’s FIEA program maintains strong partnerships with major game companies like Electronic Arts (EA), Epic Games, Iron Galaxy Studios, Microsoft’s Undead Labs, Ubisoft and Universal Creative. These companies provide scholarships, guest lectures, adjunct faculty and internships that often lead to full-time employment for Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ graduates. Over 100 FIEA alumni work at EA’s Tiburon studio, and many employees at Iron Galaxy and Undead Labs are FIEA graduates. The close ties formed during students’ time at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Downtown help maintain ongoing collaboration, with alumni frequently returning to recruit new talent.

“Orlando has the advantage of having [thousands of] college students within [15] miles and Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ as its hometown university,â€� Noel says. “The quality of life, comparable affordability to other media hubs and critical mass of industry [here] have Orlando and Central Florida on almost all economic development maps.â€�

Advancing with AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most impactful technological developments today, influencing nearly every industry. More than three-quarters of respondents say their organizations use AI in at least one business function, according to a report from global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company.

To meet the growing demand for expertise in the field, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ launched an Artificial Intelligence Initiative, which includes hiring 30 new faculty members across five colleges to elevate the university’s expertise and education in AI.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ researchers are already exploring ways to use the developing technology, particularly in healthcare. Under the mentorship of College of Medicine Associate Professor Laura Brattain, six students from the College of Engineering and Computer Science recently developed an AI system to increase efficiency during robotic surgeries at Orlando Health. Brattain is also working with College of Health Professions and Sciences Assistant Professor Colby Mangum to study how AI can be used to diagnose and treat back pain by using AI with ultrasounds — a cost-effective alternative to MRI and CT scans.

The complex imaging of these medical scans is related to another advancing technology connected to AI: computer vision.

Enhancing Computer Vision

Computer vision is a field of AI that teaches computers to process and interpret meaningful information from digital images, such pictures and videos. Key challenges include detection and recognition of objects, features, or actions; segmentation of videos; and using image or video data in computational processes.

As Orlando’s tech hub evolves, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ computer vision studies will contribute to the region through strategic investment in AI education, says Mubarak Shah, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ trustee chair professor of computer science and founding director of ±«°ä¹ó’s Center for Research in Computer Vision.

“AI is the future,� Shah says. “It will have much more impact than what [the] Industrial Revolution had on our society.�

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ has been a leader in computer vision for most of its existence. The university has been home to the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Computer Vision for 37 consecutive years — the longest-running REU in the nation. It is also the only public university in Florida offering a computer vision master’s degree program, with plans underway to launch an online version of the program.

The Center for Research in Computer Vision is consistently ranked among the top 10 in the country, recognized for conducting prominent research that evolves with the growing field. But to stay competitive with other countries, Shah emphasizes the importance of preparing  the nation’s AI workforce.

“The U.S. still has an edge in AI research. However, the majority of AI workforce consists of foreign nationals, who are not eligible to work in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and other national security organizations,� Shah says. “The nation needs to prepare an AI workforce for the future to be competitive with other countries.�

Orlando has a great opportunity to lead the nation in tech sectors, Shah says. In addition to innovative research and strategic partnerships driving tech forward, the city offers enticing advantages for companies considering relocation: no state income tax, a low cost of living and great weather. The Orlando metro area accounted for approximately 74,000 tech workers in 2023 — an increase of 2,000 from the previous year and 9,500 more than five years ago, according to CompTIA, a nonprofit American trade association.

“Orlando can attract some of these tech companies if we can keep strengthening our AI research and education,� Shah says. “This will create lots of new jobs and improve the local and state economy. Our professors and students will continue to create startup companies, which will help Florida’s economy and living standards.�

Zuniga founded ZuLeris Interactive in 2023 after realizing the opportunity to create simulations for specialized electromagnetic defense training through his Entrepreneurship for Defense course while earning degrees in both electrical and photonics engineering.

Nearly a year later, the company has earned its first contract and acceptance to the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Business Incubation Program where it will accelerate innovation and unleash its potential.

ZuLeris will integrate its electromagnetic warfare virtual training environment into tactical awareness kits through its first contract with Chesapeake Technology International (CTI), its sponsor company. The team will work to enable communication of CTI’s geospatial mapping and constructive electromagnetic capabilities with ZuLeris’ visualization of the electromagnetic spectrum to conduct immersive training scenarios.

The promising company is looking to continue its initial success and harness the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Business Incubation Program’s resources in its quest to defend against threats unseen.

“When you see the wars that are happening nowadays, it’s more prevalent than ever, and so it’s important that the soldiers have the training that they need for this,â€� Zuniga says. “And so how can you be ready for something you can’t see? Well, the answer isn’t through simple presentations; it’s simulations that you can play with. That’s what we aim to do as a company to make that training happen.â€�

The simulation is played on a computer or tablet to ensure that it is compliant with defense industry standards and easily deployed as a training exercise. Users’ response times and effectiveness are measured as they navigate through a virtual area with varied terrain and obstacles to track and determine where an electromagnetic signal is coming from.

“You walk around with your spectrum analyzer and your map, and then you draw lines on the map to try and triangulate where exactly the signals coming from,� Zuniga says. “Once you find your signal, then you get given a measure of effectiveness report, which is telling you how you did and where you could have done better.�

Existing training consists of searching for an object with a signal embedded in it and then hidden within a challenging environment. It can be costly and time consuming to stage these exercises, Zuniga says. However, their simulations have the potential advantage of being able to create a virtual space that is close to an inaccessible area where users may experience electromagnetic interference.

“The problem we’re trying to solve was, how do we take this training that’s really costly that usually comes with a lot of paperwork, and get all that ready to go for an hour training?â€� Zuniga says. “We wanted to make it so you can do it whenever and wherever you want.â€�

Zuniga and Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ student and co-founder Liam Etan ’24 received defense agency sponsorship to develop their ideas through class, advancing through multiple defense-oriented technology competitions that showcased their simulation and validated that their technology was worthy of pursuing and growing.

The journey in developing ZuLeris has been both expeditious and exciting, as the supportive team has been crucial to maintaining direction, Zuniga says.

“Sometimes I wonder, ‘Am I really ready for this kind of thing?’â€� Zuniga says. “I’m still a student, and it’s a huge jump, and it’s a jump that I’m still learning. The easiest way that I have found to handle that process is having a co-founder on your side to help you along that journey, and vice versa. Liam is fantastic, and he helped me in so many ways that I don’t think I could ever do without him.â€�

Etan, who received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, is the company’s chief operating office. He says he’s grateful to be a part of ZuLeris and see how the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Business Incubation Program can help.

“It’s always important to emphasize how truly grateful we are for the community in Orlando and all of our mentors, especially organizations like the National Security Innovation Network, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, and the Tech Grove,â€� he says. “We are still brand new to the incubator, but so far, we’ve been able to establish a real address and office for the company, rather than using our parents’ homes. We’ve also already been able to have very productive meetings with the incubator team that have helped us decide on next steps.â€�

The additional boost the mentorship and guidance the incubation program provides can almost literally be a game changer, Zuniga says.

“It gets rid of all those potential roadblocks along the way,â€� he says. “We can even prepare for those we didn’t even know about. Having that foresight is fantastic, and that’s where the incubator is really helpful.â€�

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ hosted the symposium on its main campus and co-organized the event with the University of South Florida and the Florida High Tech Corridor.

The symposium brought together some of the best minds in Florida to equip them with the skills and knowledge to successfully engage with DoD.

Additionally, the symposium featured presentations and lectures by distinguished speakers on opportunities within various DoD agencies, strategies for creating winning proposals, building effective relationships between research faculty and DoD officers, identifying and cultivating critical fields for research and development, poster presentations and faculty lightning talks. The research and collaboration discussion focused on artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security, modeling and simulation, space technologies, and lasers and optics.

Participants included local and federal defense agency representatives and officers from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Army Research Office (ARO), and the U.S. Special Operations Command.

Attendees also had plenty of opportunities to bolster their connections with each other between panels, during breaks and in networking sessions.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Vice President for Research and Innovation Winston Schoenfeld mirrored President Alexander N. Cartwright’s sentiments in his introductory speech by highlighting Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ and Florida’s track record for fostering meaningful research.

“Here at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, we have a rich history of exceptional research in key defense areas such as hypersonics, optics, directed energy, cybersecurity, [AI], and modeling and simulation — just to name a few,â€� Schoenfeld said to attendees on the second day of the symposium. “Our research in these areas has benefitted from significant DoD support — with more than 30% of our federal funding coming from DoD sources for over a decade.â€�

He also encouraged attendees to take advantage of the opportunities at the symposium.

“With a deep well of talent, expertise, and interdisciplinary research, Florida academic institutions are uniquely positioned to address the emerging needs and challenges of security and defense,â€� Schoenfeld said. “This symposium will help ensure that we harness this across our institutions through greater awareness and stronger alignment with the nation’s defense priorities.â€�

Sylvia Wilson Thomas, USF vice president for research and Innovation, also echoed Schoenfeld’s desire for collaboration.

“There’s an opportunity for us to make a unique impact across the defense industry,� she said. “We want the program officers here to embrace what we have to offer.�

The symposium was well-received, and organizers are hopeful it will become a regular event, said Saiful Khondaker, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ assistant vice president for research advancement.

“It was wonderful to see so many faculty and program officers coming together,� he said. “The promise of continuing to advance our partnerships and developing critical technologies is exciting. With the success of this symposium, we’re optimistic we can bring everyone together again and keep the momentum going.�

Learn more information about the FDSTS .

“SMST faculty and staff are looking forward to working with the leadership and faculty at the College of Engineering and Computer Science and advancing its mission,â€� Rabadi says. “SMST is open to new and exciting opportunities for expanding our interdisciplinary research and graduate programs, and attracting top talent of faculty and students from the departments in the college and across Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½.â€�

The goal of the move is to further enhance the university’s reputation in modeling and simulation, and to increase the interdisciplinary research and partnerships between SMST and CECS.

“It is a well-known fact that the best research discoveries involve expertise from multiple disciplines and the SMST’s stronger involvement with CECS will expand CECS’s research portfolio and SMST’s research portfolio� says Michael Georgiopoulos, the dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “Furthermore, SMST’s educational mission enhances the college’s educational pursuits towards a student population with unique interests in a location that is known for its excellence in modeling and simulation. It is my strong belief that this closer collaboration of CECS and SMST will enhance the pursuit of their respective missions for the better being of the institution and its students.�

Since its founding in 2018, SMST has awarded more than 550 graduate degrees. Academically, SMST offers a master’s in modeling and simulation, a doctorate in modeling and simulation, and a graduate certificate in modeling and simulation of behavioral cybersecurity. Students who are currently enrolled in those programs will graduate under CECS. Additionally, eight faculty members, including Rabadi, have joined CECS under SMST:

• Professor Roger Azevedo
• Assistant Professor Yao Li
• Assistant Professor Sean Mondesire
• Assistant Professor Soheil Sabri
• Assistant Professor Mengjie Li
• Assistant Professor Veeraraghava Raju Hasti
• Assistant Professor Vishnu Prabhu

Mengjie Li, Hasti and Prabhu joined Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ this semester. SMST’s academic advisor, Tonya Walker, has also transitioned to CECS.

Professor Grace Bochenek ’98PhD, former director of SMST, will continue to lead IST, which will rebrand as the Pegasus Research Institute under the Office of Research.

This week is Healthcare Simulation Week and September is NICU Awareness Month.

As medicine advances and increases the survivability of pre-term infants, clinical skills in a NICU setting become even more vital for students to possess. However, training in a NICU has become increasingly difficult to access following the COVID-19 pandemic and the concerns presented by the presence of other infectious diseases like RSV and the flu, which limit opportunities for students to gain hands-on learning in critical care environments prior to entering the profession.

Students in CHPS now interact with hyper-realistic baby manikins in the Blended Learning Interactive Simulation Suite, or BLISS, a high-tech immersive space that can incorporate the sights and sounds of an intensive care setting. The suite adds a layer of complexity and realism and exposes students to the stressors of the NICU, emulating what students will see in their clinical and professional roles. While in the suite, students practice therapeutic handling skills and neonatal positioning for feeding and swallowing, behavioral assessments and vital sign monitoring. The manikins simulate newborn behaviors like crying, suctioning, breathing sounds and even seizures. Two  isolettes and a warmer are also incorporated into the instruction.

Funded in part by a philanthropic gift from the Paul B. Hunter and Constance D. Hunter Charitable Foundation, the enhanced simulation instruction is expected to bolster students’ comfort and confidence in a NICU setting.

Students studying physical therapy, communication sciences and disorders and social work have the opportunity to work together in the unique training sessions. Leaders hope to also incorporate students from medicine and nursing in the future.

“It gives students an appreciation for the complexity of the environment and provides the implications for growth and development,� says Jennifer Tucker, clinical associate professor of physical therapy, who used the manikins in her physical therapy classes last fall. “Chances are they will treat a child that came from the NICU during their career.�

After working in BLISS, students use the center’s holoportation technology to meet parents who’ve had a child in a NICU and learn more about developmental impacts and the concerns of parents and caregivers.

“In most cases, families are not expecting their child to be admitted to the NICU,� says Bari Hoffman, associate dean of clinical affairs. “So, when this happens, intense feelings of concern and worry follow suit, making it even more imperative that healthcare providers project competence and experience.�

The center’s immersive simulation technology, in tandem with the manikins, offers students a unique opportunity to develop, refine and strengthen their clinical skills in a forgiving environment. They’ll be able to better understand the complexity of such young patients, considerations with their airways and mobility, and a stronger understanding of how to care for preterm infants and support their families.

“We’re combining tangible and immersive component s, and this opportunity allows us to train our students in environments they otherwise have limited to no access to,� Hoffman says. “The highest level of realism for students represents their transition to practice and workforce readiness. We are thinking differently about how we train the next generation of healthcare providers, particularly in specialty skills and complex high-risk scenarios.�