�鶹ӳ����ý has earned a  signaling the university’s growing support for military and veteran students. This is the first year �鶹ӳ����ý has earned the Gold designation, following many years as a Silver awardee.

“This recognition reflects years of intentional work across the university to better support military-connected students,” says Andrea Guzmán, �鶹ӳ����ý vice president for access and community engagement. “We’ve focused on building stronger support systems, removing barriers, and ensuring students have clear pathways from enrollment through career.”

In addition to our Gold Award and recognition as a Military Friendly Spouse School, �鶹ӳ����ý has been previously designated as a Purple Heart Institution, Florida Purple Star Campus, Best Military-Friendly Online College and Military Times’  2025 Best for Vets Colleges List.

Today about 4,000 military-connected students are enrolled at �鶹ӳ����ý, and there are a range of services coordinated through the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success (MVSS) to support them:

Holistic Programming

• An orientation dedicated for military-connected students and their families

• Expanded student engagement and social activities, which include families and military veterans within our community

• Collaboration with  affiliates, most notably Valencia College, to streamline transition for transfer students

Academic Resources

• Peer-to-peer tutoring in courses with high drop or fail rates

• VA Work Study and university academic coaching programs prepare and train military-connected students to provide academic coaching to their peers

Career Readiness

• Industry partnerships — including Amazon, JE Technology and Disney — that provide opportunity and engagement through mentorships, internships�����Ի� career fairs

• Range of workshops, lunch and learns and professional development opportunities

Access to Financial Support 

• Established an endowed scholarship to provide assistance to military-connected students

• Potential for “meal plan” grants, emergency relief funds, tuition and fee waivers, and housing subsidies as part of co-curricular and academic support programs

• Participates in the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ Yellow Ribbon Program, a tuition assistance initiative for veterans and eligible dependents

Additionally, MVSS empowers �鶹ӳ����ý’s faculty and staff through professional development opportunities with strategies and tips on how to best serve and engage with military-connected students.

A new liaison program has been piloted in the last year, placing an MVSS staff member with VA work study students at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management�����Ի����鶹ӳ����ý Downtown to increase support services for military-connected students at those campus locations. In Fall 2026, the program is expected to expand to the College of Business, College of Sciences�����Ի� College of Arts and Humanities.

“The support the office provides is some of the most efficient and effective support I have encountered at �鶹ӳ����ý,” says �ھ��Բ��Գ�����������ǰ� Abigail Kost. “I have scored interviews from career fairs and connections from lunch and learns. The office is also a pillar of emotional wellbeing and has helped me navigate VA benefits and scholarship opportunities. I would not have come as far as I have without the office’s resources.”

�鶹ӳ����ý: Committed to Serving Veterans

�鶹ӳ����ý’s commitment to serving veterans is not singularly confined to our Office of Military and Veteran Student Success.

In January, U.S. News & World Report r���԰������鶹ӳ����ý No. 6 for online bachelor’s programs for veterans.

�鶹ӳ����ý is home to , a nonprofit clinical research center and treatment clinic established to change the way post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related concerns are understood, diagnosed, and treated.

Led by �鶹ӳ����ý Trustee Chair and Pegasus Professor Deborah Beidel, who is currently , the organization employs a unique and effective approach to treatment. A combination of exposure therapy, emerging technology and individual and group therapy sessions resulted in 66% of participants with combat-related trauma and 76% of first responders no longer meeting the diagnostic criteria for PTSD following three weeks of intensive treatment.

Last year, �鶹ӳ����ý became one of 12 universities nationwide — and the only school in Florida and the southeast — to participate in a new Service to Service initiative. The national pilot program is dedicated to connecting veterans and their families with graduate educational pathways in public service and helping them find impactful long-term careers in public leadership.

A partnership between �鶹ӳ����ý College of Medicine and Orlando VA Medical Center  — located next door to each other in Lake Nona’s Medical City — ensures every medical student receives training in specialties including surgery, internal medicine, neurology�����Ի� psychiatry at the Orlando VA Medical Center.

�鶹ӳ����ý’s history department has been documenting veterans’ stories as part of the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project since 2010. �鶹ӳ����ý’s Veterans Legacy Program, which was founded in 2017 as a partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration, focuses on documenting the lives of those buried in Florida’s nine national cemeteries.

About Military Friendly

Founded in 2003, Military Friendly is an organization that measures organizations’ commitment, effort, and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefit for the military community.

Military Friendly Schools strive toward and succeed in the areas that matter most in helping veterans make the transition from the military to school and, ultimately, satisfying careers in the civilian world. Earning the designation shows a school meets the minimum criteria.

Military Friendly’s final ratings for its Schools list were determined by combining each institution’s survey responses, government/agency public data sources, and measurements across retention, graduation, job placement, repayment, persistence, and loan default rates for all students and specifically, for student-veterans.

Dedicated resources, personal guidance and a shared sense of purpose help illuminate their path to success. That commitment is reflected in national recognition, with �鶹ӳ����ý earning a Silver Award on the 2025-26 Military Friendly Schools List — placing Knight Nation in the top 20% of all participating schools — and ranking among the top five colleges in Florida (No. 51 overall) on Military Times’ 2025 Best for Vets Colleges List.

More than 3,300 student-veterans attend �鶹ӳ����ý, where they’re supported by the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success. This is a dedicated unit that creates an enriching and welcoming environment for military students to achieve educational and career goals through academic success and community partnerships.

Pursuing a degree online is a convenient and affordable path for military and veteran students who balance work and personal responsibilities. As a leader in online education for nearly 30 years, �鶹ӳ����ý is recognized among the best institutions that offer online programs for service members and their families.

�鶹ӳ����ý is also a 2025 Best Military-Friendly Online College, according to OnlineU, an organization that reviews and ranks top online colleges with the best value and return on investment. In January, �鶹ӳ����ý was ranked No. 8 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans by U.S. News & World Report. Best Colleges has also ranked �鶹ӳ����ý No. 3 for Best Online Military-Friendly Colleges of 2025.

Opening More Doors for Military and Veteran Students

To enhance support for military and veteran students, �鶹ӳ����ý has formed partnerships to extend academic offerings to this community, including its selection as one of 12 universities nationwide — and the only one in Florida and the southeast — to join the new Service to Service initiative.

The national pilot program is a collaboration between two nonprofit organizations: The Volcker Alliance, which supports public service education, and We the Veterans, which aims to empower service members and their relatives. Service to Service is dedicated to connecting veterans and their families with graduate educational pathways in public service and helping them find impactful long-term careers in public leadership.

At �鶹ӳ����ý, students who join the initiative, known as Service to Service Fellows, can further their education through the university’s graduate programs in public administration, emergency and crisis management, nonprofit management, public policy, and regional and urban planning. Fellows also benefit from mentorship, community building, professional development opportunities and job placement support.

This is just one of many examples of how �鶹ӳ����ý opens doors to new purpose after military service — and part of the reason why Trevor Chandrapaul chose to become a Knight after retiring from the U.S. Navy.

“I always knew I wanted to go back to school,” says Chandrapaul, a third-year student who was drawn to �鶹ӳ����ý for its strong military community and proximity to major defense companies. “I saw how many military veterans actually attended [�鶹ӳ����ý]. I reached out to someone at the Veterans Academic Resource Center, and they took the time to talk to me and offer reassurance.”

Trevor Chandrapaul: From the Engine Room to Emerging Tech

After completing prerequisite courses at Valencia College with plans to become a physical therapist, Chandrapaul took an unexpected five-year detour in the U.S. Navy. As a gas turbine systems technician working in the engine room, he was introduced to systems and engineering fundamentals — a turning point that sparked his interest in computer science.

“[�鶹ӳ����ý] is surrounded by so many defense companies, and I felt like it was a good place for me to continue my studies.”

Although he never intended to build a long-term military career, his service shaped his direction. At 26, Chandrapaul says he was feeling slightly out of place as an older student and transferred to �鶹ӳ����ý.

“Coming from the military, I wanted to continue to serve after my service,” he says. “[�鶹ӳ����ý] is surrounded by so many defense companies, and I felt like it was a good place for me to continue my studies.”

Through [the Military Veteran and Success Center (MVSC), formerly VARC], he quickly found community among other veterans. The initial intimidation of being older than his peers faded as he connected with other student-veterans.

In his first semester, he landed a job at the MVSC and now serves as a program specialist with the Peer Success Coaches. In this role, he helps military-connected students navigate the transition to �鶹ӳ����ý — from connecting them with campus resources to encouraging involvement in student clubs and supporting their academic success.

“Through that job, I was able to help host and participate in so many different events and meet organizations like the Student Veteran Association,” he says.

He’s also strengthening his skills in computer science through Knight Hacks, �鶹ӳ����ý’s largest and only hackathon and software development student organization, while continuing to challenge himself academically. In Spring 2025, he enrolled in Entrepreneurship for Defense — a course he initially picked as a fun elective, but one that quickly became a launchpad.

Assigned to a team developing a maritime awareness system, Chandrapaul worked alongside students from across engineering disciplines. They conducted market research, interviewed high-ranking military officials and industry experts, and presented weekly updates to professors and government sponsors — all of which sharpened his public speaking and technical communication skills.

The experience led to his selection for the Defense Innovation Unit’s summer Maritime Domain Awareness System fellowship.

As a fellow, Chandrapaul is helping improve the safety of maritime environments by developing sensors capable of detecting threats like drug smugglers and illegal fishing activity.

“We recently did a demo on the rooftop of a coastal condo in West Palm Beach, Florida. We got to see a bunch of boats that our radar picked up. We did demos with the U.S. Navy, too. I had the opportunity to visit the Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville, which was a base I had pulled into during my time in the service.”

Now, Chandrapaul is focused on solving real-world challenges through technology. With experience in software development, rapid prototyping and mission-driven problem-solving, he aims to work at the intersection of national security and emerging technology.

And he’s not ruling out entrepreneurship.

“Since [taking the Entrepreneurship for Defense] course, we might actually make it into a real business, which now might be in my future plans,” he says. It’s a lot of fun making a project that has a real-world impact. And I have to thank �鶹ӳ����ý for even presenting me with this opportunity.”

For this year’s game, the Knights defeated North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, 68-7, at Acrisure Bounce House. �鶹ӳ����ý proudly welcomed distinguished leaders from seven major military commands, celebrating the enduring partnership between �鶹ӳ����ý and the U.S. Armed Forces. The event served as a powerful reminder of the collaborative spirit that drives innovation, readiness and national defense.

Among the honored guests were:

• Maj. Gen. James E. Smith, representing STARCOM (Space Training and Readiness Command), whose mission is to prepare the U.S. Space Force through cutting-edge education, training and testing.
• Brig. Gen. Christine A. Beeler, leading PEO STRI (Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation), focused on delivering advanced training and information operations capabilities.
• Col. Brian L. Chatman of Launch Delta 45, responsible for managing all space launch operations from the East Coast and ensuring assured access to space.
• Capt. Robert Betts, commanding NAWC TSD (Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division), the Navy’s hub for training system development and inter-service coordination.
• Col. Anthony C. Graham, representing AFAMS (Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation), which enhances operational training through integrated simulation technologies.
• Col. Wynndee M. Young, leading PM TRASYS (Program Manager for Training Systems), dedicated to improving Marine Corps readiness through ground training systems.
• Ivan Martinez, director of STTC (Simulation and Training Technology Center), whose team pioneers simulation technologies to maximize soldier effectiveness.

Their presence at the game underscored the deep ties between �鶹ӳ����ý and the U.S. Department of Defense, especially in the areas of research, simulation and training. As a university located in the heart of Central Florida’s modeling and simulation corridor, �鶹ӳ����ý is proud to collaborate with these commands to advance military readiness and innovation.

�鶹ӳ����ý is nationally recognized for its commitment to helping military and veteran students succeed from enrollment to employment. The university is a Military Friendly Schools honoree, a Military Order of the Purple Heart University, and a Collegiate Purple Star campus. It also ranks No. 8 nationally among U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans.

From cutting-edge research that supports veterans’ health to academic programs tailored for active-duty personnel, �鶹ӳ����ý’s deep-rooted ties to the military extend far beyond the stadium. These connections strengthen Florida’s communities, empower students and uplift those who serve.

Here are some powerful ways �鶹ӳ����ý and the military are united year-round.

Fueling the Success of Military-Affiliated Students

�鶹ӳ����ý has a long history of welcoming and supporting military-affiliated students. More than 3,300, including computer science student Trevor Chandrapaul, are currently enrolled.

Chandrapaul began his studies at Valencia College before taking a five-year detour to serve in the U.S. Navy as a gas turbine systems technician working in the engine room. His time with the Navy shifted his academic interest from physical therapy to computer science and eventually led him to �鶹ӳ����ý.

“Coming from the military, [I wanted to] continue to serve after [my] service,” he says. “[�鶹ӳ����ý] is surrounded by so many defense companies, and I felt like it was a good place for me to continue my studies.”

Through the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success, he quickly found community among other veterans. Since 2011, the resource center has offered support and a sense of community to students, faculty and staff veterans on campus. Here, students receive academic and career advising focused on the needs of veterans, as well as guidance on the use and benefits of the GI Bill.

Chandrapaul, like many other military and veteran students, credits the center with making the transition from military life into a university setting smoother.

“I saw how many military veterans actually attended [�鶹ӳ����ý],” he says. “I reached out to someone at the [Office of Military and Veteran Student Success] and they took the time to talk to me and offer reassurance.”

The �鶹ӳ����ý campus is also home to Army and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs that combined have about 170 students preparing to become commissioned officers in the U.S. Armed Forces.

This fall, �鶹ӳ����ý is also supporting service members through a new academic partnership, called Service to Service, which helps veterans and their families pursue graduate degrees in public service fields — allowing them to leverage their military experience in rewarding new roles. The university is one of 12 universities nationwide — and the only school in Florida and the southeast — that is participating in the pilot program, which is a collaboration with nonprofits The Volcker Alliance and We the Veterans.

Top Talent Pipeline to the Defense Industry

The university has repeatedly been recognized by Aviation Week Network as the nation’s top talent pipeline for students to work in the aerospace and defense industry, meaning a �鶹ӳ����ý education prepares students well for future success in those industries.

Students learn from world-class faculty who bring exceptional industry and academic experience into the classroom, and �鶹ӳ����ý’s location in Orlando provides many nearby internship and career opportunities.

Among the opportunities �鶹ӳ����ý students often secure is the Department of Defense’s SMART Scholarship program, which provides STEM students with financial support, a summer internship, an experienced mentor and guaranteed employment with the DOD after graduation.

“I was drawn to the program’s integration of academic advancement with real-world application, especially within the DOD’s infrastructure and research divisions,” says Carlos Arteaga, a master’s in civil engineering student and one of three Knights who received the scholarship this summer. “The opportunity to contribute to national security while deepening my expertise in structural and geotechnical engineering made it an ideal fit.”

In July, Lockheed Martin and �鶹ӳ����ý expanded a partnership that has been in place for more than 40 years, greatly impacting the State of Florida’s economic prosperity, fueling innovation and strengthening student success.

As part of that agreement, Lockheed Martin will expand investments in the highly successful College Work Experience Program, which since 1981 has provided unrivaled work experiences for more than 10,000 students in engineering, business and many other disciplines — and led to many of those students earning full-time employment with Lockheed Martin.

�鶹ӳ����ý, Air Force Partner on Hypersonic Technology

World-renowned faculty member Kareem Ahmed and his research team are partnering with the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research to advance the technology that fuels hypersonic travel — at speeds up to 13,000 miles per hour — to help enhance national defense and open up new frontiers in space exploration.

Ahmed, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, has received multiple U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) grants to develop hypersonic technology.

Hypersonic propulsion allows for air travel at speeds of Mach 6 to 17, meaning six to 17 times the speed of sound, or more than 4,600 mph to 13,000 mph.

Advanced hypersonic propulsion systems are a national priority and are essential to maintaining U.S. national defense as global technological advancements continue to evolve.

�鶹ӳ����ý, Military Advance Modeling and Simulation Technology Together

�鶹ӳ����ý continues to develop connections with the U.S. military that ensure they benefit from the most advanced technologies and training. These partnerships also strengthen Florida’s high-tech economy, as Orlando is a national hub of the modeling and simulation industry attracting nearly $7 billion in annual contracts.

�鶹ӳ����ý’s Institute for Simulation and Training is the academic leader of the industry. The institute’s partners include the Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation, Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation and the Marine Corps Program Manager for Training Systems, among others that are also part of the Team Orlando community.

IST modeling and simulation research in strategic areas such as digital twin, AI, human performance, quantum, and spatial computing has accelerated practical innovations in multiple U.S. Army projects and developed multiple tools that are currently in the hands of personnel in every branch of service. In one of the most recent projects, IST’s researchers partnered with the Army to develop a human digital twin prototype that can be a mission team member supporting the commander in the next generation of combat vehicles.

Regaining Lives Through �鶹ӳ����ý RESTORES

�鶹ӳ����ý RESTORES provides clinical treatment services to first responders, front-line medical personnel, military veterans, active-duty military personnel and survivors of mass violence and natural disasters — helping them overcome trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and lead fulfilling careers and family lives. The program’s innovative therapy includes elements of virtual reality, with treatment success rates far exceeding the national average.

�鶹ӳ����ý RESTORES has treated more than 1,900 veterans, active-duty military personnel and first responders.

Clinicians don’t just treat PTSD — they challenge it head on through a model called Trauma Management Therapy, which involves helping patients confront traumatic memories in a safe, structured environment. They do this through customized, immersive virtual reality technology that helps clinicians recreate elements of patients’ unique traumatic experiences.

One-on-one sessions are delivered alongside group therapy — which addresses challenges with anger, sleep, guilt, depression and social isolation — to drive long-term recovery.

�鶹ӳ����ý is one of 12 universities nationwide — and the only school in Florida and the southeast — that will participate in the new Service to Service initiative. The national pilot program is dedicated to connecting veterans and their families with graduate educational pathways in public service and helping them find impactful long-term careers in public leadership. By encouraging service members to pursue higher education in public administration affairs, this military-to-public-service pipeline is intended to help veterans leverage their military experience in rewarding new roles.

Participants can apply for scholarships and use their GI bill toward the program. Recruitment starts in Spring 2025, and the program’s launch is scheduled for Fall 2025.

Service to Service is a collaboration between two nonprofit organizations: The Volcker Alliance, which supports public service education, and We the Veterans, which aims to empower service members and their relatives. �鶹ӳ����ý joins Cornell University, Arizona State University and others in having been selected as a pilot site for this initiative.

, director of the and the school’s representative to The Volcker Alliance, says he believes Service to Service is an excellent opportunity for veterans who want to transition into a civil service career.

“The military is always an untapped resource,” Goodman says. “Many veterans leave the military with a lot of experience, and they want to continue that level of experience by serving their communities. We want to provide quality education that engages our veterans, and the Service to Service program can better connect us with that group of people.”

Students who join the initiative, known as Service to Service Fellows, can further their education through �鶹ӳ����ý’s graduate programs in public administration, emergency and crisis management, nonprofit management, public policy, and regional and urban planning. Goodman says the fellows will also enjoy various program benefits such as mentorship, community-building, professional development opportunities and even facilitated job placement.

“Students in the Service to Service program will have access to resources such as seminars, online workshops and trainings across the country,” Goodman says. “They’ll be able to network not just locally but nationally with cohorts at other participating universities.”

, a 23-year Army veteran and director of �鶹ӳ����ý’s , adds that the program serves as an avenue for veterans seeking guidance in their next chapter.

“Veterans often leave the service feeling lost, not knowing who they want to be or what they want to do,” Kepner says. “Trying to become a civilian overnight can be very difficult, and finding work after military life can feel like trying to find your first ‘grown-up’ job. Service to Service is a fantastic way for veterans and their families to find their footing in local or state government roles where they can continue serving the community.”

Looking ahead, Kepner says he is excited about the Service to Service initiative and thinks it will have a highly positive impact on the service members and military families who decide to enroll.

“Florida is a great state for veterans,” Kepner says. “A lot of veterans and retirees come down to Florida, and as more veterans move here, Service to Service will allow them to explore new career options. I think it’s going to pay huge dividends for transitioning service members to discover who they want to be.”

In January, U.S. News & World Report ranked �鶹ӳ����ý No. 8 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans. In 2024, �鶹ӳ����ý received the Collegiate Purple Star Campus designation, which recognizes the university for its efforts to support military and veteran students through 2027.

Those wanting to learn more about the Service to Service program should contact the School of Public Administration.

College Consensus rankings combine the results of the most respected college ranking systems — such as Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report, and Washington Monthly — with the averaged ratings of thousands of real student reviews from around the web to create its rankings. Earlier the month, �鶹ӳ����ý was ranked No. 5 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans by U.S. News & World Report.

“With dedicated resources, online program options, and a supportive environment, �鶹ӳ����ý stands out as an excellent choice for military veterans seeking to pursue a bachelor’s degree online,” College Consensus stated in its rankings.

�鶹ӳ����ý is a Yellow Ribbon Program participant, ensuring that eligible veterans receive financial support beyond what the GI Bill covers. The university also prioritizes a veteran-friendly campus culture, fostering a sense of community among military-affiliated students.

There are about 1,400 student-veterans at �鶹ӳ����ý, and there are a range of services, including the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success, offered to support them.

In recent years, �鶹ӳ����ý has continuously received recognition for its commitment, effort, and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefit for the student-veteran community on campus. U.S. News & World Report ranked �鶹ӳ����ý among the nation’s Best Colleges for Veteran in its 2024 undergraduate list. In 2022, �鶹ӳ����ý received the Purple Heart Designation from the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The university also received the Silver Award on the 2022-23 Military Friendly Schools list.

Before the federal prison on Alcatraz Island off the coast of San Francisco closed in 1963, John Craig ’72, lived in one of its employee-housing units, far away from the prison population.

Craig’s father, Victor, oversaw the dining program for the prison, which had been built to incarcerate those who were deemed too difficult to incarcerate elsewhere.

Craig graduated from Galileo High School in San Francisco in 1959 and said he didn’t think much about the significance of living on Alcatraz until later. After graduation, Craig enlisted into the U.S. Navy and served two tours in Vietnam. He worked on three different ships, two destroyers and a cruiser, where he manned the radar and served as an electronics technician.

After his discharge from the Navy, Craig moved to Cocoa Beach, Florida, where his parents had relocated. Because of his work experience in the Navy, he was snatched up by NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to work in its astronaut simulation headquarters as a technician. He also began taking classes at Brevard Junior College and eventually transferred to Florida Technological University, now known as the �鶹ӳ����ý, where he earned a bachelor’s in general studies.

Learn more about Craig’s journey to and after �鶹ӳ����ý by reading the full story on the .

During their third-year clerkships and fourth-year electives, medical students receive training in specialties including surgery, internal medicine, neurology and psychiatry at the Orlando VA Medical Center next door to the College of Medicine in Lake Nona and Bay Pines VA Healthcare system in St. Petersburg.

Third-year medical student Gary Saloman did his four-week general surgery rotation at the Orlando VA. He observed surgeries, learned laparoscopic surgery techniques and helped with sutures and incisions in the operating room. But he said the interactions with his patients taught him more.

“It was a really humbling experience serving men and women vets with such interesting stories, and to be able to give back to those who have done so much for our country,” he says.

One of the patients he followed came in with abdominal pain and was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. Surgeons performed a palliative procedure to remove a tumor to relieve the patient’s pain. Saloman says the intense experience showed him how medicine and empathy can affect a patient’s condition.

“You learn not to just focus on diseases but how to improve the quality of life as you get to know the patient and what is important to them,” he says.

The Orlando VA Medical Center opened in 2015 and is one of the nation’s largest VA hospitals, serving the region’s 400,000 veterans. It also houses the VA’s state-of-the-art SimLEARN National Simulation Center, where physicians can train using simulated robotic patients.

Students say they are particularly struck by how willing veterans are to share their medical and life experiences to help the learners become better physicians. Andrew Taitano, a surgeon at the Orlando VA and associate professor of surgery at the College of Medicine, says he isn’t surprised.

“It speaks to the character of the veterans,” he says. “They are happy to be getting care and want to help students learn to help others in the future.”

Taitano says that Orlando VA training is different because there is not the pressure to see a lot of patients in a short amount of time.

“It’s really important in today’s medical practice and student training, they can take their time and get to know the patients,” he said, adding that such time leads to better care and health outcomes.

A general surgeon for 24 years who began teaching in 2014, Taitano taught �鶹ӳ����ý medical students in Bay Pines before joining the Orlando VA earlier this year.

His grandfather was in the Navy and an uncle also served in the military, so Taitano sees his role as giving back for their service to the country.

“I like to mentor students and I enjoy seeing them go through the process of figuring things out. It keeps me fresh and I’m excited to see them develop. I get inspired by the quality of the students,” he says.

Martin Klapheke leads psychiatry education at the medical school and says he has seen an increased interest in psychiatry as a chosen specialty for �鶹ӳ����ý graduates because of their training at the VA.

“They get to assist in the evaluation and treatment of patients with comorbid psychiatric and medical conditions,” he says, “helping patients with mood, anxiety, substance use, psychotic and neurocognitive disorders as well as PTSD.”

Third-year medical student Sean Yumul called his psychiatry rotation at the Orlando VA an inspiring learning experience.

“The sense of team healing and comradery is a unique aspect to VA psychiatric medicine,” he says. “Each patient has a shared experience with the military and is able to relate to each other’s experiences and struggles on a different level from their relationships in civilian life. There are no better stories than those from the men and women who served our country. I learned I have much to learn.“

Yumul believes the VA environment of coordinated care and access to treatment, not limited by a patient’s ability to pay, “allows medicine to be practiced in the purest sense.”

Jeffrey LaRochelle is an Air Force veteran who is the College of Medicine’s associate dean for academic affairs. He was called back to active military duty at the height of COVID-19 and sent to New York City when it was the epicenter of the pandemic. He said training at VA hospitals gives �鶹ӳ����ý medical students a snapshot of the patients they will be treating during their careers.

“In their interactions with veterans, medical students come to realize that they are, in fact, a … group representing all walks of life,” he says.