What's Happening in Orlando, FL…

The space medicine program at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando is being expanded to train students to be able to provide healthcare while astronauts are in flight.

Dr. Manny Urquieta founded the aerospace medicine division at UCF. Urquieta had been the top physician at the Johnson Space Center in Texas and then two years ago he joined UCF. He is working on establishing a degree at the master’s level in space medicine and a program of residency that will prepare physicians for care of pilots and astronauts.

Students enrolled in the program will participate in medical evaluations of astronauts prior to launch, contribute to the selection process for future space crews, and help prepare astronauts for their missions. After candidates are chosen, program participants will support the medical certifications required for flight readiness and assist with health monitoring throughout mission preparation.

Once astronauts are in space, specially trained physicians will provide medical support through telemedicine and other methods of remote care, with some potentially taking part in spaceflight operations themselves. Program graduates will also play a role in post-mission recovery efforts, assisting astronauts at landing sites and providing continued medical care following their return to Earth.

Universities may also turn to brochure printing to raise awareness of such new academic offerings and communicate the benefits of such specialized programs.