Pegasus Partner Orlando Health continues to deepen its longstanding relationship with UCF through the newly renamed Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute Athletic Training Clinic at the UCF Recreation and Wellness Center (RWC).

Through this enhanced partnership, clinicians will continue to deliver exceptional care to UCF students — offering injury evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation and preventive services — now bolstered by direct access to one of Central Florida’s premier healthcare systems.

“This collaboration ensures our students receive top-tier care from highly qualified athletic trainers.” — Jim Wilkening, UCF RWC executive director

The agreement also supports expanded staffing, upgraded equipment, enhanced programming and streamlined referral pathways for students requiring additional care. These enhancements further solidify the RWC’s role as a cornerstone of student well-being at UCF.

All RWC services — including appointments at the athletic training clinic — are free for students who have paid the university’s activity and service fee.

UCF’s Pegasus Partner program provides select organizations with opportunities to engage across the university in ways that foster meaningful, long-term relationships.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Orlando Health for the continued health and safety of our students,” says Jim Wilkening, executive director of the RWC. “This collaboration ensures our students receive top-tier care from highly qualified athletic trainers.”

Inside the Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute Athletic Training Clinic at the UCF Recreation and Wellness Center. (Photo by Kristin Nurnberg)

“As the official medical provider for UCF Athletics, expanding our role to provide the same expert care to the entire student body was a logical step for us,” says Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute sports medicine physician Fred Soliman, who also serves as a team physician for UCF. “Through this partnership, students will have easier access to high-level medical care at the RWC.”

“Through this partnership, students will have easier access to high-level medical care at the RWC.” — Fred Soliman, Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute sports medicine physician

Since becoming one of UCF’s first Pegasus Partners in 2023, Orlando Health has made significant contributions to the university, including support for the new Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion in Lake Nona, which will open this fall; student scholarships; and internships aimed at addressing Florida’s nursing shortage.

Orlando Health also recently partnered with a UCF biomedical engineer and several engineering students on a pilot program that uses artificial intelligence and computer vision to track surgical staples in operating rooms. The AI software directs a camera to record each staple’s use, enabling data analysis that improves efficiency and reduces costs. This technology has the potential to be applied to other surgical processes, such as tracking instrument usage during non-robotic procedures.

“From Pilates and rock climbing to open-water SCUBA, the RWC empowers students to stay active — and now, with enhanced support from Orlando Health, they can climb higher, swim deeper and run faster, with even greater confidence in their care,” says Rod Grabowski, UCF’s senior vice president for Advancement and Partnerships. “We are grateful not only for Orlando Health’s continued trust in our mission and programs, but also for their shared commitment to our students — and their future.”