UCF College of Medicine: A Comprehensive Overview

The University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Medicine is a research-based medical school committed to partnerships, collaboration, and innovation in medical education, research, patient care, and service. As a founding member of Orlando’s Medical City at Lake Nona, the college aspires to be the nation’s premier 21st-century medical school and a national leader in healthcare.

Accreditation and Mission

The UCF College of Medicine (COM) holds accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the recognized accrediting body for medical education programs in the United States leading to the MD degree. The college received its most recent full eight-year reaccreditation in 2018.

The college's mission statement reflects its commitment: "The University of Central Florida College of Medicine educates and inspires individuals to be exemplary physicians and scientists, leaders in medicine, scholars in discovery, and adopters of innovative technology to improve the health and well-being of all."

History and Development

Founded in 2006, the UCF College of Medicine holds the distinction of being one of the first medical schools in decades to be built from the ground up. In October 2005, the Tavistock Group, an Orlando investment company, donated $12.5 million and 50 acres of land in Lake Nona to help establish the medical school. A challenge was issued to the Orlando community to raise an additional $12.5 million, which would then be matched by the state, bringing the total funding to $50 million. On March 23, 2006, the Florida Board of Governors approved UCF's proposal to build the medical college.

The college welcomed its charter class of 41 students in the fall of 2009, offering each member an unprecedented full scholarship package. Valued at $40,000 per year, the scholarship covered tuition (waiving out-of-state fees) and provided funds for living expenses. In early 2021, the UCF Lake Nona Medical Center opened as the medical school's main teaching hospital.

Read also: Tuition and Admissions at VCU SOM

Location and Facilities

The UCF College of Medicine is located on the University's Health Sciences Campus in Lake Nona, on the eastern edge of Orlando. The location is near Orlando International Airport and top-notch medical facilities. The 50-acre campus houses various learning centers, including:

Anatomy Lab
Microscopy Lab
Library
Clinical Skills & Simulation Center
UCF Hospital
UCF Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona
Burnett Biomedical Sciences Facility
YCF Health East Orlando
UCF Lake Nona Medical Center
UCF Cancer Center
Nemours Children’s Hospital
Orlando VA Medical Center
Ocala Regional Medical Center
Lakeside Behavioral Health
University of Florida Research Facilities
Veterans Hospital Administration SimLEARN National Simulation Center
On-Campus Cafe.

The Harriet F. Ginsburg Health Sciences Library, located on the second floor of the Medical Education building, offers study areas, reading spaces, an information commons, and public computer terminals. The library is primarily electronic, with a goal of becoming entirely electronic.

Academic Programs

The UCF College of Medicine offers a range of medical programs, including:

Medical Doctor (MD) Program

The M.D. program at UCF College of Medicine is a four-year curriculum designed to integrate basic science and clinical medicine. It fosters professionalism and ignites a passion for life-long learning. The first two years focus on a fundamental understanding of the normal human body and the study of clinical disease, pathological processes, and treatment. The curriculum also covers psychosocial issues, cultural differences, communication skills, and physical diagnosis skills.

The curriculum includes the Focused Inquiry and Research Experience (FIRE) module, which allows each student to pursue an area of passion. The third and fourth years are devoted to clinical experience through clerkships, selectives, and electives. The third year includes core clerkships in Internal and Family Medicine, General Surgery and Surgical Selectives, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Psychiatry, Neurology, and an elective. Longitudinal Curricular Themes (LCT’s) are integrated throughout all four years, emphasizing critical aspects of medicine and medical care.

Program objectives are focused on:

Medical Knowledge
Patient Care
Systems-Based Practice
Practice-Based Learning and Improvement
Ethics and Professionalism
Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Graduate Medical Education (GME) Program

The University of Central Florida College of Medicine partners with HCA Healthcare and the Orlando VA Medical Center in sponsoring residencies and fellowships.

Biomedical Sciences

The Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs, research opportunities, and more. Biomedical Science programs prepare students for careers in the medical field, ranging from research to administration or earning an MD in further education.

There are five Bachelor’s degrees and one track option for students in the undergraduate biomedical program. For graduate programs, there are programs in:

PhD in Biomedical Sciences
MD-PhD in Biomedical Sciences
Masters in Biomedical Sciences (MS)
Masters in Biotechnology (MS).

Research opportunities focus on:

Read also: Affording TCU Medical School

Cancer Research
Immunity and Pathogenesis
Metabolic and Cardiovascular
Molecular Microbiology
Neuroscience

Admissions

Admission to the UCF College of Medicine is based on GPA, Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) score, admissions essays, an interview, clinical work experience, and volunteering activities, along with research and leadership roles. The Admissions Committee seeks students who fit with the vision, mission, and goals of the school and have a passion for medicine and serving others.

Basic requirements for the Admissions Committee include:

Minimum Cumulative Undergraduate GPA - 3.00
Minimum Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math) GPA - 3.00
Minimum MCAT (best single test composite score for the past three years) - 500
Significant and Meaningful Medical Clinical Activities
Consistent Service to the Community
Physician Shadowing
Teamwork and Leadership Skills
Demonstrated Interest in Research
Perseverance or Excellence in an Activity at a High Level

Successful applicants must have completed their undergraduate prerequisites at an accredited college or university in the United States and must have completed a bachelor’s degree program.

Selection Factors

The UCF College of Medicine Admissions Committee seeks students who will thrive at the school and positively contribute to the student body. They look for potential students who align with the school's vision, mission, and goals, demonstrate a passion for medicine and serving others, and value diversity and inclusivity in the medical community. The committee holistically assesses each applicant, considering their unique story and what makes them special and diverse.

Student Organizations

The UCF College of Medicine offers a variety of student organizations, including:

American Academy of Developmental Medicine & Dentistry (AADMD)
Arts in Medicine (AIM)
American Medical Association/Florida Medical Association (AMA/FMA)
American Medical Student Association (AMSA)
American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA)
Asian Pacific American Medicine Student Association (APAMSA)
Association of Women Surgeons (AWS)
Business of Medicine (BoM)
Chapman Compassionate Care (CCC)
Critical Care Medicine Interest Group (CCMIG)
Cardiology Interest Group (CIG)
Catholic Medical Association (CMA)
Careers in Oncology (COG)
Clinical Problem Solvers (CPS)
Dermatology Interest Group (DIG)
Engineering in Medicine (EIM)
Emergency Medicine Interest Group (EMIG)
ENT Interest Group (Otolaryngology Interest Group)
Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG)
Global Surgery Student Alliance (GSSA)
Healthcare Innovations (HI)
Health Literacy Advocates
Internal Medicine Interest Group (IMIG)
Interventional Radiology Interest Group (IRIG)
Jewish U”knight’ed Students in Medicine (JUSM)
KNIGHTS Clinic
LGBTQI+ Medical Students and Allies
Life Beyond Residency (LBR)
Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group (LMIG)
Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA)
Medical Anesthesiology Society (MAS)
Medical Campus Outreach (MCO)
Medical Genetics Interest Group (MedGen)
Medical Students Providing Across Continents (MedPACt)
Military Medicine Interest Group (MMIG)
Movement is Medicine (MiM)
Neurological Surgery Interest Group (NSIG)
Obstetrics & Gynecology Interest Group (OGIG)
Ophthalmology Interest Group (OIG)
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Interest Group (OSMIG)
Pathology Medicine Student Interest Group (PMSIG)
Pediatric Interest Group (PIG)
Preventive Medicine & Aging Group (PMAG)
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Interest Group (PMRIG)
Plastics & Reconstructive Surgery Interest Group (PRSIG)
Peer Support Group (PSG)
PsychSIGN
Reproductive Health Interest Group (RHIG)
Radiology Interest Group (RIG)
Student Accessibility Advocacy Network (SAAN)
Students Interested in Academic Medicine (SIAM)
Surgery Interest Group (SIG)
Student Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN)
Student National Medical Association (SNMA)
Student Council
Urology Interest Group (UIG)
Ultrasound Interest Group (USIG)
Vascular Surgery Interest Group (VSIG)
Vot-ER
White Coats 4 Black Lives (WC4BL)
Wilderness Medical Society (WMS)

UCF Medical School School Ranking

US News and World Report states that Mercer Medical School is unranked in:

#31 in Most Graduates Practicing in Medically Underserved Areas
#98 in Best Medical Schools: Research (tie)
#110 in Most Diverse Medical Schools (tie)
#111 in Most Graduates Practicing in Rural Areas
#112-123 in Best Medical Schools: Primary Care
#154 in Most Graduates Practicing in Primary Care Fields (tie)

Research and Innovation

The UCF College of Medicine is committed to research and innovation. Faculty and staff are dedicated to helping students fulfill their dreams. Areas of research include:

Aerospace Medicine: Dr. Emmanuel Urquieta leads research on the health impacts of space travel.
Cancer Research: Dr. Alicja Copik is developing technologies that enhance the body’s Natural Killer cells.
Infectious Diseases: Dr. Debopam Chakrabarti focuses his research on malaria.
Music and the Brain: UCF doctors are collaborating with UCF’s School of Performing Arts to examine the brain’s reaction to music and quantify neurodegenerative diseases like dementia.

Student Achievements and Recognition

UCF medical students have received national recognition for their achievements and contributions to healthcare. Recent examples include:

Alejandro De Los Angeles: Named a 2025 STAT News Wunderkind.
Fredericka Hendricksen: Received the Herbert W. Nickens Medical Student Scholarship from the AAMC.
Dr. David Harris: Received the 2025 Alpha Omega Robert J. Glaser Distinguished Teacher Award from the American Association of Medical Colleges.

Technological Advancements

The UCF Health Student Health Services pharmacy utilizes Pillbert, a state-of-the-art robot that counts and labels prescriptions, allowing pharmacists to provide more personal care to patients.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

The UCF College of Medicine is committed to diversity and inclusion, striving to ensure equal access to medical research, treatments, and advances for every person, regardless of background. The college aims to create an environment where every student, staff, and faculty member feels valued and respected.

Core Competencies

Graduates of the UCF College of Medicine are expected to demonstrate competency in the following areas:

Gathering patient histories
Performing physical exams
Presenting patient clinical encounters
Documenting patient encounters
Demonstrating clinical reasoning skills
Developing individualized educational and management plans
Performing common procedures safely and correctly
Demonstrating an inquiry-oriented and analytic approach to learning
Demonstrating understanding of core biomedical, epidemiological, clinical, and social-behavioral science principles
Contributing to the discovery, dissemination, application, and translation of new medical knowledge and practices
Using electronic clinical decision support tools
Demonstrating effective oral and written communication
Building rapport with patients and families
Demonstrating sensitivity and compassion
Utilizing a collaborative approach to healthcare
Applying knowledge of one’s own role and that of other health professionals
Working effectively as a member or leader of an interprofessional team
Demonstrating respect, compassion, accountability, dependability, and integrity
Demonstrating sensitivity and responsiveness to cultural and other aspects of identity
Demonstrating selflessness (altruism)
Practicing with a commitment to ethical principles and social justice
Demonstrating the ability to coordinate patient care
Participating in continuous system quality improvement
Utilizing system resources to optimize patient care and safety
Demonstrating understanding of administrative, professional, and institutional requirements
Demonstrating understanding of cost-effective care
Identifying strengths, deficiencies, and limits in one’s own performance
Appraising, assimilating, and applying medical evidence
Applying strategies for seeking, incorporating, and delivering feedback
Utilizing self-regulation to advance knowledge, skills, and dispositions
Developing, sustaining, or adjusting routines to support personal well-being
Developing adaptability and resilience
Articulating a career development plan
Developing awareness and ownership of the expected roles and responsibilities of physicians

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