#charge on

At UCF, we’re proudly known for being big.

Being big is about more than the number of students we enroll. It’s about how we look at the world — UCF is a university that thinks big, acts big and, most important, dreams big. 

I was delighted to be in Tallahassee today to see a big UCF dream come true. The State University System’s Board of Governors unanimously approved a new UCF hospital. Our hospital will focus on building a healthier community, training more physicians, and powering economic growth through research. 

We know that the best health systems have an academic component at their heart and that the best medical schools have hospitals. 

The UCF Lake Nona Medical Center, which will be built adjacent to the UCF College of Medicine, is a public-private partnership with the North Florida Division of Hospital Corporation of America, the nation’s largest hospital company. 

As with most ambitious projects, legions of people have contributed to its success. I appreciate the contributions of everyone, including our College of Medicine faculty and staff and our HCA partners, and want to note the special efforts made by:

UCF Board of Trustees Chairman Marcos Marchena, Vice Chairman Bob Garvy, and Trustee Joe Conte; 

Dr. Deborah German, College of Medicine dean and vice president for Medical Affairs, and Jeanette Schreiber, associate vice president for Medical Affairs and chief legal officer for the College of Medicine; and 

Dr. Dale Whittaker, provost and executive vice president; Scott Cole, vice president and general counsel; and Dr. Dan Holsenbeck, senior vice president for University Relations.

  Very few moments can truly alter the destiny of an institution. For UCF, today was one of them. 

Today’s approval demonstrates the power of big ideas. This success encourages me to keep dreaming big about how we can improve the lives of our students and the quality of life in our community. 

Go Knights! Cordially yours,