Already home to growing medical simulation technology, Orlando's 'medical city' at Lake Nona was recently selected as the national site for the Department of Veterans Affairs' Medical Simulation Center for Excellence.

The center, to be located at the new Orlando VA Medical Complex, will serve as the nationwide training and planning home for the VA's new medical simulation system, making our region the focal point for improved care and treatment of veterans across the country.

The Lake Nona site was selected for its unique collaborative environment and ability to partner with the surrounding UCF College of Medicine, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando and Nemours Children's Hospital.

It's the first week of a new year, which means many of us have made our "live a healthier lifestyle" new year's resolution. Well, Orlando might be just the place to do it!

As the rest of the world is beginning to discover, Metro Orlando is leading the way in the trendy field of lifestyle and preventive medicine. Our region is already home to several renowned lifestyle fitness facilities - including the National Training Center, led by Central Florida native and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Dr. Dot Richardson; Celebration Health Assessment, a proponent of the CREATION Health lifestyle program; the Rippe Lifestyle Institute; and the Center for Lifestyle Medicine at the University of Central Florida, both of which are led by Dr. James Rippe, one of the leading authorities on preventive cardiology, health and fitness, and healthy weight loss in the United States.

Those are all good starting places for resolution makers.

Scientific leaders in our region are also focused on future advances in this realm. For example, a recent article by M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando oncologists, published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, points to lifestyle interventions that can prevent and treat various types of cancer. The article looks at five cancers - lung, colon and rectal, breast, prostate and skin - that have causes that are lifestyle based and controllable through alterations in human behavior.

In addition, the primary focus of research at the new Burnham Institute for Medical Research at Lake Nona is on combating diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease - health problems that are often avoidable or manageable through lifestyle adaptations. To help put these research lessons quickly into practice, Burnham has teamed with Orlando-headquartered Florida Hospital to establish a Clinical Research Institute where the two organizations will work together to conduct translational research, creating a bridge between the lab and the bedside.

Could Metro Orlando one day become the healthiest region in the nation? Dr. Rippe thinks so. "You have to start somewhere... Why not Orlando?" he says. "Orlando has tremendous advantages going for it. There's the year-round warm climate; it has a powerful and large university; it has a new medical city being planned; and it also has a very visionary healthcare community... There are so many things that point to Orlando as being the ideal place for this."

New year, new you, new industry for Metro Orlando. That's a resolution worth keeping!

To read more in the latest issue of the EDC's Texture magazine: click here and here.

From the creation of simulated trauma patients used to train military medics, to virtual 3D people used to diagnose and treat patients, the place to be for some of the latest gaming and digital media technology for health and medical applications is Orlando, Florida.

Orlando is one of the top 12 clusters in the country for digital media, as well as one of only two cities in the world with a large-scale 'medical city' complex underway. The digital media and medical sectors are converging, bringing new innovations to life. Numerous people and organizations are leading the way.

* 360Ed has teamed up with the Florida Department of Health and the University of Florida College of Medicine to develop Burn Center, an interactive, 3D, game-based technology used to train medical professionals at trauma centers, hospitals and universities across the country. The purpose of the program is to improve the triage and care of critically injured victims of burn, bomb and blast disasters.

* To become better doctors, the new University of Central Florida College of Medicine is engaging its first class of medical school students in playing games. A web-based avatar program developed by UCF Assistant Professor David Segal is helping students learn how to properly evaluate and diagnose a variety of patient ailments. The digital patients can respond to questions, sneeze, cough, age and even call students in the middle of the night with an illness.

* Engineering & Computer Simulations Inc. (ECS) developed a virtual world called Nexus to help first responders train and collaborate during natural disasters. The company also has a contract with the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) to train military medical professionals.

* Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and advancing emergency medicine, disaster management, pre-hospital emergency care and public health by providing annual continuing medical education and research activities. Its 45-foot Mobile Simulation Lab (motor coach) trains emergency providers around the state. The Lab utilizes simulation technologies to train real lifesavers on everything from ER care, to pandemic flu, nerve agents, blast
injuries and more.

* Virtual Reality Medical Center (VRMC) merges special effects with simulation technology at its Center for Injury Creation Science. Attracted to Metro Orlando because of the strength of the region's simulation and training industry combined with the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, the company develops prosthetic tissue and wounds for medical training purposes, among several other focus areas. These prosthetics can be adhered to mannequins or human actors and create a
realistic training environment for combat medics or first responders.

Doctor's offices throughout Lake County will be the testing ground for a new online physician referral service that could one day soon set the standard for patient referrals and monitoring. Visions@Work - a Clermont-based company that develops custom software - has a new product called Preffer, which they have offered free for one year to physicians throughout the county. The Preffer software has also been given to Lake-Sumter Community College for use in LSCC's new pilot training program for Electronic Health Records Support Technician.

Believe it or not, paper referrals are still the norm among doctors, a reality that can make tracking of patient care difficult once they are referred to a specialist. Visions@Work's online referral service eliminates manual system inefficiencies by allowing physicians to electronically manage referrals.

With one in six workers employed in the healthcare industry, Lake County rivals other major metros known for medical services. That makes this Central Florida community an optimal testing ground for a medical advancement which could ultimately lead to cost savings, improved patient satisfaction and stronger provider relationships throughout the healthcare industry, both here and worldwide.

This unique partnership was the brainchild of the EDC's Lake County Economic Development Advisory Council. The Council's Health and Wellness sub-committee identified the need to assist our healthcare community with electronic health record requirements and training that were legislated in 2004, and the Council's marketing and workforce sub-committees helped them connect to Visions@Work.

According to Dr. Chuck Mojock, President of LSCC and Chairman of the Economic Development Advisory Council: "The project, which is funded through WORKFORCE CENTRAL FLORIDA's New & Emerging Industries Program, is a perfect example of creating partnerships that are win-win-win. Everyone benefits from the collaboration."

The Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center (EMLRC) - a national non-profit organization headquartered in Orlando that is dedicated to promoting
public health - has developed a planning tool to help business owners and managers prepare their companies and employees for the impact of the H1N1 flu virus and other natural and man-made disasters. Titled the Business Continuity and Disaster Preparedness Plan, this tool was developed with small to medium-sized businesses in mind. It provides a brief but thorough process for thinking through strategies to handle impacts of a flu outbreak, or any other situation disruptive to standard business operations. To download the planning document, click here.

Founded in 1990 by the Florida College of Emergency Physicians, EMLRC provides continuing education and training to more than 5,000 EMS professionals each year. The company, a recognized leader in the growing field of medical simulation, also operates SimLab, one of the nation's first Mobile Simulation Laboratories which is designed to provide training in a simulated ER and ambulance environment on wheels. Below, CEO Beth Brunner explains what the company does and gives a tour of SimLab.

"Florida's investment in the life science industry is now paying back like our own economic stimulus package," said Dr. John Reed, president & CEO, Burnham Institute for Medical Research. Dr. Reed went on to thank the community and state leaders for making his and other life science research institutes' location in Florida possible. His remarks came during the official dedication of Burnham's Lake Nona campus this week.

(left to right) Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer; Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty; Dr. John Reed; Raesesh Thakker; Malin Burnham; Florida Governor Charlie Crist; Dr. Dan Kelly

Hundreds of business and community leaders gathered to celebrate as the first facility in the new Medical City at Lake Nona became fully operational. In addition to Reed, dedication speakers included Florida Governor Charlie Crist; Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer; Orange County Mayor Richard T. Crotty; Rasesh Thakkar, senior managing partner of the Tavistock Group; Malin Burnham, philanthropist and chairman of Burnham's Board of Trustees; and Dr. Daniel Kelly, scientific director at Burnham Lake Nona.

(left to right) Burnham's George T. Lucier, Dr. John Reed, and Dr. Dan Kelly

After the dedication, attendees toured the new 175,000-square-foot scientific facility, which will ultimately house 30 head researchers plus 300 scientists and staff. The Lake Nona facility will focus, in particular, on advances in combating diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. Already the state-of-the-art facility includes an ultra-high throughput screening center, one of only four NIH-funded comprehensive chemical screening centers in the country, complete with three robotic arms capable of conducting more than one million experiments per day. These sophisticated tools, along with a commitment to collaborative research, will enable Burnham scientists to move discoveries from bench to bedside more quickly than ever before.

Burnham's gratitude and commitment to this community came through loud and clear; while Central Florida's pride in this accomplishment - which, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer reminded us, had happened within a span of just three years- was evident and widespread. Perhaps Rasesh Thakker, Senior Managing Director of Tavistock Group, summed it up best: "Today we revel in what has been accomplished."

Here, Dr. John Reed explains Orlando's spirit of collaboration impressed the Burnham Institute.

Eight companies in Metro Orlando were honored by the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission (EDC) with the 2009 William C. Schwartz Industry Innovation Award on September 17, 2009.

The annual award program recognizes innovative companies who have had a significant impact on the region and in their respective fields for innovative practices, products and/or ideas.

The program is named in honor of the late William C. Schwartz, an avid community leader, business pioneer and innovator within the field of optics and photonics.

"Cultivating innovative thinking helps drive the economy and is critical to the long term economic growth of the region," said Ray Gilley, president and CEO of the EDC. "We are proud to remember [William C. Schwartz] and his great spirit though this awards program."

Recipients come from each of the four counties served by the EDC - Orange, Seminole, Lake and Osceola counties - and from the City of Orlando. In addition, awards were also presented to judges award winners and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council's Award for Innovation.

One of the top passenger airports in the world noticed a security issue when bags that had been on the claim device began making their way back into the "secure" area of the airport. Lake County based G & T Conveyor surveyed the situation and created a solution called the "secure claim device". It utilizes a merging system designed to eliminate the security issue, plus adds energy conservation and quicker customer turnaround.

A prime example of the type of company included in City of Orlando's vision of a Creative Village is 360Ed, an educational software development company that has leveraged Orlando's unique position in digital media, training, simulation and virtual education through developing a high school level full-credit videogame course in American History.

Orange County based Smart City Telecom partnered with Florida Hospital to provide hospital specific content on televisions in patient rooms, the first of its kind. This customization of television is believed to be a competitive advantage to better educate patients and help improve patient satisfaction.

In Seminole County, the City of Oviedo implemented a water conservation effort known as the H2Oviedo Water Conservation Incentive. The program is the first of its kind in Central Florida and it offers incentives in the form of rebates to residents for retrofitting existing landscaping, wasteful water-use devices and high water-use irrigation systems with more efficient ones. It is a win-win environmental initiative for the community where residents learn new ways to save water and money while becoming stewards for their community.

Over ten years ago, INViSiON Industries created the world's first overhead video system with a built-in monitor for vehicle entertainment and set the standard for all others who are now involved with rear seat entertainment. As the demand for these entertainment systems increases, it should come as no surprise that INViSiON recently announced they plan to expand their corporate headquarters by adding 100 employees in Osceola County.

Judges' awards

Children's Home Society of Florida received an award for their annual Florida Innovation Symposium. This one day conference made possible through the donation of Siemens' Spaceship Earth Conference Center at Walt Disney World's EPCOT. Several partnerships between organizations have been the result of the annual gathering, including collaborations between Children's Home Society, Orange County Domestic Violence Program and Harbor House that lead to a more coordinated focus on child and family advocacy programs.

AT & T was recognized for their generous donation to the Parramore Kidz Zone project. With their donation, the Parramore Kidz Zone was able to enhance computer accessibility for schoolchildren at "homework rooms" throughout the community. In addition, the program was able to expand the access of children to attend the University of Central Florida "CREATE U" program, giving students access to learn how to create digital videos about their lives.

Florida High Tech Corridor Council Award for Innovation

Lockheed Martin was recognized for serving as an innovation leader with a history of stimulating technology growth in our region. Lockheed Martin is one of the largest partners in the Council's Matching Grants Research Program. Over the program's 13-year history, Lockheed Martin has funded more than $5 million in matched research dollars, on 73 projects with 37 faculty members at two of our three Corridor universities, UCF and UF.

Medical Markers

This year, as part of the EDC's award ceremony, bioOrlando - an EDC led initiative aimed at stimulating the life science and biotechnology industry in Metro Orlando - announced the inaugural class of 'medical marker' recipients. This program is designed to build awareness of the growing presence of biotech and life science companies in Metro Orlando with a physical marker designation.

The inaugural recipients include:

Florida Hospital, Orlando Health, The Tavistock Group, Florida Blood Centers, VaxDesign, Curascript, Triad Isotopes, Virtual Reality Medical Center, Emergency Medicine & Learning Resource Center, Cord:Use, National Training Center, Health Central, .decimal and South Lake Hospital.

A new partnership between Florida Hospital and the Burnham Institute for Medical Research at Lake Nona brings two powerhouse organizations together to tackle the growing health problems of diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. The goal of the two organizations, who are collaborating to establish a new health research institute, is to bridge the distance between research in the lab and treatment at the bedside.

Dr. Steve R. Smith, an internationally-renowned diabetes and obesity researcher, was introduced on Monday as the executive director of the new Florida Hospital - Burnham Clinical Research Institute. The Institute, scheduled to open in 2012, will be housed in a 35,000 square foot building on Princeton Street. Located adjacent to the Florida Hospital South Campus, the new facility will serve as the gateway to Florida Hospital's "Health Village".

"With this partnership, we hope to change how diabetes and obesity research is conducted," said Dr. Steven R. Smith. "This new institute will help break down the distance that exists between research and the clinic and help make it possible to deliver results faster and on a personalized level."

Community and business leaders, who gathered for the announcement on Monday, lauded this as another milestone for the fast-emerging life science cluster that is transforming the Metro Orlando economy.

There's Mosaic, Arcadian Broad and Drew Thomas Magic. If you're not familiar with these names, they're among the folks that made it to the Top 40 in the popular America's Got Talent show. They have something else in common. They all come from a city where creative talent is building ... and in the eyes of Richard Florida (of the popular 'Creative Class' theory), that's one of the key ingredients to economic competitiveness, transformation and innovation.

Orlando, Florida, has become a place where creative talent is flowing and in multiple industries. The region, long known as an entertainment destination, has transformed into a technology hub that's entertaining company leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, workers and young minds alike. Here are some reasons why:

This week, Orlando welcomed its inaugural class of 41 med students at the University of Central Florida's (UCF) new College of Medicine -- the first medical school in U.S. history to offer full, four-year scholarships to an entire class. The new college is one anchor in a new 'medical city' underway - one of only two such developments happening in the world right now. It's joined by the recently opened East Coast hub for The Burnham Institute for Medical Research, and forthcoming openings of the University of Florida Research Facility, Veterans Affairs Hospital, M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Institute and Nemours Children's Hospital. Economic analysts predict that by year 10 of operation, the world's newest life sciences cluster here could create 30,000 jobs and $7.6 billion economic activity.

At UCF, research and patents are on the rise. UCF, now the fifth largest university in the nation, has seen research funding (and subsequent lab space) grow exponentially in the past decade, from $37.5 million in 1999 to the new record high of $122.8 million in 2008. Additionally, UCF's patent portfolio was ranked in the top 10 of 122 universities in the U.S.

Inventors, scientists and entrepreneurs are thriving here. New drugs, therapies and vaccines are being developed ... one scientist is genetically modifying lettuce heads to produce insulin in the quest to develop a cure for diabetes. An entrepreneur has developed ultra-portable personal air-conditioners for military personnel. Another is developing advanced micro-batteries for use in medical, alternative energy and other applications. In addition, the number of incubators has grown rapidly here, opening the door to more entrepreneurs.

A new Photonics Academy was created at a local high school in partnership with Northrop Grumman to encourage student interest in the laser/photonics field. This new academy joins others already in existence, including one focusing on simulation (an industry with a top-ranked cluster in Orlando).

Nation-leading digital media schools in Orlando-- Full Sail University and UCF's Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy -- continue to see enrollment grow in this burgeoning field.

Entrepreneur Magazine recently recognized Orlando as one of best places to start a business. Forbes recently recognized Orlando one of best cities for tech jobs. And Next Generation Consulting ranked Orlando as a top hot spot for young professionals.

It is with great pride that Metro Orlando witnesses the opening of the University of Central Florida's College of Medicine today, Monday, August 3rd, a monumental event that will help define the future of our region. But as we commemorate this historic first, we should also remember that this is only the latest in almost five decades of impact that our hometown university has had on building our local economy.

Last week's CEO Roundtable luncheon, a quarterly event of the Metro Orlando EDC, featured Dr. John Hitt, president of the University of Central Florida (UCF). Dr. Hitt focused his remarks on how the university has partnered with business to create a stronger economy. The more than 100 local CEO's in attendance learned what has earned UCF its reputation as "America's leading partnership university." From preparing the workforce needed by local companies; to shaping the research and curriculums that have attracted simulation, digital media, photonics, energy, and now life science companies to our region; to incubating entrepreneurial companies until they are ready to stand on their own; to unique partnerships with the U.S. Department of Defense and with mega-companies like Siemens and Burnham ... this region has been in a large part shaped by the strengths and leadership of the University of Central Florida.

Now the fifth largest university in the nation, UCF has come a long way since it opened as Florida Technological University (FTU) in 1963. Dr. Hitt perhaps summed the significance of this institution up best when he stated, "When you look at what we've accomplished already, there is no limit to the possibilities."

From the creation of simulated trauma patients used to train military medics, to virtual 3D people used to diagnose and treat patients, the place to be for some of the latest gaming and digital media technology for health and medical applications is Orlando, Florida.

Orlando is one of the top 12 clusters in the country for digital media, as well as one of only two cities in the world with a large-scale 'medical city' complex underway. The digital media and medical sectors are converging, bringing new innovations to life. Numerous people and organizations are leading the way.

360Ed has teamed up with the Florida Department of Health and the University of Florida College of Medicine to develop Burn Center, an interactive, 3D, game-based technology used to train medical professionals at trauma centers, hospitals and universities across the country. The purpose of the program is to improve the triage and care of critically injured victims of burn, bomb and blast disasters.

Virtual Reality Medical Center - Orlando (VRMC) develops and uses computer-generated simulations and other special effects to treat clients with panic disorder, specific phobias, agoraphobia and social phobia. VRMC has partnered with the University of Central Florida to create a virtual game (featuring flying, smash-able insects) to aid stroke survivors in expanding their range of movement.

To become better doctors, the new University of Central Florida College of Medicine will engage its first class of medical school students in playing games. A web-based avatar program developed by UCF Assistant Professor David Segal will help students learn how to properly evaluate and diagnose a variety of patient ailments. The digital patients can respond to questions, sneeze, cough, age and even call students in the middle of the night with an illness.

Engineering & Computer Simulations Inc. (ECS) developed a virtual world called Nexus to help first responders train and collaborate during natural disasters. The company also has a contract with the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) to train military medical professionals.

GeoMotion Group is dedicated to being an innovative fitness leader. Its goal is to meet the training needs of individuals and groups, for all fitness levels and for any age. Two innovative products, the GeoMat and the GeoFloat were created to meet this goal. Used in elementary, middle and high schools, the GeoMat is used to teach locomotor moves, number recognition, number sequencing and math problem solving using a variety of activities and aids. The GeoFloat is used for exercising in water and works the core and stabilization muscles more effectively than other existing products.

Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and advancing emergency medicine, disaster management, prehospital emergency care and public health by providing annual continuing medical education and research activities. Its 45-foot Mobile Simulation Lab (motor coach) trains emergency providers around the state. The Lab utilizes simulation technologies to train real lifesavers on everything from ER care, to pandemic flu, nerve agents, blast injuries and more.

When the Burnham Institute for Medical Research unveiled its dream to establish a research facility in Metro Orlando, that plan was helped along by Florida's Blood Centers, who offered 14,000 square feet of existing wet lab space in FBC's headquarters in Orlando's SouthPark to serve as temporary office and research space for Burnham scientists. With those scientists now moved into Burnham's permanent east coast facility in Lake Nona, Florida's Blood Centers has offered use of that same space for another significant community purpose: to establish and house a specialized biotech incubator, which will serve as a catalyst for the region's growing life science industry.

Recognizing that the fulfillment of Orlando's quest to become a significant life science hub will take many years and rely on the creation, as well as the attraction, of related companies, the EDC has been in talks with Florida's Blood Centers to create an incubator to help grow new companies specific to the biotech and life science industry. The University of Central Florida, whose tech incubator network has been recognized among the best in the world, is also involved in ongoing discussions. While details are still being finalized, the 14,000 square feet of biology and chemistry labs could eventually house six or more start-up companies in various stages of growth.

News of the proposed bio incubator spread quickly at the international BIO Conference, which members of the EDC team attended on behalf of our region. During meetings with companies there, it was clear that having a biotech-specific incubator would provide Metro Orlando with a competitive edge; and several companies have already expressed interest in taking space in the facility.

The Metro Orlando EDC, along with numerous community partners, is in Atlanta, Georgia, for the BIO International Convention this week. Our goal is to continue to build awareness of this region's emergence as a hub for life science and biotech research, as well as to make business connections with growing bio companies.

In preparation for this conference, which opens today, the EDC launched the new bioOrlando Web site, used Facebook to promote our presence here, is "tweeting" from the show floor.

The EDC is sharing booth space with the Florida High Tech Corridor Council (booth #3003) and is partnering with representatives from the University of Central Florida, Lake Nona, Burnham Insitute for Medical Research at Lake Nona and M. D. Anderson - Orlando Cancer Research Institute.

The Metro Orlando EDC's bioOrlando initiative recently unveiled a new "Medical Marker" program designed to celebrate and visually recognize the medical, research and biotech companies that are the cornerstone of Metro Orlando's burgeoning life science industry.



"Medical Markers" will be presented to life science and biotechnology organizations identified by bioOrlando as leaders in scientific research and medical technology, as well as companies who have contributed substantially to the evolution of this industry in Central Florida. Twelve members of the inaugural class of Medical Marker designees will be announced on June 25th at the EDC's Annual Economic Outlook event, which will be held at the Embassy Suites in Downtown Orlando.



To commemorate establishment of this celebratory new program, the first marker designation was given to Florida Hospital Orlando, which this year celebrates its 100-year anniversary in Metro Orlando. Florida Hospital's seven campuses give it a footprint throughout the region, and its Celebration Health Campus was also recognized with a marker. Celebration Health is the site of both the Nicholson Center for Surgical Advancement and Global Robotics Institute.



In addition to a certificate noting Medical Marker designation, a physical "marker" will be developed as a recognizable sign of this honor. To assist in development of this physical symbol - visualized as a form of public art that identifies the organization as part of the "medical destination" in Metro Orlando - the EDC is working with United Arts of Central Florida to invite artists to submit design concepts for the "Medical Marker". Click here to view competition details.



In a time when things to celebrate seem in too short supply, bioOrlando's new "Medical Marker" program will help to point out the bright spots in Metro Orlando's increasingly diverse economy.

Orlando-based Emergency Medicine Learning Resource Center (EMLRC) provides pre-hospital emergency care providers with the medical training necessary for disaster situations. The company's Mobile Emergency Simulation Lab (SimLab) is a motor coach designed to resemble a simulated ER and ambulance, allowing first responders to train in a realistic environment. This training prepares first responders for disaster situations they may encounter.



Inside the training center are responsive mannequins that act out real world injuries and illnesses. The simulation lab is on the road five days a week visiting hospitals, EMS agencies and fire departments. EMLRC is the first mobile simulation lab in the country.



Watch Beth Brunner, CEO of EMLRC give a tour of the SimLab.

A newly released report by the University of West Florida's Haas Center for Business Research & Economic Development predicts that 190,000 new and related jobs in the biomedical and defense industries will be created in Florida by 2018. Access MediQuip's recent decision to expand its operations in Lake Mary takes Orlando one step closer to that goal.



Access MediQuip LLC, a $200 million health care firm based in Houston, provides medical implant outsourcing to support surgery centers. The company's specialized and technology-driven services assist manufacturers, payors and providers to manage the acquisition, financing delivery and reimbursement of orthopedic and spinal implants, drug pumps and other medical devices.



Last month, Access moved its 18 Central Florida employees into just under 13,000 sq. ft. in Primera in Lake Mary. That is just the first step. Plans are to grow to a 26,000 sq. ft facility and add 145 new jobs within three years. That translates into over $2.5 million in new capital investment and jobs that pay an average of $60,000 annually.



Other signs of success in Metro Orlando's emerging medical industries include:

• The University of Central Florida's College of Medicine was featured on NBC Nightly News. Click here to watch.

• Orlando was ranked as a top medical meetings destination by the Healthcare Convention and Exhibitors Association's 2009 State of the Industry Report. Orlando has been the top healthcare meeting location for the last 12 years.

• AARP The Magazine, the voice for Americans age 50 and better and the world's largest circulation magazine, named Orlando Regional Medical Center and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando among the leading hospitals in America. Click here to read.

• Nemours received full accreditation for its human research protection program from the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. This recognition places Nemours among the top research institutions in the United States. A few weeks ago, Nemours Childrens Hospital broke ground in Lake Nona's 'medical city' with plans for completion in 2012.

Accelerating growth of Orlando's life science industry. Global domination of the nation's digital media industry. Two bold goals of the Metro Orlando EDC. Real strides were made toward realizing those goals recently with groundbreakings on both fronts.



Nemours Children's Hospital broke ground on its Lake Nona "medical city" campus. The 620,000-square-foot facility will include 95 beds, an 18-bay emergency department, a neonatal intensive care unit and departments specializing in complex childhood diseases. The hospital, scheduled to open in 2012, will be the central hub of a 60-acre pediatric health campus featuring a children's clinic, emergency department, diagnostic and ambulatory programs, education centers and research programs. The Nemours Children's Hospital investment is expected to pump $400 million into the Central Florida economy and eventually create 2,600 new jobs.



In addition, Full Sail University, a Winter Park-based education program that focuses on entertainment-related industries, broke ground on its new Full Sail Studios Gateway project. The 32,000-square-foot, 2.2-acre project will be equipped with a live performance venue, a two-story complex for game production and recording studios, and an expansion to the on-campus professional film studio backlot. The Hollywood-style backlot will complete the existing backlot and will offer 19 different outdoor filming locations.

Robots - no longer as futuristic as they once seemed - can take many forms, some quite different than the traditional image the word conjures up. And the future of robotics, from healthcare to warfare, is evolving in Metro Orlando's hospitals, companies, military research commands and laboratories.

In fact, it's in the medical field where robots are making some of the biggest advances.

At the Global Robotics Institute at Celebration Health, part of the Florida Hospital network, Dr. Vipul Patel, the world's leading robotic surgeon, utilizes the da Vinci robot to perform minimally-invasive surgeries. In addition, at the Global Robotics Institute, Dr. Patel trains surgeons around the world.

Orlando Health was one of the first medical centers in Florida to have the "Dr. Robot" technology. This robot, formally known as the RP-7, is a nearly human-shaped robot that consists of a video monitor for a face, digital cameras for eyes and microphones for two-way communication. "Dr. Robot" makes it possible for a doctor at a remote location to talk with the patient without actually being there.

And research is underway at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Because robotics is a diverse field that incorporates many different aspects of science and technology, students from a variety of study disciplines gather in the Robotics Laboratory at UCF to conduct research on ground, underwater, surface and aerial vehicles.

For more about Orlando's future in robotics, click here.

In the last few years, there has been a multitude of recalls of products, foods and medicines. But there are steps in place that are supposed to make sure this doesn't happen, and that the product, whether food or medicine, does what it is supposed to do. One Central Florida company is making this happen for drug manufacturers.

Amaro & Associates, Inc. (dba Comply Shield), a biopharmaceutical technology consulting firm delivers quality assurance testing and validation, quality IT business processes and performance testing to ensure pharmaceutical manufacturing systems function properly through the development of its Total Validation Management (TVM) system.

In a period of stronger pushes toward FDA regulation, this system consolidates multiple processes into one efficient program. The client is then able to create testable requirements, test plans, test scenarios and summary documents, which are not only less confusing but are accurate and complete.

Watch Jorge Amaro, president of Amaro & Associates, explain his company.

In 2006, the University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Medicine was a dream fighting for approval. At this time, an economic impact analysis predicted that, if approved, that new College could eventually create nearly 26,000 jobs and have an economic impact of $6.4 billion over 10 years. Some thought it to be overly ambitious at the time. But now -- just two years in and still waiting to open the doors to its first class of students -- UCF President John Hitt has announced that 80 percent of the impact projection has already been achieved.

And the outlook is even brighter. An updated economic impact study now projects a nearly 20 percent increase in jobs and overall economic impact compared to the 2006 study, despite an overall economic slowdown. This translates into more than 30,000 local jobs and an economic impact of $7.6 billion within 10 years. The new figures are based on current and future commitments to the medical school and the life-sciences cluster developing at Lake Nona.

Like everything that UCF touches, these great results are the product of great partnerships. Since UCF announced its College of Medicine on land donated by the Tavistock Group at Lake Nona, other premier institutions have joined the life-sciences cluster. They include California-based Burnham Institute for Medical Research, a Veteran's Administration hospital, Nemours Children's Hospital and M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Institute. These partners are creating a unique collaboration that promises to make Orlando a world-known destination for medical care and research and add billions of dollars to the Central Florida economy.

Additional study findings predict that the College of Medicine and life-sciences cluster could:

- Help Florida earn more than $13 for every dollar it invests in the College of Medicine and medical city, a 25 percent increase from the 2006 projection.

- Generate $459.9 million in additional tax revenues for the state by year 10, a more than 25 percent increase.

- Create up to $2.8 billion in wages by year 10, a more than 20 percent increase.

"In a time of declining economic activity around the globe, Central Florida has a proven economic engine in the UCF College of Medicine and medical city at Lake Nona," Hitt said. "Few things, if any, are as important to our Central Florida economy as the continued support of the medical school."

Helping ensure full and continued state legislative support for the UCF College of Medicine is a main legislative priority for the Metro Orlando EDC for the 2009 Legislative Session.

Two Olympic gold medals (1996 and 2000) prove softball is very, very good to Dot Richardson. Singled out as a star with the first U.S. hit and the first softball homerun in Olympic history, she was an NBC commentator at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, delivering play-by-play as her former U.S. Women's Softball Team won its third consecutive gold medal.

However, as an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, Richardson has a more enduring and direct impact on the lives of other American and international athletes of all sports. That includes Central Florida residents who want to improve fitness and athletic prowess. As medical director of the National Training Center (NTC), part of a 300-acre sports, health and education campus in Clermont, Fla., west of Orlando, Richardson establishes the vision and goals for this nonprofit branch of South Lake Hospital. Her focus is on state-of-the-art facilities,
sports science, performance programs and research in adolescent obesity, activity levels and shoulder injuries.

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Dom Meffe is one of those instant-likeables. Maybe it's because he hails from the tight-knit, friendly hometown of Pittsburgh. Maybe it's because he's just a good guy...with a big heart for his family, his employees, his clients and his business. Maybe it's because he tells good stories and draws interesting comparisons to his life and work. Maybe it's because he's someone you can relate to...who admits failures, has had tragedies in his life, and has done good. Or maybe it's because he's a survivor.

Cancer has inflicted a number of people in his family, including himself and his wife, and took his sister's life. And this is what's driven him to do what he's doing now...own and acquire a growing number of nuclear pharmacies to better diagnose and treat chronic conditions such as cancer.

In fact, only one year after founding Orlando-based Triad Isotopes, Meffe, 43, who has been a central figure in the pharma business over the past decade, is heading up what is now the fourth largest radiopharmaceutical services company in the industry. Triad has grown from 24 to 291 people with $90 million in current revenue and projections to double that in two years. That growth has come from 13 strategic M&As throughout the southeast...with many more planned over the next few years. And, Triad is among numerous specialty pharmaceutical companies (CuraScript, Axium, ACS and ICore) that have made their headquarters home in the nation's newest emerging biotech hub of Orlando.

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