UCF in the News

As pickleball’s popularity has skyrocketed, so have the number of serious injuries among players. Bone fractures related to pickleball have increased 200% over the last 20 years, according to an analysis of a large government injury database presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons on Monday. The vast majority of the fractures found in the new study, 92%, occurred during falls. “While pickleball is a great sport, nothing is without risk,” said the study’s lead author, Yasmine Ghattas, who is in her last year of medical school at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine in Orlando. The researchers aren’t arguing for people to quit playing pickleball, just to be better prepared. “Well informed participation in any activity is key,” she said. Ghattas had a personal interest in the topic. My fiancé and I play pickleball regularly and are both entering the orthopedic field,” she said. “During our clinical rotations, we noticed more and more patients coming in with pickleball-related fractures, so we looked to see if there were any studies and there weren’t, so we decided to take a deeper dive.”

The UCF Police Department has a huge responsibility on their hands. They are led by one of the smartest and most humble individuals I have ever met in my law enforcement career. Leading the charge is Chief of Police Carl Metzger. Over the years he has not only become someone I look up to, but he's become a friend. Today, he will join me in Results-1 to talk about what it’s like to be the chief of such a large university and the partnerships that they form with community organizations. The UCF Police Department has had great relations with community organizations that include The Keri Anne DeMott Foundation, which will have their annual dinner banquet tonight.

Vaxxinity Inc. will work with the University of Central Florida to develop special new vaccines for astronauts that aim to prevent a common problem created during space exploration. As part of the partnership with UCF, the company will provide potential vaccine formulas to support collaborative research with the university.

In a dynamic gathering known as the State of Hospitality and Tourism Summit, Central Florida took center stage as community leaders, elected officials and industry experts convened to discuss the current economic impact and workforce trends. The event, hosted at the DoubleTree at SeaWorld, provided a comprehensive look at the region's hospitality landscape. The total economic impact of Central Florida's hospitality industry in 2022 soared to $87.6 billion, according to a collaborative study by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company. That marked a 31% increase from the previous year. This surge is indicative of the resilience and growth the industry has experienced, despite global challenges. Visit Orlando reported a staggering 74 million visitors in 2022, showcasing a 25% increase compared to 2021. The destination's popularity has not only made it a hot spot for tourists but has also significantly contributed to the region's economic prosperity. One of the most notable outcomes of the tourism boom is the creation of nearly 450,000 jobs. The summit, featuring a panel of industry leaders, delves into the challenges faced by the hospitality sector, discussing the current industry landscape and proposing solutions to ensure preparedness for future developments. Monday, expected job growth was a focal point during the summit. Leaders say it's key to bring in students right out of college and to engage with young workers, like James Costa who is a part-time student at UCF's Rosen College of Hospitality Management and part-time barista at a hotel. "With Disney being right down the road everybody's coming to Orlando," he said. "I can take what I learned in school and apply that to my work life." The program Costa attends has grown from having 200 to almost 3,000 students. "We understand we see that we have a tremendous need for talent in our industry," said Dr. Cynthia Mejia, the Interim Dean at UCF's Rosen College of Hospitality Management. “One of the issues that was brought up was a skills gap or a perception. A wrong perception of a skills gap that college students through their curriculum… don’t get industry experience.”

A big celebration continues this morning at the University of Central Florida. The Knights Cheerleading team won the Division 1 National Championship over the weekend. It was the fourth time the Knights won the national title.