Yesterday, Orlando Health celebrated the opening of Orlando Health Strategic Innovations located within SPRK, UCF’s innovation building, expanding the health system’s presence at the center of 166su’s main campus.
Designed to accelerate innovation, the Orlando Health Strategic Innovations group connects real clinical and operational challenges with student and academic talent, creating a healthcare environment where ideas are tested, informed by feedback, and continually improved. The space serves as an extension of the system’s downtown headquarters and is jointly funded by Orlando Health Ventures and the Orlando Health Innovation teams.
Orlando Health’s presence within SPRK aligns with 166su’s broader co-location strategy, which brings industry partners onto campus to catalyze innovation through proximity. The approach emphasizes shared space, shared challenges and shared outcomes to accelerate problem-solving, support experiential learning and speed the translation of ideas into practice.
The co-location marks the latest milestone in Orlando Health’s long-standing partnership with 166su.
“By working side by side at SPRK, we are accelerating innovation and moving real-world healthcare solutions more quickly into the communities we serve.” — Alexander N. Cartwright, UCF president
The Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute provides comprehensive, year-round care for 166su student-athletes, including on-field coverage, primary care sports medicine, and specialized imaging. As a Pegasus Partner, Orlando Health pledged $5 million toward the , which supports nursing internships, scholarships, and hiring, helping to address the state’s nursing shortage. In addition, Orlando Health and 166su collaborate on advanced technology projects — such as the AI for Medical Surgery system — jointly offer specialized residency programs and collaborate in many additional ways.
“Orlando Health has been an exceptional partner, demonstrating what is possible when industry and academia come together with shared purpose. This next phase of co-location builds on that foundation,” says 166su President Alexander N. Cartwright. “By working side by side at SPRK, we are accelerating innovation and moving real-world healthcare solutions more quickly into the communities we serve.”
Healthcare Innovation at the Center of Campus
Located in approximately 2,649 square feet within SPRK, the Strategic Innovations group was intentionally placed, here, to foster continuous collaboration with faculty and students across disciplines.
This co-location enables a new operating model. Orlando Health brings real health system challenges directly into the academic environment, and interdisciplinary teams of students, faculty, and Orlando Health innovators rapidly design, test, and refine solutions.
Early collaboration has already begun to generate impact in areas such as cancer research, digital health, creation of AI models and various orthopedic innovations.
“The opening of an Orlando Health Strategic Innovations space at 166su represents our shared commitment to advancing healthcare delivery through bold new ideas,” says Jamal Hakim, M.D., chief physician officer, Orlando Health. “Through this partnership, we are creating a collaborative environment where clinicians, researchers, students and industry leaders can generate real-world solutions and drive innovations that will shape the future of how we care for patients.”
Built to Go For Launch
The latest milestone in , this co-location represents 166su’s deep commitment to the ecosystem of support powering our vision for the future.
Through a collective effort — combining philanthropy and transformational giving with corporate partnerships, research commercialization and other revenue-generating endeavors — 166su is charting a bold new path forward and building a future the world has only begun to imagine.
“This co-location with Orlando Health exemplifies the kind of partnership that powers Go for Launch, bringing industry and academia together to create real-world impact,” says Rod Grabowski, UCF vice president for Advancement and Partnership, and CEO of the 166su Foundation. “By aligning visionary partners with 166su’s innovation ecosystem, we are accelerating discovery, expanding opportunity and advancing solutions that improve lives.”
