For what he lacks in limb and brain, “Pillbert,” the automatic vial-dispensing robot, makes up for in efficiency and intelligence. In about 30 seconds, he can count and label a student’s prescription with precision, choosing from 108 different medications stored within his sturdy frame and dispensing through nine windows.

Pillbert frees pharmacists to spend more time with patients, educating them on how to take their medications properly, outlining special directions and precautions, and explaining how the medications can improve their health.

Located on the first floor of the Student Health Services building on UCF’s main campus, the pharmacy allows  students to conveniently obtain prescribed medications during the same visit with their doctor. Last year, pharmacists filled almost 40,000 student prescriptions.

For his efforts, Pillbert earned an “outstanding” performance review in his first year, says Hetal Patel, pharmacy manager at Student Health Services.

“It is accurate, and it streamlines the workflow for us,” he says. “It has not failed or been inaccurate at all in a year and a half. Pillbert contributes to our efficiency and enhances the quality of care we provide — all with zero undercounts, overcounts or instances of mislabeling. Ultimately, that makes us more available to the students, and we can engage in more meaningful interactions with them.”

The six-foot-tall robot has 54 compartments on each side stocked with the pharmacy’s most prescribed drugs, including antibiotics.  To help pharmacists, Pillbert first creates a label, then uses a camera to identify each medication and an internal mechanical arm to count and dispense the correct number of pills into a bottle.

On average, it takes about three minutes to count, label and verify each medication. Pillbert saves pharmacists nearly 40 hours of labor a week, according to a Student Health Services analysis, and assists with 80-100 prescriptions a day.

“It used to be a bottleneck if someone had five prescriptions,” Patel says. “Before Pillbert, dispensing multiple prescriptions may have slowed services for others who were waiting to receive a smaller order, such as simple antibiotic prescriptions. Now it can be processed promptly as Pillbert can process multiple prescriptions simultaneously and deliver through one of the nine windows.”

While Pillbert handles the mechanics of counting and labelling prescriptions, Patel says that he and his colleagues remain responsible for checking for patient allergies, interactions between drugs and other contraindications and precautions for overall patient safety.

“For routine medication refills, he takes away inefficiencies, time-consuming tasks and human error,” he says. “We get more time to check refill histories and ask patients questions like, ‘How is the medication working for you? Do you have any questions or concerns about the medications?’ Those details make a big difference.”

As UCF grew and Student Health’s patient load increased, Patel saw the need to make the pharmacy more efficient. However, the technology, cost and capabilities for robotic systems weren’t aligned with the pharmacy’s needs until 2023. That’s when Patel and his colleagues were inspired to purchase the Kirby-Lester KL-108 automatic vial dispensing robot the following year.

To celebrate the new technology, Student Health Services held a naming contest for the robot and even made him his own UCF ID card and cartoon photo.

Pharmacists perform routine maintenance on the robot when the pharmacy is closed.

“Taking care of him is pretty easy,” says Binita Patel, a Student Health Services pharmacist. “It takes seconds to refill and replace the cassettes.”

Patel says that although Pillbert is a machine, he has integrated smoothly into the team and is an essential part of the pharmacy.

“He’s a great addition to our team,” she says. “He never complains, and he always shows up.”

Mejia is a board-certified internal medicine specialist who provides care to patients throughout the community, in addition to being an assistant professor of medicine at the UCF College of Medicine.

Diet plays a key role in high cholesterol, Mejia says. But the “cholesterol bad guys” aren’t just eggs and fatty steaks.

Highly processed, sugary foods, like breakfast cereal, snack cakes and cookies, also contribute to elevations in cholesterol. In fact, Mejia says patients can often be misled into thinking that prepackaged “low-fat” foods and snacks are healthy.

Yes, these foods may be lower in fat and contain no cholesterol, but they can be high in simple sugars and low in fiber.

“These foods are designed to keep you snacking,” he says. “Excess sugar in the body is turned into triglycerides, and these in turn stimulate the creation of new LDL particles.”

September is National Cholesterol Education Month, a time to raise awareness about high cholesterol as a major risk factor for heart disease, the importance of screening and ways to manage it.

About 120 million American adults have cholesterol higher than 200, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Mejia’s advice: “Eat foods that are as close as you can get to how they appear in nature. Foods you can pick off a tree or pull from the ground,” he says. “Choose fibrous greens. Spinach is a superfood, kale [is great] and I am always a big fan of broccoli.”

You don’t have to drive all over town to find a specialty market. You can buy unprocessed, fresh, or frozen fruits and vegetables (no sauces) at any grocery store.

If you are a meat eater, choose leaner cuts of beef and pork. Eat more chicken (without the skin) and fish.

However, Mejia says recent research has found that heart disease doesn’t come just from eating high-fat foods.

Inflammation plays a key role in cardiac disease and other lifestyle-related diseases, like Type 2 diabetes, obesity and autoimmune conditions.

Highly processed, sugary foods, such as those containing high-fructose corn syrup, lead to insulin spikes and insulin resistance, which, along with high LDL cholesterol, contribute to inflammation and the formation of plaque in vital arteries.

The second step in reducing cholesterol is exercise.

Work up to 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise a week, Mejia says. Start with 30 minutes a week — for example, a brisk, 10-minute walk three days a week — then gradually work up to 60 and 90 minutes, and increase from there.

“Lowering cholesterol boils down to two recommendations,” Mejia says. “Fix the diet and exercise. They’re milquetoast, but they hold true.”

Some people may be genetically predisposed to high cholesterol, and if lifestyle changes aren’t enough to lower their levels, a physician may consider treatments such as prescribing statins.

“For the vast majority of people, changing how you eat and exercise can make a huge difference,” Mejia says.

UCF Health Faculty Physician Practice has two locations: one in East Orlando, just blocks from UCF’s main campus, and another in Lake Nona. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit the .

What are the signs and symptoms of the flu that patients should watch for?

The flu likes to make a big entrance when it comes in – a fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, muscle aches like a truck just ran you over. And for some children, even nausea and diarrhea.

When should flu sufferers contact their doctor?

You should see a doctor if you’re having any concerning signs – if you start developing chest pain, shortness of breath, if you have high fever that won’t come down. You should also contact your doctor if you are a high-risk individual which includes children under five and adults over 65. Patients that have chronic disease like diabetes, heart disease, lung disease and pregnant women should go see the doctor right away. They’re at the highest risk for complications.

How can you reduce your risk of getting the flu?

Wash your hands often. Cover your mouth when you cough. Stay away from sick people. Clean the surfaces in which you regularly come in contact. Wear masks.

How can patients boost their immune system to avoid the flu?

Easy. Eat your fruits. Eat your veggies. Eat your fiber. These foods are full of vitamins C, D, E and B6, which are necessary for the appropriate functioning of the immune system. Also, drink plenty of water. Stay hydrated. Sleep. Get up to eight hours of sleep so your body is well rested.

Everybody wants to know a magic supplement that’s going to boost the immune system. But, your immune system is not separate. It’s a part of your body. It’s a part of you. It’s one piece of the whole. Think about the immune system like a country’s military. You need to keep it strong. So staying healthy, that’s the key. Now there is some growing evidence that probiotics can modulate intestinal immune cells and that can cause a positive effect on your immune system homeostasis. So it’s not a bad idea to be sure that you get some probiotics in the form of yogurt, or maybe even a supplement.

����ֱ�� leaders say they hope the branding will help the community and patients understand the breadth of medical services they can get from UCF physicians, nurses, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists and other providers.

“UCF is taking care of our community’s health in so many extraordinary ways,” says. Deborah German, vice president for health affairs and dean of UCF’s College of Medicine. “By bringing these services under the UCF Health brand, we make it easier for our community to understand our services and seek academic patient care.”

The rebranding comes as the latest step in the development of UCF’s Academic Health Sciences Center, which unites all of the university’s clinical programs — the colleges of Health Professions and Sciences, Medicine and Nursing as well as Student Health Services. As part of that effort, UCF will open the new Dr. Phillops Nursing Pavilion in Lake Nona’s Medical City in 2025 — next door to the medical school. Eventually it plans to bring other clinical programs to Lake Nona to foster increased interprofessional education, research and patient care. As Dr. German explains, “Whenever healthcare professionals work as a team, patients always get better care.”

The university has almost 140,000 square feet of clinical space, caring for patients in Central Florida as well as children and families who travel from across the country to access UCF services:

• offers a variety of primary and specialty care services to help keep students at their optimum health. The primary Health Center is located on the main campus with satellite clinics on the Rosen College, Health Sciences, and UCF Downtown campuses. Student Health Services also offers a pharmacy and dental care. “Student Health Services is thrilled to collaborate with our UCF clinical partners to share not only an exciting new brand but also to maximize the patient benefit of all our combined services,” says Michael Deichen, associate vice president of UCF Student Health Services, who also serves as the chief public health officer for the university as a whole.
• , formerly called UCF Health, has two locations; one in East Orlando just blocks from the main UCF campus and one in Medical City. Physicians provide academic, personalized care to the community in a variety of areas including cardiology, rheumatology, endocrinology, ophthalmology, dermatology, internal and family medicine, and geriatrics. All physicians are UCF College of Medicine faculty.

UCF’s College of Health Professions and Sciences also provides wellness and rehabilitative patient care services to the community:

• delivers high-quality, patient­centered care delivered by licensed physical therapists and faculty members with expertise in orthopedics, sports injuries, geriatrics, neurology, pediatrics and women’s health. The clinic serves patients through three facilities located in Research Park, on the UCF main campus and at UCF Athletics.
• provides cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment services to people of all ages with communication and hearing challenges. It treats patients across the lifespan — from toddlers developing speech and language to adults who have lost speech or language due to disease or trauma. The Communications Disorders Clinic offers speech therapy, audiology, assistive technology and an intensive aphasia treatment program, among other services. “Thousands of patients and their families already choose UCF each year for our competent and compassionate providers,” says Matthew Theriot, interim dean of the College of Health Professions and Sciences. “Uniting our expertise under the UCF Health name is another step toward making healthcare more accessible to our community and beyond.”

In addition to these services, students and faculty from UCF’s Academic Health Sciences Center provide free care to medically in need residents through service learning clinics. These include the KNIGHTS (Keeping Neighbors In Good Health Through Service) Clinic at Grace Medical Home, the Chapman Compassionate Care Clinic for people experiencing homelessness, and a clinic for Apopka farmworkers through a partnership with the Farmworker Association of Florida.

UCF has launched a new Academic Health Sciences Center , where you can find out how to get care at UCF, including appointment information.

“You are my 1K graduates,” Deborah German, vice president of health affairs and founding dean, told the Class of 2023. “I couldn’t be prouder of the work you have done. When I came here in 2006 to build this medical school, it was hard to even imagine graduating 100 UCF-trained physicians. And look where we are now.”

In deciding how to recognize the milestone, medical school leaders didn’t want to analyze lists of graduates to pick one individual as the thousandth, German says, because with few exceptions, everyone in the class had gone through their medical education journey together.

“You received your white coats together…You entered your clerkships together where you delivered your first baby, participated in your first surgery, counseled your first psychiatric patient,” she says. “Together you cared for others during a worldwide pandemic…Our community is healthier today because of the work you did together.

“Your entire class — each and every one of you — are the thousandth graduate in my heart.”

After the last of the 123 new Physician Knights received their diploma, German asked for a round of applause and then — unbeknownst to the students — black and gold streamers fell from the ceiling.

After that celebration, the ceremony included the military promotion of , the 39th UCF military officer to become a Physician Knight.

The new physicians will go onto residency training at top hospitals around the city, state and nation in specialties that include pediatrics, internal, family and emergency medicine, OB-GYN, surgery and anesthesiology. A record 12 graduates matched into psychiatry, saying they want to help address the nation’s mental health challenges.

Asked why they had chosen the and the graduates’ answers were remarkably similar: the people. They talked about the medical school’s collaborative, supportive, engaging “vibe,” how faculty and staff were committed to helping students achieve their dreams. They talked about the unique opportunity to build a young medical school and a growing Medical City at Lake Nona.

Amy Morrison did her undergraduate work at Cornell and after graduating from UCF, she will enter a general surgery residency at Orlando Health.

“I felt like I fit in from the first time I walked in the building,” she says of UCF. “I met my best friend during my admissions interview. And I was inspired to be part of growing a Medical City.”

Sarah Baker entered medical school at age 41, after having three children and working in public health in Florida’s Lee County. With her M.D., she is returning home to Southwest Florida to do her residency in internal medicine at NCH Healthcare System. As part of commencement, she gave her children certificates of appreciation for their love and support during her journey. “This diploma belongs to them and my husband as much as it does to me,” she says. Baker says the medical school’s culture supported her as a student with more life experience than most. “I never felt nontraditional at UCF,” she says. “Everyone in this class is my family.”

Yanisa Del Toro is medical director of , the College of Medicine’s clinical practice, and as a UCF faculty member, she leads internal medicine clerkship training at the clinic and also is an advisor and mentor to students. She served as grand marshal for commencement and helped hood each of the doctoral candidates before they received their diplomas. As she did, many of the graduates stopped and hugged her. “That’s because so many have passed through my hands,” she says.

Three faculty physicians at UCF Health, the College of Medicine’s clinical practice, are collaborating with Axiom Space and two Israeli medical centers —  Sheba Medical Center and Rabin Medical Center — to conduct clinical studies aboard Axiom’s private flight that will take four passengers to the International Space Station via the SpaceX Crew Dragon. The flight is scheduled to launch from the Kennedy Space Center and should return 10-14 days later. The space explorers received pre-flight testing at UCF Health facilities and will be back for post-flight testing.

The eye study will include the use of high-definition technology unlike any used before to examine the participants’ eye structure. The brain study is the first of its kind in space. These studies represent UCF’s first human subject space studies.

“It’s a historic moment for space exploration with civilians going to the ISS and for UCF,” says Deborah German, vice president for health affairs and founding dean of the College of Medicine. “These two studies are just the beginning. We have several more to come. It’s not just about exploring. What we find will contribute to keeping space explorers safe and finding new treatments here at home.”

It’s All About the Eyes

The first study, a collaboration between Gal Antman, ophthalmologist from Rabin Medical Center in Israel and UCF Health ophthalmologist Mehul Patel, will examine how the microgravity environment of space affects the structure and function of the eye in a condition called “spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome” or SANS that typically occurs in astronauts. The most commonly reported symptom of SANS experienced by astronauts is decreased near vision.

“In a microgravity setting, one of the theories is that there is fluid buildup and congestion inside of the orbit, which is the bony space in which our eyeballs rest,” Patel says. “And so, if there is a buildup of fluid even in short duration flights, that exerts pressure on the eyeball which changes how blood enters the eye and leaves the eye and the actual shape of the eye.”

The study includes a range of pre-and post-flight eye exams using a noninvasive approach called optical coherence tomography angiography with the comprehensive imaging device called the Spectralis HRA+OCT2 on loan to UCF from Heidelberg Engineering in Germany. This is the first space eye study that will benefit from this kind of detailed imaging.

“All prior studies have used MRIs and other ways to image the back of the eye with photos,” Patel says. “But this newer OCTA technology can be compared to a 4K or 8K TV and those high definition cameras that are allowing you to see greater depth and clarity. So, we can now do something similar in the back of the eye, to really look at detail and definition of blood flow and vascular changes in the back of the eye.”

The Brain and Alzheimer’s

The second study is a collaboration between Professor Yael Mardor and physicians Itzik Cooper and Harel Baris from the Sheba Medical Center, Israel and UCF physicians Joyce Paulson and Ali Rizvi. The study will examine how space travel affects the structure of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The barrier is a semipermeable coating around the brain that acts as a filter to prevent harmful toxins or pathogens carried in our blood from getting into the brain.

While the barrier has a protective function, it can also filter out or restrict beneficial substances like therapeutic drugs. Researchers are hoping the barrier can be altered through microgravity to allow better absorption of medications that treat neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s.

The civilian astronauts will undergo pre- and post-flight evaluations (including MRIs) to see if there are changes in the BBB.

“If there are any changes,” Rizvi says, “the end goal is to see whether the blood-brain barrier can be temporarily altered by exposing patients to microgravity – either in space or simulated on Earth — to facilitate the treatment of diseases like Alzheimer’s.”

This is the first blood-brain barrier study to be conducted on human subjects during space travel at the cellular level.

“UCF is grateful for this opportunity to collaborate on this project to help enhance the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases,” Paulson says. “Right now, there are limitations in terms of what we can do to help these patients. Neurodegenerative diseases are not only difficult to treat, but they are also very progressive and impacts not only the patients but their caregivers as well, so studies like these are very important.”

The researchers see these studies as an important step in providing new treatments on earth.

“The innovative breakthrough in this study lies not only in the specific research questions and methods but in the creativity of referring to the physiological impacts of exposure to microgravity as holding a therapeutic potential- which holds a promise for harnessing space endeavors to other medical applications and healthcare innovation,” says Baris, director of the ARC Space Lab at Sheba Medical Center. “We are confident that the collaborations on these studies will pave the way for further shared efforts – and enable our clinicians to provide better healthcare, for all human, either in space or on Earth.

Sheba Medical Center is the largest hospital system in Israel and Newsweek has ranked it in the top 10 internationally.

Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe has completed all pre-flight testing and will return for post-flight testing at UCF Health’s Medical City location and UCF Lake Nona Hospital, the medical school’s partnership hospital with HCA Healthcare.

“I am excited to be able to participate in these research studies and contribute to medical knowledge for future generations,” Stibbe said as he began testing at UCF days before being quarantined before the flight.

The UCF-affiliated studies are just two in of many experiments being conducted during the mission.

The UCF College of Medicine’s Department of Clinical Trials, under the direction of Amoy Fraser, is leading the trials. Fraser says more space flights studies are under negotiation.

“The medical school’s research expertise — and its Medical City location , close to an international airport and the space center — make us an optimal partner for medical space research,” Fraser says.

This year’s medical school physician awardees and their respective honors are:

• , nephrology, Premier
• , rheumatology, Top and Premier
• , rheumatology, Top and Premier
• Diane Davey, pathology, Top
• , general surgery, Premier
• , internal medicine, Top and Premier
• , dermatology, Premier
• , dermatology, Premier

Douglas Meuser, a sports medicine specialist at , was also honored as a Top Doc.

Awardees are nominated by their peers. The Top Doctors list is compiled by Consumers’ CHECKBOOK, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. The Premier Doctors list is a peer review study, conducted exclusively for Orlando Magazine by an independent research company.

“We are grateful to the community for this honor,” says Deborah German, UCF vice president for Health Affairs and dean of the College of Medicine. “Providing extraordinary patient care to the community while we train the next generation of healthcare leaders and create scientific discoveries to improve health is the core of our mission.”

The magazine featured two lists this year – a “Top Doctors List” compiled by Consumers’ CHECKBOOK, a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC, and a “Premier Doctors List” a peer-review study, conducted exclusively for Orlando Magazine by an independent research company.

“We are thrilled and honored to have so many of our outstanding physicians recognized this year for the extraordinary, patient-centered care they provide to people across our community,” said Dr. Deborah German, UCF’s vice president for health affairs and founding dean of the UCF College of Medicine.

Here are the UCF doctors named as Orlando Magazine’s top physicians:

•  – Nephrology
•  – Rheumatology
•  – Rheumatology
•  – Family Medicine/Geriatrics
• Diane Davey – Pathology (practices at Orlando VA Medical Center)
•  – Family Medicine
• Marcia Katz – Pulmonology
• Douglas Meuser – Sports Medicine (practices at UCF Student Health Services)
• Vladimir Neychev – General Surgery
•  – Internal Medicine
•  – Dermatology
• Judith Simms-Cendan – OB/GYN (practices at Orlando Health’s Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children)
•  – Psychiatry
• David Weinstein – Dermatology

Although the CDC recommends getting your yearly flu shot before November, getting vaccinated later is better than never and is highly recommended in the current climate as the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak continues to spread globally.

Anyone over the age of 6 months should be vaccinated every year. Adults 65 and older, people with chronic health conditions and women who are pregnant should make getting vaccinated a top priority, since they are at a higher risk of developing life-threatening complications from the flu.

The vaccine protects not only you, but also your family and others around you. It also helps to suppress symptoms if you do contract the virus. If you haven’t gotten your flu shot this year, it’s not too late.

You can request a flu shot from your doctor before any visit. Also, most local pharmacies are still administering flu shots, and some offer the vaccine for free or even for a store credit.

Flu shots are available for free to students at Student Health Services, and employees can also receive the shot there for a cost.

Here are some tips and tricks to help you sleep better tonight — and every night.

Setting a strict sleep schedule and sticking to it is a great way to make sure you’re getting the 7 to 9 hours of sleep you need per night. Make sure you are going to bed and waking up around the same time every day. This helps your body get into a rhythm, helping you fall asleep and wake up more naturally. Of course, there will be times when you may need to break your schedule, so think about getting a quick nap in those days to compensate for the sleep you lost. Try not to sleep in late, even on weekends, to avoid disturbing your routine.

Engaging in daily exercise helps you rid of excess energy that can keep you up at night. However, be sure to not exercise too close to your bedtime. Morning workouts are ideal and a great way to start the day. If you can’t work out in the mornings, make sure to finish your exercise at least three hours before going to bed. That gives your body enough time to cool down and prepare for rest.

Both caffeine and alcohol are known to obstruct the sleep cycle. When you come home from work or school at the end of the day, drink water instead of caffeinated drinks like soda. You should also avoid drinking alcohol too close to your bedtime.  While alcohol is a depressant and may make you feel sleepy, it actually is known to interrupt sleep and wake you up during the night.

Your bedroom should be quiet and free of distractions when you’re trying to fall asleep — that means putting away electronics and turning off the TV. You may also need to shut your doors and windows if you’re surrounded by external noises. Determine the right temperature to help you feel calm and relaxed and even consider the type of bedding that makes you most comfortable. If you still have trouble falling asleep, experiment with white noise devices or eye masks.

If you’ve tried everything and still can’t get a good night’s sleep, consider trying a melatonin supplement. Melatonin is a hormone that regulates the sleep cycle and can be found in the form of pills, gummies and even inhalation devices. While it is known to be safe for most people, there are side effects to consider, including dizziness and headaches.

The amount of sleep we get every night determines how productive we will be the next day, so make sure you are taking the appropriate measures to get a healthy night’s sleep to function at your absolute best. If insomnia is affecting your daily life, visit  your doctor.

To schedule an appointment at UCF College of Medicine’s East Orlando or Lake Nona physician practices, call 407-266-3627 or visit . For more information, visit .