The University of Central Florida (UCF) is expanding its space medicine program aimed at training students in healthcare for astronauts. Dr. Manny Urquieta, who leads this initiative, emphasizes that space medicine is a relatively new field, emerging since the 1960s when humans first went to space.
Urquieta, who joined UCF after serving as the chief medical officer at the Johnson Space Center, is spearheading the establishment of a master’s degree and residency program in space medicine. The goal is to prepare future physicians to support astronaut and pilot health.
Students in the program will conduct health checks for astronauts prior to missions, assist in the selection of future astronauts, and aid in their training. Once astronauts are in space, trained physicians will provide care through telemedicine, with some possibly traveling to space themselves. Additionally, these physicians will support astronauts during recovery after their missions.
