Burrell College Announces New Partnership with Florida Tech, Steward Health Care
Through a unique partnership with Florida Institute of Technology and Steward Health Care, the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine is expanding its clinical education reach to Florida.
Beginning Aug. 3, nine medical students attending Burrell College have the opportunity to conduct clinical rotations, or hands-on medical training, at Rockledge Regional Medical Center, Melbourne Regional Medical Center and Steward Medical Group clinics. Students will be able to select and experience among 14 medical specialties, including gastroenterology, forensic psychiatry, ophthalmology and interventional cardiology.
“We are pleased to offer our students these additional learning opportunities in Florida,” said John Hummer, president of the Burrell College. “The Space Coast of Florida and New Mexico have a long history of strong relationships and partnerships, including the establishment and success of the U.S. space programs. We are excited to see this new medical partnership come to the same fruition.”
Medical students rotating in the new Florida hub will live in off-campus housing near Florida Tech in Melbourne. Students will have access to the same services that full-time Florida Tech students receive. This includes access to the student union facilities; university libraries; athletics facilities; campus health center; meal service; outdoor aquatic center; as well as campus and community events.
“Florida Tech has for six decades seen the impact of educational excellence firsthand, so we are privileged to partner with these two leading organizations, Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine and Steward Health Care, in the education of the next generation of medical professionals,” said Florida Tech President Dwayne McCay. “We have been reminded during these troubling times of the importance of skilled physicians, and we are pleased to help strengthen the ranks of this essential field through our unified efforts.”
Forty physicians in Florida have signed up to supervise medical student trainees and participate in clinical rotations. Steward’s goal is to expand the pool of physician participants to 130.
“It is an honor to partner with Florida Tech and Burrell College to begin this groundbreaking medical education endeavor in Brevard County,” said Andy Romine, president of Rockledge Regional Medical Center. “It is a true testament of the strong medical staff we have at Rockledge and Melbourne Regional Medical Centers and their desire to coach and guide the next generation of physicians. One of the goals of this program is to educate these physicians locally and for them to potentially spend their careers caring for the residents of Brevard County.”
Plans are underway to host up to 50 Burrell College medical students each year.
Click here to learn more about how Southern New Mexico and Florida have partnered in the past for the success of U.S. space exploration.
Media Contacts:
Nadia Whitehead, Burrell College, nwhitehead@bcomnm.org
Cathy Pague, Steward Health Care, cathy.pague@steward.org
Adam Lowenstein, Florida Tech, adam@fit.edu
