- College of Medicine Research
As commercial space exploration accelerates, the need for highly trained first responders and innovative medical solutions for in-flight emergencies has never been greater. In response, Operator Solutions, a leader in specialized rescue and emergency response for human spaceflight, has partnered with the UCF College of Medicine to advance aerospace medical training and emergency preparedness.
This strategic collaboration combines Operator Solutions’ hands-on operational expertise with UCF’s academic and research excellence to develop cutting-edge training programs, pioneer medical research, and enhance real-world response capabilities in high-risk environments.
Key Initiatives of the Partnership
The collaboration will drive multiple initiatives aimed at improving medical preparedness in spaceflight and extreme environments.
- Developing Medical Training Modules for Commercial Spaceflight
Operator Solutions and UCF will provide specialized training for physicians, paramedics, flight nurses, medical students, and resident physicians. The focus will be on triage procedures, in-flight patient care using helicopters, and managing mass casualty incidents at sea. Operator Solutions is also developing a medical skills lab at UCF, where paramedics can master critical techniques such as wound care, fluid resuscitation, and stabilization under high-stress conditions. Additionally, trainees will gain hands-on experience in the College of Medicine’s Anatomy Lab, learning life-saving procedures like chest tube insertion and evisceration treatment. - Enhancing In-Flight Medical Care for Space Travelers
With the number of space travelers increasing and missions lasting longer, Operator Solutions and UCF aim to develop new technologies to improve point-of-care medical treatment in space. Their research will focus on ultrasound and telemedicine systems for treating conditions such as kidney stones and blood clots, as well as real-time health monitoring solutions for astronauts—critical for long-duration missions, including those planned for Mars.
Advancing the Future of Aerospace Medicine
As America’s Space University, UCF is the ideal academic partner for this endeavor. The university was founded to provide talent to fuel the nation’s space program and today is a national leader in many areas of space research, including developing new technologies for space missions and advancing the health and wellbeing of space travelers.
This partnership strengthens an unrivaled opportunity for UCF students to prepare for careers in this rapidly growing field. UCF is creating a new space medicine curriculum that will involve students from many disciplines, including medicine, nursing, engineering, computer science, optics and photonics – and establishing what will be the nation’s first master’s degree in space medicine.
Located in Melbourne, FL, Operator Solutions combines decades of military, spaceflight and medical expertise to offer operational, rescue and recovery services to government and private companies. Its pararescuers are qualified to offer paramedic-level care anywhere in the world, including parachuting into remote rescue sites. The company specializes in open-ocean rescue of boaters and astronauts and helped develop procedures for astronaut rescue and retrieval for the commercial space program. Its workforce is 100% military veterans.
“This partnership represents a significant leap forward in aerospace medical training,” said Christopher Lais of Operator Solutions. “By combining our hands-on operational expertise with UCF’s world-class academic research, we are creating a framework that will shape the future of spaceflight medical preparedness and emergency response.”
Dr. Emmanuel Urquieta, Vice Chair of Aerospace Medicine at the UCF College of Medicine, emphasized the growing importance of aerospace medical training. “As commercial space travel expands, ensuring that astronauts, spaceflight crews, and emergency responders are equipped with essential medical knowledge and skills is critical. This collaboration will push the boundaries of medical science and training, helping us ensure safety and preparedness in extreme environments.”
Dr. Urquieta is one of the world’s foremost leaders in space medicine. He came to UCF after serving as chief medical officer of the NASA-funded Translational Institute for Space Health (TRISH) led by the Baylor College of Medicine. His goal is to make UCF a model of interdisciplinary medical research focused on improving the health of space travelers and also those on Earth.
Setting the Standard for Space Mission Readiness
By leveraging their combined expertise, Operator Solutions and UCF College of Medicine are establishing new benchmarks in medical education, research, and operational readiness for both spaceflight and emergency response. This partnership is poised to transform aerospace medicine, delivering life-saving solutions for the next generation of space missions.
For more information, visit Operator Solutions at www.OS-rescue.com and UCF’s Aerospace Medicine at med.ucf.edu/aerospace-medicine/
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- Emmanuel Urquieta Operator Solutions Space Medicine