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Dr. Robert Hasty (left), Chief Academic Officer and Dean at Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of Florida Polytechnic University, signed an agreement on Monday, May 5, to create a seamless pathway at the institutions from undergraduate STEM education to professional medical training.

Florida Poly and OCOM announce strategic affiliation to strengthen Florida’s STEM-to-medical pipeline

May 5, 2025

Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM) and Florida Polytechnic University have announced a strategic affiliation aimed at creating a seamless pathway from undergraduate STEM education to professional medical training.

This collaboration brings together two of Florida’s fastest-growing institutions in science, technology, engineering, and health sciences. By aligning Florida Poly’s rigorous STEM education with OCOM’s innovative medical curriculum, the collaboration seeks to develop future professionals equipped to meet Florida’s evolving healthcare and technology needs.

“This partnership underscores our commitment to fostering the next generation of professionals who will not only innovate in science and engineering, but also lead with compassion in healthcare,” said Dr. Robert Hasty, Chief Academic Officer and Dean at OCOM. “We are thrilled to work alongside Florida Polytechnic University to create meaningful pathways for students who want to serve our communities in Central Florida and beyond.”

“Florida Polytechnic University is proud to partner with OCOM to develop meaningful opportunities for our students to bring their STEM expertise into one of society’s most critical fields – healthcare,” said Dr. Devin Stephenson, President of Florida Poly. “This partnership represents a shared commitment to innovation, workforce development, and community well-being. Together, we are preparing the next generation of leaders who will drive advancements in healthcare technology, address pressing challenges, and improve lives.”

Through joint programming, shared resources, and articulation agreements, the partnership will emphasize early exposure to healthcare careers for STEM students, promote interdisciplinary collaboration, and address the workforce demands in Florida’s expanding life sciences and health sectors.

 

Contact:
Lydia Guzmán
Director of Communications
863-874-8557

Session Details

This session will demonstrate that practical risk management is for everyone, regardless of a formal program. Attendees will learn actionable and simple strategies that are easy to implement, enabling them to start immediately by focusing on their top risks to build greater operational resilience and ensure the sustained success of their auxiliary enterprises.

Presenter Profile

Michelle Powell serves as the pioneering Risk Manager at Florida Polytechnic University, the state’s sole 100% STEM-dedicated institution. Having been with the university for nearly 11 years, Michelle transitioned from a leadership role in Admissions in October 2023 to establish and evolve the risk management function from the ground up. In this solo capacity, Michelle builds robust frameworks for our dynamic, young university, overseeing our insurance portfolio, consulting on third-party and event risks, and developing critical campus-wide training programs. Michelle has obtained the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) Enterprise Risk Management certificate and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designations. Her distinct background in mathematics and engineering, combined with extensive higher education leadership, brings an analytical and strategic approach enhancing the institution’s resilience.