Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine Announces Clinical Affiliation with Orlando Rehabilitation Hospital
The Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM) is proud to announce a new clinical affiliation with Orlando Rehabilitation Hospital in Altamonte Springs, an innovative inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Central Florida. This partnership will provide OCOM’s third- and fourth-year medical students with valuable clinical rotation experiences at a hospital dedicated to improving mobility and function and helping patients return to their best lives.
Orlando Rehabilitation Hospital is the only designated Center of Excellence in Rehabilitation Services-Stroke Care in Central Florida. The accreditation was achieved through the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ). With a multidisciplinary rehabilitation care team and specialized therapists in physical, occupational, and speech therapy, Orlando Rehabilitation Hospital provides OCOM student doctors with exposure to a wide spectrum of rehabilitative medicine. This affiliation provides student doctors with hands-on exposure and direct observation of experts in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R), as well as professionals in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. The students will also review each patient's plan of care, observe care delivered by rehab-trained nurses, and follow the discharge-planning process managed by the case management team. This specialty training in rehabilitation medicine is essential for preparing future osteopathic physicians to support patients with disabling diseases or injuries.
Dr. Robert T. Hasty, Dean and Chief Academic Officer of OCOM, expressed enthusiasm about the new affiliation:
“Partnering with Orlando Rehabilitation Hospital expands the depth of clinical experiences available to our student doctors. Their team’s expertise in patient recovery, functional restoration, and whole-person care aligns closely with the osteopathic philosophy. This opportunity will help our students develop a deeper understanding of rehabilitative medicine and the continuum of care that supports patients in returning to their daily lives.”
“Physiatry is a unique specialty and very critical in returning people to the highest level of function possible after a disabling condition or injury,” said Robert Kent, DO, Orlando Rehabilitation Hospital Medical Director. “We’re excited to collaborate with OCOM to cultivate the next generation of physicians, expertly trained in rehabilitation medicine.”
This partnership underscores OCOM’s commitment to delivering diverse, high-impact clinical training opportunities. By working with institutions like Orlando Rehabilitation Hospital, OCOM continues to advance its mission of producing compassionate, skilled osteopathic physicians equipped to meet the evolving needs of patients and communities.
About the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM)
The Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM) is a forward-thinking medical school dedicated to educating the next generation of osteopathic physicians through innovative instruction, advanced simulation, and a commitment to whole-person care. Located in Central Florida, OCOM emphasizes clinical excellence, community engagement, and preparing future physicians to address today’s healthcare challenges with compassion, integrity, and skill.
About the Orlando Rehabilitation Hospital
Orlando Rehabilitation Hospital opened in 2024 and is a 3-story, 60-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital with two rehab therapy gyms. People with debilitating illnesses and injuries such as brain injury, stroke, and other complex medical, neurological, and orthopedic diseases and injuries are cared for under the management of Nobis. The hospital is owned by New Era Companies and WB Development. A team of medical rehabilitation physicians, therapists, and rehab-trained nurses, and the hospital care team will develop the intensive medical rehabilitation program for each patient during their hospital stay.
