Back in January 2024, we introduced our community to the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM), an innovative new medical school preparing to open its doors right here in Horizon West. At the time, the campus was getting ready to welcome its first students, and there was plenty of excitement surrounding what this new institution could mean for our growing community.
Fast forward to today, and OCOM is no longer just a vision for the future. In July 2024, the college officially welcomed its inaugural class of 97 medical students, marking a major milestone for both the school and Horizon West. Since then, OCOM has continued building its medical education program, welcoming future physicians to a campus that just happens to be in one of Central Florida’s most exciting places to live.
And yes, it’s pretty cool that we have an actual medical school right here in our neighborhood.
A Medical School in Our Own Backyard
Located at 7011 Kiran Patel Drive in Winter Garden, OCOM is bringing something new to Horizon West. We’re accustomed to seeing new neighborhoods, restaurants, schools, and businesses take shape as our community grows, but a medical college adds an entirely different dimension.
OCOM’s 144,000-square-foot, three-story campus was designed specifically for modern medical education. Inside, students have access to advanced simulation spaces, virtual anatomy technology, research facilities, and specialized laboratories where they can develop the skills they’ll eventually use to care for patients.
The campus also includes student housing nearby, helping create a community where future physicians can live, study, and spend time in Horizon West. That means our local restaurants, coffee shops, businesses, and gathering places have a new group of neighbors who are spending some of the most important years of their education right here.
For a community that has grown so much in such a short time, having a medical school as part of our local landscape is a pretty significant milestone.
What Makes OCOM’s Medical Education Different?
OCOM takes a different approach to medical education, replacing traditional lecture-heavy instruction with active, case-based learning, hands-on clinical experiences, and advanced technology. Rather than spending most of their time listening to lectures, students prepare independently and then work together to solve realistic medical cases with guidance from experienced physicians.
It’s an approach designed to help students think like doctors from the beginning of their education, rather than waiting until their clinical years to start connecting classroom knowledge with patient care.
Some of the technology and educational experiences available at OCOM include:
- High-fidelity medical simulation: Students practice clinical decision-making and patient care using sophisticated simulation equipment in a controlled learning environment.
- Virtual anatomy: Technology-enhanced anatomy tools allow students to explore the human body in three dimensions and apply what they’re learning throughout their coursework.
- Case-based learning: Small groups work through realistic patient scenarios, connecting medical science with diagnosis and treatment.
- Standardized patient encounters: Students practice communicating with and examining trained individuals who portray patients.
- Point-of-care ultrasound training: Students develop familiarity with technology physicians use to assess patients and support clinical decisions.
The program also incorporates osteopathic principles, which emphasize whole-person care and the relationship between the body’s structure and function. Students work toward earning a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree, preparing them to become fully licensed physicians.
The result is an educational experience built around collaboration, critical thinking, and applying knowledge in real-world situations. For students who learn best by doing, that approach is especially appealing.
Training Future Doctors Right Here in Central Florida
One of the most interesting things about OCOM is its emphasis on connecting medical education with the healthcare needs of our region.
Medical students often have to relocate or travel to different parts of the country as they progress through their training. OCOM is working to create a more regionally connected experience through clinical partnerships with hospitals, medical practices, and healthcare organizations throughout Central Florida and the state.
The college has established affiliations with healthcare organizations including Orlando Health, AdventHealth Apopka, and UF Health Central Florida. These relationships help develop the clinical training opportunities students need as they move from classroom education into patient care.
OCOM’s clinical education model assigns students to regional clinical networks for their third- and fourth-year rotations. Rather than constantly moving between unrelated locations, students can complete portions of their clinical education within an established regional network. Placements are not guaranteed to remain exclusively in Greater Orlando. However, this approach can provide greater geographic continuity and help students build relationships with physicians and healthcare facilities in the regions where they train.
That’s an especially interesting opportunity for students who hope to practice medicine in Central Florida someday. Building connections with local physicians, understanding the needs of area patients, and becoming familiar with regional healthcare systems could give them a valuable foundation for their future careers.
There’s also a bigger picture here. Central Florida continues to grow, and with that growth comes an ongoing need for qualified physicians and accessible healthcare services. Developing future doctors who already know our communities, understand our region, and have built professional relationships here could make a meaningful difference over time.
OCOM’s first class is expected to complete its four-year medical degree program in 2028, so its long-term physician retention story is still being written. Residency placements are a separate step after medical school, and graduates may pursue programs in Florida or elsewhere. Still, OCOM’s focus on regional clinical training is an encouraging step toward developing a stronger local physician pipeline.
Why Should Local Students Consider OCOM?
For aspiring physicians in the greater Orlando area, OCOM offers the opportunity to pursue a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree close to home. Its modern curriculum, hands-on learning environment, and regional clinical training network make it an option worth exploring.
There’s something especially appealing about being able to pursue a degree without having to leave the community where you live.
For local college graduates considering their next step, OCOM offers several advantages worth looking into:
- A Central Florida location: Students can pursue their medical education while remaining connected to family, friends, and established support systems.
- A modern approach to learning: The curriculum emphasizes practical application, collaboration, and clinical reasoning rather than traditional lectures alone.
- Early clinical skill development: Simulation, patient encounters, and osteopathic training help students begin developing essential physician skills early in the program.
- Regional healthcare connections: Clinical affiliations create opportunities to train within Florida’s healthcare system and develop professional relationships in the region.
- A growing medical school community: Students have the opportunity to help shape the traditions, organizations, and culture of a relatively new institution.
And there’s more to medical school than studying anatomy and preparing for exams. OCOM students also have opportunities to get involved in research, volunteer activities, and student organizations, creating ways to explore their interests and build relationships outside the classroom.
From the First 97 Students to the Future of Medicine
When OCOM welcomed its inaugural class in 2024, it marked the beginning of a new chapter for education in Central Florida. Those students are now progressing through a four-year journey that will prepare them for residency and, eventually, careers as physicians.
What started as an ambitious vision has become an active part of the Horizon West community. The classrooms are being used, students are learning, and the school’s relationships with healthcare organizations are helping establish the foundation for future clinical training. Through programs like NextGenDO, students are also beginning to make connections beyond campus.
We talk a lot about the growth happening in Horizon West, from new businesses and neighborhoods to schools and community spaces. But growth like this is different. OCOM is helping create opportunities for people to pursue careers that could have a lasting impact on the health and well-being of families throughout our region.
Interested in learning more about OCOM?
Visit Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine to explore its medical education program, admissions information, and campus opportunities.
Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM)
7011 Kiran Patel Drive
Winter Garden, FL 34787
Phone: (407) 707-4520
Website: https://ocom.org/
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