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UCF Board of Governors approves plan for new 100-bed hospital

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Within the next few years, Orange County may have a new 100-bed hospital on the University of Central Florida campus.

The university’s Board of Governors has approved plans to open a teaching hospital in the Lake Nona area.

“This hospital will be able to serve non-veteran adults, and it will be able to provide medical care that’s research based,” UCF College of Medicine spokeswoman Wendy Sarubbi said.

The UCF Lake Nona Medical Center could expand to 500 beds if the need is great enough, she said.

Second-year medical student Robert Le was excited about the prospect of having a teaching hospital on campus.

“It’s going to be amazing to have that sort of opportunity right next door,” he said.

UCF officials said they would be working with Hospital Corporation of America to add 600 residency slots by the time the hospital opens.