AdventHealth and UCF Transform Lake Nona into a Robotic Surgery and Simulation Epicenter

Lake Nona Medical City is accelerating its evolution into a national hub for integrated health innovation, marked by two major developments: the structural topping-off of AdventHealth’s new robotic and incisionless-surgery hospital and the expansion of the University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Nursing. Together, these projects showcase Lake Nona’s purpose-built model of co-locating clinical care, research, and workforce training in one ecosystem to speed real-time medical advancement.

AdventHealth’s 10-story hospital, opening in November 2026, is designed as a “robotic and incisionless epicenter.” It will feature histotripsy, a noninvasive technology that uses focused ultrasound to destroy tumors without incisions, as well as collaborative surgical robots and smart, sensor-driven patient rooms. The hospital will start with 95 beds and is engineered to expand by an additional 200 beds as demand grows. AdventHealth leaders say the goal is to bring nationally recognized specialty care directly to the Lake Nona community.

Meanwhile, UCF has opened its expanded Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, a key step in addressing Florida’s severe nursing shortage—currently projected to reach 37,000 RNs within ten years. The expansion allows UCF to graduate 150 more nurses per year and triples its simulation capacity through the Helene Fuld Health Trust STIM Center, equipped for immersive AR/VR training in high-acuity scenarios. The facility creates a direct training pipeline into nearby hospitals and research organizations, aligning educational innovation with clinical needs.

Lake Nona leaders emphasize that the proximity of cutting-edge clinical care and next-generation training programs creates a powerful feedback loop: surgeons innovate alongside researchers, while nursing students learn in environments shaped by real-time medical advancements.