College of Health & Human Performance

What if rehab felt more like stepping into a game than repeating the same exercises in a clinic? At the University of Florida, doctoral athletic training students are using virtual reality headsets to simulate real-world recovery scenarios, gamify therapy, and help patients move with less pain. From post-surgical rehab to sport-specific training, the immersive technology is reshaping how future clinicians think about care. Inside the classroom — and already in the field — UF students are exploring how VR could transform the future of rehabilitation.

Joshua Kalahikiola Alexander turned a childhood fascination with immersive experiences into a global leadership career shaping complex interactive environments. As vice president of global partnerships for a multinational entertainment studio, he leads worldwide operations supporting large-scale experiential projects. Seeking to better understand how meaningful guest experiences are designed and sustained, he earned his Master of Science in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management through UF Online in Fall 2025 — applying program frameworks directly to his work and developing an evidence-based model for improving reliability and emotional impact across digital and physical experiences.

UF Online sport management student-athlete Sophia Gordon is racing toward the 2026 Winter Olympics as a member of USA Luge’s women’s doubles team. After discovering the sport at age 8 and joining the national development program as a preteen, Gordon has competed internationally while balancing rigorous year-round training with her academic goals. Through UF Online, she has built a flexible path that allows her to pursue both elite competition and her long-term ambition of working in professional sports management.