The Usha Kundu, MD College of Health at the University of West Florida is dedicated to educating health professionals for the 21st century. Our mission is to be community-engaged and actively working to improve the health and quality of life for all individuals and communities through learner-focused education and conducting collaborative and impactful research. We envision promoting a healthier society by cultivating professionals who are responsive to the needs of all communities. We offer a diverse set of degree programs across health, public health, nursing, psychology, social work, movement sciences, medical laboratory sciences, respiratory therapy, and health sciences administration. The College emphasizes quality academics, hands-on experiential learning, and strong community partnerships.

RESEARCH & IMPACT

UKCOH is heavily involved in collaborative and community-based research aimed at addressing health challenges in Northwest Florida and beyond.
Recent initiatives include launching a new Respiratory Therapy specialization under the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences to meet regional workforce demands. We invest in enriching the student experience and research capacity, such as through the Wright Family Institute for Global and Population Health, which is advancing graduate research and global health partnerships.

ACADEMICS

A wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs: nursing (BSN, MSN), public health, social work, psychology, movement sciences, medical laboratory sciences, respiratory therapy, health sciences and administration.
Emphasis on experiential learning: clinical practice, community health service, internships, and partnerships with healthcare institutions.
Responsive to evolving health needs: adapting curriculum to meet demands (e.g. respiratory therapy), ensuring accessibility and quality in student learning.

HISTORY & GROWTH

The UKCOH recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary as a College, marking a decade of growth, community engagement, scholarship, and building programs that respond to local and national health workforce needs. The College’s founding dean, Dr. Ermalynn Kiehl, established strong foundation, and recently a scholarship endowment was established in her honor (the “Founding Dean, Dr. Ermalynn Kiehl Excellence Endowment”) to support students and operations.