Keiser University Tampa is providing students with hands-on learning opportunities through a new partnership with Orthopedic Medical Group Tampa Bay.

The partnership allows students Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Science degree program to participate in externship programs at the medical care center.

The team at OMG Tampa Bay provides orthopedic care to athletes with the goal of injury prevention and guided return-to-play care. Made up of orthopedic surgeons, athletic trainers, physical therapists, strength and condition experts, speed and agility coaches, and personal trainers, students in the externship program will have access to the knowledge of a wide range of industry experts.

The Keiser University Exercise and Sport Science program prepares students for a career in a number of different health and fitness related fields, from hospital and cardiac rehabilitations, to corporate wellness, sports clubs, and fitness centers. Students learn about conditioning, kinesiology, motor development, and physiological adaptations in order to provide quality care to patients and athletes.

OMG Tampa Bay is the latest care provider to partner with the Exercise and Sport Science program for student externships. Keiser University staff say the program provides participants with the opportunity to learn hands-on, in the field experience from industry experts across the sport science field.

“The Exercise and Sport Science profession uses a health, fitness, sports, and wellness approach to educate, motivate, and assist people to achieve long term goals,” said Dawn Laverty. “Our diverse externship site options provide real-world experience to be prepare the student in the field.”

The first Keiser University student to participate in the externship program at OMG Tampa Bay will begin on March 6. Through the program, the student will also have a chance to work with athletic trainers at Jesuit High School.

Full-time students in the Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science degree program with a minimum GPA of 2.0 are eligible to participate in the externship program. Students also must be CPR, First Aid, and AED certified.

Keiser University is a private, independent, non-profit university serving nearly 20,000 students at 21 Florida campuses, online, and two international sites. Co-founded in 1977 by Chancellor Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., and Evelyn Keiser, Keiser University currently offers more than 100 degrees from associate to the doctoral level. Keiser University is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and was ranked No. 1 in the U.S. in providing Social Mobility by U.S. News and World Report in 2023.