With a record $121 million in National Institutes of Health research funding in 2021, the UF College of Medicine is home to dozens of top-funded researchers across several specialties who annually contribute groundbreaking research to their fields. Now, the college is turning to these experts to serve as guides for the next generation of medical researchers.

As part of a new research training and workforce development program spearheaded by the UF College of Medicine’s Office of Research Affairs, a new project under the research pillar of the college’s strategic plan initiative aims to make what can be an intimidating process — completing a grant proposal for R01 funding from the NIH — easier, and even fun.

The NIH awards R01 grants to support specific health-related research and development projects in line with its mission. The college’s new R01 Boot Camp teams up early career investigators with senior researchers at the college, as well as other UF and external subject matter experts, to assist researchers who are applying for grants through all steps of the process and provide them with feedback. Teams also meet monthly to have informal chats and discuss big-picture ideas, such as giving an elevator pitch on research topics.

Residents in the College of Medicine department of ophthalmology graduate after having performed nearly 2,000 procedures, and they also leave with an ability to advocate for the best patient care possible.

The residency program ranks No.1 in the country in the number of cataract surgeries that residents perform and maintains a 100% pass rate on board exams. Cataract surgeries are the most common procedure practicing ophthalmologists encounter, said Casey Beal, M.D., FAAP, director of the department’s residency program, and at UF, residents graduate with about 300 of these surgeries under their belts.

High surgical volumes, the ability to operate earlier in their residency and advocacy opportunities are compelling draws for soon-to-be residents considering where to complete their training. This focus on patient-centric advocacy led the American Academy of Ophthalmology to choose UF’s program as the recipient of the Commitment to Advocacy Award earlier this year. 

Some are military veterans, while others are jazz musicians. Some became interested in the medical field due to family illnesses or by getting first-hand experience working inside intensive care units.

Although their backgrounds vary, all 135 members of the UF College of Medicine’s M.D. class of 2026 are united by a calling to care for others. The students began their medical school journeys last week with orientation, coming together in person for the first time. They also met some of the faculty members who will be by their side through the lessons and challenges of medical school.