While the Stephen C. O’Connell Center is usually abuzz with Gator fans eager to catch the latest basketball game or cheer on the gymnastics team, the excitement inside the O’Dome last Wednesday was centered on the UF College of Medicine’s first in-person Research Day in two years.

The event featured research poster presentations from about 500 College of Medicine students, residents, fellows, faculty and collaborators, a forum on artificial intelligence and technology and a celebration of K-12 regional science fair winners. 

“Research Day at the College of Medicine returned bigger and better than ever before, with a great emphasis on recognizing our early-career scientists and trainees to inspire the next generation of research efforts here at the college,” said Azra Bihorac, M.D., M.S., senior associate dean for research affairs.

During the College of Medicine’s annual Celebration of Diversity Week, faculty, students, staff and community members gathered to acknowledge the strides the college has made toward greater diversity, equity and inclusion, and to hold discussions about how the college community can improve.

“We are happy that after two years we were able to be face-to-face again,” said Donna Parker, M.D., associate dean for diversity and health equity. “As in past years, I hope students, residents, staff, faculty and leaders came away from these events with excitement and ideas about how we can advocate to improve the health of our communities.”

Event speakers included first-generation college students, community leaders and the AAMC’s senior director of health equity research and policy.

Sheltered from the drizzle beneath a gray canopy, tables and crates piled high with farm-fresh produce drew a steady stream of curious, smiling faces outside the UF Health Pediatrics – Gerold L. Schiebler CMS Center on the afternoon of March 23.

The event kicked off a series of monthly farmers markets to come thanks to the efforts of third-year pediatrics resident Christina Baxter Vernace, D.O., and her partners at UF Health, UF/IFAS and The Family Garden. The goal of the initiative is to ensure pediatric patients and families have easy access to fresh produce to help prevent or combat childhood obesity.

The farmers market will be held the third Wednesday of every month, except for the summer growing season, at the same time and location. The next one will take place April 20 from 2-5:15 p.m. at the UF Health Pediatrics – Gerold L. Schiebler CMS Center.