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UF | College of Medicine - University of Florida
 
Engage, Innovate, Excel | 2026
Research Day returns in-person with new events, community collaboration

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.

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College of Medicine celebrates annual Diversity Week

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.

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Resident launches farmers market at pediatrics clinic to make fresh produce accessible for patients

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.

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UF HEALTH NEWS
UF HealthStreet and Cooperative Extension collaboration wins AAMC award
 
The 2022 Association of American Medical Colleges Innovations that Bolster Community Trust in Science Awards recognized Dr. Linda B. Cottler and two fellow UF faculty members with a first-place award for partnership between programs.
 
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COLLEGE ROUNDUP
Students contribute to Epic
 
UF Health IT has introduced a new Epic workflow allowing medical students to significantly contribute clinical documentation into the legal patient medical record under supervision of a resident or attending physician. This encourages student feedback and communication between medical team members.
 
View details on Bridge »
 
DEI seminar for students, faculty and trainees coming April 21
 
A seminar on April 21 from 5-6:30 p.m. in the Harrell Medical Education Building will walk attendees through how to start and implement successful diversity, equity and inclusion and wellness projects. Dinner will be served, and registration is capped at 100 attendees.
 
Sign up to attend »
 
View strategic plan initiatives dashboard
 
Track the progress of initiatives under the seven pillars of the strategic plan.
 
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WELLNESS
» Register for the Ask the Dietitian live webinar April 20 at 1 p.m., where a registered dietitian nutritionist with Florida Blue will discuss intermittent fasting, a trending eating pattern that is not about what you eat, but when. The webinar will be followed by a Q&A session.
 
NEWS CHANNELS
» Doctor Gator News
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» Florida Physician Magazine
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» UF Health MedEd Cast (podcast)
 
GOOD NEWS
 
Dr. Matthew S. Gentry named chair of Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Matthew S. Gentry, Ph.D., a prominent brain metabolism scientist who has made seminal discoveries in the realm of brain glycogen and glucose metabolism, was recently named to serve as the next chair of the department of biochemistry and molecular biology at the UF College of Medicine.

Gentry, who will begin his new role at UF on Aug. 22, is currently the Antonio S. Turco Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, where he is also director of the Brain & Epilepsy Alliance for Metabolism, or BEAM, Research and the Lafora Epilepsy Cure Initiative Center, a program funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Meet Dr. Gentry »
 
20th annual Talbert symposium an impressive success

In March, students, residents and fellows presented research for a visiting professor at the 20th annual James Lewis Talbert, M.D., Lectureship and Mini-Symposium.

Named for the founding chief of the UF division of pediatric surgery, the lectureship has hosted distinguished pediatric surgeons from across the U.S. and Canada for two decades. For about 10 years, it has also included a research symposium, allowing members of the college to present their work to the visiting guests. At this year's event, 15 members of the College of Medicine community presented their research to visiting professor Marjorie J. Arca, M.D., surgeon-in-chief at the Golisano Children’s Hospital and division chief of pediatric surgery at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

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TRACTS program offers opportunities for clinical faculty interested in research

Health care is about more than caring directly for patients — it is also about conducting research that will improve science and lead to better care in the future.

TRACTS — the Training and Research Academy for Clinical and Translational Science — is a training program for early-career faculty who have an interest in pursuing clinical or translational research. Directed by epidemiology research professor Richard Shorr, M.D., M.S., TRACTS is open to all UF Health academic health center faculty members and consists of 10 online sessions focused on topics including basic elements of study design, database design and management, health center resources, regulatory issues and biostatistical considerations.

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UF | College of Medicine - University of Florida
Location Dean's Office | Medical Science Building
Phone (352) 273-7500
Phone COMDean-Koch@ufl.edu
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