The UF College of Medicine is paving the way forward with a new, comprehensive strategic plan, which will be unveiled to the college community Friday, Dec. 10, from 7 - 8 a.m. via a livestreamed town hall event.

Input from the college community through survey responses, retreats and focus groups drove the development of the plan and the initiatives that will be implemented under each of the seven pillars.

Save the date and join us as we launch the college’s Strategic Plan — Engage, Innovate, Excel | 2026. Additional details to follow. Stay tuned!

Gilbert Rivers Upchurch Jr., M.D., the Edward M. Copeland III and Ann and Ira Horowitz Chair in the College of Medicine’s department of surgery, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine for his seminal contributions to the understanding of the development of vascular disease and contributing greatly to the advancement of all aspects of vascular and surgical care.

“Honestly, I am a bit overwhelmed and thankful,” Upchurch said. “I fully recognize that this is the reflection of all the amazing people I have been blessed to work with in my career. I also hope it represents a continued and growing national trend in recognizing the University of Florida as a prominent national powerhouse in medicine and science.”

As doctoral candidates in the UF College of Medicine’s Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences prepare for careers of scientific research and discovery, they are matched with faculty mentors who will guide their efforts. The cohort of second-year Ph.D. candidates, who were recently matched with their mentors, celebrated this important milestone at an event held in the George T. Harrell, M.D., Medical Education Building earlier this month.

“This is a celebration of the accomplishments these students have made during their first year,” said Thomas C. Rowe, Ph.D., associate dean for graduate education. “Their mentor is an expert whose goal is to pass their knowledge down and enable their mentee to become an independent researcher. They are the strongest advocates for these students.”