Shaping the minds and skillsets of rising health care professionals has been the role of the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville for decades. A positive culture of excellence in medical education continues to inspire faculty, house staff, medical students and administrators to create healthier communities by moving medicine forward.
Recently, the UF College of Medicine’s Society of Teaching Scholars held its 26th annual Celebration of Excellence, acknowledging significant educational achievements in Gainesville and Jacksonville. The society, chaired by Colleen Kalynych, MSH, EdD, associate dean for medical education, also inducted new members.
Congratulations to all who were recognized. Thank you for your commitment to advancing medicine through medical education. See Jacksonville recipients and honorees below.
Inducted into the UF College of Medicine Society of Teaching Scholars
Alexandra Mannix, MD
Associate professor, Department of Emergency Medicine
GME Program of the Year
Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship
Vandana Seeram, MD, Professor and program director
Sonya Newsome, Program administrator
GME Educator of the Year
Sarah Saliba, MD, Assistant professor, Department of Emergency Medicine
Outstanding Resident Educator Award
Brittany Blake, MD, Department of Psychiatry
Gerado Diaz Garcia, DO, Department of Medicine
Peter Dominguez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine
Corey Engel, MD, Department of Radiology
Junaid Essa, DO, Department of Neurology
Zachary Gallatin, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Thomas Metzner, DO, MS, Department of Urology
Braeden Moody, MD, Department of Ophthalmology
Alex Moses, MD, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation
Danielle Nese, MD, Department of Pediatrics
Keouna Pather, MD, Department of Surgery
Sydney Shaouy, MD, Department of Anesthesiology
Scott Smith, DO, Department of Pathology
The event also recognized 2026 Exemplary Teachers. See who was honored here.