Our Collaboration with Jacksonville Fire and Rescue

On Tues Jan 7th, the CCTC visited our partners at the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Dept (JFRD) headquarters to plan for ongoing resources for UF patients struggling with substance use disorder. The Coordinated Opioid Recovery (CORE) Program helps individuals begin their recovery journey through medication-assisted therapy, transportation to appointments and pharmacies, and emotional support. The CCTC is pushing this important program beyond the emergency department, and into UF outpatient venues, where it can reach even more community members.

New Employee Profile: Michael T. Mezzano

Michael T. Mezzano joined the College of Medicine – Jacksonville in January 2025 as the Data Management Analyst for the CCTC. He earned his M.S. in Data Science – Data Modeling and Analytics from the University of West Florida in 2024, during which he co-authored research in the Journal of Statistics and Public Policy using spatial statistics methodologies. Prior to his current role, he worked as a Data Scientist and Project Lead in the Data Science for Social Good program at the University of North Florida, collaborating with local non-profit and advocacy groups to create data science tools designed to address social issues affecting Floridians.

Before his time as a data scientist, Michael served the Jacksonville community as a teacher in Duval County Public Schools from 2016 to 2024. He spent several years at Terry Parker High School (his alma mater) and Atlantic Coast High School, teaching courses in mathematics and physics while sponsoring many after-school student groups, including student government, peer tutoring programs, Marathon High, and a student favorite – the anime club. Michael is a local alumnus of both the University of North Florida and Florida State College at Jacksonville, earning his B.A. in Psychology and Mathematical Sciences in 2015 and his A.A. in 2013, respectively. As a Jacksonville native and lifelong resident of Duval, Michael is proud to continue serving his community in this role and is excited to use data science solutions to meet the healthcare needs of our patients.