After spending more than a decade toward the goal of graduation, including years of undergraduate education, medical/dental school, internships and residency/fellowship training, the time has finally come for this year's graduating class.
On June 14, the University of Florida Colleges of Dentistry, Medicine and Pharmacy celebrated during the Jacksonville Resident and Fellow Graduation Ceremony held in the Learning Resource Center Auditorium.
As part of the ceremony, the UF College of Medicine presented four different prestigious awards to residents, fellows and faculty members. There was also the announcement of a new award, the Ann Harwood-Nuss Resident Advocate Award, which is named after and in honor of the retiring associate dean for educational affairs in Jacksonville. This new award will be presented for the fist time at next year's graduation ceremony.
UF students rotating on the Jacksonville campus determine the recipients of the eighth annual Excellence in Student Education award by voting on which College of Medicine Jacksonville residents/fellows and faculty members are the most outstanding educators. The resident winner receives a plaque and $500 and the faculty winner receives a professional expense account for $500.
Finalists (faculty):
Scott Silliman, M.D., associate professor of neurology
Andrew Kerwin, M.D., assistant professor of surgery
Guy Benrubi, M.D., professor, associate chair and program director of OB/GYN
Winner (faculty):
Andrew Kerwin, M.D., assistant professor of surgery
Finalists (residents):
Bianca Jasani, M.D., pediatrics resident
Rushia Slade, M.D., OB/GYN resident
Robert Griffin, M.D., family medicine resident
Winner (resident):
Bianca Jasani, M.D., pediatrics resident
The Edward Jelks Outstanding Resident Clinician award winners are chosen based on which residents/fellows are considered to have contributed the most, through dedication, diligence and compassion, or through innovation in patient care, to the improvement of patient care at Shands Jacksonville. The winner receives $500.
Finalists:
Gisela Porras, M.D., pediatrics resident
Chris Goll, M.D., orthopedic surgery resident
Kimberly Loar, M.D., OB/GYN resident
Winner:
Chris Goll, M.D., orthopedic surgery resident
The Rosilie Saffos Outstanding Resident Teacher award is given based on outstanding resident/fellow teaching on the Jacksonville campus. The recipient is given a plaque and $1,000.
This award was established to honor the memory of Rosilie Saffos, M.D. She was known for being an excellent physician and teacher who possessed compassion, intellectual curiosity and a genuine dedication to education.
Finalists:
TC Lackey, M.D., surgery resident
Bianca Jasani, M.D., pediatrics resident
Bharat Gummadi, M.D., internal medicine resident
Robert Griffin, M.D., family medicine resident
Winner:
Bianca Jasani, M.D., pediatrics resident
The Louis Russo Award for Outstanding Professionalism in Medicine is an award given to faculty and residents. Only individuals with the highest standards of medical professionalism, substantiated by a commitment to personal behavior that reflects the core values of the consummate physician, including altruism, excellence, ethics and respect for others are considered. The resident award consists of a plaque and $1,000. The faculty award includes a plaque and a professional expense account for $3,000.
Established in 2001, this award was named after a well-respected senior associate dean, Louis S. Russo, M.D.
Finalists (faculty):
Shahla Masood, M.D., professor of pathology
Asad Tolaymat, M.D., professor of pediatrics
David Caro, M.D., assistant professor of emergency medicine
Miren Schinco, M.D., associate professor of surgery
Winner (faculty):
David Caro, M.D., assistant professor of emergency medicine
Finalists (residents):
Darren Peterson, M.D., surgery resident
Glenda Wright, M.D., pediatrics resident
Elizabeth Fihe, M.D., emergency medicine resident
Winner (resident):
Darren Peterson, M.D., surgery resident
The names of all award winners are engraved on a plaque located in the Learning Resource Center Building.