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UF residents honored during commencement ceremony

Image: Thomas Chiu, M.D. receives the Louis Russo Award from Robert Nuss, M.D.
Thomas Chiu, M.D. receives the Louis Russo Award from Robert Nuss, M.D.

The College of Medicine-Jacksonville celebrated the graduation of 127 medical, dental and pharmacy residents and fellows at its annual resident graduation ceremony on June 18 in the Learning Resource Center Auditorium. Hundreds of relatives, friends, faculty members and staff were on hand to cheer on the residents as they accepted their certificates.

As part of the ceremony, the UF College of Medicine-Jacksonville presented five prestigious awards to residents, fellows and faculty members.

UF students rotating on the Jacksonville campus determine the recipients of the tenth annual Excellence in Student Education award by voting on which residents/fellows and faculty members are the most outstanding educators. The resident winner receives a plaque and $500, and the faculty winner receives a plaque and a professional expense account for $500.

Finalists (faculty):

Irene Alexandraki, M.D., assistant professor of medicine
Thomas Morrissey, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of emergency medicine
Brent Seibel, M.D., assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology

Winner (faculty):

Irene Alexandraki, M.D., assistant professor of medicine

Finalist (residents):

Jennifer Heinemann, M.D., obstetrics and gynecology
Andrea Lopez, M.D., pediatrics

Winner (resident):

Jennifer Heinemann, M.D., obstetrics and gynecology

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 a plaque and $500.

Finalists:

Kara Driver, M.D., pediatrics
Timothy Lucey, D.O., neurology
Ethan Rogers, M.D., emergency medicine

Winner:

Timothy Lucey, D.O., neurology

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:

David Gay, M.D., orthopaedic surgery
Alejandro Redaelli Arevalo, M.D., pediatrics
Shilpa Reddy, M.D., internal medicine

Winner:

David Gay, M.D., orthopaedic surgery

The Ann Harwood-Nuss Award is presented annually to the resident who has contributed the most to improving the educational and working environment of his fellow residents. The award consists of a check for $500 and a plaque.

Finalists (residents):

Saeed Bajestani, M.D., pathology
Carla Laos, M.D., pediatrics
Timothy Lucey, D.O., neurology

Winner:

Saeed Bajestani, M.D., pathology

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 Louis S. Russo, M.D.

Finalists (faculty):

Thomas Chiu, M.D., professor and chair of pediatrics
Shahla Masood, M.D., professor and chair of pathology
Thomas Morrissey, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of emergency medicine

Winner (faculty):

Thomas Chiu, M.D., professor and chair of pediatrics

Finalists (residents):

Stephen Arndt, M.D., orthopaedic surgery
Patrick Maloney, M.D., emergency medicine
Candra Street, M.D., pediatrics

Winner (resident):

Patrick Maloney, M.D., emergency medicine

The names of all award winners are engraved on plaques located in the Learning Resource Center Building.

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