Frank Genuardi, M.D., M.P.H.
UF Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Associate Dean for Student Affairs, UF College of Medicine-Jacksonville
A Passion for Education
Two things prompted Frank J. Genuardi, M.D., M.P.H., to join the pediatrics faculty at the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville in 1994.
Personally, he and his wife couldn't wait to return to the state where they both grew up. And, professionally, he couldn't wait to start building a new program in his clinical specialty - adolescent medicine.
Genuardi approached the program-building opportunity enthusiastically - always with the goal of providing the best education possible for UF residents and medical students.
While serving as division chief of adolescent medicine until 2003, he actively participated in clinical and educational programs throughout the community. Genuardi has served as pediatric clerkship director since 1995 and in 1996 was appointed as director of undergraduate medical education in Jacksonville. He was named assistant dean in 1998 and associate dean in 2007.
"Teaching has always been a primary interest of mine, and the ability to work in an educational setting was of paramount importance to me," said Genuardi, associate dean for student affairs and an associate professor of pediatrics. "Every day I continue to be impressed by the dedication of the individuals on this campus to our educational mission of enhancing the student experience and providing the best care possible for our patients."
Genuardi is proud of not only the superb care patients receive but also the contributions made daily to the education of more than 300 UF medical residents and hundreds of medical students who complete clinical rotations on the Shands Jacksonville campus each year.
"We have taken leadership roles in education by developing teaching skills courses for residents and using UF's state-of-the-art simulation center in medical education, and look forward to continuing to expand our educational mission in the years to come," he said. "We also have a busy and varied clinical practice that provides rich educational opportunities and enhances our students' experiences well beyond that which they receive on the Gainesville campus."
Genuardi began his own education at the University of Florida, where he earned a bachelor's degree in English. He received his medical degree from the University of South Florida and a Master of Public Health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Board certified in pediatrics and subspecialty board certified in adolescent medicine, he completed pediatric training at The Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters/Eastern Virginia Graduate School of Medicine in Norfolk and adolescent medicine training at The Children's Hospital of Alabama/University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Genuardi credits many individuals with providing him the opportunities he needed to advance his educational career during the last 13 years - in particular, pediatrics department chair Thomas Chiu, M.D., former senior associate dean Louis Russo, M.D., and Ann Harwood-Nuss, M.D., who served as associate dean for educational affairs and recruited him to the dean's office.
"One of the most significant pleasures encountered in administrative positions is the opportunity to watch young faculty 'grow' into their role, embracing new directions and challenges with energy, creativity and excellence," said Harwood-Nuss, now assistant dean for program development.
"Frank Genuardi has been responsible for a critical component of our campus - that of the undergraduate (medical students and physician assistant students) educational experiences. When the medical student rotations to Jacksonville began in the late 1990s, we were faced with many challenges, not the least of which was an initial resistance to spending significant blocks of time away from their homes, friends and main campus in Gainesville," she said.
"Over time, and under Dr. Genuardi's careful stewardship, the Jacksonville rotations done at Shands Jacksonville under the leadership of UF faculty became increasingly well regarded by the students - at present, the great opportunities for medical education have made the experience an undeniable asset for the University of Florida," Harwood-Nuss said. "This evolution did not happen spontaneously - it happened because Dr. Genuardi has been consistently committed to education, quality and the University of Florida and Shands Jacksonville."
In addition to overseeing student education in Jacksonville as well as the human resources activities of the Graduate Medical Education Program, Genuardi serves the College of Medicine as associate medical director of the Physician Assistant Program and as a member of the Curriculum and Admissions Committees. From 1999 to 2002 he also served as chair of the Clerkship Directors Committee.
"Dr. Genuardi is passionate about his leadership role in student affairs on the Jacksonville campus and takes the time to know and work with each student who comes to Jacksonville," said Connie Haan, M.D., senior associate dean for educational affairs and director of graduate medical education. "The consummate professional, he is recognized across the College of Medicine for his insight and sees his students' success as a measure of his own success."
But Genuardi's program-building and professionalism extend far beyond campus, thanks to the leadership he has provided to numerous state and national organizations. From 1997 to 1999 he served as president of the Florida Chapter of the Society for Adolescent Medicine and from 1997 to 2001 as District II Alternate and then regional representative to the Florida Pediatric Society. From 2002 until 2005 he served as a member of the Step 2 Pediatrics Test Materials Development Committee of the National Board of Medical Examiners and currently serves on the Step 3 Ambulatory Care Test Materials Development Committee.
No matter what venue - on campus, across the state or nationally, Dr. Frank J. Genuardi is a true leader whose passion for excellence drives him. He is dedicated to and involved in his profession. And he inspires residents and students to apply that same dedication to learning their specialty and caring for their patients.