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Fanfare, photos and fellowship highlight Celebration of Education

Emergency medicine residents gather for a group photo with faculty leaders during Celebration of Education, which marked the completion of their training program at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville.
Internal medicine residents gather for a group photo with faculty leaders during Celebration of Education, which marked the completion of their training program at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville.
Pediatrics residents gather for a group photo with faculty leaders during Celebration of Education, which marked the completion of their training program at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville.
Elisa Zenni, MD, associate dean for educational affairs at UFCOMJ, speaks during Celebration of Education, held June 8 inside the LRC Auditorium.
UFCOMJ faculty members, trainees, staff and guests help themselves to hors d'oeuvres and finger food following the Celebration of Education ceremony.

Daisy Torres, MD, was all smiles as she enjoyed refreshments after what was quite a momentous occasion June 8. Just moments before, she was onstage celebrating with other internal medicine residents who have finished their three-year program at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville.

“I’ve grown a lot during my time here. I’ve really learned how to be a good clinician,” said Torres, who will soon begin an infectious disease fellowship in Washington, D.C. “This is the end of a lot of hard work, and I’m happy to share this moment with my colleagues.”

Torres was one of about 140 residents and fellows who recently completed training programs at UFCOMJ. Those trainees, as well as a host of faculty members, were recognized during the Celebration of Education ceremony inside the LRC Auditorium on campus.

The emergency medicine residency program had more graduates (15) than any other program this year. The internal medicine residency program had 14 graduates and the pediatrics residency program had 12. In all, nearly 40 different programs were represented at the ceremony.

Like Torres, some of the graduates will move on for further training. Others will head into medical practice, including some who will remain in Jacksonville to work.

“Congratulations to all of the residents and fellows who have completed their training programs here,” said Linda Edwards, MD, senior associate dean for educational affairs at UFCOMJ. “We are extremely proud of their accomplishments and look forward to learning of their continued success – whether that’s further training or the start of professional practice.”

In addition, 10 graduates of the UF Health Jacksonville pharmacy residency program were recognized that day, which also featured dozens of educational projects and quality-improvement posters submitted by faculty, residents, fellows and medical students.

Awards

As part of the ceremony, UFCOMJ leaders announced the recipients of several annual awards:

  •          Excellence in Student Education (faculty) – Jeffrey House, DO, medicine
  •          Excellence in Student Education (resident) – Chima Matthew, MD, pediatrics
  •          Louis S. Russo Award for Outstanding Professionalism in Medicine (faculty) – Bestoun Ahmed, MD, surgery
  •          Louis S. Russo Jr. Award for Outstanding Professionalism in Medicine (resident) – Daniel Benrubi, MD, MPH, obstetrics and gynecology
  •          Ann Harwood-Nuss Resident Advocate Award – William Palfrey, MD, internal medicine
  •          Edward Jelks Outstanding Resident Clinician Award – Robert Mannel, MD, neurology  
  •          Rosilie O. Saffos Outstanding Resident Teacher Award – Christina Wieczorek, MD, emergency medicine
  •          Outstanding Resident in Quality and Patient Safety Award – Jennifer Rammel, MD, MPH, pediatrics

Following are the poster award winners:

  •          Faculty Educational Poster – Elizabeth DeVos, MD, MPH: “Agar ultrasound phantoms for low-cost training without refrigeration”
  •          Trainee Educational Poster – Haley Carpenter, PhD, and Kristina Michaudet: “Thinking like a scientist: Teaching for cognitive skills in a classroom setting (core concepts/teaching methods and course evaluation)”
  •          Quality Improvement Poster – Ryan Crooks, MD: “Interdisciplinary systematic approach reduces delay in obtaining diagnostic imaging”

Also, 69 faculty members were honored as exemplary teachers. The distinction is based on student evaluations of faculty during their medical school clerkship rotations.

To view the graduation program, which includes the entire list of 2016 graduates and a description of the awards, click here.