Gainesville

Dr. John H. Armstrong

John H. Armstrong, M.D., an assistant professor of surgery, received the 2008 Special Recognition Award from the Surgical Caucus of the American Medical Association for displaying dedication and excellence while serving as chair of the caucus for the past three years. He  also was appointed to the Health Policy Steering Committee of the American College of Surgeons and played a significant role in developing the ACS Health Policy Agenda for 2009. In addition, he was recently elected to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, which promotes research and education regarding burns, trauma and acute care surgery.

C. Richard Conti, M.D.

C. Richard Conti, M.D., a professor of medicine and an adjunct professor of physiology, received the college’s International Educator of the Year Award. Conti has been involved in education, service and research throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, South America and the Soviet Union. He is a member of 10 professional societies outside the United States and has been an invited lecturer by several international cardiac societies. During his tenure as president of the American College of Cardiology from 1989-1990, he helped to establish a relationship with the European Society of Cardiology by creating reciprocal international symposia, which persist today and have led to invaluable sharing of scientific information and international research opportunities.

Stephen Grobmyer, M.D.

Stephen Grobmyer, M.D., an assistant professor of surgery, has been elected into the Southern Surgical Association. A surgical oncologist, Grobmyer was one of 26 surgeons elected into the association during its annual meeting held in December in West Palm Beach, Fla. The second oldest surgical society in the nation, the Southern Surgical Association focuses on furthering the study and practice of surgery, especially among the profession in the Southern states.

Jacksonville

Eric Conde, M.S.A.

Eric Conde, M.S.A., assistant dean for administrative affairs, has been selected to serve as state director for the American Academy of Medical Administrators. Conde is a fellow of the American Academy of Medical Administrators and also serves as member of the organization’s advancement committee. The American Academy of Medical Administrators’ mission is to advance excellence in health-care leadership.

Kakarla Chalam, M.D., Ph.D.

Kakarla Chalam, M.D., Ph.D., the assistant dean for veterans affairs affiliations and chair of the department of ophthalmology, was recognized along with his team of nine faculty physicians and staff by the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network in October. Chalam’s department received the organization’s Site of the Month Award. The organization supports the identification, design and implementation of multicenter clinical research initiatives focused on diabetes-induced retinal disorders.

Daniel Kantor, M.D.

Daniel Kantor, M.D., an assistant professor of neurology, has been named president-elect of the Florida Society of Neurology. Kantor will serve a two-year appointment starting Sept. 11, followed by a second two-year term as president. The organization’s mission is to advance the art and science of neurology, and thereby promote the best possible care for patients with neurological disorders.