Two UF College of Medicine alumni who returned to their alma mater to educate the next generation of clinicians and scientists were recently honored with the college’s 2020 Teacher of the Year awards. Amanda Maxey, MD ’93, a research assistant professor in the department of anatomy and cell biology, was named the Basic Science Teacher of the Year, and David Feller, MD ’89, an associate professor and vice chair for community health in the department of community health and family medicine, received the Clinical Teacher of the Year award.

“Dr. Maxey is an accomplished orthopaedic surgeon who gave up her busy clinical practice to return to academic medicine so that she could work more closely with students,” said Patrick Duff, MD, UF College of Medicine associate dean for student affairs. “Students benefit from patient instruction from a skilled surgeon, and they have found Dr. Maxey to be an invaluable resource. Dr. Feller is a highly skilled family medicine specialist with a wealth of experience caring for patients, and he readily shares his extensive knowledge with students on the family medicine clerkship. As the principal faculty consultant for the Equal Access Clinic Network, he generously gives his time to help the students care for the disenfranchised members of our community.”

“Many of the amazing, dedicated faculty that facilitated my education and transition to practice are still here,” Maxey said. “The opportunity to return to my alma mater and continue to learn from and work alongside faculty who taught me was just too good to be true.”

“This award was a truly unexpected honor,” Feller said. “My teaching style is to make things interesting and practical, lead by example and explain my thought process so a deeper understanding occurs.”

Another pair of UF College of Medicine faculty members were honored with the college’s 2020 research awards, given to faculty whose work contributes to the understanding of the fundamental principles of biology and medicine or creates a significant impact on the delivery of patient care.

Alicia Mohr, MD, the Edward R. Woodward Professor of Surgery in the department of surgery, is the 2020 recipient of the College of Medicine Clinical Science Research Award, and Rolf Renne, PhD, the Henry E. Innes Professor of Cancer Research in the department of molecular genetics and microbiology, received the 2020 Basic Science Research Award.

“Dr. Mohr has earned a national reputation as a leading surgical scientist in critical care surgery and an excellent clinician,” said UF College of Medicine Interim Dean Joseph A. Tyndall, MD, MPH. “Dr. Renne is an exceptional scientist who is well-respected and valued in the national scientific community.”

This story originally ran in the Fall 2020 issue of the Doctor Gator newsletter.