Sept. 28, 2022 — During “2022: Year in the Rearview,” which took place Sept. 23 in the George T. Harrell, M.D., Medical Education Building, Dean Colleen Koch, M.D., M.S., M.B.A., and several other leaders from across the College of Medicine updated faculty, students, trainees and staff on the college’s initiatives and achievements over the past year related to the strategic plan. The speakers also provided a road map for on how the college is gearing up for the future.

“It is fair to say that for all our technical advantages, the greatest asset we have at the College of Medicine is our people,” Koch said during the event, which was simultaneously livestreamed. “Each one of you is a key driver of our progress. Each one of you is responsible for our success.”

Various departments also held watch parties throughout campus to view the hourlong event and listen to updates on the strategic plan’s seven pillars of education; research; patient care; people; diversity, inclusion and health care equity; system integration; and value. To date, there are more than 41 projects that support the strategic plan, with 51 project champions and 143 accountability team members involved in their execution.

Several of the projects relate to the college’s growing focus on artificial intelligence as a method to enhance research efforts and improve patient care. The college’s initiatives include a new AI curriculum, an AI boot camp for students, trainees and junior faculty, and increased grant and collaborative opportunities for AI-related research.

“Aside from helping our caregivers understand the role AI plays in an increasing number of health care fields, these educational programs also support a critical need for workforce development to advance health care applications of AI,” said Patrick Tighe, M.D., M.S., associate dean for AI application and innovation and an associate professor of anesthesiology.

Some of the other projects discussed during the State of the College include:

• The creation of a network of faculty diversity liaisons representing and serving every department, led by Donna M. Parker, M.D. ’90, associate dean for diversity and health equity.
• Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program, or CUSP, training, which will result in the development of physician-nurse dyads in each unit at UF Health Shands Hospital that will set quality and safety goals specific to their unit’s needs. The project is led by Nila Radhakrishnan, M.D., a clinical associate professor and chief of the division of hospital medicine.
• A Well-Being Index survey that will allow residents and fellows to better understand stressors and gain access to resources to help manage their mental health. The questionnaire will soon be expanded to include faculty and students. The project is led by Lisa Merlo, Ph.D., M.P.E., an associate professor of psychiatry and director of wellness programs for the College of Medicine.

A full list of strategic plan projects can be viewed on the plan’s online dashboard.

In addition to the projects, David R. Nelson, M.D., senior vice president for health affairs at UF and president of UF Health, discussed the college’s growing stature as a state and national leader and introduced the 2022 UF Health Vision, co-created with input from all six health colleges and hospital leadership, which will serve as a strategy for forming an even stronger UF Health, an institution devoted to putting the patient at the heart of its work.

The finance and administration department also discussed a college-wide operations assessment that will help its department to more effectively finance, contribute to and support the college’s strategic plan. A consulting group is currently engaging with leadership for their input and perspectives to identify new opportunities.

A complete recording of the event can be viewed at med.ufl.edu/stateofthecollege.