Jan. 9, 2023 — In a ceremony at UF Health Shands Hospital Dec. 14, students, staff and faculty from the University of Florida College of Medicine celebrated the completion of renovations on eight student spaces throughout the academic health center’s Gainesville campus.

As part of a yearlong process to upgrade accommodations for rotating medical students in the hospital’s many wings, student lounges, study spaces and sleep rooms were revamped with new seating, computers, lockers, microwaves, refrigerators, televisions and more. The improvements also help meet accreditation requirements for the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the notable authority for accreditation of medical education programs in the U.S.

While the glow-up has helped create havens for brainpower and relaxation, what makes the effort truly meaningful is the collaboration between the medical student classes of 2022 and 2024 in service of the larger student community.

“Students from the class of 2022 found themselves with a little extra money at the end of the year when they were graduating and really thought about passing that down to the classes behind them to make the space where you spend a lot of your clinical time a little bit more helpful, a little warmer and a little brighter,” said Shelley Collins, M.D., FAAP, senior associate dean of undergraduate medical education. “And then for the class of 2024 to agree to use the money in this way is positive. You are helping each other, helping your peers, and I think that’s a real statement about the kind of students here at the UF College of Medicine.”

Third-year medical student Eric Panther spoke at the celebration and said he is grateful for the generosity of the classes above him. One of the renovated lounges, located on the fourth floor of the UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, was particularly beneficial to him during his surgery rotation. Between cases or after rounds, he would go to the lounge, dispose of any papers in the shredder and use one of the computers for conferences.

“I was really thankful to have a place to go as opposed to wandering around the hospital to try to find a random cubby to tune into different meetings,” Panther said.

Fourth-year medical student Trung Ho said on behalf of himself and his peers in the class of 2024 that he is glad their contributions are already being put to good use.

“Where we can help, we help,” he said. “That’s what we do.”

UF medical students can check Canvas for a full list of renovated lounges and lockers, as well as directions and access instructions.