Thanking our residents
UF, UF Health community express gratitude for trainees who inspire
Feb. 19, 2024 — Medical residents and fellows are an integral part of the health care team at the University of Florida College of Medicine and UF Health. Thank a Resident Day, held Feb. 23, is an annual day of recognition led by the Gold Humanism Honor Society to express love and gratitude to trainees’ contribution to humanistic care.
To spotlight compassionate and inspirational Gator residents and fellows, the College of Medicine Instagram account, @ufmedicine, prompted followers to share who they wanted to show gratitude for and why. Read a few responses below.
Undergraduate student Joey Dolce gave a shoutout to pediatric emergency medicine fellow JC Gonzalez Jr., D.O., thanking him for the opportunity to shadow in the pediatric emergency department and learn just how far a fun and caring attitude can go to brightening patients’ days.
“His silly yet effective method for treating patients is very inspirational to me on my premedical journey,” Dolce said. “Even when responding to emergencies, Dr. Gonzalez always made sure to keep his composure and ensure the comfort of his patients. These reasons and the unique shadowing experiences he provided me are exactly why I find him so cool!”
Bevin Amezcua, president of the UF School of Physician Assistant Studies class of 2025, praised internal medicine resident Katherine Fu, D.O., for supporting first-year PA students during their hospital practicum.
“She instantly made us feel comfortable and excited about getting to learn from her and her patients,” Amezcua said. “I look forward to learning even more from her but am so grateful for the experience she has already given us!”
Operating room nurse Kylie Brown thanked orthopaedic surgery resident Lacie M. Turnbull, M.D., for her congeniality and dedication.
“Dr. Turnbull is the perfect example of what a surgeon should look like. She is humble, kind and enthusiastic about her passion for orthopaedics,” Brown said. “She comes into the operating room every day eager to learn and scrub every case she possibly can. We hope she spreads her wings in fellowship and comes back to UF Health as an attending hand surgeon so we can keep working alongside her.”
Jesse L. Kresak, M.D., interim chair of the department of pathology, immunology and laboratory medicine, named pathology resident Elif E. Gultekin Elbir, M.D., as a true inspiration.
“Dr. Gultekin was a practicing physician in another country and then moved to the U.S. and returned to medicine after starting a family and doing research,” Kresak said. “She had to fight hard to prove herself worthy of a residency spot. The transition wasn’t the easiest, but she put in the work and is an excellent trainee. She will put 100% into anything attached to her. She is always willing to help colleagues. She is always smiling. She has secured an excellent fellowship in hematopathology at Johns Hopkins Medicine for 2025.”
Lindsay Gamble, social media manager at the College of Public Health and Health Professions, gave a shoutout to her husband, internal medicine resident Akshay Mathavan, M.D. ’23.
“I’ve been privileged enough to be part of my husband’s entire journey to becoming a doctor, from undergrad all the way through becoming an internal medicine resident,” Gamble said. “I’m constantly inspired by his dedication to his patients and the countless hours he spends training to becoming a better doctor. Although the journey has been rough at times, he’s still the most humble, compassionate and intelligent doctor I know. He deserves all the praise and more.”
