• Jonathan D. Licht, M.D., director of the UF Health Cancer Center, and Linda B. Cottler, Ph.D., M.P.H., FACE, a dean’s professor of epidemiology at the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions and the College of Medicine, have been named 2023 fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS, a distinguished lifetime honor within the scientific community. Licht was recognized for contributions to the field of cancer epigenetics, including shedding light on how gene regulation by mutant transcription factors and chromatin modifiers contributes to cancer, and exploring the roles of deregulated downstream targets in cancer development. Cottler has developed reliable, widely used assessments for substance use and other psychiatric disorders in the general population and has contributed to the classification of substance abuse and dependence disorders.
• Heather Vincent, Ph.D., the vice chair of research and an associate professor in the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, has been elected to the Board of Trustees of the American College of Sports Medicine.
• Thomas George, M.D., deputy director of the UF Health Cancer Center, has been named a fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, or ASCO, in recognition of his extraordinary volunteer service, engagement, dedication, and commitment to ASCO. Recipients are recognized for efforts that benefit ASCO, the specialty of oncology, and the patients they serve. The distinction is awarded to ASCO members who have demonstrated outstanding efforts related to volunteer service through ASCO and its foundation, Conquer Cancer.
• Carolyn M. Tucker, Ph.D., the UF Florida Blue Endowed Chair in Health Disparities Research at the University of Florida and a member of the UF Health Cancer Center, has received a first-place Sapphire Award from the Florida Blue Foundation, the philanthropic affiliate of Florida Blue. Tucker was recognized for her research, leadership, and commitment to her work, her community, and her field. She accepted the top prize in the individual category, which comes with $100,000, for her work at the University of Florida at a ceremony April 3 in Orlando.
• Ji-Hyun Lee, DrPH, the associate director for cancer quantitative sciences at the UF Health Cancer Center and a professor in the department of biostatistics, has been named a chief statistical adviser on the Statistical Advisory Panel of Nature Medicine, part of the prestigious Nature family of journals.
• The American Society of Regional Anesthesia, or ASRA, and Pain Medicine Board of Directors welcomed André Boezaart, M.D, Ph.D., an emeritus professor of anesthesiology, as a fellow of the Society in March. The designation recognizes the contributions of prominent members in the field, acknowledges those dedicated to the society, and promotes continued service to ASRA Pain Medicine and the specialty.
• Rene Przkora, M.D., Ph.D., a professor of anesthesiology and director of the multidisciplinary pain medicine fellowship, has been appointed to the Communications and Website Committee for the Association of University Anesthesiologists. Przkora was chosen for his leadership attributes and dedication to academic anesthesiology. The role has a three-year term and begins in April, immediately following the 2024 AUA Annual Meeting in St. Louis.
• A UF Medicine alumna, CJ Arcalas, M.D. ’24, and faculty member, Jennifer Janelle, M.D., an associate professor in the department of medicine, have been named recipients of the 2024 Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award. Presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, recipients reflect the values championed by Gold Foundation and Gold Humanism Honor Society: compassion, collaboration, and providing scientifically excellent care.
• Ryan Crislip, Ph.D., and Rebecca Wilson, Ph.D., former postdoctoral associates and current junior faculty in the department of physiology and aging, have been awarded Research Development Career (K) Awards by the National Institutes of Health. These awards provide individual and institutional research training opportunities to trainees.
• Psychiatry residents Nafisa Choudhury, M.D.; Minyi Lin, M.D.; and Daniel McNeil, M.D., won second place in the Psyched Out competition during the 2024 annual Florida Psychiatric Society meeting.
• Aimee Madsen, M.D., and Rosalynn Conic, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., residents in the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, represented the College of Medicine at the American Academy of Pediatrics Conference, where Madsen presented research titled “Biomechanical Comparison of Pediatric Runners with Tibial Stress Fractures to Adult Counterparts,” and Conic presented “Decline in Medicare Reimbursement for Outpatient Procedures in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation from 2010-2023.”

• Forty-three medical students, residents and faculty members were recently inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. For students, membership is limited to those who have excelled academically and in leadership, scholarship, character, service, and future potential as a physician. Only one-fifth of the total class enrollment may be chosen, and the final determination is held by vote from faculty and student members.
• Martina Murphy, M.D. ’09, an associate professor in the department of medicine, and Chris Giordano, M.D., a professor in the department of anesthesiology and division chief of liver transplantation, have been selected as the Phase 1 and Phase 2/3 Teachers of the Year, respectively, at the College of Medicine. These designations annually recognize medical educators in foundational sciences and clinical instruction. Murphy and Giordano also had the honor of serving as marshals during the commencement ceremony for the M.D. class of 2024.
• Samsun Lampotang, Ph.D., a professor of anesthesiology and director of the Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies; and Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D., an associate professor of anesthesiology and orthopaedic surgery & sports medicine, have been voted into the UF College of Medicine Society of Teaching Scholars by current members. Teaching scholars mentor junior faculty on teaching improvement and serve as advisers to the Faculty Development Committee and the College of Medicine Education Center.
• Martin J. Cohn,D., a professor in the department of molecular genetics and microbiology, has been selected for a 2023-24 UF Doctoral Dissertation Adviser/Mentoring Award. These awards are given each year to at least five faculty doctoral advisers selected on a competitive basis, in recognition of excellence in doctoral student mentoring. Cohn and other winners received a $3,000 cash award, plus $1,000 to support their graduate students.
• Four College of Medicine-affiliated programs and individuals received Champions of Change Awards from the UF Office of Sustainability: the Medi-Gators program; the UF Health Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit; Shireen Madani Sims, M.D. ’01, the associate dean for student affairs; and Mayra Montalvo Perero, M.D., an assistant professor in the department of neurology. The awards recognize individuals and groups in the UF community who have made significant contributions in the areas of sustainability or health and wellness.
• Jane Hsi, a Ph.D. student in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology, is a recipient of the UF Graduate School’s Graduate Student Mentoring Award. These awards spotlight UF graduate students who go the extra mile by mentoring fellow graduate students, undergraduate students, students in kindergarten through 12th grade, or teachers in kindergarten through 12th grade. A committee of UF faculty and staff with mentoring experience choose nominees for this honor based on academic performance, professional experience, mentoring philosophy and effectiveness, and their impact on their mentees’ academic and professional growth.
• Sadeem Qdaisat, Ph.D. ’24, has been inducted into the UF Hall of Fame and is the recipient of two prestigious UF service awards: a Presidential Service Award and Outstanding Service Among Graduate and Professional Students Award. These honors, bestowed by the Brown Center for Leadership and Service, recognize students engaged in exemplary service activities or projects.
• The UF Health Quality Hero Awards Committee honored the UF Perioperative Cognitive Anesthesia Network, or PeCAN, with a UF Health Shands Quality Team Award during a March ceremony held as part of the health system’s celebration of Patient Safety and Quality Week. PeCAN was recognized for making outstanding contributions to a culture dedicated to improving patient safety, quality, and the patient and family experience.

Want to give kudos to someone? Email recent awards and achievements to the UF College of Medicine communications team at med-comms@ufl.edu for recognition in the next quarterly roundup.