Celebrations from 2025 UF College of Medicine Week
Events commemorated students, faculty, staff and trainees in Gainesville and Jacksonville
Photo by Charles Poulton
Sept. 30, 2025 — After another year of milestone successes at the University of Florida College of Medicine, the second-annual College of Medicine Week provided opportunities for the Gainesville and Jacksonville campuses to honor the people who work diligently every day to improve education, patient care and research on campus and beyond.
Sharing successes from the past year, as well as opportunities for growth in the year ahead, interim Dean Jennifer Hunt, M.D., M.Ed., gave the live State of the College address on Wednesday.
“The college is the people, and that means all of you,” Hunt said. “And truly, that’s where our investment needs to be. This week is about celebrating the successes of the people of the College of Medicine, and our future.”
College highlights from the past year included:
- More than $450M in research funding for UF FY25
- 98 faculty promoted across Gainesville and Jacksonville
- Above national-average exam pass rates for medical and PA students
- Increased graduate student enrollment
- Initiated Center for Medical Education Research and Scholarship in Jacksonville
- 7 U.S. News & World Report-ranked adult specialties at UF Health Shands Hospital
- Launched UF Health OB/GYN Mobile Outreach bus and additional Mobile Stroke Treatment Units to serve patients
- 9 new student scholarship funds
In addition to the State of the College address, a variety of events took place all week long to thank members of the college community in Gainesville and Jacksonville. College of Medicine – Jacksonville Dean Linda Edwards, M.D., expressed gratitude for the community’s continued hard work and contributions.
“It was an honor and my pleasure to recognize our outstanding faculty, house staff, medical students and administrators for the work they do to fulfill our mission to heal, comfort, educate and discover,” she said. “As we conclude our week dedicated to the celebration of our team, we will continue to support our colleagues, peers and learners in order to equip the physicians of tomorrow and to deliver high quality and compassionate care. We are thankful for each and every one of you.”
Events organized included returning favorites and new traditions — such as a financial wellness vendor day, organized by the Office of Human Resources.
Photos by Danielle Ivanov and Nicholas Imbimbo
Honoring faculty
During the Celebration of Faculty Promotion and Tenure ceremony, promoted faculty, departmental leadership and their loved ones gathered to commemorate promoted and newly tenured faculty. A total of 98 faculty in Gainesville and Jacksonville received promotions, and 48 faculty successfully completed post-tenure review.
Later in the week, new events in Gainesville and Jacksonville enabled faculty to casually connect with colleagues and leaders, including both Hunt and College of Medicine – Jacksonville Dean Linda Edwards, M.D.
Photos by Nate Guidry, Steve Strait and Emily Mavrakis
Showing gratitude for staff contributions
In appreciation of the staff whose commitment supports faculty, students and patients every day, the Gainesville campus hosted meals in their honor, while Jacksonville colleagues received meal vouchers to enjoy during the week.
Photos by Hannah Clark and Danielle Ivanov
Recognizing the college’s trainees and learners
Nothing says celebration like a sweet treat.
To recognize trainees at the college, a postdoc ice cream social took place in Gainesville, in coordination with Postdoc Appreciation Week.
And to celebrate all learners at the college, students, postdocs, residents and fellows in Gainesville received a complimentary Opus Coffee cold brew or iced tea during Orange and Brew.
In Jacksonville, college leadership kicked off the week with coffee for medical students, and both residents and medical students stopped by the resident lounge to pick up a free grab-and-go lunch during the week.
Photos by Nate Guidry, Danielle Ivanov and Steve Strait
