College recognizes achievements in medical education
26th annual Celebration of Excellence in Medical Education reception held April 2
April 8, 2026 — For the past 26 years, the College of Medicine has recognized the achievements of educators, trainees and faculty at the Celebration of Excellence in Medical Education reception. Through their dedication and passion, the honorees shape the educational experience for students and contribute to the college’s mission of superior leadership in education.
During the celebration, outstanding mentors and teachers received recognitions, and new members were inducted into the Society of Teaching Scholars. Society members advise the college on ways to enhance the educational mission and mentor junior faculty members.
The 2026 Celebration of Excellence in Medical Education honorees include:
New member inductees of the Society of Teaching Scholars.
Society of Teaching Scholars New Member Inductees
Reem Abu-Rustum, M.D.
Professor and director of ultrasound services, education and research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; affiliate professor, Department of Physiology and Aging
Lars Beattie, M.D., M.S., FACEP
Clinical associate professor and residency program director, Department of Emergency Medicine
Alexandra Mannix, M.D.
Associate professor, Department of Emergency Medicine – Jacksonville
Lifetime Achievement Award
Amy Blue, Ph.D.
Associate vice president of interprofessional education, UF Health Office of the Senior Vice President for Health Affairs; clinical professor, Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions
Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Amy Blue, Ph.D.
Hippocratic Scholars Award
Shelley Collins, M.D., FAAP
Senior associate dean for educational affairs, College of Medicine; Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Hippocratic Scholars Award recipient, Shelley Collins, M.D., FAAP
Kenneth Kellner Outstanding Clerkship Director Award
Ryan Nall, M.D.
Associate professor, Department of Medicine
Sigurd “Sig” Normann Course Director Award
John Aris, Ph.D.
Associate professor, Department of Physiology and Aging
Doctoral Dissertation Advisor and Mentoring Award
Benoit Giasson, Ph.D.
Professor and graduate co-coordinator, Department of Neuroscience
Rolf Renne, Ph.D.
Associate director for basic science and Henry E. Innes Professor of Cancer Research, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
Dr. Mavis Agbandje-McKenna Distinguished Research Mentoring Award
Maurice Swanson, Ph.D.
Professor and associate program director, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
Graduate Medical Education Program of the Year Award
Gainesville
Marjorie Montanez-Wiscovich, M.D., Ph.D., FAAD
Clinical associate professor, Department of Dermatology
Jacqueline Garcia
Residency and fellowship program coordinator, Department of Dermatology
Graduate Medical Education Program of the Year Award winners, Marjorie Montanez-Wiscovich, M.D., Ph.D., FAAD, and Jacqueline Garcia.
Jacksonville
Vandana Seeram, M.D.
Professor, Department of Medicine; medical director, Pulmonary Hypertension Regional Clinical Program; medical director, Pulmonary Function Lab; Program Director, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship
Sonya Newsome
Senior graduate medical education program administrator, Department of Medicine
Educator of the Year Award
Gainesville
Youngsuhk Jo, M.D.
Associate professor, Department of Psychiatry
Jacksonville
Sarah Saliba
Assistant professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
College of Medicine Exemplary Teacher of the Year
Phase 1: Neal Holland, D.O., Associate professor, Department of Medicine
Phase 2 and 3: Lauren Schmidt, M.D., Assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry
Outstanding Resident Educator Award
Gainesville
Keren Fishman, M.D., Department of Pediatrics
Michaele Garrison, D.O., Department of Neurology
Aleksandra Gasparova, D.O., Department of Psychiatry
Krish Gill, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine
Anna Hansen, M.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Elizabeth Hansen, M.D., Department of Surgery
Grace Kelly, M.D., Department of Community Health and Family Medicine
Delaney Lagrew, M.D., Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine
Patrick Maher, M.D., Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine
Daniela Martir-Vargas, M.D., Department of Radiation Oncology
Rachel Moor, M.D., Department of Neurosurgery
Sean Olson, D.O., Department of Medicine
Milbrey Parke, M.D., Department of Dermatology
Jan Ynav (Janyn) Quiz, M.D., Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Muneeb Rehman, M.D., Department of Radiology
Joseph Rinaldi, M.D., Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Jordan Smith, M.D., Department of Urology
Kayla Swiatek, M.D., Department of Ophthalmology
Allyson Tragesser, M.D., Department of Anesthesiology
Jacksonville
Brittany Blake, M.D., Department of Psychiatry
Gerardo Diaz Garcia, D.O., Department of Medicine
Peter Dominguez, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine
Corey Engel, M.D., Department of Radiology
Junaid Essa, D.O., Department of Neurology
Zachary Gallatin, M.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Thomas Metzner, D.O., M.S., Department of Urology
Braeden Moody, M.D., Department of Ophthalmology
Alex Moses, M.D., Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation
Danielle Nese, M.D., Department of Pediatrics
Keouna Pather, M.D., Department of Surgery
Sydney Shaouy, M.D., Department of Anesthesiology
Scott Smith, D.O., Department of Pathology
See more photos of the celebration below
