College recognizes achievements in medical education

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:

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

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

Shelley Collins, M.D., FAAP

Senior associate dean for educational affairs, College of Medicine; Professor, Department of Pediatrics

Ryan Nall, M.D.

Associate professor, Department of Medicine

John Aris, Ph.D.

Associate professor, Department of Physiology and Aging

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

Maurice Swanson, Ph.D.

Professor and associate program director, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology

Marjorie Montanez-Wiscovich, M.D., Ph.D., FAAD

Clinical associate professor, Department of Dermatology

Jacqueline Garcia

Residency and fellowship program coordinator, Department of Dermatology

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

Youngsuhk Jo, M.D.

Associate professor, Department of Psychiatry

Sarah Saliba

Assistant professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Phase 1: Neal Holland, D.O., Associate professor, Department of Medicine

Phase 2 and 3: Lauren Schmidt, M.D., Assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry

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

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