College of Medicine

Congratulations to Burnett School Graduates - 12/16/2011

More than 100 students received degrees from the College of Medicine’s Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences in ceremonies at the University of Central Florida this week. The fall 2011 graduates included 95 undergraduates, who received degrees in molecular biology and microbiology, biotechnology and medical laboratory sciences. In addition, eleven graduate students received master’s degrees, and three... Read More...

Leading Medical Libraries into Digital Age - 12/16/2011

As health sciences libraries shift from print to digital collections, the UCF College of Medicine’s Harriet F. Ginsburg Health Sciences Library is leading the way. About 30 members of the Tampa Bay Medical Library Network (TaBaMLN) gathered at the library on Dec. 8. Their institutions are at various stages of adapting to digital content, but everyone... Read More...

Information at Your Fingertips - 12/16/2011

Medical students, residents and doctors can now move beyond fumbling through pages of a notebook when searching for critical internal medicine information to pinpoint a diagnosis. An app and book project by Dr. Mario Madruga, assistant professor of internal medicine at UCF College of Medicine, and director of internal medicine residency program and medical teaching service... Read More...

Web Team Teachers - 12/16/2011

The UCF College of Medicine Web Team presented the medical school’s new website and content management system at this month’s WordPress WordCamp in Orlando. Over 100  web designers, bloggers and marketing communicators attended the two-day event. The College of Medicine’s Matthew Vaccaro and Justin Sisley were selected as conference speakers to show participants how they had... Read More...

“Dad’s Legacy Continues to You All” - 12/16/2011

A historic medical exhibit at the UCF College of Medicine features silk sutures and a hypodermic needle from the 1920s, a stethoscope from the 1950s and even the doctor’s office sign from the physician father of Lawrence Kaplan, M.D., one of the college’s volunteer faculty members. “I lived with all this stuff,” Dr. Kaplan, an emergency room... Read More...

Donations Aid Dominican Republic - 12/15/2011

Friday, December 16, is the deadline for donations for a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic that includes a group of 17 UCF College of Medicine M.D. students. The group is seeking donations of medicine, toiletries and toys for the trip to the Cibao region December 18-22. Items can be dropped off in the Student... Read More...

Inspired to Serve the Globe - 12/02/2011

Medical students from across Florida were inspired to care for patients across the world at the UCF College of Medicine’s recent Inaugural Global Health Conference. “Even though you are in medical school busting your butt and studying all the time, you still have time to serve,” said Dr. Tania Velez, a second-year family medicine resident at... Read More...

The Ultimate Gift - 12/02/2011

Jennifer Parsons wants Central Floridians to know how they can shape the hearts and minds of future healers -- through the Willed-Body Program at the UCF College of Medicine. Jennifer, director of Anatomical Facilities at the medical school, is spreading the word through talks with local groups and unveiled the outreach plan to colleagues November 29. “I... Read More...

Dr. Daniell Presents “Green” Solution - 12/02/2011

Touting the future of “green” drugs, Dr. Henry Daniell shared his research about how genetically modified plants can cure diseases such as diabetes, hemophilia and polio at the Luminary Series in November. Dr. Daniell, Pegasus Professor and Trustee Chair in the College of Medicine’s Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, delivered his lecture to about 115 people... Read More...

M.D. Students Race for the Cure - 12/02/2011

Sixteen M.D. students from the UCF College of Medicine put down their iPads and laced up their running shoes to raise $630 for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. The team from the Women’s Health Interest Group (WHIG) joined 7,701 runners on the campus of UCF at... Read More...

Stockings for Our Community’s Kids - 12/02/2011

In the spirit of the holidays, the American Medical Association UCF College of Medicine chapter is teaming up with the Salvation Army to help provide gifts to underprivileged children in our community. The college has been provided with stockings to fill with gifts that will be distributed to local children ages 7-12. Gifts do not need to... Read More...

Burnett School Undergraduate Presents Findings - 12/02/2011

An undergraduate student in the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences is part of a research team that presented findings about how oxidative changes could affect cells during the 18^th Annual Meeting of the Society for Free Radical Biology and Medicine. Senior Sarah Gitto, who is studying microbiology, molecular biology and health sciences/preclinical, participated in a poster... Read More...

Global Health Conference Dedicated to Sustainability - 11/15/2011

The UCF College of Medicine is sponsoring an Inaugural Global Health Conference Saturday to encourage medical institutions across Florida to support global health awareness. The event will feature seminars, simulation sessions and discussions on best practices for sustaining efforts to provide medical care across the globe. Invited guests include faculty members, medical, nursing, engineering and public... Read More...

College of Medicine Shines at AAMC National Meeting - 11/10/2011

The UCF College of Medicine was praised for its use of emerging technology to enhance learning and as an example of a “new excellence” in health education at this week’s annual meeting of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) in Denver. In his opening remarks to almost 4,000 academic medicine leaders, AAMC President and CEO... Read More...

Five New Scientists Join Burnett School Of Biomedical Sciences - 11/10/2011

The UCF College of Medicine recently welcomed five new scientists to the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences. Dr. Victor L. Davidson, Ph.D., (below left) joins the Burnett school from a faculty position at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. His research interests are enzymology, electron transfer, protein engineering, biosensors and oxidative stress. He is a Fellow of... Read More...

A New Dynamic Website - 11/10/2011

The UCF College of Medicine launched a new website this week based on a new content management system that will allow faster, easier changes and more dynamic, interactive content. Med.ucf.edu has a more modern design, is more interactive and is easier to search. Content is easier to find and the innovative design reflects the college’s focus... Read More...

Student Project Reviews STI Screening - 11/10/2011

College of Medicine M-3 student Ruth Strakosha hopes her research project will educate patients about self-collected methods of testing for sexually transmitted infections. Ruth presented her findings to the 38^th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Chicago in August.  Her mentor is Dr. Lori Boardman, assistant dean of medical... Read More...

VA Official to Discuss Research Programs - 11/10/2011

The UCF College of Medicine’s Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences is presenting “Overview of the VA Research Program” on Wednesday, November 30, from noon to 1 p.m. in room 103 of the Burnett Biomedical Sciences building. The presentation will be given by Dr. Kenneth C. Goldberg, chief of staff at the Orlando VA Medical Center. On... Read More...

Help Us Create a College of Medicine Quilt - 11/10/2011

“Quilts are like friends - a great source of comfort and warmth,” according to an old quote and the UCF College of Medicine is hoping to create its own quilt that signifies the warm and diverse tapestry of its members. In conjunction with this fall’s “Healing Arts” exhibit, College of Medicine librarian Faith Schafer-Moody has volunteered... Read More...

A Push to Understand - 10/28/2011

The challenge is clear to Dr. Monica Hayes: The cultural landscape of the United States is changing, and medical professionals must understand this to close the health-care disparities gap for patients. Dr. Hayes, assistant director of minority health for the Florida Department of Health, made her comments recently at the College of Medicine as part of... Read More...

UCF Pegasus Health Welcomes All - 10/28/2011

UCF Pegasus Health, the College of Medicine’s new faculty practice, opened its doors this week for two open houses - one for the community and one for local physicians. Guests toured the newly renovated facility at 3400 Quadrangle Blvd., on the corner of University and Quadrangle boulevards, just blocks from the main UCF campus. They met... Read More...

Treating Diseases with Plants - 10/28/2011

Dr. Henry Daniell’s dream is as clear as it is ambitious: Cure the world’s Top 10 diseases through the use of genetically engineered plants. Dr. Daniell, a faculty member of the College of Medicine’s Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences is currently examining how plants can cure diseases ranging from diabetes to cholera, hemophilia to malaria. At... Read More...

Plant-Based Diet Prevents Heart Disease - 10/28/2011

If you want to be “heart-attack proof,” eat like the rural Chinese, central Africans, Papua Highlanders and the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico. Follow a plant-based diet. That’s the dietary prescription Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr. delivered recently a UCF College of Medicine audience. After nibbling on platters of fresh fruit and vegetables at a reception, the... Read More...

National Primary Care Week Events - 10/28/2011

Sharing the bounty of their knowledge, students from the UCF College of Medicine recently dished out advice to Osceola County seniors about healthful snacking. Using a $300 grant from the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), the College of Medicine chapter organized the healthful snacking talk as part of National Primary Care Week (October 10-14), an annual... Read More...

Community Open House Draws Huge Crowd - 10/28/2011

Several thousand people visited the College of Medicine’s Community Open House on October 16 to get a rare, behind-the-scenes look at where UCF is training the next generation of doctors. Central Florida residents took tours of the college’s high-tech classrooms, labs and library, and enjoyed sports on the Tavistock Green. They also met doctors from UCF... Read More...

Pumpkin Surgeons - 10/28/2011

In keeping with a UCF College of Medicine tradition, M-1 students recently practiced their Anatomy Lab surgical skills on pumpkins in honor of true Halloween tradition. The students just began their 17 weeks of HB-2, and last year's new M.D. class began the tradition of pumpkin carving as a way to commemorate the fall season and... Read More...

“World Class Scientist” is Burnett School’s New Endowed Chair - 10/18/2011

The UCF College of Medicine has hired a “world class scientist” from Ohio State University for its first endowed chair in Cardiovascular Sciences. Sampath Parthasarathy, Ph.D. is an internationally known cardiovascular scientist who has held the Klassen Chair at Ohio State for the past 15 years and where he was also a professor of internal medicine,... Read More...

Library Director Receives Honor - 10/18/2011

In the easy-access age of Google and Wikipedia, five little letters behind Nadine Dexter’s name tell you that the College of Medicine library director is committed to providing students and faculty the best, most reliable resources. The Academy of Health Information Professionals has approved Dexter for membership at the distinguished member level, D-AHIP. The organization is... Read More...

“Becoming Heart Attack Proof” - 10/18/2011

The Student Alliance for Integrative Medicine at the UCF College of Medicine is presenting "Becoming Heart Attack Proof," on Thursday October 20 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. in room 102 of the Medical Education Building. The presentation will be given by Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., whose 20-year nutritional study provides extensive scientific evidence that we... Read More...

Student Presentation Highlights Inequality of Care - 10/18/2011

For many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) patients, seeking health care means worrying about discrimination and bias when they step into a doctor’s office. That shouldn’t be, said College of Medicine M-3 students Tiffany Chen and Katherine Ferstadt. They were inspired to look at how UCF’s medical school curriculum shapes health care for that community... Read More...

Celebrating Excellence - 10/18/2011

In a salute to innovation and dedication, the UCF College of Medicine held its first awards ceremony for faculty and students, and paid homage to the late Dr. Richard Hornick, one of the college’s founding faculty members. “We are here to celebrate excellence,” Dr. Deborah German, vice president of Medical Affairs and dean of the College... Read More...

“An Incredibly Innovative and Energized Place” - 10/18/2011

Dr. Darrell Kirch, president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), visited the UCF College of Medicine recently and declared, “You are an incredibly innovative and energized place, a model of where medical education is headed.” The AAMC represents all 134 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools along with nearly 400... Read More...

Pegasus Health Community Open House Oct. 25 - 10/18/2011

The College of Medicine is inviting the community to an October 25 open house at UCF Pegasus Health, the new outpatient medical facility where UCF physician-educators will practice medicine. The practice is currently accepting patients ages 16 and up for appointments beginning November 7. The open house will be held from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. and... Read More...

In Thankful Honor of UCF Benefactor Nancy Burnett - 10/18/2011

Nancy Burnett, a longtime supporter of the University of Central Florida, whose gift with her husband Al Burnett created the College of Medicine's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, passed away last week. The Burnetts have donated $15.5 million over more than 30 years to support UCF students and programs. In addition to the College of... Read More...

Team Spirit and Italian Food - 10/03/2011

Call it a combination of Knight team loyalty and good Italian food. The College of Medicine Student Council is organizing two spirit events this fall to encourage unity, festivity and fun. Each Friday is now "UCF COM Uknight Spirit Day" where students, faculty and staff members are urged to wear black and gold to show their... Read More...

A Gift of Real Words, Real Feelings - 10/03/2011

Shirley Scott has spent the last 30 years teaching people how to accept, grieve and cope with death and dying. Now, thanks to a generous donation to the UCF College of Medicine, Ms. Scott, a former hospice nurse, is providing her valuable lessons to every first-year medical student. Ms. Scott recently donated 120 copies of the... Read More...

M.D. Students are “Battle Buddies” to Homeless Vets - 10/03/2011

Twenty UCF College of Medicine M.D. students served as advocates for homeless vets during the VA Stand Down Against Homelessness on Sept. 24. The event provided services such as showers, clothing, warm meals, legal help and medical and dental care to homeless veterans in one accessible location. As part of the program, College of Medicine students... Read More...

What’s So Important About Analytics? Find Out at Library Expo - 10/03/2011

Data can be fun and easy to digest, especially when served with a slice of pizza and a game-show spin. The next lunch-and-learn expo at the Harriet F. Ginsburg Library will focus on how Google Analytics is helping shape library services. You will also find out more about the College of Medicine's interlibrary loan program, says... Read More...

Licensed Bacteria Test Could Yield Crohn’s Treatment - 10/03/2011

Thanks to the work of a professor at the College of Medicine's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, the University of Central Florida Research Foundation has licensed a promising diagnostic test to an international company developing a treatment for Crohn's disease. Burnett school professor Saleh Naser developed the patented technology to test for the MAP bacterium (Mycobacterium... Read More...

College of Medicine Café Is Going Green - 10/03/2011

Along with the tasty wraps and fortifying cups of joe, eco-friendly products are on the menu at the College of Medicine Café. Reducing dependence on tree-based paper products and minimizing waste disposal are his goals, says café manager Tim Berkheiser. "The best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time," says Berkheiser, who is... Read More...

In Thankful Honor of UCF Benefactor Nancy Burnett - 10/03/2011

Nancy Burnett, a longtime supporter of the University of Central Florida, whose gift with her husband Al Burnett created the College of Medicine's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, passed away last week. The Burnetts have donated $15.5 million over more than 30 years to support UCF students and programs. In addition to the College of... Read More...

Dr. Davey Wins Lifetime Achievement Award - 09/22/2011

Dr. Diane Davey, professor of pathology and assistant dean at the UCF College of Medicine, received the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Lifetime Achievement Award at a ceremony in Dallas Sept. 12. In making the award, CAP praised Dr. Davey for a lifetime of "tireless service and dedication to patients." CAP is the world's largest association... Read More...

Dr. Daniell receives $5.5 million in NIH grants - 09/22/2011

At a time when research funding is hard to come by, UCF College of Medicine microbiologist Dr. Henry Daniell has landed $5.5 million in National Institutes of Health highly competitive grants for hemophilia research. The first grant, worth $3.6 million over five years, is aimed at determining whether a green technique pioneered at the college will... Read More...

Community Open House Oct. 16 - 09/22/2011

The College of Medicine is inviting the community to an open house celebration on Sunday, Oct. 16, so Central Florida residents can see where we're training the next generation of doctors. We're talking fun, food and festivities - and all events are free and open to the public. The open house will feature tours of the medical... Read More...

A Place Where There Is No Cancer - 09/22/2011

Carrying the theme that "medicine cures the body, but art heals the spirit," speakers at the UCF College of Medicine stressed the importance of artistic expression in helping patients heal and cope with illness. The medical school celebrated the healing power of art Sept. 9 in conjunction with "Everyday Miracles: Medical Imagery in Ex-Votos," a traveling... Read More...

Knights Beat Boston College, Medical School Shines! - 09/22/2011

The College of Medicine sponsored last Saturday's 30-3 football victory by UCF against Boston College with stadium signs, a Jumbotron video welcome and the unveiling of the new "Healthy Days & Knights" campaign. Dr. Deborah German, vice president of medical affairs and dean of the College of Medicine, received the game ball on the field of... Read More...

Medical Student Learns to Hear “Ovarian Cancer Whisper” - 09/13/2011

Ricardo Molero Bravo, a second-year medical student at the UCF College of Medicine, spent this summer training at Florida Hospital's Gynecologic Oncology unit, where he shadowed clinical physicians and conducted research. Ricardo's primary preceptor was Dr. Robert Holloway, a world renowned robotics surgeon. "Dr. Holloway embodies the... Read More...

Director Placed on National Committee - 09/13/2011

Andrea Berry, the College of Medicine's director of faculty development, was recently appointed to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Research in Medical Education (RIME) Faculty Development subcommittee. The RIME Faculty Development group is instrumental in developing programs to support educational scholarship and dissemination efforts at a national and regional level. Specific goals for the... Read More...

BP Donates to Young Scientists - 09/13/2011

Thirty young scientists from the UCF College of Medicine received $1,000 scholarships in Spring 2011 thanks to a generous donation from BP and Florida Oil Holdings. The new BP Scholars Program, which began this year, supports undergraduates at the medical school's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences. "We reached out to UCF's biomedical program specifically because we're... Read More...

Everyday Miracles – Healing Arts - 09/13/2011

The UCF College of Medicine will celebrate the healing power of creativity on Friday September 9, with artistic displays and discussions of how art helps patients heal and cope with illness. The event is centered around "Everyday Miracles: Medical Imagery in Ex-Votos," a traveling exhibit from the National Library of Medicine, that is on display at... Read More...

Hijacked Proteins Linked to Salmonella Virulence - 09/13/2011

Scientists, including a new researcher at the College of Medicine's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, have discovered that bacteria like e. coli and salmonella have a sneaky way of making minor alterations to their genes to boost their chances for infection. The discovery, featured in the Aug. 14 issue of Nature Chemical Biology, shows how bacteria... Read More...

Welcome Class of 2015 - 09/12/2011

To a standing ovation, cheers and camera flashes, 80 new medical students were recognized as colleagues dedicated to patient care in front of faculty and family members at Monday's 2011 "White Coat Ceremony." The class of 2015 is the third at the UCF College of Medicine, bringing total enrollment to 180. The students were coated at... Read More...

Hephaestus Rules! - 09/12/2011

With a dunk tank, tug-of-war and Greek cheers, new M.D. students were welcomed to the UCF College of Medicine family at a recent Block Party. As part of the students' "Big Sibs" program, all 80 first-year students have a big brother or big sister from the class of 2014. That officially makes the second-year's Big Sibs... Read More...

Military Medicine - 09/12/2011

College of Medicine M.D. students are combining their commitments to medicine and public service through the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), which provides scholarship help to students who spend time on active duty while in school and apply for a military service residency upon graduation. M-1 students Anastasia Kostrubala and Colton Bush were recently commissioned into... Read More...

Medical Student Helps Haitian Babies, Sharpens Skills - 09/12/2011

Second-year M.D. student Dennrik Abrahan spent more than two months in Haiti this summer testing the skills he has learned as a medical student at the UCF College of Medicine. He took medical histories, watched doctors treat rare illnesses, but most importantly, Dennrik helped save lives. He trained Haitian midwives and doctors in a procedure to... Read More...

Research Findings Highlight Burnett School Colloquium - 09/12/2011

Scientific excitement filled the air this week as the College of Medicine's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences welcomed 45 new graduate students and presented student research on topics ranging from cancer to heart disease. The Third Annual Graduate Research Colloquium featured student poster presentations and networking opportunities for new students to meet their professors, mentors and... Read More...

Leaders in Interactive Learning - 09/12/2011

The UCF College of Medicine is taking the lead nationally in the use of interactive systems that help medical students participate more in their learning. From iPads that broadcast normal and irregular heart sounds to software that allows students to test themselves, these new interactive teaching methods make learning more interesting, engaging and relevant. Those features... Read More...

High-Tech, Comprehensive Care for Veterans - 09/12/2011

A Brevard County pulmonologist, who serves as a UCF College of Medicine volunteer faculty member, was recently featured in Space Coast Medicine Magazine for his work providing high-tech medical care to veterans. Dr. Thomas Howard is the chief medical officer at the Viera VA Clinic, a 107,000 square foot facility with services that include primary care,... Read More...

College Sponsoring Boston College Contest September 10 - 09/12/2011

The College of Medicine is expanding its wellness message to UCF athletics with a "Healthy Days & Knights" campaign that will provide encouragement and tips for living a healthy lifestyle throughout sporting seasons. As part of the new program, the college will sponsor the September 10 football... Read More...

Welcome to the College of Medicine, Summer Interns - 08/22/2011

They have researched adolescent medicine and educational technology, imaged laptop computers for new students and even taught an assistant dean the joys of Facebook and Twitter. Over the summer, the College of Medicine team grew by four summer interns who are hoping their experience will help them better serve their community. The interns include three students... Read More...

InfoComm’s Reaction to Our Technology: WOW - 08/22/2011

Audiovisual professionals from across the globe toured the College of Medicine's state-of-the-art medical education building recently as part of InfoComm 2011 -- a worldwide AV conference that was held at the Orange County Convention Center. During the actual conference, attendees received a case study of the medical school's cutting-edge technology in classrooms, labs, lecture halls and... Read More...

MeD Camp Inspires, Educates Students and the Community - 08/22/2011

This summer, 102 area high school students who are interested in medical careers had the opportunity to attend "MeD Camp," thanks, in part, to the UCF College of Medicine. Florida Hospital, the college and the Sanford-Burnham Research Institute joined forces to offer the camp where aspiring young medical professionals could meet, network and learn from experts... Read More...

With Gratitude to Dr. Richard Hornick - 08/22/2011

Dr. Richard Hornick, an Orlando infectious disease specialist who helped create the UCF College of Medicine, passed away August 9. During his career as a physician, scientist and teacher, Dr. Hornick contributed to the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases including cholera, tularemia, typhoid fever, Q fever and dysenteric disorders. In addition, he authored or co-authored... Read More...

Burnett School Ph.D. Student Wins National Grant - 08/22/2011

Alejandra Petrilli, a Ph.D. candidate at the College of Medicine's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, is the winner of a $60,000 "Young Investigator Award" from the Children's Tumor Foundation. The grant will help Alejandra research Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), a disease that can leave children and young adults deaf, partially paralyzed or brain damaged. Alejandra works... Read More...

Help Put an End to Heart Disease - 07/08/2011

Did you know?

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States.
• In the U.S., someone has a heart attack every 34 seconds and each minute someone dies from heart disease.
• Forty-seven percent of sudden cardiac deaths happen outside a hospital, suggesting that many people with heart disease don't act on... Read More...

Provisional Accreditation Event Honors All - 07/08/2011

The College of Medicine gathered Thursday to celebrate receiving provisional accreditation, the second of three approvals necessary to become fully accredited and able to grant medical degrees to its students. The college's provisional accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education "is really the work of all of you," said Dr. Deborah German, vice president for... Read More...

Research Breakthrough Could Heal Broken Hearts - 07/08/2011

A breakthrough from the College of Medicine's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, which creates stem cells in the lab to heal diseased hearts, was recently published in "Molecular Pharmaceutics," an influential journal on molecular systems of drug delivery. The journal's May edition features the research of College of Medicine Associate Professor Dinender Singla, who is investigating... Read More...

Christina Hsu is National Scholarship Winner - 06/24/2011

College of Medicine M.D. student Christina Hsu is one of six national winners of a Chinese American Physicians Scholarship (CAPS) based on her academic achievements and community service. The other winners were from established medical schools, including Johns Hopkins, Stanford and Washington University. Christina received the "Dr. Lester Chen Memorial Scholarship," which was established in 1980... Read More...

Racing to Find a Diabetes Cure - 06/24/2011

College of Medicine Professor Henry Daniell is one of several UCF professors whose research targets diabetes. And this month, a special 30-minute program on UCFTV explores the advances being made in Central Florida as doctors and scientists work to crack the mystery of what triggers diabetes. Researchers are hot on the trail of the "smoking gene"... Read More...

Scholarship Epitomizes Caring - 06/24/2011

The UCF College of Medicine has received a scholarship donation in memory of a Central Florida Hospitalist Partners doctor who epitomized "the caring physician who always put her patients first." Dr. Margret Reusch died unexpectedly this spring. Her husband, Roy Taylor, contacted the medical school about establishing a scholarship in her honor. "Dr. Reusch's family wanted to... Read More...

COM Team Presents Posters on Patient Safety - 06/24/2011

College of Medicine colleagues presented two posters on integrating patient safety into the medical school curriculum during an Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) conference in Chicago this week. One of the AAMC's current initiatives is "Best Practices for Better Care," a multi-year initiative to improve the quality and safety of health care. A College of Medicine... Read More...

Congratulations to Burnett School Graduate Researchers - 06/24/2011

The College of Medicine's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences held its sixth annual Graduate Research Symposium, which gave Master's and Ph.D. students the opportunity to present their research in public as they would at national and international conferences. "The symposium gives students an opportunity to show off their hard work," said Dr. Mollie Jewett, an assistant... Read More...

UCF College of Medicine Receives Provisional Accreditation - 06/24/2011

The University of Central Florida College of Medicine is one step closer to full accreditation this week after being granted provisional accreditation. The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) awarded the College of Medicine provisional status, the second of three approvals necessary for the college to be fully accredited and able to grant degrees to its... Read More...

Psychiatry Self-Learning Modules Win National Poster Award - 06/24/2011

The UCF College of Medicine's participation in the development of a national database of online instruction in psychiatry helped win the 2011 "Outstanding Innovation in Medical Education Poster Award" from the Association of Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry (ADMSEP). Dr. Martin Klapheke, professor of Psychiatry at the College of Medicine, and co-chair of the... Read More...

Inspiration from the College of Medicine - 06/24/2011

High school students from Central Florida rural communities were urged to seek health-care careers during a recent tour at the UCF College of Medicine where they were inspired by M.D. student Sharise Richardson: "Persevere and do not be scared. Just go for it." The students were from Central Florida's Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Network affiliated... Read More...

Burnett School Grad is National Fellow - 06/24/2011

Dr. Jennifer White, a 1998 graduate of the College of Medicine's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, is one of 10 medical residents nationwide to be named a Laughlin Fellow by the American College of Psychiatry. Each year the college selects as fellows third-, fourth- and fifth-year medical residents from the United States and Canada who are... Read More...

Dr. Davey is a National Pathology Leader - 06/24/2011

Dr. Diane Davey, assistant dean for graduate medical education and professor of pathology at the UCF College of Medicine, presented and voted on recommendations at a recent national conference on benchmarking quality in medical laboratories. Dr. Davey was a workgroup member at the College of American Pathologists (CAP)/Centers for Disease Control (CDC) conference in Chicago that... Read More...

Clerkships Require a Teamwork Approach - 06/24/2011

The College of Medicine's charter class began its second rotation of clerkships in hospitals and clinics around Central Florida this week. And the training for third-year students continues to highlight the college's teamwork. "It's been a massive undertaking because the students are located in so many different places," said Margaret Orr, clerkship coordinator. "We want to... Read More...

Wild Medicine! - 05/27/2011

Two teams of M-1 medical students recently placed 17th and 19th at the Medical Wilderness Adventure Race Southeast in Fort Gordon, GA. Abinaya Chari, Alexa Rodriguez, Chris Cooper, Lena Ning, Mihail Stojanovski, Mikaela DeVeaux, Omar Shakeel and Ricardo Molero Bravo competed in a 10-mile race that combined cycling, orienteering and wilderness emergencies like dehydration and alligator... Read More...

REC Makes Electronic Records Live - 05/27/2011

The College of Medicine's Regional Extension Center (REC) recently assisted two local doctors' offices "going live" with electronic health records and is in the process of helping many others. The REC is working with healthcare providers throughout Central Florida to select, contract, develop and effectively use electronic health records (EHR's) to improve patient safety. The REC's... Read More...

Undergraduate Scientists Honored - 05/27/2011

Seven young scientists from the College of Medicine's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences were honored recently at the Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence (SURE). This poster-based forum enables undergraduates from all academic disciplines to present their research and creative projects to the broader university community. Burnett school winners in two Life Sciences categories were: Life Sciences I Read More...

National Geriatric Conference - 05/27/2011

Dr. Mariana Dangiolo, assistant professor of family medicine and director of the Geriatrics Longitudinal Curricular Theme, and M-1 students Reid Green, Christina Hsu and Malgorzata Krzyszczak recently presented a medical education workshop and a poster at the American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific Meeting. The project, "Geri-Anatomy: Integrating Geriatrics into the Anatomy Curriculum in a New... Read More...

UCF Trustees Approve Dental College - 05/27/2011

The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees approved the creation of a new College of Dental Medicine that will expand opportunities for local students, create jobs and help Central Floridians lead healthier lives. According to the plan, the dental college will be located adjacent to the UCF College of Medicine at the UCF Health Sciences... Read More...

UCF Announces Proposed College of Dental Medicine - 05/13/2011

The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees will consider on May 26 a proposal to establish a College of Dental Medicine at the UCF Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona. The college would fill a need to provide students with a local dental program, and it would be expected to create at least 110 local... Read More...

Dr. Daniell’s Gates Foundation Grant Could Create Safer, Needle-free Vaccine - 05/13/2011

An innovative way of making vaccines by College of Medicine Microbiologist Henry Daniell has attracted a two-year $761,302 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation because the development has the potential to make vaccines less expensive, more effective and needle free. Since 2000, Dr. Daniell, a professor at the college's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences,... Read More...

Clerkships Begin - 05/13/2011

College of Medicine M.D. students began their third-year clerkships this week and are working in specialties including neurology, pediatrics, surgery, psychiatry, internal and family medicine and obstetrics and gynecology. The first two weeks of clerkships take the now M-3 students to a variety of community settings, including the Transplant Surgery Unit at Florida Hospital, Arnold Palmer... Read More...

Dr. Chan Presents Research on Alzheimer’s disease and Stroke - 05/13/2011

As the population ages, so do the instances of neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease and stroke, and on Tuesday, Dr. Sic Chan, assistant professor at the College of Medicine's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, presented his latest research on alternative strategies to target the pathological initiators of neuron damage. In a Luminary Series talk at the... Read More...

Congrats, Burnett School Graduates - 05/13/2011

Congratulations to approximately 190 students who received their undergraduate and graduate degrees from the College of Medicine's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences last week. The graduates included students who received BS degrees in Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Biotechnology and Medical Laboratory Sciences, as well as those who received Master's degrees and Ph.D.s. After receiving their diplomas... Read More...

Relay for Life - 05/13/2011

A College of Medicine team will be participating in the Lake Nona Relay for Life on May 20 to help raise money for the American Cancer Society. The walk begins at 6 p.m.at Lake Nona High School. Medical School Team Leaders are Wandy Cruz-Velazquez, coordinator of admissions and registration in Student Affairs, and Debbie Kirkley, instructional... Read More...

Surgeons in the Making? - 04/29/2011

Dr. Jose Borrero, assistant professor of surgery, recently held special sessions on suturing for medical students. Students practiced their stitches on pig's feet, which Dr. Borrero had purchased at Publix before the exercise. So are the medical students ready to become surgeons? "Not yet," says Dr. Borrero. "That's why they are practicing. Becoming a surgeon is a... Read More...

Medical and Football Champs - 04/29/2011

The competition began as pick-up games on the UCF College of Medicine Tavistock Green. But now, a flag football team boasting "the heart of 100 lions" is the champion. The College of Medicine Shaikhers - M-1 students Andrew Bonett, Christopher Cooper, Eric Gelman and Mihail Stojanovski, and M-2s Jon Beilan and Rafik Zarifa - recently won... Read More...

President of NMA Tells students and faculty: “People are sick. We need to help them be well.” - 04/29/2011

The president of the National Medical Association (NMA) urged UCF College of Medicine students, faculty and staff members Monday to do their part in ending health-care disparities, declaring, "Things are not going to get better if we just let it be." Leonard Weather, Jr., M.D. leads the NMA, which was founded in 1895 and is the... Read More...

Dr. Teter is UCF TIP Winner - 04/29/2011

Dr. Ken Teter, associate professor at the College of Medicine's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, is the winner of a UCF Teaching Incentive Program (TIP) award. In announcing the award, Dr. Deborah German, vice president for medical affairs and dean of the College of Medicine, said, "The TIP Selection Committee reviewed a number of excellent applications.... Read More...

M.D. Students Win National Honor for Community Service - 04/15/2011

UCF College of Medicine M.D. students recently received a national award recognizing their community service and leadership as future healthcare leaders. Orlando's medical school received the Chapter Success Paul R. Wright Award at a recent national convention of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) in Washington, D.C. The award is given to M.D. student organizations... Read More...

Burnett School Student, Professor are Founders’ Day Winners - 04/15/2011

A Molecular Biology and Microbiology major and a faculty member in the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences recently received the 2011 UCF College of Medicine Founders' Day Awards. The annual awards recognize extraordinary contributions to the university community. College of Medicine winners were student Alana Bhavani Persaud and Professor Debopam Chakrabarti, Ph. D. Alana maintains a perfect... Read More...

Ph.D. Candidate is Outstanding Teacher, Researcher - 04/15/2011

Aaron Muth, a Ph.D. candidate working with UCF College of Medicine Professor Otto Phanstiel, recently won two teaching awards from the university. Aaron received the College of Sciences $250 award and the university's $1,500 award that recognize the outstanding instructional skills of graduate teaching assistants. "To receive both awards is quite an accomplishment," Dr. Phanstiel said... Read More...

Stetson Undergrads Visit Anatomy Lab - 04/15/2011

Stetson University undergraduates interested in health sciences recently studied at the College of Medicine's Anatomy Lab and said the lesson not only taught them about the intricacies of the human body, but also helped them better understand aging, death and dying. The educational field trip was organized by Andrew Payer, professor of Anatomy at the College... Read More...

Dr. Turkson Wins UCF Research Incentive Award - 04/15/2011

Dr. James Turkson, associate professor at the College of Medicine's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, is the 2010-2011 winner of the UCF Research Incentive Award (RIA) honoring excellence in research. "Dr. Turkson has done an outstanding job of bringing national recognition to our programs and is truly deserving of this special honor," said Dr. Deborah German,... Read More...

From Chernobyl to Fukushima - 04/15/2011

Two College of Medicine team members shared their expertise on the medical risks for victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami that damaged a nuclear reactor in Fukushima, Japan. Dr. Rebecca Moroose, an assistant professor with a specialty in oncology, joined second-year medical student Keith Connolly, who spent 10 years in the nuclear power industry before... Read More...

Research on FIRE - 04/01/2011

Second-year UCF College of Medicine students presented their independent research projects last week that showcased medical-related topics the doctors-in-training are passionate about. The Focused Individualized Research Experience (FIRE) projects were the dream of Dr. Deborah German, vice president of medical affairs and founding dean of the College of Medicine. She wanted medical students to develop a... Read More...

Burnett School Offers Medical Lab Training to Community - 04/01/2011

About 80 medical laboratory professionals recently received the latest training thanks to the College of Medicine's Medical Laboratory Sciences program at the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences. The continuing education program was jointly sponsored with the Florida Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (FSCLS). At the FSCLS's 2011 Spring Symposium, medical laboratory professionals received updates on microbiology,... Read More...

The Gift of Recycling - 04/01/2011

After a long, stressful week of exams, UCF College of Medicine M.D. students received a "green" Spring Break gift from Tupperware Brands. Yolanda Londoño, vice president, global social responsibility for the Orlando-based company, presented all 100 students with lunch kits for "meals on the go." The Tupperware water bottles, one-portion snack containers, food savers and... Read More...

M.D. Students Impress at AMSA - 04/01/2011

Ten students from the UCF College of Medicine attended the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) conference in Washington D.C. recently, where they learned about health-care policy, demonstrated their academic and research skills, made teddy bears for the Children's National Medical Center and even toured the White House. Attending the conference were M-1s Abinaya Chari, Kelly Johnson,... Read More...

Information Expo Highlights Learning Anywhere - 03/18/2011

The Harriett F. Ginsburg Library's motto is "Information - Anywhere, Anytime on Any Device." And on Thursday the College of Medicine library staff held a lunch-and-learn expo on accessing its resources 24/7. Because the library is 98 percent digital, College of Medicine faculty, staff and students can get library information anywhere they have web access.... Read More...

Mentoring Young Scientists - 03/18/2011

Faculty members at the College of Medicine's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences are expanding their undergraduate mentoring programs to give increasing numbers of young scientists hands-on research training experience and peer networking opportunities. Molecular Biology and Microbiology is now the second most popular major at UCF and the Burnett School recently added a new Biotechnology major.... Read More...

Celebrating “The Healthy Spirit That Lives In All Of Us” - 03/18/2011

The UCF College of Medicine recently unveiled The Dean's Art Gallery on the first floor of the new medical education building. The gallery features more than 50 pieces of art - photography to pencil drawings, chalk to pottery - created by College of Medicine students, faculty and staff members. "I love that everybody is here and... Read More...

Hygeia – Food, Festivities, Fashion and Fun - 03/18/2011

UCF College of Medicine M.D. students held their second annual end-of-year banquet March 5 at the Ballroom at Church Street. Festivities included dinner, dancing, cocktail attire and awards - all in the name of Hygeia, the daughter of the goddess of health and cleanliness. In praising the event, Dr. Marcy Verduin, associate dean for students, raised... Read More...

Humble Thanks to a Silent Teacher - 03/04/2011

In life, they were homemakers, a Catholic priest, a physician, a brick-layer and a beauty shop manager. In death, they were courageous and generous teachers who helped train students to become compassionate healers. And on Thursday, first-year medical students at the UCF College of Medicine said a grateful good-bye to the 11 donors who had... Read More...

Professor Brings Cure for Huntington’s a Step Closer - 03/04/2011

A huge leap forward in understanding Huntington's disease may give patients hope for a cure, thanks to research from Professor Ella Bossy-Wetzel of the UCF College of Medicine's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences. Laboratory tests on skin cells and post-mortem brain tissue of Huntington's disease patients determined that an overactive protein triggers a chain reaction that... Read More...

Honoring His Love of Teaching Science - 03/04/2011

A Greensburg, PA doctor and his wife have made a major gift to the College of Medicine's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences to honor their father's love of teaching molecular biology and microbiology students. Dr. Steve and Tina Wodzinski made the additional gift to the already established Rudy J. Wodzinski Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund to increase... Read More...

State Champs - 03/04/2011

"Soccer is part of who I am," says Bill Barker, the College of Medicine's program assistant for Analysis, Planning and Accreditation, who assisted in the logistics for the recent LCME visit. And now, so is a state championship. Bill, who started playing soccer in his teens, coaches the Oviedo High School girls' soccer team. The squad... Read More...

Hoops and Food - 02/22/2011

The College of Medicine is sponsoring a food drive at UCF's last home basketball game on March 2 at 7:00 P.M. Please bring a can of non-perishable food with you to the game. There will be collection locations throughout the UCF Arena. Food will support Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Hunger is a huge... Read More...

With Thanks to Dr. Ruth Marshall - 02/18/2011

The UCF College of Medicine on Thursday said thank you and best wishes to Ruth Marshall, Ed.D., director of Educational Technology, who announced she was leaving the college to go on medical leave. "Ruth has been an integral part of our college and has led our efforts to link a strong educational curriculum with the latest... Read More...

M.D. Honor Code Plaques - 02/18/2011

The Student Professional Conduct Council (SPCC) at the UCF College of Medicine has placed honor code plaques throughout the new medical education building. The plaques list the M.D. students' educational values: integrity, professionalism, judgment and respect. The plaques are now hanging in classrooms 101, 104 and 116, as well as the Microscopy and Anatomy labs and... Read More...

Edyth Bush Contributes $50,000 to FIRE Projects - 02/18/2011

The Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation has donated $50,000 to help College of Medicine M.D. students with their Focused Individualized Research Experience (FIRE) projects. Dr. Deborah German, vice president of medical affairs and dean of the College of Medicine, devised the FIRE projects as a way for students to create new scientific discoveries in an area of... Read More...

Order of Pegasus Winners - 02/18/2011

Five College of Medicine students are among the 18 students who will receive the Order of Pegasus, UCF's most prestigious student award. The award honors outstanding academic achievement, university involvement, leadership and community service. The winners will be honored at a ceremony later this spring. Their names and pictures will be added to the wall of... Read More...

Creating Future Health Leaders - 02/14/2011

The UCF College of Medicine began its first health leadership initiative with Orlando's Jones High School Medical Arts Magnet program on Friday, a partnership designed to increase the diversity of students in medical education and better prepare those youngsters to enter the health-care profession. The partnership will provide Jones students with ongoing mentorship from College of... Read More...

Cycling for a Cure - 02/04/2011

You're invited to participate in the March 6 Tour de Cure bicycle ride that starts at the UCF College of Medicine and will raise money to help find a cure for diabetes. The Tour has five different routes – 10, 25, 54, 77 and 101 miles -- that are designed for everyone from the occasional rider... Read More...

Dr. Balkwill Chairs Department of Medical Education - 02/04/2011

Dr. David Balkwill, professor of Microbiology, has been appointed the new chair of the Department of Medical Education at the UCF College of Medicine. In announcing his new role, Dr. Deborah German, UCF vice president of medical affairs and dean of the College of Medicine, noted that Dr. Balkwill's previous teaching and leadership experience will prepare... Read More...

Medicine in the Woods - 02/04/2011

Members of the UCF College of Medicine's Wilderness Medical Society practiced their medical, hiking and even their canoeing skills January 30 during a MedAR Medical Adventure Race at Moss Park. M-2 student Luke Lin is doing his Focused Individualized Research Experience (FIRE) on whether hands-on, outdoor learning experiences like MedAR provide an enhanced learning environment for... Read More...

Burnett School Student Is Congressional Award Gold Medal Winner - 02/04/2011

Melissa Gregory, a sophomore Microbiology and Molecular Biology major at the College of Medicine's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, has earned the Congressional Award Gold Medal, the top national award bestowed by Congress. Melissa received the award for turning her passion for dance into an outlet for serving her community. As a student at Winter Springs... Read More...

College of Medicine Food Drive March 2 - 02/04/2011

Planning to attend the UCF Knights last home basketball game against SMU on March 2? Bring a can of food with you! The UCF College of Medicine is holding a canned food drive to support the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Collection stations for non-perishable food will be located throughout the UCF Arena during... Read More...

College of Medicine’s Award-Winning Websites - 01/21/2011

The UCF College of Medicine recently received two Excellence awards in the Florida Technical Communication Competition for its web minisites and the use of social media such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for creating an online community for the college. Judges remarked that the minisites were interactive, informative and well-designed and that the internet communication helped... Read More...

Dr. Borrero Honored as Surgeon, ‘Model of Models’ - 01/21/2011

Dr. Jose Borrero, assistant professor of Surgery at the UCF College of Medicine, received multiple honors recently for his skills as a surgeon, his leadership in the Hispanic medical community and his mentorship of young physicians. "I want students to understand that everything they are is the product of their effort," Dr. Borrero said. "There is... Read More...

Generous Gift helps Burnett School Recruit Top Ph.D. Students - 01/21/2011

The Chatlos Foundation, a private, philanthropic foundation based in Longwood, has committed a $50,000 gift to support one graduate fellowship for five years in the College of Medicine's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences. The recipient of the fellowship will be known as the Chatlos Fellow. The gift is part of a Graduate Fellowship campaign that will... Read More...

Multicultural Celebration - 01/21/2011

UCF College of Medicine M.D. students held their second annual Multicultural Celebration January 7 to highlight the many cultures the medical school shares -- from Iceland to Haiti, Ireland to Spain, Egypt to Vietnam. The celebration included native foods, traditional dress, flags, music and dancing. "I don't think there is anything more important than coming together... Read More...

Champion for All - 01/07/2011

The UCF College of Medicine recently announced the appointment of Dr. Lisa Barkley as the new assistant dean for diversity and inclusion. Dr. Barkley, whose specialties are family, adolescent and sports medicine, comes to UCF from Delaware State University, where she was associate vice president for health and wellness and the founding dean of the... Read More...

Burnett School Hires Three New Professors - 01/07/2011

The College of Medicine's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences has hired three new professors who have research expertise in a variety of subjects, from Parkinson's disease to cancer. Associate Professor Alvaro G. Estévez received his Ph.D. in Cellular Neurobiology from the Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. As a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Anesthesiology and... Read More...

Doctor’s Day Gala - 01/07/2011

UCF College of Medicine faculty members and students celebrated their love of medicine and the Hispanic culture recently at the Pan American Association's (PAMA) Doctor's Day Gala. Dr. Jose Borrero, assistant professor of surgery at the College of Medicine, is an active member of the organization and worked with PAMA to donate a major portion of... Read More...

Chemistry Unlocks the Drug Delivery Puzzle - 01/07/2011

UCF College of Medicine professor Otto Phanstiel and two of his students recently presented their cancer-fighting research at an American Chemical Society regional meeting in New Orleans. The American Chemical Society is the leading chemistry organization in America, with more than 150,000 members. As a medicinal chemist, Dr. Phanstiel uses organic chemistry to develop new... Read More...

A Beautiful Holiday Tree - 01/07/2011

Many thanks to the Martin Andersen-Gracia Andersen Foundation for donating the holiday tree that decorated the UCF College of Medicine atrium in recent weeks. The decorated tree was part of the Orlando Museum of Art's Annual Festival of Trees, a glittering wonderland of trees, wreaths and gingerbread houses every November. The Martin Andersen-Gracia Andersen Foundation's mission... Read More...