The College of Medicine congratulates and thanks Dr. Donald Diebel Sr., who was recently honored with UCF’s John C. and Martha Hitt Honorary Alumni Award for his dedication that has “improved countless lives and inspired students and colleagues to embrace medicine as both a science and a calling.”
Dr. Diebel and his son, Don Jr., practiced together as Orlando OB-GYNs before the son’s death in 2002 when he stopped to assist car accident victims on Florida’s Turnpike. In his memory, the family created The Diebel Legacy Fund at the Central Florida Foundation to support and encourage good Samaritanism.
The fund supports the free KNIGHTS (Keeping Neighbors in Good Health Through Service) Clinic at Grace Medical Home, where UCF medical students work with community physicians to care for patients in need.
KNIGHTS is unique nationally because it is partnered with an established community free clinic. UCF medical students also have received national recognition for their quality improvement initiatives and research on improving clinic operations. College of Medicine faculty member Dr. Magdalena Pasarica, medical director of KNIGHTS, calls the clinic “a beacon of hope for our community.”
Dr. Diebel was one of eight “Shining Knights” recognized for 2025.
During the awards presentation, Dr. Deborah German, UCF’s vice president for health affairs and medical school dean, said Dr. Diebel exemplifies the caring, community-focused physician UCF wants to create.
“His fingerprints and his DNA are all over the UCF College of Medicine and our students,” she said.