Recent Events
10th Annual Pediatric Medical Student Research Forum
The Department of Pediatrics sponsored the 10th Annual Pediatrics Medical Student Research Forum on August 31, 2024, at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort in Orlando. This was a national stage, with over 50 students from coast to coast representing over 11 states, including the islands of Puerto Rico and Barbados. We were impressed by the superior level of research on the platform and poster presentations.
Our own students shone, with 4 receiving awards!
Oral Presentations
- Caitland Love – 2nd Place
- Anna Walls – 3rd Place
- Hannah Rogers – 3rd Place
Poster Presentations:
- Melanie Pierce – 2nd Place
Awards & Honors
Sarah Marsicek, MD
Appointed by the Florida Medical Association to serve on its Specialty Society Section Executive Board.
Desmond Schatz, MD
Received the 2024 David A. Paulus Award for Clinical Excellence.
Was the 2024 Lewis A. Barness Lecturer at the University of South Florida. Dr. Barness was USF’s inaugural Pediatric Department Chair.
Awarded NIDDK U01 Clinical Center with Kimberly Driscoll and Brandon Zielinski: Evaluating Neurocognitive Complications of T1 DM
Melissa Elder, MD, PhD
Marcos Dinges successfully battled hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) under Melissa Elder, MD, PhD’s care in 2023
Joined FSU Baseball in 2024 as a Designated Hitter, with fifteen home runs to date!
Carla Zingariello, DO
The Centers for Disease Control approved renewal grant on muscular dystrophy surveillance.
Brittany Bruggeman, MD
Received $60,000 supplement to NIH K Award “Natural History and Mechanisms of Exocrine Pancreatic Dysfunction in Pre-Type 1 Diabetes”.
Geoffrey Keeler, PhD
Received an R21 award of $419,375.00 from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke for “Developing an adeno-associated virus therapy to treat demyelination”.
Barry Byrne, MD, PhD
Appointed to the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s (MDA’s) Board of Directors to Help Guide the Future of Neuromuscular Care and Research.
S. Parrish Winesett, MD
Member of the three-person team that won 2024 UF Research Opportunity Seed Funding for “Next Generation Language Mapping for Epilepsy Surgery”.
Madhurima Saha, PhD
Mitochondrial Enoyl CoA Reductase Protein-Associated Neurodegeneration (MEPAN) Gene Therapy Project.
Funded at the full $100,000 level by Mitzi and Jeff Solomon.
Countdown for a Cure Fund at the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (UMDF).
Michael J. Haller, MD
Appointed to serve as one of three COM Scientist Review Committee co-chairs, leading the panel of other expert reviewers for internal awards and funding mechanisms.
Jordan Milner, MD
Received a 2024-2025 award of $25,000.00 from the Ocala Royal Dames for Cancer Research, Inc. for “Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Utilizing Alpha/Beta T-Ce/1 and B-Ce/1 Depletion for Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adults with Underlying Malignancies.”
Education
Accomplishments & Awards
- The Department of Pediatrics won the Golden Apple Award for best Clinical Clerkship
- Peds Clerkship remains the top-performing core clerkship for COM
Scores increased in nearly all areas compared to the previous clerkship report - Residency Track Participant Numbers
Public Health (1), Global Health (2), Education (5), Primary Care (3), Research (2)
2022-2023 College of Medicine Exemplary Teachers in Pediatrics:
- Kendall Steadmon, MD – General Pediatrics
- Nancy Joseph, MB,BS – General Pediatrics
- Kristin Dayton, MD – Endocrinology
- William (Bill) Slayton, MD – Hematology/Oncology
- Chelsea Matthia, MD – General Pediatrics
- Stephanie Kirkconnell, MD – General Pediatrics
- Carolyn Carter, MD – General Pediatrics
- Donna Parker, MD – General Pediatrics
- Elahe (Meryl) Shychuk, MD – General Pediatrics
- Jennifer Co-Vu, MD – Congenital Heart Center
Nancy Joseph, MD
Educational Innovation in Pediatrics Award
Fred Guyer, MD
Resident Education Champion Award
Jyoti Budania, MD
Outstanding Peds After Hours Pediatrician
Outstanding Division Awards
Hospital Medicine & Endocrinology
2024 Kokomoor Award & Doug Barrett Award
Joie Cavazos, MD – Pediatric Critical Care Fellow
Yuen Yee Lo Yau Leung – Pediatric Cardiology Fellow
Research
Welcome new Grant Office Research Administrator
Emily Mak
Research Administration Manager
Pre/Post Awards
Shannon Daniels
Research Administrator II
Pre/Post Awards
Research Portfolio Summary
Research Portfolio by Division
Federally Funded Awards
FY24 CMN Awards
