Department Highlights | Summer 2025

Dr. John Ligon was selected to be a scholar for the 2025-2026 Blood & Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network’s (BMT CTN) Next Generation Scholar Program.

Dr. Ligon was also appointed Assistant Director, Director for Translational Research within the UF Health Cancer Center (UFHCC) to support and advance the translation of discoveries arising from UFHCC’s scientific research programs.

The Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Team did their first vaccine treatment for osteosarcoma AND performed their first gene therapy infusion for sickle cell anemia on the same day!

The Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Team treated their first patient with osteosarcoma with their RNA lipid nanoparticles on their clinical trial RNA PRIME. This was the first RNA-LPA treatment in the children’s hospital, the first AYA patient treated, the first patient treated for a non-brain tumor indication and the first institution beginning a trial for pediatric indications.

Published in April 2025 in Diabetes Spectrum:

Pilot Study: Improving Glycemic Control Among Children and Adolescents With Obesity and Prediabetes With Real-Time Feedback Via Continuous Glucose Monitoring.

Zachary Meyer, Timothy Foster, Xiaofei Chi, Michael Tan, Matthew Gurka, and Angelina Bernier.

The Florida bill allowing schools to stock an undesignated back-up glucagon for kids with diabetes was approved and goes into effect on July 1^st.

We’re hopeful this will raise awareness about the importance of glucagon, help parents to have peace of mind, keep kids with diabetes safer in school, and keep them from missing school if they run into insurance and cost issues with getting their glucagon.

Dr. Brittany Bruggeman played a key advocacy role in helping get this legislation across the finish line.

Dr. Bruggeman was ALSO elected to represent the College of Medicine in the UF Faculty Senate from 2025 to 2028. The Faculty Senate is the university-wide institution through which shared governance is practiced at the University of Florida. 

The India Fest on March 22 at Legacy Park , Alachua sparked a lot of interest in our booth, which focused on mental health issues.

Dr. Ruchita Kachru, Dr. Sarah Vas, Ashley Strickland, and Kim Clawson gave their time and energy to running the booth, giving away goodies, engaging children and parents in games, and providing expertise to  answer parents’ questions and raise awareness regarding teen/child suicide.  

In April, the Advanced Pediatric Essentials course was successfully completed for the fourth-year medical students who matched in Pediatrics. The Medical Education Track residents collaborated with Dr. Arwa Saidi to organize and teach this well-received course.  

A special thank you to Dr. Rebekah King and Dr. Paul Asheim for their leadership, to our rising seniors Dr. Melissa Huddleston, Dr. Jenna Knafo, and Dr. Kelly Davis for their valuable contributions, and to Caitlin Burks for her attendance and contribution through the year’s recurring meetings to organize this. 

The fourth-year medical students gave brilliant feedback to the Medical Education Track Residents, under Dr. Dima Ezmigna’s guidance.

Shout Out to Dr. Ezmigna and these Med Ed track residents:
Samur, Bahadir 
Chambers, Connor 
Knafo, Jenna  
LaRochelle, Chloe E 
Huddleston, Melissa 
Asheim, Paul
King, Rebekah J 
Overlaur, Steven 

Jennifer Carroll, PA-C, was selected as APP of the Quarter, as recognized by the Advanced Practice Provider Council at UF Health.

This incredible honor is a testament to Jen’s unwavering dedication, compassionate care, and the countless ways she goes above and beyond for her patients.