Florida Pediatric Alumni Association

The Florida Pediatric Alumni Association consists of the faculty, chiefs, fellows, researchers, and residents from the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Florida. If you have been a part of the Department of Pediatrics family at any point in time, then consider yourself a member!

Department of Pediatrics Previous Chairmen

Our History

Early in the 1960’s several graduates of the training program of the Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida decided to meet annually as a social affair. As the group grew in size, it was felt they should formally organize.

In February 1969, the organizational plans were discussed with Dr. Mark Barrow, President of the College of Medicine Alumni Association, and Dean Emmanuel Suter, Dean of the College of Medicine. Approval was granted for the establishment of the Association.

The Charter and Articles of Incorporation for the University of Florida Pediatric Alumni Association were approved by the State of Florida on November 5, 1969. In September 1976, the Association was granted tax-exempt status under 501(c)3 as its activities were changed from social to educational, scientific, and charitable. Scientific meetings were held to meet the Continuing Medical Education requirements of the Florida Medical Association (now the Florida Board of Medicine) and to enhance housestaff and in-service education.

In March 1984, the Association’s name was officially changed to Florida Pediatric Alumni Association, Inc.

Michael L. Steiner, M.D., and James G. White, M.D. were elected the first Co-Presidents in 1969. Meetings are held annually, usually in May. In 2005 the meetings were moved to the fall to take place in Gainesville at the time of a University of Florida Gator football home game.

The first annual dues assessed were $20 per year and are currently $50 per year. These dues are utilized to cover expenses of the guest lecturers, breaks, office supplies, and operational expenses. The dues also supported housestaff travel to attend the annual meeting as well as donations to the housestaff library and other organizations.

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Past Presidents

  • 1969-70: Michael L. Steiner, M.D. and James G. White, M.D. (Co-Presidents)
  • 1970-71: Marcus M. Moore, M.D. and Bobby A Richardson, M.D. (Co-Presidents)
  • 1971-72: Harris G. Gillis, M.D.
  • 1972-73: Don C. Smallwood, M.D.
  • 1973-74: Robert Vinson, M.D.
  • 1974-75: Neal G. Wiggins, M.D.
  • 1975-76: Joseph P. Bunn, M.D.
  • 1976-77: David A. Cimino, M.D.
  • 1977-78: John W. Bartlett, M.D.
  • 1978-79: Mary Beth Seay, M.D.
  • 1979-80: Dale F. Zimmerman, M.D.
  • 1980-81: Jean L. Bennett, M.D.
  • 1981-82: Richard K. O’Hern, M.D.
  • 1982-83: Minor Vernon, M.D.
  • 1983-84: Andrew Gellady, M.D.
  • 1984-85: William B. Blanchard, M.D.
  • 1985-86: Dennis L. Spangler, M.D.
  • 1986-87: Joseph Chiaro, M.D.
  • 1987-88: Kenneth Morse, M.D.
  • 1988-89: Walter G. Bunnell, M.D.
  • 1989-90: Moshe Adler
  • 1989-90: Susan H. White, M.D.
  • 1991-92: William L. Knappenberger, M.D.
  • 1992-93: Rosi D Fortunato, M.D.
  • 1993-94: D. Scott Featherman, M.D.
  • 1994-95: Fred Wehle, M.D.
  • 1995-96: Sheila Walaszek, M.D.
  • 1996-97: Ira Pinnelas, M.D.
  • 1997-98: Diane Z. Weems, M.D.
  • 1998-99: Ronald J. Kanter, M.D.
  • 1999-2000: Matthew A. Seibel, M.D.
  • 2000-02: Carolyn Carter, M.D.
  • 2002-04: Mark Preziosi, M.D.
  • 2004-06: Daniel Sandler, M.D.
  • 2006-09: Stacey Johnson, M.D.
  • 2009-2011: John Elzie, M.D.
  • 2011-2016: Michele Lossius, M.D.

Our Achievements

The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Florida has an impressive list of “firsts”. Here are a few firsts accomplished by the Department of Pediatrics in the state of Florida:

  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (1960)
  • Pediatric kidney transplant (1966)
  • Pediatric Intensive care unit (1967)
  • Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant for cancer (1983)
  • Marrow transplant curing immunodeficiency (1984)
  • Pediatric Heart Transplant (1986)
  • “Red Alert” Asthma program (1986)
  • Neuro-Oncology Center (1990)
  • Pediatric liver-kidney transplant (1991)
  • Pediatric Segmental Liver Transplant (1991)
  • Neonatal Heart Transplant (1993)
  • Pediatric heart-kidney transplant (1994)
  • Nitric Oxide Therapy for Respiratory Failure (1994)
  • Pediatric lung transplant (1996)
  • Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplant (1996)
  • Gene Therapy for Cystic Fibrosis (1996)
  • Pediatric heart-lung transplant (1997)
  • Pediatric pancreas-liver transplant (1997)
  • Rotational arthroplasty for bone cancer (1997)
  • Double lung transplant (1998)
  • Pulmonary valvuplasty in < 1,000gm premie (1999)
  • Cord-blood transplant for Sickle Cell Anemia (2000)
  • Diabetes Telehealth Initiative (2001)
  • Youngest Double Lung Transplant (2002)
  • Recombinant protein replacement for Pompe’s Disease (2003)
  • 9-year-old Florida boy became the state’s first patient to receive the Berlin Heart, a mechanical heart device sized specifically for children (2006)
  • Titanium ribs to assist boy with severe scoliosis (2006)
  • Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Drug Infusion (2019)