On Jan. 9, the UF Health Cancer Center held its annual “Cheers to the New Year” party to celebrate our myriad accomplishments  in 2018 and to acknowledge key employees whose outstanding efforts were essential to our success last year.

In the last year, the Cancer Center made numerous advancements in its leadership, research programs and partnerships while expanding faculty recruitment and collaborative research — in addition to its basic and clinical research spaces. The Cancer Center also gained significant momentum toward our goal of achieving National Cancer Institute designation, a prestigious award that will take our pioneering research methods and innovative patient care to the next level.

The party included food, drinks and live music. Director Jonathan Licht, M.D., gave a short speech and presented awards to 10 exemplary Cancer Center members whose hard work and dedication exemplifies the center’s mission: to prevent, detect, treat and ultimately cure cancer.

The 2019 awards and award winners are listed below:

UFHCC High Enroller Award
Top enrolling provider to an interventional clinical trial

• Deidre Pereira, Ph.D. 

UFHCC High Writer Award
PI of the highest enrolling interventional IIT clinical trial

• Hemant Murthy, M.D.
• Janice Krieger, Ph.D. 

UFHCC Community Outreach Award
An individual (faculty, staff, or community member) who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to working with community members in support of activities or programs aimed at improving health behaviors targeted at preventing cancer and providing resources for those diagnosed with cancer, family members, and other cancer caregivers.

• Jessica Barton, UFHCC Marketing Manager 

UFHCC Top Influencer of the Year
The UFHCC Top Influencers of the Year Award is to recognize faculty, staff, trainees or other partners who significantly contribute to the national reputation of the Cancer Center through recognition in lay publications, social media or other press.

• Duane Mitchell, M.D., Ph.D. 

UFHCC Physician of the Year
The UFHCC Physician of the Year award is given to the cancer physician who consistently achieves high standards in the practice of medicine, supports the mission of the Cancer Center and is looked upon as a role model by her or his peers.

• Joanne Lagmay, M.D. 

UFHCC Nurse of the Year
The UFHCC Nurse of the Year award is given to an extraordinary oncology nurse recognized by her or his peers who supports the mission of the Cancer Center by going above and beyond to deliver compassionate care in addressing the burden of a cancer diagnosis to the patient and their family members.

• Jennifer West, R.N. 

UFHCC Advanced Practice Provider of the Year
The UFHCC Advanced Practice Provider of the Year award honors an oncology-focused ARNP or PA-C recognized by her or his peers that demonstrates excellence in clinical care, supports the mission of the Cancer Center and exemplifies a compassionate commitment to improving the health and well-being of cancer patients.

• Autumn Citta, Peds BMT ARNP

UFHCC Research Staffer of the Year
The UFHCC Research Staffer of the Year award recognizes a cancer-relevant research staff member, recognized by their colleagues, who has made extraordinary contributions that contribute to the success of the science conducted within the Center. Contributions can be recognized by those involved in laboratory, quantitative science, public health, qualitative science and clinical research units.

• Christina Cline, R.N., BMT Clinical Research manager
• Kari Bastow, Research Grants Administrator 

UFHCC Administrative Staffer of the Year
The UFHCC Administrative Staffer of the Year award recognizes an exceptional administrative staff member, recognized by their colleagues, who demonstrates a commitment to the mission of the Cancer Center with a level of performance that exceeds the values and guiding principles of our Center.

• Demetris Anderson, UFHCC Administrative Support

UFHCC Golden Gator Award
Recognition of distinguished performance made to the Cancer Center.

• Paul Crispen, M.D.