Monthly HAAs
Honors, Awards + Achievements
Congratulations
Nancy P. Mendenhall, M.D.
Dr. Nancy P. Mendenhall, a professor and associate chair of the UF department of radiation oncology, has been named the 2018 Clinical Science Researcher of the Year, in part, for her recent research success in securing an $11.9 million grant for a national prostate cancer study comparing proton therapy to standard radiation treatment. As the medical director of the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute in Jacksonville, she leads the clinical care and research program for the advanced form of radiation treatment – proton therapy. The award is given for research having a close connection with clinical medicine that has a significant impact on the delivery of patient care.
Peter Dziegielewkski, M.D., FRCS
Dr. Peter Dziegielewkski, an assistant professor in the department of otolaryngology, is the director of UF’s head and neck oncology program’s newly established Advanced Head and Neck Surgical Oncology and Microvascular Reconstruction fellowship. The American Head and Neck Society recently evaluated the program and granted full accreditation to the fellowship.
Sara Jo Nixon, Ph.D.
Dr. Sara Jo Nixon, professor of psychiatry and psychology, has been awarded the Research Society on Alcoholism’s 2018 Henri Begleiter Award for Excellence in Research. This award is given to an individual demonstrating innovation, creativity and excellence in their research and/or someone whose work has a major impact on their field. Nixon was also recently named director of the University of Florida’s Center for Addiction Research & Education.
Linda B. Cottler, Ph.D., M.P.H., FACE
Dr. Linda B. Cottler, chair of the department of epidemiology in the College of Medicine and Public Health and Profession’s associate dean for research, has been elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of the Association for Clinical and Translational Science. The association provides a platform for enhancing education, research and public policy related to clinical and translational science. Cottler was also recognized for exemplary mentoring of fellow researchers in drug dependence. She is the recipient of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence’s 2019 Mentorship Award. She will be recognized at the organization’s 81st Annual Meeting in San Antonio in June.
Thomas George, M.D., FACP
Dr. Thomas George, the associate director for clinical research for UF Health Cancer Center, professor of medicine in the division of hematology & oncology and director of the UF Health Gastrointestinal Oncology Program, was featured in The ASCO Post on the subject of using social media to increase clinical trial enrollment and success.
Ramzi Salloum, Ph.D.
Dr. Ramzi Salloum, an assistant professor in the UF department of health outcomes and biomedical informatics, was appointed as chair of ASPO’s Global Cancer Research SIG for 2019-2021.
Jatinder Lamba, Ph.D.
Dr. Jatinder Lamba, an associate professor and graduate coordinator at the UF College of Pharmacy, is the recipient of one of the Florida Biomedical Research Program’s Live Like Bella Pediatric Cancer Research Initiative award for “Pharmacogenomics and Toxicities of Thiotepa, Busulfan and Fludarabine in Pediatric HSCT Recipients.”
Zhijian Qian, Ph.D.
Dr. Zhijian Qian, an associate professor in the UF division of hematology and oncology, is the recipient one of the Florida Biomedical Research Program’s Live Like Bella Pediatric Cancer Research Initiative award for “Molecular Basis and Treatment of Pediatric AML with Hyperexpression of EVI1.”
Pamela Sanchez
Pamela Sanchez, a student in the College of Public Health and Health Professions’ master of public health program, was selected as a summer intern with the Introduction to Cancer Research Careers Program at the National Cancer Institute. She will be concentrating on nutrition and liver cancer.
Julia Close, M.D.
Dr. Julia Close, a clinical associate professor of medicine and director of the fellowship training program within the UF division of hematology and oncology, has been inducted into the Gold Humanism Society by the College of Medicine Class of 2019.
Merry Jennifer Markham, M.D., FACP
Dr. Merry Jennifer Markham, the associate director for medical affairs at the UF Health Cancer Center and interim chief of the UF division of hematology and oncology, was appointed chair of the ASCO Cancer Communications Committee for 2019-2020.
Samantha Dykes, Ph.D.
Samantha Dykes was awarded the $25,000 Thomas H. Maren Junior Investigators Fund to support her research on breast cancer metastasis.
Scott Tomar, D.M.D., M.P.H., Dr.P.H.
Scott Tomar, D.M.D., M.P.H., Dr.P.H., has been appointed director of institutional analysis and evaluation for the UF College of Dentistry, a new position in the college. In this role, Tomar will work closely with the dean to develop, prioritize and carry out analyses to support institutional planning, evaluation and effectiveness.
He was also granted a $169,360 grant for five years by the NIH/NIDCR to research access to preventative dental care for children in the United States.
David DeRemer, Pharm.D., BCOP, FCCP, FHOPA
David DeRemer, Pharm.D., BCOP, FCCP, FHOPA, a clinical associate professor of pharmacotherapy and translational research, was appointed president-elect of the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association, or HOPA, during the organization’s annual conference in Fort Worth, Texas.
UF Research Foundation names 2019 professors
Dr. Duane Mitchell, Dr. Tanmay Lele and Dr. Rowan Milner were all named UFRF professors for 2019-2022. The recognition goes to faculty who have a distinguished current record of research and a strong research agenda that is likely to lead to continuing distinction in their fields. READ MORE
Robert Fillingim, Ph.D. & Todd Manini, Ph.D.
Dr. Fillingim and Dr. Manini were awarded $36,720 for five years by the NIH/NIA to research wearable technology infrastructure to enhance capacity for real-time, online assessment and mobility (ROAMM) in intervening health events in older adults.
David R. Nelson, M.D.
Dr. David R. Nelson has been named senior vice president for health affairs at the University of Florida and president of UF Health, the university’s academic health center, UF President Kent Fuchs announced.
Ji-Hyun Lee, Dr.P.H.
The American Statistical Association (ASA) announced that Dr. Ji-Hyun Lee, director of division of quantitative sciences at the UFHCC and professor at the department of biostatistics, is elected to the ASA Board of Directors as the Council of Chapters Rep. Currently, there are a total 74 Chapters from 3 Regions/6 Districts under the ASA.
Kudos!
UF Health Clinical Research at American Cancer Society Relay for Life
The UF Health Clinical Research team represented the UF Health Cancer Center at the recent American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Despite the rain, the teams did an amazing job supporting the event mission to commit to take action and help lead the fight for a world free from cancer.
UF Department of Neurosurgery Hoops for Hope
The UF Department of Neurosurgery raised over $1,400 from our Hoops for Hope Basketball Tournament in March! The money we raised will go directly to patients and families affected by brain cancer.