The Sarasota Memorial Research Institute and Florida State University College of Medicine held their first joint Interprofessional Research Conference at Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Sarasota campus in May. The event, along with the groundbreaking of SMH’s new Research& Education Institute later this month, reflects the local health system’s national reputation as a teaching hospital and expanding commitment to clinical research. More than 150 healthcare professionals gathered to learn about innovative research projects and clinical studies led by multi-disciplinary specialists from across the region. The event featured dozens of individual and group poster, panel and podium presentations by physicians, pharmacists, nurses and other clinicians and a keynote address by National Institutes of Health award-winning researcher Irshad Chaudry, PhD. SMH and FSU leaders also presented nine research and innovation awards at the event, which was supported by the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation.

The 2023 award recipients are:

• SMH Distinguished Physician Research & Innovation Award – Beverly Long, MD
• SMH Distinguished Nurse Research & Innovation Award – Bridget Drafahl, PhD, C-ONQS, CNS, RN
• SMH Research & Innovation Excellence Award – Colleen Lindner, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
• SMH Distinguished PharmacyResearch & Innovation Award – Pamela Lewis, RPh
• SMH Pharmacy New Investigator Research Award – Jonathan Summerlin, PharmD
• FSU Emergency Medicine Resident Research Award – Emily Wheeler, MD
• FSU Emergency Medicine Distinguished Faculty Research Scholar Award – Sagar Galwankar, MBBS, MBA, MPH
• FSU Internal Medicine Resident Research Award – Stephanie Williams, MD
• FSU Internal Medicine Distinguished Faculty Research Scholar Award – Robert Smith, PhD                                                                                                   

Thanks to support from donors and the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board, Sarasota Memorial is slated to break ground on a new, $75 million Research & Education Institute on the SMH-Sarasota campus later this month. Designed to promote collaboration, discovery and innovation in medical education and research,the 5-story facility will house Sarasota Memorial’s clinical research division, nursing and clinical education, and graduate medical educationprograms, medical library and a new, state-of-the-art simulation center designed for hands-on training.

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The Florida State University College of Medicine has established a scholarship fund in honor of Dr. Daniel Van Durme, the schools Chief Medical Officer who passed away following a motorcycle accident.

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On the eve of the Commencement Ceremony, the future physicians of the M.D. Class of 2023 were recognized at the Presentation of Awards, held at the College of Medicine’s Durell Peaden Auditorium.

Forty percent of the largest graduation class in the college’s history – 50 of 125 – were recognized with at least one honor spanning the college-wide and specialty award categories, but also including the previously announced regional campus award winners and inductees into the Delta Chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha and the FSU Chapman Chapter of the Gold Humanism honor societies.

A separate recognition ceremony for the honor society members was held earlier in the day. Both ceremonies were streamed and can be watched in their entirety here:

Honor Society Recognition Ceremony | Class of 2023 Presentation of Awards

The Presentation of Awards ceremony culminated with the recognition of eight college-wide award winners, who were selected from student and faculty nominations and based on achievement consistent with the mission of the FSU College of Medicine. The award recipients’ names are inscribed on a perpetual plaque on display at the college and receive their own plaques and a monetary award in recognition of their outstanding achievement.

The 2023 college-wide award winners:

§  J. Ocie Harris Outstanding Student Award, recognizing the student who has shown the best all-around promise of becoming a physician of the highest caliber and given in honor of the college’s dean 2002-2008: Tim Szilagyi Gemesi;

§  Myra M. Hurt Leadership in Medicine Award, recognizing exemplary leadership in one or more areas of medicine in honor of the college’s first acting dean: Elora Renee Friar;

§  Individual Achievement Award, in recognition of a student with significant contributions and achievements as recognized by her classmates and faculty: Michelle E. Flohr Rozanski;

§  Mission Award, recognizing excellence in furthering the college’s mission to educate and develop exemplary physicians who practice patient-centered health care, discover and advance knowledge, and respond to community needs, especially through service to underserved populations: Blake Patricia-Rae Meyer and Gabrielle Yap Sam;

§  Nobles/Brown Altruism in Medicine Award, recognizing exemplary concern for the health, well-being and fulfillment of others and the highest ideals of medicine as a service calling, given in memory of Stephen M. Nobles, M.D. (Class of 2011) and Robert L. Brown Sr., M.D. (PIMS Class of 1981): Jennifer Anne Trebilcock;

§  Student Research Award, recognizing sustained interest in research throughout the four years of medical education and a record of experience and achievement in research: Gabrielle LeBlanc;

§  Access to Care Award, in Honor of Robin McDougall, recognizing a strong, demonstrated interest in providing access to health care for underserved populations and sponsored by the Capital Medical Society Foundation in honor of the former We Care Network coordinator: Shivani Arza and Amber Hannah;

§  Linda Stine Interprofessional Leadership Award, recognizing outstanding effort to foster interprofessional education activities and/or team-based clinical activities, in honor of compassionate nurse Linda Stine: Shannon Pope.

A complete list of all M.D. Student Graduation Award winners can be viewed on our website, and a description of each award can be found in the ceremony program.

Sometimes there’s just too much good stuff to fit into one graduation story. Below are anecdotes from two days of joy, pride and unseasonably warm weather.

Natalia Correa, M.D. 2023

Dr. Natalia Correa’s parents were born in Colombia and came to the U.S. about 30 years ago, but she is Miami born and bred. She had a large contingent supporting her both at Friday’s Awards Ceremonies & Reception and Saturday’s graduation, including her grandmother and her godparents, who had flown from Bogota to be here.

“On my mom’s side of the family, I’m the only girl and the only doctor,” said Correa, who is headed to the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale for residency in general surgery.

Her family created a giant congratulatory banner to mark the occasion.

Alma Littles, M.D., interim dean

This year’s graduation marked two significant changes in Dr. Alma Littles’ role in the ceremony.

"In every M.D. commencement ceremony at Florida State before this one – all 18 of them – I have carried the mace at the head of the processional and recessional," Littles said. "The graduation mace dates to at least the 15th century when universities in the United Kingdom, including St. Andrews, Oxford and Cambridge, began using it as a symbol of authority in bestowing degrees upon worthy candidates."

This year, that honor fell to Paul McLeod, M.D., senior associate dean of regional campuses and dean of the Pensacola Regional Campus. Littles had a bigger role to play.

"I am honored to have accepted a new challenge: leading this medical school following Dr. (John) Fogarty's well-deserved retirement. Yet from where I stand now, I don't need a mace to tell you that you arrive here today as worthy candidates," she said. "It is my great honor and privilege to preside over this ceremony and to know that less than an hour from now, we will be calling you 'Doctor' -- all 125 of you, the largest class of new doctors this medical school has ever produced."

Tim Gemesi, M.D. 2023

Dr. Tim Gemesi begins his residency in obstetrics and gynecology soon at Stanford Health Care in Stanford, California. At Friday’s Class of 2023 Presentation of Awards ceremony, he was named recipient of the J. Ocie Harris Outstanding Student Award which recognizes the student who has shown the best all-around promise of becoming a physician of the highest caliber.

He also was co-recipient, along with Katherine Oliver, of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s outstanding medical student in OB/GYN in this year’s FSU class. Gemesi was also recognized as the Sarasota Regional Campus Dean’s Award winner, in addition to his membership in both medical honor societies, Delta Chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha and the FSU Chapman Chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society.

Initially, this first generation Hungarian-American seemed destined for a very different career. Gemesi spent much of his childhood playing piano and training as a classical singer. He graduated in 2016 from Oberlin College and Conservatory’s rigorous dual-degree program with a bachelor of arts in anthropology and a bachelor of music in vocal performance.

“Through my studies – along with an interest in anatomy I developed from yoga classes – I felt that medicine was the perfect way to combine the humanism of music, the cultural curiosity of anthropology and the organization of the scientific method,” he said.

After completing his premedical classes at the University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus, the Sarasota native began medical school at FSU in 2019.

“I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to study medicine here,” Gemesi said. “I hope to represent the Florida State University College of Medicine well as I build on that foundation at Stanford.”
 

Shellon Baugh, M.D. 2023

Sharon Baugh is one proud Mama. Helan Baugh is one proud Papa.

Their daughter, Dr. Shellon Baugh, is starting a residency in family medicine at AdventHealth Florida in Orlando. The family moved to Florida in 2006 from Jamaica.

“She is determined. She is humble. She is elegant, trustworthy, a hard worker,” Sharon Baugh said. “I am over the moon. It’s a dream come true.”

Dr. Baugh plans to practice in the United States and hopes to participate in mission trips abroad during her career.

Ishani Patel, M.D., and Daniel Alban, M.D., 2023

Ishani Patel and fiancé Dan Alban saw themselves in the crowd Saturday. Literally. Members of their families had created masks of the graduates’ faces to wear.

 “Our families wanted to come up with a unique and fun way to show their love and support,” Alban said. “Plus, it made it easier to spot them in a crowd, which was very convenient, ha ha.”

He believes his mother and sisters came up with the idea.

“They are crafty and like to try new projects to shake things up. Ultimately, it was a cute and simple way of expressing how much they love us and how proud they are of us,” he said. “Ishani and I are definitely blessed to have such amazing family.”

They are headed to New York City for their residencies, she in pediatrics at New York Presbyterian Hospital -- Columbia University Medical Center and he in internal medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Moved by military recognition

Mary Ann Hall, whose niece Lauren Smiarowski graduated Saturday and begins her residency in pediatrics at Orlando Health, was grateful to see the military promotion ceremony incorporated into Commencement Exercises.

“I was very glad to see the military represented,” said the former U.S. Army nurse who lives in Gainesville. “I have never seen that done before and I really appreciate it.”

She was happy to see Dr. Jordin Giles Zuelke among the three officers promoted to captain – with Dr. Brian Nykanen and Zuelke in the Army and Dr. Eric Minnix in the Air Force.

“It meant a lot to me, especially since there weren’t a lot of women in the military when I was in it.”

She was also pleased a woman was among the four U.S. Navy veterans standing on stage for the playing of “Anchors Aweigh” during the Armed Forces Medley.

Dr. Barrie Bedasee was touched to learn that her Navy service meant something to Hall. “Thanks for telling me.”

Bedasee was in the Navy from 2015 to 2018, stationed at Camp Pendleton, California. She starts her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at University of Miami/Jackson Health System.

Armed Forces Day falls on the third Saturday in May, just as the FSU College of Medicine graduation does. Dean-emeritus John P. Fogarty, a physician and retired U.S. Army colonel, established the promotion ceremony as part of the graduation program early in his tenure as dean. Earlier that morning, Fogarty led a pinning ceremony held for the military graduates.

Wainwright encore

Little James Wainwright almost stole the show at his parents’ graduation, decked out in commencement regalia that matched his parents’ attire. And there’s an interesting story about this little guy’s birthday that his father, Dr. Jared Wainwright, shared, giving us an excuse to post another photo of the cutie.

James was born Nov. 18, 2022. He shares that birthday with Jared’s brother, Jacob Wainwright, and Jared and Jacob’s father, Jeffrey Wainwright. All three birthday boys are the first-born son of their respective families. They’re going to need a really big cake come November!

Sometimes there’s just too much good stuff to fit into one graduation story. Below are anecdotes from two days of joy, pride and unseasonably warm weather.

Natalia Correa, M.D. 2023

Dr. Natalia Correa’s parents were born in Colombia and came to the U.S. about 30 years ago, but she is Miami born and bred. She had a large contingent supporting her both at Friday’s Awards Ceremonies & Reception and Saturday’s graduation, including her grandmother and her godparents, who had flown from Bogota to be here.

“On my mom’s side of the family, I’m the only girl and the only doctor,” said Correa, who is headed to the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale for residency in general surgery.

Her family created a giant congratulatory banner to mark the occasion.

Alma Littles, Interim Dean

This year’s graduation marked two significant changes in Dr. Alma Littles’ role.

At every one of the College of Medicine’s 18 previous commencement ceremonies, she led the faculty processional and recessional carrying the mace, an ornamental staff that symbolizes the authority of the university president, dean and faculty to confer degrees upon worthy candidates.

This year, that honor fell to Paul McLeod, M.D., senior associate dean of regional campuses and dean of the Pensacola Regional Campus. Littles had a bigger role to play, that of the dean overseeing the ceremony.

Dr. Tim Gemesi, M.D. 2023

Dr. Tim Gemesi begins his residency in obstetrics and gynecology soon at Stanford Health Care in Stanford, California. At Friday’s Class of 2023 Presentation of Awards ceremony, he was named recipient of the J. Ocie Harris Outstanding Student Award which recognizes the student who has shown the best all-around promise of becoming a physician of the highest caliber. He also was co-recipient, along with Katherine Oliver, of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s outstanding medical student in OB/GYN in this year’s FSU class. Gemesi was also recognized as the Sarasota Regional Campus Dean’s Award winner, in addition to his membership in both medical honor societies, Delta Chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha and the FSU Chapman Chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society.

Initially, this first generation Hungarian-American seemed destined for a very different career. Gemesi spent much of his childhood playing piano and training as a classical singer. He graduated in 2016 from Oberlin College’s rigorous dual-degree program with a bachelor of arts in anthropology and a bachelor of music in vocal performance.

After completing his premedical classes at the University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus, the Sarasota native began medical school at FSU in 2019.

“I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to study medicine here,” Gemesi said. “I hope to represent the Florida State University College of Medicine well as I build on that foundation at Stanford.”

Dr. Amber Hannah and Dr. Shellon Baugh, M.D. 2023

A couple of proud Mamas bragged about their daughters at Friday’s Awards Ceremony & Reception.

“I am so very proud of my daughter. I am exhilarated!” said Deborah Hannah, mother of graduate Dr. Amber Hannah, a Quincy native who is headed to a residency in general surgery at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. “She is very determined to do her best always, and she’s always loved learning. The first day I dropped her off at pre-K, I was waiting for the tears. She just waved her little hand and said ‘Bye, Mama. See you later.’ “

Sharon Baugh similarly praised her daughter, Dr. Shellon Baugh, who is soon starting a residency in family medicine at AdventHealth in Orlando. The family moved to Florida in 2006 from Jamaica.

“She is determined. She is humble. She is elegant, trustworthy, a hard worker,” Sharon Baugh said. “I am over the moon. It’s a dream come true.”

Dr. Lauren Smiarowski and Dr. Barrie Bedasee, M.D. 2023

Mary Ann Hall, whose niece Lauren Smiarowski graduated Saturday and begins her residency in pediatrics at Orlando Health, was grateful to see the military promotion ceremony incorporated into Commencement Exercises.

“I was very glad to see the military represented,” said the former U.S. Army nurse who lives in Gainesville. “I have never seen that done before and I really appreciate it.”

She was happy to see Dr. Jordin Giles Zuelke among the three officers promoted to captain – with Dr. Brian Nykanen and Zuelke in the Army and Dr. Eric Minnix in the Air Force.

“It meant a lot to me, especially since there weren’t a lot of women in the military when I was in it.”

She was also pleased a woman was among the four U.S. Navy veterans standing on stage for the playing of “Anchors Aweigh” during the Armed Forces Medley.

Dr. Barrie Bedasee was touched to learn that her Navy service meant something to Hall. “Thanks for telling me.”

Bedasee was in the Navy from 2015 to 2018, stationed at Camp Pendleton, California. She starts her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at University of Miami/Jackson Health System.

Armed Forces Day falls on the third Saturday in May, just as the FSU College of Medicine graduation does. Dean-emeritus John P. Fogarty, a physician and retired U.S. Army colonel, established the promotion ceremony as part of the graduation program early in his tenure as dean. Earlier that morning, Fogarty led a pinning ceremony held for the military graduates.