UF Health

UF Health will become the third USOP National Medical Center and the eighth system to become a health care provider for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Medical Network. The same great care Team USA gets, you get. Always. #UFHealth #ChampionHealthCare #TeamUSA University of Florida

Courtney Rodriguez-Cayro, a UF Health nurse and UF College of Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice student designed a study to show that improper oral hygiene care was responsible for an increase in cases of pneumonia. Her study showed a drop in pneumonia cases when formal oral care protocols were taken. Rodriguez-Cayro recently won a $20,000 UF award from the W. Martin Smith Interdisciplinary Patient Safety Award to continue her research. https://lnkd.in/eTzmQXgf

UF Health Shands welcomes John Hollingsworth, M.D. as its new chief quality officer! Hollingsworth will oversee quality and patient-centered improvement efforts. He will collaborate with staff in clinical risk management, patient experience, accreditation and clinical analysis through the UF Health Sebastian Ferrero Office of Clinical Quality and Patient Safety as well as the chief medical officer and medical directors for the UF Health Physicians practice. Additionally, Hollingsworth will work with physician directors of quality and quality liaisons across the organization. https://lnkd.in/e8tqRyfu

“Part of the pride we feel for bringing the Olympics partnership to UF is that we get to shine a huge light on the university we love.” Kevin Vincent, MD, PhD, FACSM, CAQSM, met his now wife Heather Vincent, PhD, FACSM while studying for his master’s degree. Together they came to the University of Florida to pursue doctoral degrees in exercise physiology. The Vincents have become an integral part of UF Health and the UF College of Medicine, spearheading the evolution of the UF Health Sports Performance Center in 2007 and instigating UF Health’s membership in the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Medical Network and much more. Dr. Kevin Vincent will be a provider at the Paralympics this month. Read about their story at the link below. https://lnkd.in/exrkm9iK

The University of Florida Health’s Office of Interprofessional Education was selected to participate in the National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Combatting Substance Use and Opioid Crises Core Competency Implementation Pilot Project. UF will collaborate with 15 other pilot sites in the US to advance substance use care, workforce competency, and interprofessional education. https://lnkd.in/eGZpYJPd

At UF Health, we believe that healing involves more than just medical treatments—it’s about fostering moments of peace, connection, and emotional support. Meet Ricky Kendall our Arts in Medicine Practitioner. Ricky has been a dedicated musician in Gainesville for over a decade, and he brings his talent and compassion to the bedside of patients. Recently, Ricky played The Wind for a patient named Dave, creating a moment of comfort and calm through the universal language of music. Ricky’s own journey of healing inspires his work. After surviving a life-threatening accident as a child, he now shares the same hope and comfort he once received, offering patients a unique experience of emotional healing through music. At UF Health, our Arts in Medicine program integrates the healing power of the arts with traditional health care. This program allows us to care for the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—by providing patients like Dave with uplifting, therapeutic experiences during challenging times. To learn more about the Arts in Medicine program, visit: https://lnkd.in/eyk82MXR

A Parkinson’s research project from the lab of The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology chemist Matthew Disney, Ph.D., has been selected for an ambitious two-year effort to accelerate discoveries to patients. The nonprofit SPARK NS aims to bridge the gap between research and the clinic.

The UF College of Dentistry’s 2024 advanced dental education graduates achieved a 100% pass rate on board exams for their various specialties. Over the summer 62 Gator Dentists completed advanced education programs in endodontics, operative and esthetics, orthodontics, pediatrics, periodontics, prosthodontics, oral and maxillofacial radiology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, or advanced education in general dentistry. https://lnkd.in/gbHEWgmj

Richard Bennett, Ph.D., a research associate professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology in the UF College of Medicine received a prestigious five-year, $850,000 grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to support research investigating epigenetic mechanisms of cancer. This grant will allow Dr. Bennett to continue making valuable contributions to cancer research. https://lnkd.in/eSTyTHsJ

Rahma Mkuu, PhD, assistant professor and chronic disease researcher in the Department of Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics, was awarded over $850,000 from the National Cancer Institute. This grant will go towards Dr. Mkuu’s research in addressing cervical cancer screening disparities among women living with chronic conditions. https://lnkd.in/eVjSu7cv