Dynamic research, education and scholarship came to life at the annual Celebration of Education and Research Day at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville. This eagerly awaited event brought together residents, fellows, and faculty for a unique opportunity to share their latest educational advancements and groundbreaking research findings with their peers.

The day is paired with a highly anticipated awards ceremony celebrating the achievements of another successful academic year.

New is good, new means growth. Rows of 36×60” laminated posters have long adorned the Learning Resource Center Atrium, showcasing research presentations and vignettes. Under the leadership of Colleen Kalynych, EdD, assistant dean for medical education and director of educational development and research, the college took a new approach to poster displays. Five four-sided cubes stood tall dressed in poster presentations for attendees to view. QR codes enlarged posters for a closer look.

Kalynych said the inspiration came from a conference she attended.

“When I was at an international conference, I saw this cube idea where posters were printed much smaller, really on 5 by 7 cards,” Kalynych said. “I thought this was a great way to do that and brought the idea back to our institution.”

Witnessing her vision materialize by working the UF Health Jacksonville’s carpentry department, Kalynych said, “I think we really upped the game. Mike Leskoske and his team created these beautiful cubes with 12 by 18 posters, giving people a better opportunity to see what’s on display.”

She also noted that the approach reduces the carbon footprint by cutting down on materials that were typically used in previous celebrations.

Linda Edwards, MD, FACP, dean of the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville, said she enjoyed the ambiance during the presentations.

“I loved the energy in the atrium while residents and fellows defended their scholarly work,” Edwards said.

After leaving the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville as an obstetrics and gynecology resident in 2003, Saju Joy, MD, returned to Jacksonville — this time as an alumni honoree. Joy is currently the CEO of MUSC Health – Charleston Division, where he oversees the leadership team and hospitals in the Charleston Tri- County area. He also sits on the Health System’s Executive Council (Team SC) and provides guidance and advice on health care system strategies.

His return was a gratifying one, reuniting with faculty who were once his professors during training but are now his colleagues. During his visit he spoke to current residents and fellows, sharing experiences and words of encouragement. UF COMJ leadership also hosted a brunch for Joy to honor him for his significant achievements and contributions to the field of medicine and hospital administration.

“When they accepted me as a resident, I felt like I had won the lottery,” Joy said. “It was a privilege to come and train here because I knew the college had a strong reputation. So, Dr. Guy Benrubi took a chance on a kid from North Carolina to come here and go on this journey. The learning opportunities here were far above any expectations I have ever had and I think it comes from the sense of family that he and the department of OBGYN created for me and all of our residents.”

Joy also met the love of his life, Belinda Joy, while at the college. They were married during his residency.

The celebration culminated with an awards ceremony and graduating residents and fellows took their final bow as they look toward the next phase of their careers. Congratulations to all residents, fellows and faculty who received awards. Thank you for your commitment to advancing medicine.

Residents, fellows, and students under faculty mentorship, submitted research for judging. The highest rated submissions were chosen.

Hanna J Kulbeth, MD, presented in the medical education category. Her research project was titled, “Comparing the Standardized Letter of Evaluation (SLOE) 2.0 with SLOEs for Non-Residency-based EM Physicians.”

Roger A Vazquez Gomez, MD, presented in the medical education category on his research titled “Single Operator Fascial Plane Anesthesia Increases Cognitive Workload Compared to Double Operator Technique.”

Shereen Darwish, MD, presented in the quality improvement and patient safety category on her research titled “Decreasing the Peripheral and Central Blood Culture Contamination Rates Obtained at Our PICU at Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital.”

Michael Omar, MD, presented in the quality improvement and patient safety category on his research titled “Enhancing Community Resource Utilization for Cardiac Patients with Cocaine Use Disorder.”

Olivia Hopper, DO, presented in the clinical research category on her research titled “Seatbelt Sign: Is CT Mandatory in Stable Pediatric Patients?”

Scott Turner presented in the clinical research category on his research titled “Subcutaneous Insulin Compared to Intravenous Insulin Infusion for Mild to Moderate Diabetic Ketoacidosis in the Emergency Department.”

The following are the winners, who were recognized for their discoveries in four categories:

Nicolas Giusti, MD, an orthopaedic surgery resident, won in the quality improvement and patient safety category for his poster, “Magnesium and Phosphorus Utilization at a Level One Trauma Center.”

Kristine Gillenwater, DPM, a podiatry resident, won in the medical education research and scholarship category for her poster, “Historic Trends in ACFAS Recognized Fellowship Programs.”

Monica Cozad, PharmD, a pharmacy resident, won in the clinical research category for her poster, “Better Late Than Never: Infectious Diseases Consultation in Gram-Negative Bacteremia.”

Linh Nguyen, DO, a pediatric hospital medicine fellow, won in the clinical vignette category for her poster, “Managing the Lows of a Rising Cause of Overdose.”

Abhinav Karan, MD, an internal medicine resident, won the photo contest for his project, “Fractured Intra-aortic Angioplasty Wire.”

Brian Li, DO, an internal medicine resident, won the photo contest for his project, “Beyond the Surface: Unraveling Abdominal Pain from a Patient’s Psychiatric History.”