Dasika and Virarkar receive FEO Awards
Two college faculty named recipients of 2026 UF faculty awards.
The strength of an organization often lies in its faculty. In November, the Office of the Provost named two University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville faculty as recipients of the spring 2026 UF Faculty Enhancement Opportunity, or FEO award.
FEO awards fund creative and flexible faculty development activities, including educational experiences, conferences, consultant work, time devoted to intensive writing or creative work or activities in support of a new direction for scholarly work.
Jayanth Dasika, MD, is an assistant professor in the department of anesthesiology. Mayur Virarkar, MD, is an assistant professor in the department of radiology and chief of abdominal and body imaging.
Jayanth Dasika, MD, is an assistant professor in the department of anesthesiology.
Both turned in applications on what their faculty development experience would focus on. Dasika will attend the National Society of Education in Anesthesia workshop on teaching.
“I am honored to receive this award and represent UF COMJ and the department of anesthesiology,” Dasika said. “The workshop I am attending in January is a wonderful opportunity for me to advance my role as an educator of residents and medical students.”
Mayur Virarkar, MD, is an assistant professor in the department of radiology and chief of abdominal and body imaging.
The workshop will include lectures on the cognitive and affective components of teaching, teaching models, and the difficult learner and the struggling resident with hands-on workshops and small group discussions.
Virarkar will focus on completing the Radiological Society of North America Imaging Artificial Intelligence Certificate Program.
“Receiving the FEO Award is truly an honor,” Virarkar said. “This opportunity will help me advance expertise in imaging artificial intelligence and bring innovative tools and knowledge back to benefit our patients, trainees, and academic community at UF COMJ.”
The goal is to earn the Foundational, Advanced, Emergency Imaging, and Chest Imaging Certificates to advance patient care.
Madeline Joseph, MD, senior associate dean for faculty advancement and enhancement values these opportunities for faculty because they bring back what they learn to the college.
“We look forward to the FEO faculty recipients sharing with other faculty lessons learned from receiving the FEO award in the future,” Joseph said. “These awards are not only important to advance the faculty’s professional career but also to help UF College of Medicine achieve excellence in its clinical, education and research goals.”