Linda Cottler, PhD, MPH, is an internationally recognized epidemiologist, who brought her pioneering work in community-based research to UF. As founding chair of UF’s newly created department of epidemiology, Cottler will expand the program HealthStreet, which she developed at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The program connects residents to health care referrals, medical care, social services and opportunities to participate in research.
Scott Rivkees, MD, an international expert on pediatric endocrinology, developmental biology and the prevention of brain injury in preterm infants, has been appointed chair of UF’s department of pediatrics. He holds four R01 grants from the National Institutes of Health in different topics and has been continuously funded by the NIH for 25 years. At UF&Shands, Rivkees hopes to continue building on the growth and success of the pediatrics program, particularly by expanding the number and breadth of centers of excellence that improve health care for all of Florida’s children.
Laura Ranum, PhD, a leading researcher who digs for disease-causing genes hidden within the human genome, has joined the College of Medicine as director of its new Center for NeuroGenetics. Prior to joining UF, Ranum was a professor in the department of genetics, cell biology and development at the University of Minnesota. She specializes in the study of myotonic dystrophy — the most common form of muscular dystrophy in adults — and ataxia, a rare brain disease that robs people of their coordination and motor control.
Mark T. Scarborough, MD ’85, has been named chairman of the UF College of Medicine’s department of orthopaedics and rehabilitation. Scarborough has been on the UF faculty for 20 years and is the first holder of the William F. Enneking, William E. Anspach, and Orthopaedic Alumni endowed chair. Scarborough has mentored more than 100 physicians-in-training over the years, and his own clinical practice focuses heavily on complex limb salvage in the treatment of conditions such as bone cancer (see story page 14). Scarborough’s vision is to grow the department to become one of the leading orthopaedics programs in the U.S., both in clinical care and research.
Robert Hromas, MD, chair of the department of medicine, is a rare quadruple talent — a skilled and respected physician, scientist, teacher and administrator. He is an international authority in blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, and he is a leader in translating research into the discovery of new cancer drugs.
