Sounding board
Meet three new members of the UF College of Medicine's Medical Alumni Association Board of Directors
The UF College of Medicine’s Medical Alumni Association Board of Directors welcomed three members in the spring. The board — which consists of master’s, PhD, housestaff, PA and MD alumni, along with faculty and students — aims to support the needs of UF College of Medicine students and residents, move medicine forward and promote the college’s interests. Members each serve four-year terms and are charged with fostering a feeling of camaraderie and promoting a spirit of philanthropy among the UF College of Medicine family.

JUDE MASANNAT, PHD ’17
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW, MOFFITT CANCER CENTER
TAMPA, FLORIDA
“As the first PhD graduate to serve on the alumni board, I want to be a voice for my fellow researchers and help bridge the gap between MDs and PhDs. Although we follow different educational structures and career paths, we still rely on each other for the ultimate goal of improving human health. In the field of cancer research, immunotherapy is opening up a whole new world. That’s what I love about science: There’s so much to discover. When you publish something and everyone can see your work, it’s like, ‘OK, here’s another piece of the puzzle.’”

KATHLEEN CONNERY, PA ’77
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT,
FLORIDA CANCER CENTER
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA
“My education as a PA stressed spending time with patients, a commodity sorely strained in current practice. Of course, there were no computers in the exam room then, but as a mature clinician, I advise new PAs to minimize use of the computer during their increasingly limited patient contact. Spend time with your patients. Sit down with, look at and touch your patient. Engender trust. It is the most rewarding aspect of patient care.”

GARY GOMEZ, MD ’02, MBA ANESTHESIOLOGIST,
MEMORIAL HOSPITAL MIRAMAR
MIRAMAR, FLORIDA
“There’s a lot of positive momentum at UF’s College of Medicine, and I think alumni need to be engaged. We need to get involved when students are accepted and throughout their education. Any advice we can provide to them would be valuable. Once you start working in clinical practice, you understand the importance of teamwork. I enjoy when people have different ideas and can contribute to a better result for the patient.”