Sounding board

Meet three new members of the UF College of Medicine's Medical Alumni Association Board of Directors

By Styliana Resvanis

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 smiling for a photo in front of a gray background. She is wearing silver earrings and a gray dress with a black collar.

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 smiling for a photo in front of a light blue background. She is wearing silver hoop earrings, red lipstick, a colorful scarf, a blue shirt and a white coat.

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 in a blue suit, white shirt, pink tie and silver eye glasses.

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.”

About the Author

Styliana Resvanis

Associate Director, Communications

As director of communications for the UF College of Medicine advancement communications team, she oversees efforts to raise awareness around the initiatives, achievements and aspirations of the college through a variety of print and digital storytelling approaches; serves as editor-in-chief of the college’s alumni magazine and newsletter; and develops approaches for a coordinated and results-driven web presence and digital strategy for the college. Prior to this role, she served as the interim director, associate director, assistant director and communications specialist for the advancement communications team. As communications specialist, she oversaw the UF College of Medicine’s social media accounts, managed several of the college’s websites and contributes to various publications. Before joining the UF Health staff in 2013, she worked at the UF Foundation communications office, where she wrote for the university’s alumni publications and website and managed a regional pilot microsite. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from UF.

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