More than 1,700 patients sent uplifting notes to their USF Health doctors and staff for National Doctors’ Day on March 30. Now more than ever, the dedication of USF Health physicians, nurses, and other staff is being recognized.  Here are just a few of the uplifting responses we received:

“Thank you to all the USF doctors and their medical staff for your perseverance and grit!  You are making a difference in these difficult times!” 

“They all genuinely care about my health and well-being. Without my doctors at USF Health I could not function to live a normal life. I also love that they answer my messages quickly, whether by MyChart or a phone call. They’re amazing!” 

“Dr. Roetzheim is a kind, knowledgeable, compassionate and caring doctor who I have known for about 10 years. I chose Dr. Roetzheim as my doctor because I asked all the nurses at USF who they go to and many of them go to him. Nurses know who the best doctors are! deserves to be honored for his dedication and concern for his patients. Many thanks!”

“I credit Dr. Fadi Matar for saving my life. He picked up a 90% widow maker block and fixed it fast, so I never experienced an actual heart attack. He is always there for me with any questions or problems, even answering email, evenings or weekends. Truly, he is a remarkable person and dedicated physician. One of USF’s best!”

“Dr. Coris has provided me with ongoing excellent health advice and support over the years.  He has gone above the call of duty on several occasions in doing research about how my conditions can be mitigated or affected by my decisions. He has helped me overcome some challenges and helped me live a more well-balanced lifestyle. A great resource!”

“Dr. Marchioni-Beery is the most compassionate doctor I have ever met. She and her team have always cared for my whole person, making sure that I understand test results, am comfortable, and that I can reach her when necessary. I am truly blessed to be under her care. Thank you Dr. Marchioni-Beery and team!”

“The team of Dr. McCaffrey and Dr. Van Loveren with their calming, knowledgeable open approach and their extensive experience with my condition brought peace and hope to a time that had terrorized my wife and I.”

Read more notes about USF Health doctors here.

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Gregg Gagliardi and Dr. Sebastian Tas present a $15,000 check to Xingmin Sun, Ph.D. and his team for research on the Clostridium difficile (C-Diff) infection.

The Anthony Gagliardi Memorial Foundation recently presented a $15,000 gift to support Clostridium difficile research at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine’s Department of Molecular Medicine.

“Our family sees a need to help support research to wipe out this terrible bacterium that is impacting many of our seniors in hospitals, rehabs and nursing homes,” said Gregg Gagliardi, who hosts an annual golf tournament to raise funds for C. difficile research in central Florida. His father, Anthony, died in 2014 after a short battle with colon cancer and the C. difficile infection.

Xingmin Sun, Ph.D, and his team at USF are working on vaccine options for the C. difficile infection, a significant public health threat that attacks a person’s intestine and is difficult to fight with antibiotics. Dr. Sun shared his team’s progress this summer at the American Society for Microbiology Microbe 2018 Conference.

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As a researcher, Dr. Barness made a significant impact on the field of infant nutrition and metabolism, using science to advocate the benefits of breast milk for infants.

“Lew Barness was an outstanding clinician, teacher and humanistic physician,” said Dr. Steve Specter, emeritus professor of molecular medicine and lead donor to the Lewis A. Barness MD Lactation Room. “He was a visionary and innovative researcher, who saw the great nutritional value in babies nursing and led the effort to collect the data to prove his hypothesis — a view that is widely recognized today in human nutrition.”

“Anything that promotes breastfeeding as well as provides a safe, clean and quiet space to pump is a privilege to be able to use,” said Marissa Thielen, a mom of two who works in the Office of Clinical Research. “When I find rooms such as this one, I am so grateful. They need to be absolutely everywhere.”

Joe Ford, associate vice president for shared student services at USF Health, noted that the room is frequently in use, illustrating the impact of Dr. Barness’ research. “Even though I never had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Barness, I know that he smiles back at us because this room is a very special space and was much needed here at USF Health.”

Donors, staff and students gathered at a small ceremony to dedicate the Lewis A. Barness MD Lactation Room in the USF Health WELL Student Center.

The son of the late Lewis A. Barness MD cuts the ribbon for the newly dedicated lactation room.

A student cheers the availability of a private room for nursing mothers.

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“>Because of You: USF Health scholarship students thank their donors from development”>USF Health Alumni on Vimeo.

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For every $1 of NIH funding USF receives, the university must provide around $0.45 to $0.50 in support — much of it up front. But aside from the discoveries made possible by this research, each NIH dollar adds $2.60 to the local economy (Tripp Umbach).

NIH funding does NOT fund:

• The complete salary of the faculty investigator (only the percent of time spent on the NIH research, usually less than 50%)
• Large equipment
• Shared equipment used by a group of NIH investigators
• Administrative support or administrative activities by the faculty investigator
• Start-up expenses for establishing a new researcher

Philanthropy makes it possible for USF Health to invest in the researchers and studies that bring millions in research funding to Tampa Bay each year. Beyond enabling innovations that will make life better for countless patients, your investment in research can create an incredible economic impact for our community.

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The funds were raised as a part of the Rotary’s Craft Brewfest, an annual charity benefit held in May at Temple Terrace’s Woodmont Park. BRIDGE Clinic students volunteered at the event, which more than 1,000 attended. In addition to the USF Health BRIDGE Clinic, the proceeds supported Polio Plus, CAIR Flight charitable airlifts, and Shelter Box disaster relief. The next Brewfest event is scheduled for May 13, 2017.

Now in its ninth year, the student-run BRIDGE Clinic provides free medical care on Tuesday evenings to more than 850 underserved patients each year from the University Community Area. USF Health students and attending physicians donate more than 13,500 volunteer hours annually, at an estimated benefit of more than $1 million in health care services.

“As important as the clinic has become to those in the University Area Community, it is of equal importance to USF Health students,” said Kristin Prewitt, executive student director of the BRIDGE Clinic and an MD/MPH student. “The clinic provides hands-on experience with a focus on compassionate care and collaboration as we work with student volunteers from several areas of study including medicine, public health, physical therapy, social work and pharmacy.”

Representatives from the Rotary Club of Temple Terrace and the USF Health BRIDGE Clinic gathered for the $3,000 check presentation. Four of the Rotarians are connected to USF Health: Dr. Charles Mahan (dean emeritus of the College of Public Health), Dr. John Malone (professor emeritus of pediatrics), Dr. Nick Hall (professor of nursing), and Dr. Kathleen Armstrong (professor of pediatrics).

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• Quiet visionaries: Carol and Frank Morsani
• Supporting the USF family: Pam and Les Muma
• Eradicating a rare disease: The Avery Family

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More MD alumni are giving to USF than ever before.

More than 180 donors, students and university leaders gathered to celebrate scholarship giving at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine on March 31 at USF’s Marshall Student Center.

The annual event, now in its eighth year, united scholarship donors with the student recipients who benefit from their support.

“Scholarships make it possible for students like us to follow our passions and serve the underserved,” said fourth-year MD/MPH student Nicole Teal, who founded the USF Health Nicaragua, a coalition of students and faculty who provide clinical care in Cedro Galan, Nicaragua. “The collective goal of the Morsani College of Medicine to prepare the next generation of compassionate, empathetic physicians, and all of you here are helping us to achieve that.”

Following Teal’s address, the scholarship recipients rose individually to announce their gratitude to their donors, culminating in a standing ovation for the donors at the end of the night.

Several members of USF Health leadership spoke at the event, including Medicine Student Council President Neil Manimala, Associate Vice President Kimberly Constantine, Vice Dean for Educational Affairs Bryan Bognar, and Charles Lockwood, dean of the Morsani College of Medicine and senior vice president for USF Health.

“Last year alone, we raised more than $1.6 million in scholarship funds for the Morsani College of Medicine, and we’ve had more alumni, faculty and staff give than ever before in our history,” said Constantine, who emceed the event and directs the development and alumni relations office for USF Health.

Scholarship fundraising remains a top priority for the University of South Florida, and the medicine program in particular. “We’re now attracting some of the most qualified medical school applicants in the nation,” said Lockwood. “So in order to keep recruiting and retaining these top students, scholarships will become an increasingly important factor.”

Lockwood noted that the average USF MD student graduates with around $158,000 in educational debt. By reducing that debt load, donor-funded scholarships increase career options for talented students upon graduation by allowing them to choose lower-paying specialties or practice in underserved areas.

Two of the winners of the 2016 USF Health Bandaids for BRIDGE Talent Show, MD/MPH student Samson Lu and Cienna Wesley MPH ’14, performed at the event. Attendees also watched “>a video that featured testimonials by several Morsani College of Medicine scholarship recipients.

To learn more about supporting scholarships at USF Health, visit bit.ly/USFHealthScholarships.

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