Patricia L. Abbitt, M.D.

Dr. Abbitt is Professor of Radiology and serves as Division Chief, Body Imaging and Mammography in the Department of Radiology, University of Florida College of Medicine. She also serves as a member of the Search Committee for Chairman of the Department of Pathology.

Dr. Abbitt earned her BA in 1976 at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA and her M.D. from Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA in 1981. She completed her internship in the Department of Internal Medicine at the Maine Medical Center in 1982 and her Residency in the Department of Diagnostic Radiology at the University of Virginia in 1986. She was the Academic Chief Resident within the Department of Diagnostic Radiology at the University of Virginia and she was a Fellow in Medical Imaging/Mammography at the University of Virginia 1986-1987.

Dr. Abbitt is a member of the Society of Gastrointestinal Radiology, the American Roentgen Ray Society and the Radiological Society of North America.

Alison A. Bartfield, M.D.

Dr. Bartfield is Clinical Assistant Professor with the Division of Internal Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine and . She also serves as Faculty Coordinator for the Internal Medicine Interest Group, as a member of the Medical Support Staff NASA Space Shuttle Program, as a member of the Housestaff Selection Committee and as Physical Diagnosis Preceptor.

Dr. Bartfield earned her B.S. in Biochemistry in 1991 from the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL and her M.D. in 1995 from the University of Florida College of Medicine, where she also served her internship and residency in the Department of Medicine. In addition she served as Chief Resident in 1999.

Dr. Bartfield is Diplomate with the American Board of Internal Medicine, a member of the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, a member of the American Medical Association and the Florida Medical Association.

Bradley S. Bender, M.D.

Dr. Bender is currently Professor of Medicine with the University of Florida School of Medicine; Staff Physician, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Gainesville VA Medical Center; and Attending Physician at Shands Hospital, Gainesville, FL. Dr. Bender also serves on the VA Merit Review Council, the Infection Control Committee, the Research and Development Committee, and the Research Biosafety Committee at the VA Medical Center, and the Faculty Council, the Institutional Review Board, Teaching Improvement Committee, and the Medical Education Committee at the University of Florida, and the Medical Review Committee at Shands Hospital.

Dr. Bender graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1975 from Middlebury College in Vermont with a BA in Premedical Training and received his MD from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1979. His postgraduate training included Internship and Residency at Baltimore City Hospitals, Medicine Fellow and Infectious Disease at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Medical Staff Fellow in the Clinical Immunology Section of the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Bender is a Diplomat with the American Board of Internal Medicine and is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in both Infectious Disease (1984) and Geriatric Medicine (1988). He is a member of the American Federation for Clinical Research, the VA Society of Practitioners in Infectious Diseases, the American Society for Microbiology, the American Geriatrics Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Association of Immunologists and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Dr. Bender is also a Fellow with the American College of Physicians.

Felix M. Berardo, Ph.D.

Dr. Berardo is currently professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. and serves in an editorial capacity for numerous scholarly journals. In addition, he is an acknowledged expert and highly published author in the areas of widowhood, bereavement and dying. He also served as Chairman of the Department of Sociology for six years.

Dr. Berardo graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Connecticut with a BA in Sociology in 1961 and his Ph.D. in Sociology and Anthropology from Florida State University in 1965.

Dr. Berardo is actively involved in the American Sociological Association, the National Council of Family Relations, the Southern Sociological Society, the Gerontological Society of America, the Southeast Council on Family Relations and President of the Florida Council on Family Relations.

Patrick J. Bird, Ph.D.

Dr. Bird is currently Dean of the College of Health and Human Performance and a Professor of Exercise and Sport Sciences at the University of Florida, a position he has held for fifteen years. Before coming to Florida in 1985, he was Professor and Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs in the School of Education at the University of Virginia. He has also served as an assistant/associate professor at the University of Minnesota and instructor at the University of Illinois.

Dr. Bird earned his Ph.D. in exercise physiology from the University of Minnesota and his M.S. and B.S. from the University of Illinois. He has more than thirty years of experience as an educator and writer and has published more than seventy articles on exercise physiology, fitness, sport, and education in research journals and popular magazines. In addition, for the last thirteen years, he has been writing a weekly column, "Keeping Fit," which is carried by the St. Petersburg Times and New York Times Regional Newspapers.

George J. Caranasos, MD

Dr. Caranasos is presently Director of the Geriatric Education Center and Ruth S. Jewett Professor of Medicine in Geriatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL. In addition, he served until recently as Chief of the Internal Medicine Division, College of Medicine for 23 years

Dr. Caranasos earned his MD at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; completed his internship and served as Assistant Resident at Osler Medical Services, Johns Hopkins Hospital; and was Research Associate at the Johns Hopkins University for Medical Research and Training. He served as Chief Resident, Department of Medicine, Shands Teaching Hospital, University of Florida and Gainesville Veterans Affairs Hospital, Gainesville, FL, and was a Fellow, Psychosomatic Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida. Dr. Caranasos is a Diplomate with the American Board of Internal Medicine and holds a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Geriatric Medicine.

He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, member of the Society of General Internal Medicine, member of the Southern Medical Association, member of the Florida Medical Association, member of the Johns Hopkins medical and Surgical Association, member of the American Geriatrics Society, member of the Gerontological Society of America, member of the Florida Council on Aging, and the National Council on Aging.

C. Richard Conti, MD, MACC, FCP(SA), FESC

Dr. Conti is Eminent Scholar and Professor of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL. Dr. Conti is also Medical Director of the Shands Cardiovascular Clinic and as Principal Physician, Medical Intensive Care Unit, Shands Hospital at the University of Florida, Gainesville. He serves as Editor of the Educational Program Highlights for the American College of Cardiology, Clinical Cardiology and the ACCSAP 200 (Adult Clinical Cardiology Self-Assessment Program 2000).

Dr. Conti graduated Magna Cum Laude from Lehigh University in 1956 and earned his MD from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1960. Dr. Conti is a Diplomate with the American Board of Internal Medicine and Diplomate, Subspecialty Board of Cardiovascular Disease, and a Fellow with the American College of Physicians and the American College of Cardiology. He is licensed in the States of Florida and Maryland.

Dr. Conti is a member of the Johns Hopkins Medical and Surgical Society, American Heart Association, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Heart Association, Southern Society for Clinical Investigation, Royal Society of Medicine (London), Florida Heart Association, Alachua County Medical Society, Florida Medical Association, Society for Cardiac Angiography, Association of University Cardiologists, Association of Professors of Cardiology, British Cardiac Society, American Clinical and Climatological Association, French Cardiac Society, Council on Geriatric Cardiology, and of the Interamerican, European, and Dominican Society of Cardiology. Dr. Conti is also a member of the Society of Scholars at Johns Hopkins University.

Judith B. deMontmollin, Ph.D.

Dr. deMontmollin is a Staff Psychologist at the VA Medical Center, Gainesville and an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Florida, Department of Clinical Psychology, Gainesville, FL.

She received both her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychiatry from the University of Florida and completed her internship in Clinical Psychiatry at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, D.C. Dr. deMontmollin serves as a member of the Education Committee and frequent lecturer for the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) at the VA Medical Center, and Coordinating Committee member of the Geriatric Education Center, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

Dr. deMontmollin has made numerous presentations on geriatric depression and dementia, and she participated in a five-part workshop sponsored by the University of Florida Department of Psychiatry and the Governor's Initiative on Alzheimer's Disease: What's New in Managing Dementia. She also participated in the Health and Rehabilitative Services (HRS) workshop to train HRS workers to cope with problems of clients in nursing homes.

Vivian Filer, MS, MSN, ARNP

Mrs. Filer is currently a Home Health Nursing Instructor, Psychiatric/Mental Health and a Skills Resource Instructor at the Mt. Olive Education Center, Santa Fe Community College, Gainesville, FL. Mrs. Filer is also a speaker and storyteller throughout the state, as well as a singer with "The Washington," an a-cappella trio that sings about people, life, the environment, and spirituality to audiences all over the state.

Mrs. Filer earned her BSN from the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL in 1972, her MS in Education from Nova University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, in 1977, and her MSN in 1991 from the University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

Mrs. Filer is a member of the Florida Association of Community Colleges, the Florida Nurses Association, the American Nurses Association, the National League for Nursing and the Founding President of the Greater Gainesville Black Nurses Association. She is a member of the North Central Florida AIDS Network African-American Task Force,: Member and Past President of the Gainesville Chapter of The Links, Inc.; Member of the Advisory Board, Friendship Day Care; Member of the Advisory Board for Gainesville Institute, Member of the Associate Trustee Board of Bethune-Cookman College; Member of the Council for Health Planning, Alachua General Hospital; and Member of the Alachua County Tobacco Free Partnership Board of Directors.

Franklin P. Flowers, MD

Dr. Flowers is currently Chief and Professor of Medicine in Dermatology of the Division of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL. He presently serves also as an Affiliate Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Department of Pediatrics, Affiliate Associate Professor of Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and is Director of the University of Florida Dermatology Residency Training Program.

Dr. Flowers was awarded (cum laude) his AA in General Education from the North Florida Jr. College, his BS in Pre Medicine in 1967 by Florida State University, and his MD from the University of Florida in 1971. He completed his residency in Dermatology at Ohio State University in 1975 and received his certification in Mohs Micrographic Surgery in 1993 from the University of Alabama.

Dr. Flowers is Diplomat with the American Board of Dermatology and was a Fellow with the American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology, serves on the Cosmetic Dermatology Peer Review Panel and is Editor of E-Medicine and Dermatology.

Claydell H. Horne, Ph.D.

Dr. Horne currently serves as Associate Professor, Department of Adult and Elderly Nursing, University of Florida College of Nursing, Gainesville, FL and is a consultant to the Florida Nursing Students' Association.

Dr. Horne earned her BSN from Florida State University in 1961, her MSN from the University of Florida in 1987 and her Ph.D. from the University of Florida in 1992.

Dr. Horne is president-elect of the College of Nursing Faculty Organization, a member of the University Student Conduct Standards Committee and holds a lifetime membership in the Florida Nursing Student Association. She has also been recipient of the Lamp Lighter Award, the Heather Scaglione Award and the Honorary Recognition Award, all from the Florida Nurses Association.

Jennifer White Janelle

Dr. Janelle is Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine for the Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Florida College of Medicine and Hospital Epidemiologist with Shands Hospital at the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. Dr. Janelle is also a Volunteer Physician at the Acorn Clinic (Rural Medicine Clinic) and serves on the Shands Hospital Infection Control Committee.

Dr. Janelle received her BS in Biology (Summa Cum Laude) in 1990 from Christian Brothers College in Memphis, TN, her MD in 1994 from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, served her Residency in Internal Medicine (1997) and Fellowship in Infectious Diseases (1999) at the University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL. She is a Diplomate with the American Board of Internal Medicine and is licensed in Florida.

Dr. Janelle is a member of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of American and the American College of Physicians -- American Society of Internal Medicine. In 1999 Dr. Janelle was the Scholarship Recipient to The Society for healthcare Epidemiology of America Training Course in Hospital Epidemiology.

John R. Meuleman, MD

Dr. Meuleman is presently Associate Professor in the Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, and Associate Chairman for Education, Department of Medicine at the University of Florida, as well as Associate Director, Clinical Affairs, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) at the Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Gainesville, FL.

Dr. Meuleman graduated with his BS (Highest Honors) from the University of Notre Dame and earned his MD at the Washington University Medical School. He completed his residency and served as Chief Resident in Internal Medicine at the University of Florida (Shands Teaching Hospital and VA Medical Center). He also is a Diplomate in Geriatric Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Meuleman, who is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and licensed in the State of Florida, is a member of the Society of General Internal Medicine, a member of the American Geriatric Association, and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.

Stephen E. Nadeau, MD

Dr. Nadeau presently serves as the Staff Neurologist with the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Professor of Neurology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville Florida. In addition, he is a Consultant for the State of Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, Stroke Medical/Surgical Guideline Committee. Dr. Nadeau also is a member of the Faculty Council, University of Florida College of Medicine; Clerkship director, Department of Neurology, University of Florida College of Medicine; Third Year Curriculum Committee, University of Florida College of Medicine; Quality Control Committee, Gainesville VA Medical Center; and the University of Florida Brain Institute Internal Faculty Advisory Board.

In 1970 Dr. Nadeau earned his Bachelor of Science degree in both Chemical Physics and Political Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 1971 he graduated from Temple University Graduate School of Education, then completed pre-med curriculum at the University of Florida in 1972. He earned an MD with honors from the University of Florida College of Medicine in 1977, then served his internship and Residency in Neurology before being appointed Chief Resident in Neurology in 1980. In 1981-82 Dr. Nadeau was a Research Fellow in Behavioral Neurology at the Shands Teaching Hospital Department of Neurology, Gainesville, FL.

Dr. Nadeau is a member of the AOA, the American Academy of Neurology, the Alachua County Medical Society, the Florida medical Association, the Behavioral Neurology Society, the Center for Neuropsychological Studies, the International Neuropsychological Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Reuben Ramphal, MD

Dr. Ramphal is presently Professor of Infectious Disease, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL. He also serves on the Medical Student Education Committee, University of Florida College of Medicine and on the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee at Shands. Dr. Ramphal also reviews for Infection and Immunity, Journal of Infectious Diseases, Clinical Infectious Diseases, American Journal of Respiratory Diseases, American Journal of Respiratory, Cellular, and Molecular Biology, European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease, and Chest.

Dr. Ramphal received his BS in Microbiology and Immunology in 1969 and his MD in 1973 from McGill University, Montreal, Canada. He served a portion of his medicine residency at Montreal General Hospital in Montreal, Canada, and a year's residency in Diagnostic Microbiology at Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal. He was then Post-doctoral Fellow in Infectious Diseases at the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

Dr. Ramphal is a Diplomate in Infectious Diseases with the American Board of Internal Medicine and is licensed in both Florida and in Canada. He is a member of the American Society of Microbiology and of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Carmen S. Rodrigues, MBA/MSN, ARNP

Ms. Rodrigues currently serves as Associate Clinical Professor in the University of Florida College College of Nursing, and is a Registered Nurse Practitioner in the Head and Neck Clinic, Shands Hospital at the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

Ms. Rodrigues received her BSN from the University of Puerto Rico in 1978, her MBA/MSN from the University of Miami in 1988, and her ARNP from the University of Florida in 1994. She will be awarded her Ph.D. in Nursing/Gerontology in .

Ms. Rodrigues is a Member of of the Oncology Nursing Society of North Central Florida and a member of the national Oncology Nursing Society.

Maria I. Vera, Ph.D.

Dr. Vera is Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida College of Medicine. She is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who provides psychotherapy of individuals, couples, families, and groups in the Adult Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic.

Dr. Vera earned her undergraduate degree from the Universidad Catolica de Chile, Escuela de Socologia, Santiago, Chile, did graduate work at the University of Notre Dame, received her M.S.W. from the University of Kansas in 1974 and her Ph.D. in Social Work from Florida State University.

Dr. Vera is a Past President of the North Central Florida Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and the Florida Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

Robin Lea West, Ph.D.

Dr. West is Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Director of the Center for Gerontological Studies and Associate Director of the Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. She also serves as a member of the Institute on Aging Search Committee, the Planning Board for a Geriatric Center of Excellence, the Shands Senior Care Review Committee, the health Science Center Task Force on Aging, the Review Committee for the Student Award on Scholarly Work in Aging, the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) Advisory Committee. Dr. West is on the Editorial Board Service for Aging and Cognition, Psychology and Aging, and Experimental Aging Research.

Dr. West earned her B.A. with Distinction in 1973 from the University of Nebraska, her MA in Psychology from Vanderbilt University in 1978 and her Ph.D. in Psychology from Vanderbilt University in 1980. She was also a Brookdale National Fellow from 1989-1992.

Dr. West is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association as well as and Chair and Member of the American Psychological Association Division 20 Awards Committee and Program Committee, a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, a member of the National Council on Aging, and of the Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition.