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JUNE 2009

10 Things I Love >

10 Things I Love About Gainesville: Mark S. Gold M.D.

Mark S. Gold, M.D.
10 Things I Love About Gainesville

Mark S. Gold, M.D.
Donald R. Dizney Eminent Scholar and Distinguished Professor
University of Florida College of Medicine and McKnight Brain Institute
Departments of Psychiatry, Neuroscience, Anesthesiology, Community Health and Family Medicine
Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry
 
10. Role models like Davis Rembert and Don Dizney. Thanks to Davis and Don for helping everyone learn about giving selflessly to improve the quality of life of everyone. And that giving is enriching and rewarding.

9. The Department of Psychiatry – the Peace Corps of Medicine. It’s easy to be an advocate for researchers and clinicians. Florida ranks 48th out of 50 states in terms of access to mental health treatment, so there is an overwhelming demand. Springhill is essential for training medical students and specialists, putting the Peace Corps of Medicine on-point to train modern, humanistic physicians.  

8. Tim Walton, Gregg Troy, Urban Meyer and Billy Donovan. What would Gainesville be without fabulous sports and young, gifted student-athletes led by amazing coaches?

7. Crescent Beach and Cedar Key. Gainesville has easy access to the very best of the West and East Coast. No wonder Ponce De Leon landed in St. Augustine!

6. Rebecca Nagy and the Harn Museum of Art. Fantastic, timeless and accessible. Thanks to Rebecca and staff, the Harn has a new Asian Wing and Collection. Bravo to the Cofrin and Shey families for their many contributions to the visual arts and the Harn.

5. Michael Blachly and the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Gainesville draws the best artists, the Ahn Trio, Arlo Guthrie, Itzhak Perlman, Yo Yo Ma, to the best venue with the most dedicated, creative staff.

4. Bench-to-patient advocates. David Day and the Office of Technology Transfer make it possible for me focus on the science and discovery of new medicines, diagnostic devices, tests and new treatments.

3. Paul Robell, Ann Braun and the UF Foundation. Coming back to UF in 1990, I was fortunate to have the support of the UF Foundation, UF donors and “boosters”. Addiction Medicine needed their support to create a top-five program.

2. Mentors like Drs. Bill Luttge, Ken Heilman and Al Rhoton. I was fortunate to work with William Luttge and learn about bench-to-bedside science from the bench first. From the bedside, I was mentored by two of the best, Drs. Ken Heilman and Al Rhoton, who suggested I should choose psychiatry rather than neurosurgery.   

1. My wife and family. My wife Janice graduated from UF in 1972 and M.Ed. in ’73. Janice loved Gainesville and insisted I apply to the UF College of Medicine. While I had numerous offers, for Janice, moving to New Haven or Boston or Durham was not an option. Happily, it’s our family’s home.