The TRACTS program helped these clinicians navigate research careers. Find out more about how you can develop research skills, facilitate collaborations and connect with mentors in TRACTS.
Faheem Guirgis, MD, FACEP, 2016 TRACTS Participant and k-23 award recipient
Why TRACTS?
"I see clinical research as part of quality health care, and I believe that patients need access to both. I didn’t realize it but I probably wanted to be a researcher all along."

All TRACTS Participants
2016 Tracts participant
Christa L. Cook, PhD, MSN, RN, APHN-BC
UCF College of Nursing; Specializes in: HIV Health and Nursing

2016 TRACTS PARTICIPANT
Faheem Guirgis, MD, FACEP
UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville; Specializes in: Emergency Medicine

2016 TRACTS PARTICIPANT
Amy Yomiko Vittor, MD, PhD, MHS
UF College of Medicine; Specializes in: Infectious Diseases

2017 TRACTS PARTICIPANT
Kristin Dayton, MD
UF College of Medicine; Specializes in: Pediatric Endocrinology

2017 TRACTS PARTICIPANT
Scott A. Heller, MD
UF College of Medicine; Specializes in: Neuromuscular Neurology

2017 TRACTS PARTICIPANT
Laura M. Jacobsen, MD
UF College of Medicine; Specializes in: Pediatric Endocrinology

2017 TRACTS PARTICIPANT
Naykky Singh Ospina, MD
UF College of Medicine; Specializes in: Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism

2017 TRACTS PARTICIPANT
Jennifer Schoch, MD
UF College of Medicine; Specializes in: Dermatology

2018 TRACTS PARTICIPANT
Wissam Deeb, MD
UF College of Medicine; Specializes in: Behavioral Neurology and Movement Disorders

2018 TRACTS PARTICIPANT
Monica Fernandezm , DDS, MS
UF College of Dentistry; Specializes in: Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics

2018 TRACTS PARTICIPANT
Basma Mohamed, MBChB
UF College of Medicine; Specializes in: Perioperative Medicine and Neuroanesthesia

2018 TRACTS PARTICIPANT
Bhavana Patel, DO
UF College of Medicine; Specializes in: Behavioral Neurology and Movement Disorders

2018 TRACTS PARTICIPANT
Michael Pizzi, DP, PhD
UF College of Medicine; Specializes in: Neurocritical Care

2018 TRACTS PARTICIPANT
Alexis Simpkins, MD, PhD, MSCR
UF College of Medicine; Specializes in: Vascular Neurology

2018 TRACTS PARTICIPANT
Maria Von Chamier, DVM
UF College of Veterinary Medicine; Specializes in: Infectious Diseases and Immunology

2019 TRACTS PARTICIPANT
Lauren Black, MD
UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville; Specializes in: Acute Care and Emergency Medicine Research

2019 TRACTS PARTICIPANT
Jennifer Nichols, PhD
UF College of Engineering; Specializes in: Biomechanics, Musculoskeletal modeling, Predictive Simulation, Medical Imaging

2020 TRACTS PARTICIPANT
Suman Ghosh, MD, MPA
UF College of Medicine; Specializes in: Pediatric Neurology

2020 TRACTS PARTICIPANT
Andrea D. Guastello, PhD
UF College of Medicine; Specializes in: Pscyhology

2020 TRACTS PARTICIPANT
Sabina Nduaguba, MSPharm, MS, PhD
UF College of Pharmacy; Specializes in: Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy

2020 TRACTS PARTICIPANT
Amar Kelkar, MD
UF College of Medicine; Specializes in: Hematology and Oncology

2020 TRACTS PARTICIPANT
Padraic O’Malley,MSc, MD, FRCSC
UF College of Medicine; Specializes in: Urologic Oncology

2020 TRACTS PARTICIPANT
Samir Shah, MD, MPH
UF College of Medicine; Specializes in: Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy

Why TRACTS?
Christa L. Cook, PhD, MSN, RN, APHN-BC
TRACTS provided several opportunities to advance my career as an assistant professor including identifying and establishing a mentoring team, improving my statistical analysis skills, improving my publication record, and providing guidance and feedback on grant submissions.
K-23 award recipient
Faheem Guirgis, MD, FACEP
I see clinical research as part of quality health care, and I believe that patients need access to both. I didn’t realize it but I probably wanted to be a researcher all along.
K-08 award recipient
Amy Vittor, MD, PhD, MHS
TRACTS was instrumental in solidifying mentorship, facilitating collaborations, and enhancing my research skills.
Kristin Dayton, MD
I wanted to learn more about research methods and statistical analysis for large population-based studies on tools to improve the diagnosis and management of obesity-related diseases.
Scott A. Heller, MD
I became involved with TRACTS because I saw it as a program that can provide the guidance, resources, and skills to help a research novice like me someday develop into a polished, clinical and translational investigator.
Laura M. Jacobsen, MD
TRACTS offers additional mentorship outside my division with classes and small group discussion tailored to physicians’ research needs. Advancing our statistical knowledge and ability, in addition to having a strong grant support system, are invaluable for young clinician researchers on the road to independence.
Naykky Singh Ospina, MD
As a junior faculty in a new university identifying the opportunities that were a good fit for me was a daunting and challenging process. I joined TRACTS in order to facilitate this process.
Jennifer Schoch, MD
I joined the TRACTS program to provide me with the skills and resources needed to conduct prospective clinical studies. I am currently collaborating with several departments at UF while establishing my research in the neonatal cutaneous microbiome.