Dr. Brian Lobo Named CMIO for UF Health
Congratulations to one of our own, Brian C. Lobo, M.D., on his recently announced appointment as chief medical informatics officer (CMIO) for UF Health and assistant dean of clinical informatics for the UF College of Medicine. A valued member of the UF ENT family, Dr. Lobo brings a clinician’s perspective and a deep commitment to supporting providers at the point of care into this systemwide leadership role.
As CMIO, he will guide informatics strategy, serve on the chief information officer’s leadership team and collaborate across UF Health hospitals, clinics and the College of Medicine, alongside nursing informatics and credentialed providers. He will also support the development of associate CMIOs and help ensure digital tools — from Epic workflows to data and analytics platforms — continue to enhance care delivery and clinical efficiency. We are deeply proud to see Dr. Lobo represent our department at the health system level and congratulate him on this well-deserved role.
Honoring Outstanding Clinical Teaching
Congratulations to Dr. Si Chen on being named the recipient of the 2024–2025 Clinical Educator Award of Distinction for the MD/PhD Program. This well-deserved recognition reflects Dr. Chen’s exceptional commitment to clinical education, mentorship, and learner development. We are proud to celebrate this achievement and grateful for Dr. Chen’s continued dedication to teaching and supporting trainees across the MD/PhD program.
Additionally, we are proud to celebrate three UF College of Medicine Exemplary Teacher Award recipients from our department — Dr. Nikita Chapurin, Dr. Jeb Justice, and Dr. Austin Lam. This recognition reflects their outstanding dedication to education, mentorship, and learner success. Congratulations to all three on this well-deserved honor!
Holiday Cheer, ENT Style
Our department’s annual holiday party brought faculty, staff, and trainees together for an evening of food, drinks, and festive fun, offering a welcome pause during a busy time of year. The celebration included holiday sweater awards and plenty of time for conversation, giving colleagues the opportunity to connect outside of daily clinical and academic responsibilities. The evening served as a reminder of the strong teamwork, dedication, and sense of community that define our department, and of the people who make it such a rewarding place to work.
A Meaningful First Year for the ENT Administrative Internship
As our inaugural year of the ENT Administrative Internship Program comes to a close, we are proud to reflect on a successful first chapter shaped by our current intern, Bailey Howard. Bailey will graduate in May with her Master of Health Administration from the University of Florida and will go on to begin her next professional chapter as an Administrative Fellow in the Dean’s Office at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine. Her contributions this year have helped lay a strong foundation for the program and demonstrated the value of investing in emerging healthcare leaders.
The internship program was launched by Department Administrator Jennifer Brookins, in partnership with Assistant Director of Finance Jackson Hewang, a proud UF MHA alumnus. Recognizing the department’s ability to meaningfully support graduate-level training, they created this opportunity to provide hands-on, real-world experience for MHA students while strengthening the department through fresh perspectives and dedicated support.
As we look ahead, we are excited to welcome Annie-Grace Mitchell as our next Administrative Intern in the new year. Annie-Grace earned her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from Florida State University and is currently a first-year Master of Health Administration student at the University of Florida. We look forward to her joining the team and to continuing the growth of a program that reflects our department’s commitment to mentorship, education, and leadership development.
Year-End Giving That Makes a Difference
As we reflect on the season of giving, we invite our community to consider supporting the UF Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery General Fund. Your generosity helps enhance patient care and access, support resident and fellow education, advance research and innovation in ENT, strengthen faculty and staff development, and invest in the future of academic otolaryngology at UF. Every gift—no matter the size—makes a meaningful impact on our ability to care for patients and train the next generation of ENT leaders. We are deeply grateful for your continued support and partnership as we work to grow, innovate, and serve our community. To learn more or make a gift, visit https://www.uff.ufl.edu/giving-opportunities/011259-otolaryngology-general-fund/.
Let us know what is new in your life!
We would love to know what is new in your life: job promotions, leadership positions, new children or grandchildren, or any other exciting life updates. Please send these updates to william.collins@ent.ufl.edu or nichole.haring@ent.ufl.edu and we can include them in future newsletters. If you or your practice are hiring, we’re also happy to share that with our alumni network!
If you are interested in learning more about giving back to the department, please click the link here.