Congratulations again to Jason Pukala and Jun Yin, who won the student awards at our 2nd Annual Pruitt Research Day in November. After the morning series of truly outstanding student talks, Jason Pukala from Dr. Frank Bova’s Laboratory was selected as best student speaker. Later that afternoon, the best poster presentation was awarded to Jun Yin of Dr. Yiider Tseng’s Laboratory. Jason and Jun were recently presented with plaques recognizing these accomplishments.

As a reminder, we hold our celebration near the birth date of Dr. J. Crayton Pruitt Sr. whose vision and generosity helped found the department. Dr. Pruitt was always most excited to hear about and discuss the achievements and research being conducted by our students. Dr. Pruitt himself was not only a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon but also an inventor of numerous catheters and instruments for use in cardiovascular surgery that include his co-invention of the Pruitt-Inahara shunt – still one of the world’s most popular shunts used during carotid endarterectomy.  You can read more about Dr. Pruitt here: http://www.bme.ufl.edu/about/J-Crayton-Pruitt-Sr.

We would also like to thank all of our special guests, including Dr. Crayton Pruitt, Jr. and keynote speakers Jamie Grooms and Jeffrey Fitzsimmons for attending this year’s event. We look forward to seeing everyone there again next year.