David A. Paulus Award for Clinical Excellence Nomination

Who may nominate: 

  • Any currently employed UF COM faculty member with a clinical assignment.  Residents and fellows may co-nominate with a UF COM faculty member.

Nominee Eligibility:

  • Currently employed UF COM faculty member (Gainesville) with a clinical assignment in patient care (voluntary faculty or courtesy faculty are not eligible).
  • Primary appointment in a UF COM clinical department.
  • Member of the COM faculty for at least five years.
  • Clinical achievements prompting the nomination have taken place while a UF COM faculty member.
  • Clinical activities include directly providing clinical care or directly participating in clinical services.

Criteria for Selection include (but are not limited to) documentation of:

  • Local, regional and national reputation for medical expertise and clinical excellence.
  • Recognition through department-level awards for clinical excellence.
  • Advocacy, devotion, and compassion for patients.
  • Collegiality and respect for peers, referring physicians and clinical staff.
  • Leading effective change in local, regional or national health care practices.
  • Leadership positions with clinically-oriented governmental and private agencies (e.g. AHRQ, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, etc.).
  • Clinically oriented peer-reviewed publications.

The award will consist of a cash prize, and a plaque. The awardee will be selected by a committee consisting of members of the Faculty Council plus UF Health Clinical Leaders.

2026 David A. Paulus Awardee for Clinical Excellence

Dawn-Christi M. Bruijnzeel, MD

Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry

Photo of Dawn-Christia Bruijnzeel, MD

2025 David A. Paulus Awardee for Clinical Excellence

Ian R. Driscoll, MD – Associate Professor for the Department of Surgery

2024 David A. Paulus Awardee for Clinical Excellence

  • Desmond A. Schatz, MD – Professor for the Department of Pediatrics

2023 David A. Paulus Awardee for Clinical Excellence

  • Tomas D. Martin, MD – Professor and Director for the Department of Surgery

2021 David A. Paulus Awardee for Clinical Excellence

  • Marilyn C. Dumont-Driscoll, MD, PhD – Associate Professor for the Department of Pediatrics

2020 David A. Paulus Awardee for Clinical Excellence

  • Nancy Mendenhall, MD – Associate Chair & Professor for the Department of Radiation Oncology

2019 David A. Paulus Awardee for Clinical Excellence

  • Tomas S. Huber, MD, PhD – Professor for the Department of Surgery

2018 David A. Paulus Awardee for Clinical Excellence

  • Juan M. Aranda, Jr., MD – Professor for the Department of Medicine

2017 David A. Paulus Award for Clinical Excellence

  • Patrick Duff, MD – Associate Dean and Professor for the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology

2016 David A. Paulus Award for Clinical Excellence

  • Janet Silverstein, MD – Chief & Professor for the Department of Pediatrics