Sarasota
Sarasota
Nicole Bentze, D. O. Dean, Sarasota Regional Campus
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Student Nutrition in Medicine research is a winning effort
Students at the Sarasota Regional Campus are pursuing a variety of research projects in Nutrition in Medicine, and they are winning awards for their efforts.
Evidence-based research shows that plant-centered nutrition is an important way for individuals to improve their health and the environment. Doctors have an opportunity to reduce the morbidity and mortality from multiple chronic diseases in their patients, even with brief nutritional interventions.
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Amber Dudek( M. D. Class of‘ 26, Tallahassee) and Paola Piascik( M. D. Class of‘ 27, Central Campus) developed a poster promoting the benefits of plant-based diets. They are currently writing the paper for their research project involving 32 physicians and 10,000 patients: " Quantifying Patient Interest in Plant-Based Diets Across Multiple Specialties." Paola presented this research at the Florida Chapter of the American College of Physicians 2025 Annual Residents & Medical Students Meeting. They won the Medical Student Quality Improvement-Patient Safety Poster on March 15, 2025. |
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Brittany Long |
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Amber Dudek |
“ Medical students are in a powerful position to help large numbers of patients with thousands of patient and family interactions ahead in their careers,” said Nicole Bentze, D. O., dean of the Sarasota Regional Campus.
Bentze and Allison Menezes, M. D., an ophthalmologist and Sarasota clinical faculty member, were mentors for the projects involving students from the Sarasota Regional Campus, as well as a student from the Tallahassee Regional Campus and a student from the FSU Central Campus.
Brittany Long( M. D. Class of’ 25, Sarasota) wrote an article titled " A Broader Approach to Diabetes: Take Two Minutes for Plants," which was published in Retina Today. Brittany also presented her research at the Florida Chapter of the American College of Physicians Conference in October 2023. Her poster won the best Medical Student Clinical Research Award. Brittany has matched into an ophthalmology residency program.
Gaby Chalela( M. D. Class of‘ 26, Sarasota) worked with Dr. Dennis Imperio, a clinical faculty nephrologist, and Menezes to develop a Nephrologist Information Guide with highlights of research supporting plant-based diets in chronic kidney disease, along with Patient Nutrition Cards with attainable plant-based recommendations. Patient adoption and adherence to the nutrition recommendations will be evaluated. Seven other nephrologist practices were surveyed to evaluate nephrologist willingness to encourage plant-centered diets in their patients. Her poster was presented with Bentze(" Prescribing Plant-Predominant Diets in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Quality Improvement Initiative ') at the annual meeting of the American Medical Women ' s Association earlier this year.
Aaliyah Bourne, Rushabh Shah and Mark Mirabueno( all three M. D. Class of‘ 26, Sarasota) worked with clinical faculty orthopedic surgeon Adam Bright, M. D., and Menezes to develop a Surgeon Information Guide with highlights of research supporting plant-based diets for wound healing and good immune function. This study will evaluate patient adoption and adherence to the nutrition recommendations. Their abstract(" Promoting Plant-Centered Diets for Better Wound Healing in Surgical Patients ") was accepted for the Florida Medical Association Annual Conference in July 2025.
Paola Piascik |
Gaby Chalela |
Aaliyah Bourne |
Rushabh Shah |
Mark Mirabueno |
SUMMER 2025 |
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