By Tyler Francischine

Randy Mahoney, MPAS, PA-C, at left, and Joseph A. Tyndall, M.D., M.P.H., interim dean of the UF College of Medicine, congratulate Nina Multak, Ph.D., MPAS, PA-C, after she received the Randolph B. Mahoney directorship of the UF School of PA Studies.

Two decades ago, Randy Mahoney was a student at the UF School of Physician Assistant Studies, building his clinical and research skill set from the instruction of his professor, Nina Multak, Ph.D., MPAS, PA-C.. Fast forward to Oct. 9, 2018, and Mahoney, MPAS, is standing next to Multak as she receives the Randolph B.

Mahoney directorship of the UF School of PA Studies, the first endowed directorship of a PA training program in the nation.

Multak, associate dean and director of the UF School of PA Studies, was one of eight UF Health faculty members honored at the seventh annual Celebrating Distinction ceremony, which recognized those named to endowed professorships or chairs.

Multak said the directorship, and the support of Mahoney, stokes her mission to move the UF School of PA Studies forward along its path toward preeminence.
“Randy Mahoney has a high bar for excellence,’’ she said. “It’s quite an honor to hold the first-of-this-kind of directorship,” she said.

The 2018 Celebrating Distinction ceremony drew 60 colleagues, friends and family members in congratulating the appointed faculty members. David R. Nelson, M.D., interim senior vice president for health affairs at UF and president of UF Health, called the honors among the highest that a university awards its faculty, as they are reserved for scholars of national and international acclaim.

“UF Health is very proud of our faculty and very thankful for our visionary donors who create tremendous opportunities for our faculty,” he said.

Joseph A. Tyndall, M.D., M.P.H., interim dean of the UF College of Medicine and chair of the UF department of emergency medicine, noted the importance of the strong bonds among donors and faculty members that these endowed professorships and chairs create.

Here are the UF Health faculty members honored at the ceremony:

UF College of Medicine
Katharina Busl, M.D.
James E. Rooks Jr. Professorship in Neurology
Demetrius Maraganore, M.D.
B.J. and Eve Wilder Professorship in Alzheimer’s Disease
Nina Multak, Ph.D., MPAS, PA-C
Randolph B. Mahoney Directorship
Mary Patterson, M.D., M. Ed.
Lou Oberndorf Professorship in Healthcare Technology
James Wymer, M.D., Ph.D.
Melvin Greer, M.D., Professor of Neurology

UF College of Pharmacy
Thomas Schmittgen, Ph.D.
Ravi Chandran, Ph.D., Professorship in Pharmaceutical Sciences

UF College of Veterinary Medicine
Julie Levy, D.V.M., Ph.D., DACVIM, DABVP
Fran Marino Endowed Professorship in Shelter Medicine Education
Martha Mallicote, D.V.M., DACVIM
Robin Weeks Chair in Veterinary Medicine