Honors Alum Med Hall of Fame

Dr. Jose Lezama

Honors Alumnus Inducted to the UF College of Medicine Wall of Fame

Former University of Florida (UF) Honors student, Dr. Jose Lezama, was recently inducted into the University of Florida College of Medicine’s Wall of Fame. After visiting campus as a child, his dream was to become a Florida Gator. The Florida Gators football team, the high rise of Century Tower, and exciting hustle and bustle of campus captivated his bright young eyes, and he knew it was where he belonged. Dr. Jose Lezama’s dream came true after getting accepted to the University of Florida and the UF Honors Program. Through the UF Honors Program, he met his life-long mentors and learned about different volunteering and shadowing opportunities at UF Health Shands Hospital. His first medical information session at Little Hall in 1989 helped to cement his goal of attending the UF College of Medicine. “This is where I wanted to go to medical school; right here at UF. I knew I was going to be in Gainesville for the next eight years,” expressed Dr. Lezama. Dr. Lezama praises Dr. Ricardo Gonzalez-Rothi and Dr. James (Jay) W. Lynch for their encouragement and motivation. They gave him confidence and helped him learn how to overcome the challenges he would face throughout his education and career. “Dr. Lynch said to me, ‘I think you are going to be a star as a physician.’ I still remember, to this day, exactly where we were standing and the exact day of the year when he told me this. It meant so much to me that a physician I looked up to would say those words to me,” explained Dr. Lezama. Dr. Gonzalez-Rothi showed Dr. Lezama just how special and exciting being a physician is. Both Dr. Gonzalez-Rothi and Dr. Lynch inspired him to mentor pre-medical undergraduates and medical students, just as they did for him. Throughout his time at UF, Dr. Lezama was the captain of all the intramural sports teams he participated in. Being a leader is not just in his blood; it is also his passion. He knew, from day one, that he was going to be a leader.

6 Fall 2020

“I love being a leader. I like being sort of the Captain Kirk of the starship Enterprise. My friends say that if I was not going to be a physician, the next thing I would be is governor or senator,” he explained. Dr. Lezama’s leadership skills are highlighted by his position as vice-chair at the University of South Florida (USF) Health Department of Internal Medicine, chief of medicine at Haley VA, and his numerous Teacherof-the-Year awards from James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. He is especially proud of his 42 internal medicine residents who all passed the Internal Medicine Certification Exam, as only 10 percent of the programs in the country have a 100 percent pass rate. Dr. Lezama aims to have the lowest mortality and morbidity of any healthcare system in the country. He works to prevent medication and physician errors to ensure that patients are getting the best care, emotionally and physically, whenever possible. Teaching, education, patient-centered care, and customer service are all the factors that he spotlights every day. “I knew I wanted to set up a system that was strong in education, strong in caring, strong in innovation, and strong in outcome because I believe in outcomes. I believe in results,” he explained. Creating innovative medical programs is one of Dr. Lezama’s favorite parts of being a leader and a physician. One of these programs is on Mohs surgery, an extremely invasive form of dermatological surgery, at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital. This program focuses on cutting down medical errors and improving communication between physicians, nurses, social workers and patients while working on this surgery. The most challenging part of Dr. Lezama’s life is maintaining a work-home balance. He makes sure that his family always comes first and reminds students that volunteer with him that everything he has accomplished in his career is a result of his family’s encouragement. “As long as I have the opportunity to see patients and the ability to create innovative programs, I will be happy wherever my career takes me, as long as my family is with me,” expressed Dr. Lezama. Patient-physician interaction is the most enjoyable part of Dr. Lezama’s career and the reason he joined the medical workforce. He makes sure that all of his residents and mentees focus heavily on humanitarianism, and learn how to make patients as comfortable as possible. He feels that personally knowing his patients and connecting with them is the art and beauty, the treasure, of being a physician. “You can always train the brain, but you have to develop the heart,” said Dr. Lezama.

Story by Nikita Patel Design by Emily Miller Photos by Gina Crespo

Fall 2020

SPOTLIGHT ON SPOTLIGHT ON (UN)COMMON (UN)COMMON READS: READS:

Richard Preston’s

The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus with Dr. Norman Beatty

8 Fall 2020

Infectious viruses and microorganisms exist ubiquitously in nature, but for most of us, we do not think about them until an outbreak makes an appearance in the news. Typically, it is not until pandemics from Ebola to COVID-19 unexpectedly upend lives that the spread of diseases suddenly becomes more relevant than ever. Yet for epidemiologists like Dr. Norman Beatty, infectious diseases are always at the forefront of their minds. Dr. Beatty, a professor and researcher in the UF College of Medicine and Emerging Pathogens Institute, plans to lead an (Un)Common Reads course for Spring 2021 discussing the book The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus by Richard Preston centered on this very disease. Preston’s 1994 best-seller details a true and chilling account of an uncontrollable Ebola outbreak in Washington. “This book brings to light the history of the Ebola virus and other viral hemorrhagic fevers,” Dr. Beatty said. “We will learn from each character in the book how an outbreak, with a potentially lethal pathogen, is managed among experts in the field. Preston took great care in researching key characters and authorities while compiling the book, which is evident as you read. You will not only get to learn about a fascinating infectious disease, but the story behind those who were on the forefront of an outbreak that took place here in the United States.” Combined with his own expertise in the area, Dr. Beatty saw an opportunity to share his field through the medium of this popular novel. His current research involves the investigation of a Neglected Tropical Disease, known as Chagas disease, here in Florida among those who have lived in endemic regions of Latin America. “My research and career as an infectious diseases specialist has been shaped to some extent by reading this book early in my medical training. I can vividly remember reading The Hot Zone while commuting on the NYC subway during an epidemiology rotation. It only solidified my passion for infectious diseases. I think this book excites our minds to understand that we are interconnected in many ways, thus allowing a pathogen to work its way into our society.” However, not even Dr. Beatty could predict the bearing the book would have this year. On the parallels between the book and the current pandemic he noted, “Eerily we are now living through a pandemic that has now shaped the lives of many throughout the planet. This book helps us reflect on this global interconnectivity. Throughout the course, we will discuss the patterns and parallels that we read as they pertain to the outbreak described in the book. Each outbreak will have similarities and differences depending on the pathogen, but our objective will be to touch on this during our weekly readings and discussions.” Despite an atypical hybrid course format, students interested in this course have much to anticipate. With a number of engaging and highly relevant discussions and guest speakers to come, Dr. Beatty believes all students, whether interested in medicine and microbiology, journalism and public relations, or anything in between, can have a fulfilling learning experience. “Overall my goal is to help each student enjoy the readings and our discussions, creating an atmosphere of learning and curiosity.”

Story by Kiran Mital Design by Courtney Chalmers

Fall 2020