Senator and former Shands intern returns to UF

Florida state senator and former Shands at the University of Florida intern Durell Peaden Jr., M.D., returned to campus Thursday, Dec. 17 for a firsthand look at programs he fought to fund over the years.

Following a tour of the UF McKnight Brain Institute’s centers for Brain Tumor Research and Movement Disorders, and Deep Brain Stimulation Lab, Peaden was joined by faculty, staff and friends of the college and the MBI who  prepared a special thank-you for the senator.

Michael Good, M.D., COM interim dean personally thanked Peaden and presented him with a special gift from the college. The COM honored Peaden for his service in the Senate as a physician who understands the needs of physicians, patients, medical schools and hospitals.

“He has argued for medical education funding for UF in the state senate and has been a strong advocate of funding residencies in Florida,” said Belita Moreton, Esq., director of government relations for Shands HealthCare.

Moreton also noted Peaden’s work as chairman of the Senate Health Appropriations Committee, which included a successful fight to convince House and Senate leadership to keep UF’s Center for Brain Tumor Research in the budget during a year of severe deductions.

On behalf of the McKnight Brain Institute, William Friedman, M.D., chairman of the department of neurosurgery and scientific advisor for the Florida Center for Brain Tumor Research, and Barbara Frentzen, director of the department of neurosurgery’s Clinical Research Office, presented Peaden with an award for his continued service to MBI programs.