SARASOTA, Fla. (June 4, 2025) – The Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute and Florida State University College of Medicine held its 2025 Interprofessional Research Conference on May 7, showcasing collaborative research and clinical innovation that is enhancing care throughout southwest Florida. This year marked a special milestone, as the event was held in the new Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute that opened in April on the Sarasota hospital campus.
More than 350 healthcare professionals from over 20 different organizations attended the event, which showcased more than 70 poster, panel, and podium presentations by physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and other clinicians from across the region. True to its interprofessional focus, the event featured a dedicated information sessions providing attendees with the opportunity to connect and share ideas, further fostering collaboration and innovation across disciplines.
Annette M. Bourgault, PhD, RN, CNL, FAAN, associate professor and PhD program director at the University of Central Florida College of Nursing, presented the keynote address: “Challenges in Evidence-Based Practice: Strategies to Navigate De-Implementation and Misinformation.” Her presentation shared practical ways to improve patient care by moving away from outdated treatments and tackling misinformation that can affect decision making.
For the second consecutive year, Joel Morganroth, MD, donated $25,000 to the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation to support local clinician-initiated research and innovation. This year’s Morganroth Research Grant was awarded to Julie Collins, RN, BSN, principal investigator of a study titled “Assessing Outcomes in Spinal Surgery Patients Who Receive Iceless Cryopneumatic Therapy Using the NICE1 Device as Compared to Standard of Care.”
James Fiorica, MD, chief medical officer for Sarasota Memorial, commended clinicians at the conference for their commitment to advancing research and evidence-based practice. SMH and FSU leaders also presented 12 research and innovation awards.
Recipients of the 2025 Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute Awards are:
- Distinguished Physician Research & Innovation Award – Robert Carey, MD, PhD, FASC
- Distinguished Nurse Research & Innovation Award – Joanna D’Elia, MSN, GERO-BC, CPHQ
- Research & Innovation Excellence Award – Tonya King, PhD
- Distinguished Allied Health Professional Research & Innovation Award – Heather Kaplan, MHA, CNMT, RT(N)
- Distinguished Pharmacy Research & Innovation Award – Nicholas Scaturo, PharmD, BCEMP
- Pharmacy New Investigator Research Award – Kimberly Tran, PharmD
- FSU Emergency Medicine Resident Research Award – David Langley, DO
- FSU Emergency Medicine Distinguished Faculty Research Scholar Award – Steve Kamm, MD, FACEP
- FSU Internal Medicine Resident Research Award – Maha Hameed, MD
- FSU Internal Medicine Distinguished Faculty Research Scholar Award – Manuel Gordillo, MD
- FSU Emergency Medical Services Fellow Research Award – George Nackley, DO
- FSU Emergency Medical Services Distinguished Faculty Research Scholar Award – Andrew Kropp, MD
This marks the third annual conference hosted by Sarasota Memorial highlighting interprofessional research and Sarasota Memorial’s national reputation as a teaching hospital. The event was made possible through the support of the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation.
Explore more photos (or See more highlights) from the 2025 Interprofessional Research Conference on Sarasota Memorial’s Facebook page or click here.
About the Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute
Located on the flagship Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Sarasota campus, the Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute serves as a premier hub for medical research and clinical innovation. With dedicated space for research, clinical innovation and graduate medical education, the Kolschowsky Institute provides a collaborative learning environment for physicians, nurses, researchers and students studying new treatments and mastering the latest tools and techniques in patient care. Through state-of-the-art simulation labs, hands-on training programs, and a robust portfolio of clinical studies, Sarasota Memorial and the Kolschowsky Institute play a vital role in advancing medical knowledge, improving patient outcomes, and shaping the future of healthcare in the region. For more information, click here.