Henry A. Kokomoor Award
This award was established by the family and friends of Henry A. Kokomoor to honor his memory. It is given to an individual who epitomizes the qualities and aspirations of Henry Kokomoor, the late son of Dr. Marvin Kokomoor. Henry was tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident at the height of his career. He was a brilliant scholar with an impeccable set of ethics and morals. He had tremendous sensitivity and was endowed with tremendous innovativeness and great vision.
Each year, this award is given to an individual who is committed to scientific discovery that will aid us in our overall efforts to improve child health within this nation. An emphasis is placed on creativity, diligence of effort, and dedication.
Award Recipients
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Emilia Guzman, MD |
| 2024 | Joie Cavazos, MD |
| 2023 | Taylor Gowen, MD |
| 2022 | Vivian Valcarce, MD |
| 2021 | Ezequiel Borgia, MD |
| 2020 | Sudha Mannemuddhu, MD |
| 2019 | Brian Stover, MD |
| 2018 | Diana Montoya-Williams, MD |
| 2017 | Laura Jacobson, MD |
| 2016 | Moanaro Biswas, PhD |
Douglas J. Barrett, MD Academic Fellowship Award
This award is named in honor of Douglas J. Barrett, MD. Dr. Barrett was chairman of the Department of Pediatrics from 1991 to 2002. During his tenure, he mentored 208 pediatric residents and 84 pediatric subspecialty fellows. The residents under his tutelage consistently scored above the national average on their board certifying exams. The department received three “Golden Apple” awards over a six-year period as the best teaching department in the College of Medicine. In addition, the department attracted UF students into a career in pediatrics at twice the national rate.
In clinical care, Dr. Barrett is noted for establishing Shands Children’s Hospital in 1996 as a hospital within a hospital, a Children’s Specialty Center at Shands Medical Plaza, and a new Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. During that time, children’s services accomplished numerous “Florida Firsts” including nitric oxide therapy for respiratory failure, umbilical cord stem cell transplant, pediatric lung and heart/lung transplantation, gene therapy for cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary valvuloplasty in <1000 gm premature infants.
In the area of research, Dr. Barrett increased by tenfold the amount of nationally competitive NIH funding received by the department, including world-class research programs in AIDS/HIV, epilepsy/seizure prediction, Type I Diabetes, gene therapy for heart failure and lung disease, nerve cell tumors, and genetic obesity syndromes. Research increased to 50 percent the proportion of the total department budget covered by extramural research grants, and the faculty received UF College of Medicine Clinical Sciences Faculty Research Awards three times.
In March 2002, Dr. Barrett was named the Vice President of the University of Florida Health Affairs, a position in which he served until 2009.
Grant funding was established through the Children’s Miracle Network for the Douglas J. Barrett Academic Fellowship Award to support clinical fellows in training in pediatric medical or surgical subspecialties. The Douglas J. Barrett Academic Fellowship Award recipients are chosen for their work displaying the highest qualities of scholarly activity in research, teaching, and patient care.
Award Recipients
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Omama Ahmad, MD |
| 2024 | Yuen Yee Lo Yau Leung, MD |
| 2023 | Daniel Gipson, MD |
| 2022 | Timothy Foster, MD |
| 2021 | Mansi Dalal, MD |
| 2020 | Brittany Bruggeman, MD |
| 2019 | Ezequiel Borgia, MD |
| 2018 | Matthew Pertzborn, MD |
| 2017 | Kristin Dayton, MD |
| 2016 | Kristin Dayton, MD |
| 2014 | Gabriel M. Cara-Fuentes, MD |
| 2013 | Dipankar Gupta, MD |
| 2012 | Darin J. Falk, PhD |
| 2011 | Mai K. ElMallah, MD, Eihab Al Khasawneh, MD |
| 2010 | Katherine E. McGoogan, MD |
| 2009 | Lisa M. Gallo, MD, Sushil Gupta, MD |
| 2008 | Dwayne D. Henry, MD; Angela E. Rivers, MD, PhD; Kevin P. Schooler, MD, PhD |
| 2007 | Jai P. Udassi, MD; James L. Wynn, MD |
| 2006 | Levette N. Dunbar, MD; Nathan M. Jesse, MD; Avital Leibovici, MD |
| 2005 | Faris Al-Mousily, MD; Rachel E. Brown, MD; K. Alex Daneshmand, DO; Michael S. Stalvey, MD |
| 2004 | Michael J. Haller, MD; Allah B. Haafiz, MD; Daniel M. Torrez, MD |
| 2003 | Jennifer L. Miller, MD; Matthew A. Saxonhouse, MD; Hilton M. Bernstein, MD |