About Us >> Staff

Staff:

• Tom Fortner -- Director
• Melanie Fridl Ross -- Associate Director, Office of News and Communications/Senior Editor, Senior Writer
• John Pastor -- Assistant Director, Office of News and Communications/Public Relations Director, McKnight Brain Institute/Genetics Institute
• April Frawley Birdwell -- Editor
• University of Florida Health Science Center Jacksonville, Public Relations Coordinator
• TBA -- Director, Broadcast News
• Mickey Cuthbertson -- Graphic Design Director
• Sarah B. Kiewel -- Photographer
• Cassandra Mack -- Executive Secretary
• Kim Smith -- Program Assistant
• Beth Powers -- News Distribution Specialist

Affiliated Staff

• Karen Rhodenizer -- Communications Director, College of Dentistry
• Jill Pease -- Public Relations Coordinator, College of Public Health and Health Professions
• Tracy Brown-Wright -- Public Relations and Communications Coordinator, College of Nursing
• Linda Homewood -- Public Relations Director, College of Pharmacy
• Sarah Carey -- Public Relations Director, College of Veterinary Medicine

Staff

Tom Fortner --  Director -- Bio
Assignment: Planning, development and evaluation of all public relations for the Health Science Center. Manages internal and external news and communications for the College of Medicine. Handles crisis communications. Works to foster good relations with the news media.
Phone Number: (352) 273-5814
E-mail: tfortner@ufl.edu
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Melanie Fridl Ross --  Associate Director, Office of News and Communications/Senior Editor, Senior Writer -- Bio
Assignment: News releases and media inquiries for all six HSC colleges, with particular emphasis on College of Medicine programs in cancer, cardiovascular medicine, diabetes, surgery, organ transplantation. Melanie also serves as senior producer and managing editor for our Health in a Heartbeat public radio program. To reach Melanie Ross on Tuesday and Thursday please call 352-690-7051.
Phone Number: (352) 273-5812
E-mail: mross@ufl.edu
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John Pastor --  Assistant Director, Office of News and Communications/Public Relations Director, McKnight Brain Institute/Genetics Institute
Assignment: News releases and media inquiries concerning activities at the McKnight Brain Institute and the UF Genetics Institute, with topics including genetics, neurology, neuroscience, neurosurgery and psychiatry.
Phone Number: (352) 273-5815
E-mail: jdpastor@ufl.edu
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April Frawley Birdwell --  Editor -- Bio
Assignment: Editor of the POST Health Science Center monthly newsletter, medical writer and news media inquiries. College of Medicine areas include medical education, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynocology, emergency medicine, wound research, family medicine and epidemiology.
Phone Number: (352) 273-5817
E-mail: afrawley@ufl.edu
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University of Florida Health Science Center Jacksonville, Public Relations Coordinator
Assignment: News releases and media inquiries for all four HSC Jacksonville colleges, including dentistry, medicine, nursing and pharmacy.
Phone Number: (904) 244-5523
E-mail:
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TBA --  Director, Broadcast News
Assignment: Television news releases and media inquiries for all six HSC colleges.
Phone Number: (352) 273-5818
E-mail:
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Mickey Cuthbertson --  Graphic Design Director
Assignment: Graphic designer of the POST and other Health Science Center publications.
Phone Number: (352) 273-5820
E-mail: sultair@ufl.edu
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Sarah B. Kiewel --  Photographer
Assignment: Photography for the POST Health Science Center publication, the Health Science Center Web site, news releases, brochures, and other HSC publications and projects.
Phone Number: (352) 273-5936
E-mail: skiewel@ufl.edu
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Cassandra Mack --  Executive Secretary
Assignment: Maintains budget and personnel records, assists in recruitment efforts, maintains calendar for News & Communications director, assists with preparation of reports and presentations. Processes all incoming invoices for payment.
Phone Number: (352) 273-5813
E-mail: cmack@ufl.edu
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Kim Smith --  Program Assistant
Assignment: Maintains HSC News & Communications Web site. Oversees clerical support functions.
Phone Number: (352) 273-5810
E-mail: smithkim@ufl.edu
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Beth Powers --  News Distribution Specialist
Assignment: Responsible for news release distribution, maintains archives for news releases and faculty bio-files. Updates all internal and external mailing lists.
Phone Number: (352) 273-5811
E-mail: bpowers@ufl.edu
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Affiliated Staff

Karen Rhodenizer --  Communications Director, College of Dentistry
Assignment: News releases and media inquiries concerning dental topics.
Phone Number: (352) 273-5782
E-mail: krhodenizer@dental.ufl.edu
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Jill Pease --  Public Relations Coordinator, College of Public Health and Health Professions
Assignment: News releases and media inquiries concerning clinical and health psychology, communicative disorders, health services administration, occupational therapy, physical therapy and rehabilitation counseling.
Phone Number: (352) 273-5816
E-mail: jpease@phhp.ufl.edu
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Tracy Brown-Wright --  Public Relations and Communications Coordinator, College of Nursing
Assignment: News releases and media inquiries concerning nursing topics.
Phone Number: (352) 273-6421
E-mail: tracyb@nursing.ufl.edu
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Linda Homewood --  Public Relations Director, College of Pharmacy
Assignment: News releases and media inquiries concerning pharmacy topics.
Phone Number: (352) 273-6873
E-mail: homewood@ufl.edu
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Sarah Carey --  Public Relations Director, College of Veterinary Medicine
Assignment: News releases and media inquiries concerning veterinary medicine topics.
Phone Number: (352) 392-2213 ext. 5206
E-mail: careys@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu
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