UF in the Community

Office of Community Relations

UF Government and Community Relations

Monday, June 7, 2021

Across the University of Florida, our 16 colleges, numerous institutes, and health care facilities embrace our shared mission of outreach and service to improve and enrich our community, nation, and the world. UF in the Community spotlights the impact of UF in our region.

Although UF has students and employees throughout the state, North Central Florida is home to much of our faculty and staff and to our 50,000+ students. Like all area residents, we want a vibrant, safe, healthy, and equitable place in which to live and thrive. Here are some of the ways in which we are enhancing our shared community.

UF study: Silent MRSA carriers have twice the mortality rate of adults without the bacteria

A University of Florida study of middle-aged and older adults finds those who unknowingly carry methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, on their skin are twice as likely to die within the next decade as people who do not have the bacteria.

The findings suggest that routine screening for undetected MRSA may be warranted in older people to prevent deaths from infection.

AI technique reveals dysfunctional gut microbiome bacteria’s role in depression and high blood pressure

To solve the elusive medical mystery of why many adults have both high blood pressure and depression, University of Florida Health researchers took a long, in-depth look at one suspected culprit: gut bacteria.

The gut microbiome affects physiology and molecular events throughout the body, including parts of the brain that control blood pressure and depression, newly published findings show.

UF College of Nursing makes COVID vaccine available in the City of Archer

COVID-19 vaccinations are available in Archer through the College of Nursing’s primary care, nurse-led practice, Archer Family Health Care at 16939 SW 134th Ave. Patients can schedule an appointment at the clinic to receive the vaccine free of charge.

Call (352)265-2550

For more information on the UF Health vaccine program:

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UF Innovate names new director of incubation services

UF Innovate is pleased to welcome Karl R. LaPan as the incoming director of incubation services. He will join the team May 3 and work alongside current Director Mark S. Long, who will retire this summer. LaPan comes to the position with more than 20 years of experience in business incubation.

“There are very few people in the country with the experience to fill Mark’s shoes,” said Jim O’Connell, assistant vice president of technology commercialization at the University of Florida. “When you’ve had a leader who has put our incubators on the map internationally – for good reasons – and you know the field of candidates to replace him is limited, I am thrilled to have someone of Karl’s caliber and experience join our team. I am confident he will step into the role and keep building on Mark’s successes.”

In his role as director, LaPan will lead both of UF Innovate’s award-winning incubators, Sid Martin Biotech in Alachua and The Hub, a mixed-use incubator, in the Gainesville Innovation District, located between campus and downtown Gainesville. The facilities together offer 150,000 square feet of labs, office space, conference rooms, and scientific equipment, and are home to more than 60 startup and growth companies.

From the UF Warrington College of Business: The research-backed first step to making a good first impression

Making a good first impression is key in a business setting. Research suggests you should think about how your present yourself before meeting someone new. UF associate professor Brian Swider - who coauthored the study – says if you want to maximize initial first impressions, then you need to think about the outcomes first.

UF Office of Professional and Workforce Development partners with Coursera to provide Greater Gators professional skills courses to UF and community

The UF Office of Professional and Workforce Development in partnership with Coursera is pleased to provide the Greater Gators program open to UF and to the community.

The Greater Gators program offers self-paced, online, open enrollment courses to build and enhance professional skill sets, all designed to help increase marketability and meet career goals.

Courses are available in Excel, data analytics, IT support, project management and more. See more info:

Learn More

UF IFAS site has answers to questions on agriculture, lawn and garden, family resources and more

Extension services primarily share scientific knowledge and expertise with the public. On the cutting edge back in 1996, UF/IFAS Extension launched a website to host a growing peer-reviewed fact sheet collection.

For most of the website’s existence, it was called EDIS, or the Electronic Data Information Source. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the site, the service just relaunched with a fresh look, even more public-friendly features and a new name: Ask IFAS, Powered by EDIS.