The University of Florida and the UF Alumni Association have selected College of Medicine professor Dr. Mark Gold as the 17th Distinguished Alumni Professor for 2011-2013.
“We are thrilled to have Dr. Mark Gold as the Distinguished Alumni Professor for the next two years,” said Katie Marquis, interim executive director and director of membership/marketing of the UF Alumni Association. “He brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and charisma that will not only educational for our alumni base, but also entertaining and fun.”
The Distinguished Alumni Professor works with the Alumni Association to carry the message of the university to alumni throughout the country. The honor includes a salary stipend, the opportunity to serve on the board of directors and other considerations from the Alumni Association. Nominations are made by alumni, administrators and faculty members.
“I feel very good about it. I’m always proud to represent the academic mission and cutting-edge technology at the University of Florida,” Gold said. “There’s a great amount of information that the alumni don’t know about what we’re doing. I know a great deal about the research and researchers at the McKnight Brain Institute and the College of Medicine, but I would like to learn about all of the research being done here at the university and be able to communicate my pride and passion between the university and alumni and vice versa.”
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, Gold also graduated with honors from the UF College of Medicine. Since beginning his career in research at UF in 1970, Dr. Gold has written more than 900 medical articles, chapters, and abstracts in journals for health professionals.
Gold is the Donald Dizney Eminent Scholar, Distinguished Professor and Chair of Psychiatry. Prior to assuming the position as chair, he was a Distinguished Service Professor in the departments of psychiatry, neuroscience, anesthesiology, and community health & family medicine. He is also a member of the McKnight Brain Institute.
Gold is a teacher of the year, researcher and inventor who has worked for nearly 40 years to develop models for understanding the effects of tobacco, cocaine and other drugs on the brain and behavior. He has also had nearly 40 years of successfully mentoring young addiction researchers, teachers, and clinicians.
Gold has been awarded numerous awards including the Alpha Omega Alpha, UF COM Wall of Fame, Exemplary Teaching and Minority Mentoring Awards from the UF College of Medicine and Inventor Awards from UF’s Office of Technology Transfer.