USF Health

Dedicated to improving the entire spectrum of health, from the environment, to the community, to the individual. #MakingLifeBetter

[USF Health @USFHealth]

Breast reconstruction is a personal decision, and knowing your options can help.

This #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth, Dr. Lauren Kuykendall, a plastic surgeon and associate professor with USF Health, shares three things she wants patients to know:

✅ You have options, including reconstruction using implants or your own tissue.

✅ You can discuss reconstruction at any point.

✅ The choice is yours. Your care team can help you make an informed decision based on your needs and goals.

Drop a 💗 in the comments if you found this helpful, and share it with someone who could benefit!

[USF Health @USFHealth]

A heart valve that could grow with a child could mean fewer surgeries and more time simply growing up.

Researchers in USF’s Department of Medical Engineering, a joint program of USF Health and the College of Engineering, are developing living heart valves designed to integrate with the body and adapt as patients grow.

Still in early laboratory development, the technology could one day reduce repeated replacement surgeries for children born with heart defects.

🔗: https://t.co/kCIwFiSTGq

[USF Health @USFHealth]

Excellence without limits. The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine is advancing medical discovery and innovation with real-world impact through research that offers new hope for patients.

Follow along as we share the people and stories behind the work.

Learn more: https://t.co/uceAKzOMMU

[USF Health @USFHealth]

Restoring movement. Building independence. Moving lives forward. 🤘

This #NationalPhysicalTherapyMonth, we’re highlighting the USF Health School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences and its commitment to educating future clinicians who will advance the profession and transform lives through physical therapy.

[USF Health @USFHealth]

When a baby can’t cry, how can we tell they’re in pain?

USF Health researchers and Tampa General Hospital are studying whether AI can help identify signs of pain in NICU newborns through facial expressions, movement and vital signs. The goal is to give nurses another tool to help them respond sooner.
Tampa Bay 28 recently visited the NICU to share the story.

Watch the feature ⬇️ https://t.co/TOE7w8iHN1

[USF Health @USFHealth]

How does the brain help your body respond when you’re cold?

A new USF Health study identifies the first known function of a little-studied brain region that helps coordinate appetite, heat production and energy use.

The findings offer a new direction for studying metabolic health.

Read more: https://t.co/S6Y5JxD2yx

[USF Health @USFHealth]

This #SIDSAwarenessMonth, Dr. Jasmine Patterson of Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH and USF Health shares the ABCs of safe sleep and recommendations to help protect babies.

Watch this Tampa General Hospital video for practical tips on creating a safer sleep environment for your little one.

[USF Health @USFHealth]

USF Health is helping advance research, education and care for patients living with lymphatic diseases.

With support from a new $150,000 University of South Florida grant, the Center for Lymphatic Education and Research will be established through USF Health. The initiative was developed by Jerome Breslin, PhD, vice chair for research in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Department of Plastic Surgery, in collaboration with department chair Nicholas J. Panetta, MD, FACS.

The multidisciplinary center will bring together experts across medicine, engineering, artificial intelligence, public health, business and education to advance lymphatic research and develop new approaches to diagnosis and treatment.

🔗: https://t.co/XxQrHLRdaT

[USF Health @USFHealth]

Congratulations to the #USFHealth faculty, staff and students recognized for outstanding achievements in research, education, patient care and community service! 🏅

Meet our Summer 2026 Awards & Accolades honorees and help us celebrate their accomplishments ⬇️

Read more: https://t.co/ASVmlMdK2f

[USF Health @USFHealth]

Could gene therapy offer new hope for dogs with dementia?

USF Health researchers are exploring a potential treatment to protect brain cells and slow cognitive decline in aging dogs. The research could also offer insights into Alzheimer’s disease in humans.

Read more: https://t.co/FuBcmCYgC0

[USF Health @USFHealth]

USF Health MD/PhD student Vincent Lok is exploring how the body’s immune system could offer new alternatives to conventional chemotherapy.

Through the partnership between the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Moffitt Cancer Center, Lok is studying dendritic cell immunotherapy, an approach that trains the immune system to identify and attack cancer cells. His research aims to expand the therapy’s potential use across a broader range of cancers, including metastatic cancers that can no longer be surgically removed.

“I wanted to not only study promising treatments but also see how they affect patients, and the collaboration between USF Health and Moffitt offered exactly what I was looking for,” Lok said.

His work highlights how USF Health’s integrated MD/PhD training connects scientific discovery with the potential to improve patient care.

Read more about his research: https://t.co/KQFFc0R7EB

[USF Health @USFHealth]

What if malaria could be stopped before it has a chance to hide in the body?

USF Health researchers have identified a promising vaccine target that could help block a malaria parasite from entering liver cells, where it can remain dormant and cause illness months or years later.

The discovery offers a new direction for developing a vaccine against this recurring form of malaria.

Read more: https://t.co/UK6Klih05k

[USF Health @USFHealth]

For patients with lupus nephritis, navigating care can mean coordinating multiple specialists, appointments and treatment plans, making an already complex disease even more difficult to manage.

USF Health is changing that! Launched in 2025, the Comprehensive Lupus Nephritis Clinic brings rheumatology and nephrology together to provide same-day, multidisciplinary care, helping patients receive coordinated care, support early detection and move quickly from diagnosis to treatment.

The clinic is a joint effort between USF Health and Tampa General Hospital, bringing together expertise and resources to support patients throughout their care.

Read more about this innovative approach to lupus nephritis care at the link in bio: https://t.co/HUzcX5EJgq

[USF Health @USFHealth]

USF Health is giving physical therapy students a head start on specialty training.

An accelerated pathway at the USF Health School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences allows selected Doctor of Physical Therapy students to begin orthopaedic residency training during their final year. The innovative model provides advanced clinical experience and individualized mentorship while creating a quicker, more direct path to specialty practice.

🔗: https://t.co/0hKfoIa5Ae

[USF Health @USFHealth]

This #FallsPreventionAwarenessMonth, the USF Health Adult Osteoporosis Program is highlighting simple steps that can help reduce the risk of falls at home.

Reviewing medications, checking your vision and hearing, staying active and removing household hazards can all help create a safer environment.

Explore more fall-prevention resources developed by our USF Health experts: https://t.co/8nUQvPOQ64

*These resources are for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical care.

[USF Health @USFHealth]

#NationalAPPWeek may be over, but our appreciation for USF Health’s advanced practice providers continues every day.

To our nurse practitioners, physician assistants, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse midwives and certified registered nurse anesthetists: thank you for the compassion, expertise and leadership you bring to patients, colleagues and trainees.

Your work strengthens patient care, research and education across #USFHealth.

[USF Health @USFHealth]

USF Health CAMLS is taking simulation-based education to Tanzania. 🌍

Ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, faculty and simulation experts from the USF Health Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS) partnered with Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences to train Tanzanian faculty in simulation education, equipping them to train the next generation of emergency medicine providers and extend that knowledge across the region.

By building local expertise, the partnership is helping strengthen Tanzania’s emergency medicine workforce while creating a model that can reach healthcare educators and providers far beyond the initial training.

🔗: https://t.co/8WAORmiNQY

[USF Health @USFHealth]

Save the date for the 37th Annual USF Health Research Day! 🔬

Join us on March 5, 2027, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Marshall Student Center as the USF Health community comes together to showcase innovative research and celebrate the work advancing health care, science and discovery.

The abstract submission portal will open soon. Visit the Research Day webpage for FAQs and additional information: https://t.co/PABW3MqAl8

[USF Health @USFHealth]

The latest issue of Horizons is out! USF Health Morsani College of Medicine’s quarterly research newsletter brings together stories about the people and discoveries behind our work.

In the September 2026 issue, read about researchers developing a wearable to help identify movements linked to ACL injuries, a new approach to glaucoma testing and more.

Read more: https://t.co/rzlTajtRBJ