Seth Johnson
The University of Florida presented three Win Phillips Town Gown Relations Awards on Friday to Alachua County Fire Rescue, Gainesville Pastor Gerard Duncan and UF’s own Osubi Craig.
The award highlights partnerships between the university and the surrounding community that benefit both. The award is named in honor of Win Phillips who served as UF’s executive chief of staff and former vice president for research for 35 years.
“We know that a university thrives when there is a strong partnership with its community,” said Mark Kaplan, UF’s vice president for government and community relations. “The people we are honoring with this award work tirelessly to strengthen these connections and make Gainesville a great place to live and work.”
Alachua County Fire Rescue (ACFR) received the government agency or official award for the new mobile stroke unit put into service in July through a partnership with UF Health. The mobile stroke unit has specialized equipment not used in normal ambulances and allows treatment to happen on the way to the hospital.
It’s like an emergency room on wheels with a CT scanner and clot-dissolving medicine needed to assess, diagnose and start stroke treatment. Doctors can access the scanner data from the unit in real time, and once the transport arrives at the hospital, patients are transported directly to the stroke floor, bypassing the emergency room.
“We’re the only agency in the state of Florida that has this unit with the partnership of UF Health,” said ACFR Chief Herold Theus.
The unit is also being used outside Alachua County. Theus said rescue units from neighboring counties can call the unit to respond to a stroke call. The mobile stroke unit will rendezvous with the rescue units on the county line or another convenient place for a handoff.
“I think the biggest surprise that we’ve had is that the surrounding rural county, as we have shown them and told them what our truck can do, their willingness to access the truck,” Theus said.
Since its start date of July 25, the unit has responded to over 340 calls with a little over 50 actual stroke events.
Theus said reducing response time is critical for stroke patients as studies show that every minute without treatment results in another week of recovery.
UF presented the community member award to Pastor Gerard Duncan, head of Prayers by Faith Outreach Ministries, for his leadership efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Duncan also serves as an outreach adviser for UF’s Cancer Center and spearheads awareness campaigns.
In the nomination, Dr. Michael Lauzardo wrote that Duncan saved lives through his actions.
“He did everything from getting his own vaccinations through our clinics at east side churches, calling up pastors to spread the word, even working in the clinics to make sure people received the very best in care,” Lauzardo said.
Read Mainstreet’s 2022 profile of Duncan from our Faith Spotlight series.
Osubi Craig, director of UF’s College of the Arts Center for Arts, Migration and Entrepreneurship, has led efforts for local artists, creatives and researchers to use the arts for social change.
“Gainesville and UF need more individuals like Osubi who embrace the depth and richness within our local community and find creative ways to channel this for the greater – and Gator – good,” said UF’s Kim Kruse in her nomination of Craig.