Primary Care Medical Providers

Ronald Berry, MD, is board certified in family practice and has been a member of the Student Health Care Center since 1989. He received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Florida in 1979 and his doctor of medicine from the University of South Florida College of Medicine in 1982. Dr. Berry completed his residency in family practice in Pensacola in 1985. He is an assistant professor in the department of Community Health and Family Medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine.

Teaching

Dr. Catarelli is a clinical assistant professor whose primary teaching responsibilities involve working with undergraduate students in both the clinical and didactic setting. She is passionate about research and the use of evidence-based practice in improving patient outcomes and providing excellent patient care to children and adults. Throughout her career as an RN and family nurse practitioner, she has worked closely with RN and APRN students by developing residency programs and serving in preceptor roles in the hospital and outpatient clinic setting.

Research

Dr. Catarelli has experience working in the pharmaceutical research arena as a sub-investigator, in addition to her strong background of implementing quality improvement and evidence-based practice projects in the clinical setting. She is actively working on exploring best practice approaches to teaching research and evidence-based practice to undergraduate students in the classroom.

Service

Dr. Catarelli is involved with local nursing organizations and service organizations, such as Junior League of Gainesville.

My name is Heather Dempsey, and I am a primary care provider at the University of Florida Student Health Care Center. I attended UF, where I earned my Bachelor of Science in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology. I earned my Masters degree in Physician Assistant Studies in 2014 at UF and have been a licensed and practicing Physician Assistant for the last 9 years in the state of Florida. I have previously worked in Orthopaedics with experience in sports medicine, acute orthopeadic care as well as adult reconstruction surgery.

As a Double Gator, I am extremely excited to serve the UF community to help optimize student’s academic and personal success.

I enjoy spending time with my husband and two children, including traveling and participating in and going to sporting events. I have served as a Big with Big Brothers Big Sisters for the past year and a half and I enjoy giving back to the youth of Gainesville.

Kirsty Freshwater joined the UF Student Health Care Center in 2016. She has a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from the University of North Florida and a Masters of Science in Nursing from the University of Florida. She has worked full-time as a family nurse practitioner in rural healthcare settings and family practice offices and has enjoyed the opportunity to work with a variety of patients at all stages of the lifespan. Kirsty is certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Abigail Gabriel joined the UF Student Health Care Center in 2007. She is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Texas Tech University. With her desire to work in health care she pursued her career in nursing receiving her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of Florida (Go Gators!). She has worked in a variety of settings in nursing including adult medical and surgical floor, pediatrics and neonatal intensive care units. She has worked full time as a nurse practitioner in rural health and private practice. She has found working in the College Health setting to be her favorite and greatest passion in her professional career.

Ann Grooms, MD, is board certified in pediatrics and a charter member of the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine. After completing her fellowship in pediatric hematology-oncology at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, Dr. Grooms became an instructor at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center in the Pediatric Hem-Onc division. Following this, she practiced and consulted in pediatrics and hematology-oncology in California and North Carolina, and was a clinical assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Grooms joined the faculty at the University of Florida in 1978 and became a charter member of the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine. She served as a team physician for the University Athletic Association for more than 30 years. She is currently an assistant professor in the department of community health and family medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine. Her primary focus now is eating disorders, anxiety and depression, women’s health issues and transgender care.

I received my BSN from the University of Missouri in 1987. In 1992 I received my MSN as a Family Nurse Practitioner at the same university. I have lived in Florida for nearly 20 years. I have two grown children and I enjoy playing tennis and riding horses. I have worked at the Student Health Care Center since July of 2007. I enjoy working with the college aged population. Students, in college, have their own challenges when it comes to health care. I am hoping that I can help them make good decisions when it comes to their health, both today and in the future.

Ashley Kairalla cares for the students attending the University of Florida at the Student Health Care Center for any acute or chronic health concern.

SERVICE

She volunteers as needed for Interfaith Hospitality Network families.

EDUCATION

She received her BSN from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, MSN from the University of Florida, and her DNP from University of Arkansas.

Dr. Eileen F. Lauzardo is board-certified in Family Medicine. She received her undergraduate degree from Drew University in Madison, N.J., where she majored in Zoology and minored in Spanish. She then proceeded to the University of Florida College of Medicine, graduating in 1991. Dr. Lauzardo completed her internship and residency in Family Medicine at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C. Prior to joining the SHCC, she worked in private practice primary care. She was one of the owners of Gainesville Family Physicians, where she had special interest in women’s health, performing various gynecologic procedures for the ten provider group.

After eight years in private practice, Dr. Lauzardo began working in primary care with the Florida Department of Health, a position she held for the next eight years. She joined the staff of the University of Florida Student Health Care Center in 2014, working initially at the Shands satellite clinic where duties included occupational medicine and worker’s compensation, along with primary care.

Gretchen R. Lochridge is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Georgia State University and her Master’s in Nursing from Florida Gulf Coast University. Before joining the UF Student Health Care Center, she was privileged to work at Student Health Services in Fort Myers at Florida Gulf Coast University. She has a passion for preventative and holistic healthcare.

Candace Malinosky joined the UF Student Health Center in 2019. She is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She has a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the Medical College of Georgia – Augusta University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the University of Florida. She has experience as a FNP in primary care and retail health after years of work as a registered nurse in numerous hospital areas. Candace is passionate about teaching and utilizing a preventative, wholistic approach with her patients and students.

Dr. Jihane Naous is a Family Medicine specialist with a concentration in Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine and Health. She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine. She has worked in both academic and clinical pathways, including experience working in multiple student health centers, in a sexual health center, and treating eating disorders within a multidisciplinary team. Dr. Naous also has an interest in Balint groups.

Her areas of expertise and research interests are in primary care, adolescent health, sexual health, eating disorders, and medical education.

Dr. Smith attended University of Florida where she was accepted into the Junior Honors Medical Program. She graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Biomedical Sciences at the completion of her first year of medical school. She then graduated Cum Laude with Research Honors and was accepted into AOA honors society at the University of Florida College of Medicine. She was honored to be selected into the Chapman Humanism Society during medical school. Throughout medical school, she volunteered at Equal Access Clinic and served as treasurer. She has been on multiple foreign medical trips and volunteers at different medical outreach sites in the Gainesville community. She also enjoyed participating on the medical admissions committee for the UF college of medicine. Teaching medical students and patients are among her favorite aspects of medicine.

Sandra Topp joined the UF Student Health Care Center in 2020. She is Board Certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University. Sandra has experience working as a Nurse Practitioner in a variety of settings including rural health, urgent care, and family practice.