The American College of Physician (ACP)’s Florida Chapter has named Abdo Asmar, a College of Medicine internal medicine professor and director of its inaugural residency program, as the 2024 Outstanding Teacher of the Year.

Asmar received the award during the group’s annual scientific meeting this fall, where one of his residents received first place for research on improving patient access to heart rehabilitation services.

Male doctor poses with an award that's sitting on a table
Abdo Asmar received The American College of Physician’s Florida Chapter’s 2024 Teacher of the Year award. (Photo courtesy of the College of Medicine)

The American College of Physicians is the world’s largest medical specialty organization and is committed to advancing “the science and practice of internal medicine.” The Florida chapter’s Teacher of the Year is presented to a physician who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and dedication to medical education.

“Dr. Asmar has proven to be a most influential teacher. His passion for medicine and lifelong learning is tangible and unwavering, inspiring his residents to strive to be the best they can be,” his award nomination noted.

Board certified in internal medicine and nephrology, Asmar is program director of the UCF-HCA Florida Healthcare Internal Medicine Residency Program of Greater Orlando/Osceola. The residency, established in 2014 as UCF’s first graduate medical education (GME) program, trains internal medicine specialists at the Orlando VA Medical Center and HCF Florida Osceola Hospital.

Asmar serves as vice chairman of GME for the College of Medicine and also cares for patients at UCF Health Faculty Physician Practice. He earned his doctor of medicine degree at Kaunas Medical University in Kaunas, Lithuania. He did his residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, where he was named chief resident. He received his fellowship training in clinical nephrology at the University of Florida.

“I am thankful, humbled and honored to receive this award,” Asmar says.

Three students stand in front of their medical research poster
Internal medicine residents present their research at the recent American College of Physician’s Florida Chapter meeting. (Photo courtesy of the College of Medicine)

The ACP Florida Chapter’s annual meeting included research presentations. Inman Squires, a resident at the UCF-HCA Florida Healthcare Internal Medicine Residency Program of Greater Orlando/Osceola won the QI Poster Award for a quality improvement project: Unbreak My Heart: Increasing Cardiac Rehabilitation Referral Rate.