UF College of Medicine marks 10th anniversary of student's tragic death

May 10, 2010

What: The Office of Minority Affairs and the Office of Student Counseling and Development at the University of Florida College of
Medicine are hosting a memorial to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Caroline Annette Cody, M.D., a first-year medical
student at UF who was tragically killed in her Gainesville apartment in May 2000 after returning home from studying.

Cody, the daughter of Dr. William and Betty Cody from Jacksonville, was an outstanding student leader and the class representative on the Medical College Council for the class of 2003. With professional interests in adolescent health and obstetrics and gynecology, Cody helped organize a health project that placed medical students in a Gainesville high school class to conduct seminars on safe sexual health practices. In 2003, Cody was awarded her medical degree posthumously by the UF College of Medicine; the first time that the college awarded anyone a degree posthumously.

“Caroline was an inspiration to all who knew her and would have become a wonderful and caring physician,” said Dr. Donna Parker, assistant dean for minority affairs at the College of Medicine.

When: 6 p.m. Thursday, May 13.

Where: The UF Baughman Meditation Center, located at 982 Museum Road on the UF campus.

Contact: For media inquiries call Donna Parker, M.D., assistant dean for minority affairs, at 353-273-6656 or e-mail parkerd@ufl.edu; or call Beverly L. Vidaurreta, Ph.D., clinical assistant professor and director of student counseling and development at 352-273-8383 or e-mail beverly@ufl.edu.

Notes: A memorial scholarship was established in Caroline Cody’s name to recognize a student who demonstrates her warm and caring personality and commitment to community service. This year’s award recipient is Parin Chheda, a third-year medical student from the class of 2011.