Three University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology faculty members were promoted this year, effective July 1, 2026. Congratulations to Joshua Sappenfield, M.D., Sandra Gonzalez, M.D., and Everett Jones, M.D.!
Sappenfield was promoted to clinical professor of anesthesiology, while Gonzalez and Jones earned the clinical associate professor title. Earning a promotion marks a major career milestone, reflecting years of committed effort and dedication. Each of these individuals has provided exceptional service to our patients, our profession, and our university.
Sappenfield joined the department in 2013 as an assistant professor in the Divisions of Liver & Transplant Anesthesiology, Perioperative Medicine, and Multispecialty Anesthesiology. In 2019, he was promoted to associate professor and in 2023, he was appointed the clinical director of research for the Division of Multispecialty Anesthesiology. Furthermore, he is the trauma surgery liaison for a Level 1 trauma center at UF Health. In a recent performance review, our department chair highlighted his trauma care efforts: “Dr. Sappenfield’s commitment to trauma anesthesia, both here and nationally, remains steadfast and is exemplified by his invitation to present at national meetings.” His teaching efforts have also been recently acknowledged at the 2026 Residents’ Graduation and Awards Ceremony with the Haven M. Perkins Lifetime Teaching Award.
Gonzalez joined the department’s faculty as an assistant professor in 2014 but already had history with us as she completed her residency here. She plays a huge role in pediatric health care as the medical director for UF Health Children’s Surgical Center. In a recent performance review, our department chair emphasized her teaching and patient care work, “Dr. Gonzalez’s clinical teaching evaluations remain excellent, and she continues to provide exceptional care to complex pediatric patients.” In addition, she was recognized by the UF College of Medicine for her teaching and mentoring contributions with the Exemplary Teacher award and Exemplary Mentor award in 2017. Since then, she has received the Exemplary Teacher award two more times in 2020 and 2024.Â
Jones joined the department as an assistant professor in the Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology in 2018. Since then, he has become the clinical research director of the division as well as the assistant program director of the division’s fellowship program. He also serves as the anesthesiology representative for the UF Medical Review Board for heart transplants. In a letter of recommendation, our cardiothoracic anesthesiology division chief emphasized his quality care awareness and patient safety efforts, “Dr. Jones’ devotion to daily clinical practice improvement has tremendously impacted streamlining the workflow of the operating rooms.” In 2025, he earned his third Exemplary Teacher award from the UF College of Medicine and the UF Innovate award from the university. At the department’s Celebration of Research this year, he and his team received the Top Experimental or Observational Clinical Trial Abstract award.
Congratulations to Drs. Sappenfield, Gonzalez, and Jones for their promotions as well as Dr. Tammy Euliano, M.D., for successfully navigating the post-tenure review process and remaining a professor with tenure!Â