History of the PEL Fund

PEL Fund Leadership

  • Marc Reiskind, MD Board Chair
  • Kim Biss, MD Vice Chair
  • Jeremy Bowers, MD
  • Michael Brown, MD
  • Jaime Mercado, MD
  • Chris Morrison, MD
  • Beth Girgis, MD
  • David Parrish, MD-Past Chair
  • Christine W. Sabo, Executive Director

PEL Advisory Council

  • Trina Espinola, MD Council Chair
  • Larry Davis, MD
  • Fred Guerrier, MD

The Medical Staff at Bayfront Medical Center has had a long history of supporting continuing clinical and medical education at the century old nonprofit hospital, both individually and as a group. A teaching and trauma hospital, Bayfront was known equally for the high acuity of its patients and the extraordinary skill of its medical and clinical staff in caring for these patients. These resources gave hundreds of individuals’ access to knowledge critical not only to their success but also to positive outcomes for their patients.

The Medical Staff established an endowment with the Bayfront Health Foundation in 1997 so there would be a perpetual funding source dedicated to medical education and nursing scholarships. A public charity named Bayfront Medical Center Medical Staff, Inc. was established as a 501c3 in 2014 with the advent of the sale of Bayfront Medical Center to a for profit healthcare company. The physician leaders saw an opportunity to carry forth the philanthropic legacy they created with a renewed charitable purpose: to support and promote education in areas related to the practice of medicine and other health care associated fields.

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What We Do

2022 Larry J. Davis Leadership Award presented to Dr. David Parrish

2022 AJ Gorday Award presented to Dr. Kim Biss

Larry J. Davis Medical Leadership Award presented by the PEL Fund and Medical Staff to the Medical Technology School at Bayfront for student scholarships

Sports Medicine Fellowship Physician using the Clarius Handheld Ultrasound

Family Medicine Resident Physicians-Medical Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic

Bayfront Resident Physicians working in the Dominican Republic

PEL Fund Grants

To enhance medical education opportunities by providing funding for clinical scholarships, continuing education and research as well as developing physician leadership in the greater St. Petersburg community.

Application Guidelines

Physician Education – PEL funds may be used for those opportunities above and beyond what hospitals typically offer its medical staff. Examples of appropriate funding:

  • Training opportunities in highly sophisticated specialty areas
  • Clinical simulations at a recognized simulation lab
  • Educational meetings and conferences such as AMA as requested by Bayfront Health Medical Staff

Residency Program Enhancements – Funding may be available for Non-capital program enhancements specifically for the Residency program such as:

  • Travel to conferences to present research , special recruitment strategies, including recruitment programs, new cohort retreats, educational/training programs, and medical mission trips, such as USF/FSU programs
  • Clinical simulations for residents at a Sim Lab such as Johns Hopkins All Children’s/CAML's
  • Presentations at scholarly activities in Sports, Family and OB/ GYN programs
  • Representation at residencies specialty meetings
  • Educational Programs to assist Residents to meet requirements for research and scholarly activities

Leadership Development for Physicians – PEL will invest in leadership training for physicians including:

  • PEL will support 2 leadership training opportunities for physicians annually
  • Community or medical leadership workshop opportunities (including business education and business law)
  • Speaker/lecture series on relevant topics such as cultural, scholarship, or public speaking

PEL Grant application cycle

PEL Grant recipients are selected annually. Grant application cycle typically begins in January with recipient selection in March. The application cycle is subject to change.

Partnerships

2022-2023 Community Scholarship recipients with Dr Marc Reiskind

2021 Aucremann Medical Education Scholarship Recipients

2021 Auxiliary Dependent Scholarship recipient

2021 Ethel Hill Scholarship Recipents

Scholarship Partner Leadership-PEL Fund, FHSP, CFTB and Bayfront Health

Scholarship Selection Committee

2020 Community Scholarship recipient "selfie" celebration

Bayfront Auxiliary Scholarship Recipient

Community Scholarship Collaborative Partners and Selection Committee Members

Ethel Hill Nursing Scholarship Recipients and Collaborative Partners

In collaboration with the Foundation for a Healthy St. Pete and the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, PEL Fund Board members serve on the scholarship selection committee, along with representatives from Foundation for a Healthy St. Pete, the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay.

Healthy St. Pete Community Scholarships

  • Ethel Hill Nursing Scholarships --$2,000 per recipient
  • Nursing students or current nurses pursuing advanced (BSN, ARNP, Masters, Doctorate) degrees. Bayfront Health St. Petersburg employees pursing nursing studies will be given preference.
  • Bayfront Auxiliary General Scholarships--$1,000 per recipient
  • General scholarship with a preference for Bayfront Health St. Petersburg employees and their dependents. Bayfront Health St. Petersburg employees and their dependents pursuing clinical or nursing studies will be given preference. Physicians and their dependents are not eligible.
  • Aucremann Medical Education Scholarships--$5,000 per recipient
  • Students accepted into medical school are eligible to apply. Bayfront Health St. Petersburg employees and their dependents residing in the Tampa Bay area will be given preference.

The Scholarship application period is typically 6 weeks during the months of April – May. Apply Today!

How We Do It

PEL Funding

The Medical Staff of Bayfront Health has generously dedicated a portion of their annual membership fees to help provide ongoing, sustainable resources, ensuring PEL’s ongoing mission to serve the medical community.

In addition, PEL Fund appreciates the ongoing support of our community members through philanthropy.

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How You Can Help

Make a Contribution

Your gift to the PEL Fund will help provide medical professionals the opportunity enhance their clinical expertise through our PEL Fund Grants program. This program enables physicians to learn, enhance their skills and develop as leaders in the field of medicine and the community. For information how you can contribute, please contact Christine Sabo, Executive Director, at [email protected]

Gifts of Cash

The most typical ways to make a gift to support the work of the PEL Fund, are to write a check, make a gift using a credit card, or give online. By making a cash gift directly to the PEL Fund you will make an immediate impact on our mission and receive an income tax charitable deduction.

Legacy of Learning

A gift from your estate will enable the PEL Fund to continue our mission to support physician education and leadership for generations to come. If you are interested in learning more about our Legacy of Learning program, please contact Christine Sabo, Executive Director, at [email protected]

Bequest Gifts

You can help provide long term, sustainable resources for the PEL Fund by including us in your estate plan. A designated gift or bequest can be included easily in your will buy contacting your attorney and/or estate planning professional.

Charitable Gift Annuity

Through a Charitable Gift Annuity you can make a life gift that will generate income for you and leave a gift to the PEL Fund. A charitable gift annuity provides fixed payments for life in exchange for a gift of cash or securities to the PEL Fund. Gift annuities are easy to set up and your Attorney or Financial Advisor can help you determine the best way for you to reach your financial and philanthropic goals.

Please let us know if you have made a Legacy of Learning provision in your estate plans for the PEL Fund. We would love the opportunity to thank you for your generosity!

Contact Us

Christine Sabo
Executive Director
[email protected]
PO Box 14543
St. Petersburg, FL 33733

Tax ID #46-3151347