Sam Cheng, MD, PhD | Conrad R. Cole, MD, MPH, MSc | Janice Taylor, MD, MEd, FACS, FAAP

Hi, my name is Sam Cheng, MD, MSc, PhD, and I am an associate professor for the department of pediatrics at the University of Florida College of Medicine. I earned my medical degree and master's degree in clinical investigation from Tongji Medical University in China, and then trained in molecular biology and genetics while being a World Health Organization fellow at the Great Ormond Street Hospital/Child Health Institute in London. I also completed my doctoral degree in ion transport physiology and biochemistry at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. I completed pediatric residencies at Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, China, and at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. As a postdoctoral fellow at Yale University in Connecticut, I expanded my training in fluids, electrolytes, and nutrition and calcium-sensing receptor physiology and pathology in relation to diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease and neuro-gastrointestinal diseases in children. I am board-certified in pediatrics and pediatric gastroenterology. My work and research have resulted in multiple awards, grants, patents and published articles in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Gastroenterology, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Journal of Physiology. My current work builds on my prior work and training in combination with my current interests as a GI physiologist and pediatric gastroenterologist. I am particularly interested in pediatric nutrition, inflammatory bowel disease, short bowel syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome and other diarrheal disorders in children. I also help run UF pediatric short bowel clinic and the UF pediatric anorectal manometry program. 

My clinical and research interests focus on improving outcomes for children with intestinal failure, as well as studying the epidemiology of micronutrient deficiencies in this population and at-risk minority children. I am also interested in identifying and researching potential agents, such as GLP-2 analogs and amino acids, that promote intestinal adaptation following resection. Additionally, my research includes preventing central line infections and line occlusions using 4% tetrasodium EDTA, an area for which I have received external funding. I have published more than 70 research papers that have greatly influenced management strategies for children with intestinal failure and those at risk of intestinal failure. I am active in several national organizations, serving as the executive council of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Section on Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. I am passionate about leading impactful initiatives for improving nutrition and eliminating health disparities in children. Meanwhile, I’m focused on fostering professional development and collaboration among my colleagues. Outside of helping patients improve their health, you can find me enjoying a good book, hiking, running, and traveling. 

Hi, my name is Janice Taylor, MD. I am an associate professor of surgery in the division of pediatric surgery at the University of Florida College of Medicine. I earned my medical degree from The Ohio State University in 2003. I then completed my general surgery residency in 2010 at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. From 2005-2007, I completed a research fellowship in pediatric surgery at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in the laboratory of Dr. Brad Warner. Prior to joining UF, I completed a pediatric surgery fellowship at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, where I continued as an assistant professor in pediatric surgery from 2012-2013. I focus on all aspects of pediatric surgery, with special interests in intestinal rehabilitation, neonatal surgery and minimally invasive surgery. I am the surgical director of the UF Pediatric Intestinal Rehabilitation Program. My non-clinical research focus is surgical education. I am board-certified by the American Board of Surgery in general surgery and pediatric surgery. I am also a member of the Association for Surgical Education, Association for Academic Surgery, American Pediatric Surgical Association, American College of Surgeons, and is a specialty fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.