Dave Scheiber, author of "Beacon of Excellence: 50 Years of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine."
Dave Scheiber, a St. Petersburg, Florida resident and award-winning writer, was recognized as a USF Health Culture Champion for his exemplary efforts telling the story of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine (MCOM). He was nominated by Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, executive vice president of USF Health and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, during the college’s 50th Anniversary Gala in November.
Scheiber is the author of Beacon of Excellence: 50 Years of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, an in-depth look at the people and events that have shaped the Morsani College of Medicine over its history. The book, which was given to attendees of the anniversary gala, traces the college from its infancy to its lightninging ascension as America’s fastest rising medical school for research, providing a behind-the scenes account of the doctors, researchers, staff, faculty, government officials and business leaders whose commitment to academic, clinical and research excellence have built one of nation’s premiere medical schools.
Scheiber has a long history with the University of South Florida, following a distinguished career as a journalist with the St. Petersburg Times. He previously served as the senior marketing and communications officer at the USF Foundation, where he produced a wide range of material to raise funds and awareness of USF programs, scholarships and initiatives. He continues to contribute to USF and USF Health through his exemplary writing and storytelling.
Scheiber described the process of writing the book, his eighth, as “gratifying” and approached the opportunity to tell the college’s story as an eager inquirer.
“The most rewarding part is that the world will know more about the college and USF Health and the people that made it the incredible entity it is today,” said Scheiber. “This was a fun and educational project that will always be a career highlight for me.”
Rose Bland, MPA, MA, AHIP, assistant vice president of USF Health Libraries and assistant dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, worked closely with Scheiber throughout the 30-month process of researching, conceptualizing and drafting the book. Bland says Scheiber was “nothing short of phenomenal” to work with and that his ability to thread the unique perspectives of interview participants into a cogent narrative to was “masterful.”
“He has a style and a manner that puts people at ease while he was interviewing them that was impressive to witness,” Bland said. “It was fun to work with him and I would absolutely work with him again on another project.”