Producing compassionate physicians for the 21st century

At the Florida State University College of Medicine, we’re interested in producing doctors who are caring practitioners of both the art and science of medicine. That process starts with choosing the right students - people who will work well with their patients and the entire health-care team. After carefully selecting our students, we immerse them in a culture that embodies the characteristics we expect to see in our graduates. Throughout their M.D. program, FSU medical students learn in an environment that values diversity, mutual respect, teamwork and open communication. They also actively participate in an innovative curriculum in allopathic medicine that prepares them to become lifelong learners in an era of explosive growth in medical knowledge and information technology.

The FSU College of Medicine focuses on educating outstanding physicians for practice in community settings.

Students benefit from a well-structured continuum of education in the biomedical, behavioral and clinical sciences. Subjects such as anatomy and pathology are presented in a clinically relevant context using medical cases, as well as the latest educational technologies. Problem-based and small-group learning experiences help students develop their clinical acumen and learn to work as a team.

Community-based clinical education spans the four-year curriculum. During the first two years, students’ clinical education takes place in physician practices in the Tallahassee area, as well as in the medical school’s Clinical Learning Center. In the third and fourth years, students complete their required clinical rotations at one of the medical school’s six regional campuses, located in Orlando, Pensacola, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Daytona Beach and Fort Pierce. In these urban centers and the surrounding rural areas, the clinical training program extends into hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, managed care organizations, private clinics and other outpatient settings.

The curriculum is comprehensive, preparing students for any medical specialty and setting. Course content reflects the college’s mission, with special attention given to primary care, geriatrics, cultural diversity, and the needs of underserved populations. In addition, concentrated learning opportunities are offered for those students interested in rural health. All courses make use of the latest instructional technology, and medical informatics is integrated throughout the curriculum.