About the Department
The Department of Clinical Sciences is pivotal in teaching the key disciplines of internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, surgery, emergency medicine and neurology which medical students must master in order to become highly competent and well rounded physicians. Department faculty at the central campus have teaching responsibilities throughout the four year curriculum and serve as education directors, but also give lectures, facilitate small groups, teach in the Clinical Skills and Simulation Center (CSSC) and participate in basic science courses such as Physiology, Pharmacology, Neuroscience and Medicine and Behavior. They also serve as mentors to students for their respective areas of medicine.
FSU COM students' first two years of introduction to clinical medicine occurs as preceptorships in physician practices in the Tallahassee and surrounding area as well as in the medical school's CSSC. Students complete the required clinical rotations (clerkships) during the third and fourth years at one of the six regional campuses located in Daytona Beach, Fort Pierce, Orlando, Pensacola, Sarasota or Tallahassee. The clinical training extends out to the hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, managed care organizations, private clinics and many other settings available through each of the regional campuses.
Jonathan Appelbaum, M.D., an experienced general internist, is the Education Director for the 3rd year Internal Medicine Clerkship, an 8-week rotation introducing students to a variety of internal medicine problems. Dr. Appelbaum is also the Education Director for the 4th year Advanced Internal Medicine Clerkship, a 4-week sub-internship at one of the hospitals affiliated with the regional campus.
Harold Bland, M.D., a respected pediatrician and neontologist, is the Education Director for the 3rd year Pediatrics Clerkship. This clerkship is a 6-week rotation where students gain experience in caring for children of all ages.
Ed Bradley, M.D., an internationally recognized general surgeon, is the Education Director for the 3rd year Surgery Clerkship. This 8-week clinical clerkship acquaints students with the contributions surgery offers to the management of disease, basic skills of surgical history taking, physical examinations, constructing a differential diagnosis and the evaluation and care of surgical patients.
Arthur Clements, M.D., a respected obstetrician and gynecologist, is the Education Director for the 3rd year Obstetrics and Gynecology clerkship. This clerkship is a 6-week rotation where students are introduced to the core content that defines the practice of women's health, obstetrics and gynecology.
Debra Danforth, M.S., ARNP, FAANP, an energetic nurse practitioner, is the Director of the Charlotte E. Maguire, M.D. and Tallahassee Memorial Hospital Clinical Skills and Simulation Center and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences.
John Giannini, M.D. is an internist and educator who is intensely involved in the Doctoring Continuum for medical students during their first two years at the central campus. He teaches medical students the fundamental patient centered skills important in health and disease as the basis of effective patient care.
Gerry Maitland, M.D., a neurologist with expertise in neuro-opthalmology, lectures in Neuroscience and the Doctoring 2 course and participates in CSSC activities. He also sponsors many students summer research projects.
Lawrence Mobley, M.D., an experienced psychiatrist, serves as the Education Director for the 3rd year Psychiatry Clerkship, a 6-week rotation that provides students with a solid foundation in the fundamentals of evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and appropriate referral of patients with mental health disorders.
Lea (Kristin) Parsley, M.D., FAAP, a pediatrician with expertise in genetic disorders, is involved in teaching medical students during the Doctoring and CSSC instructional activities. Her special training and interests are in developmental genetics and she will be directing the Genetics Clinic at the Tallahassee Memorial Regional Medical Center.
Mark Stavros, M.D., an emergency medicine specialist, serves as the Education Director for the 4th year Emergency Medicine Clerkship. This 4-week clerkship introduces students to the role that emeregency medicine plays in the management of acute disease by offering significant clinical exposure.
Amy Wetherby, Ph.D. is the Director of the Florida State University Autism Institute and heads an internationally recognized group of researchers in various aspects of Autism Sepctrum Disorders. She oversees doctoral thesis candidates.
