SEVENTY-THREE NEW DOCTORS GRADUATE FROM FSU COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

Graduation day arrived Saturday for the 73 members of the Florida State University College of Medicine’s Class of 2009. Although the event took place in a church, that didn’t stop air horns from blasting, ecstatic families from cheering and graduation caps from sailing toward the rafters.

“I encourage you to care deeply about your patients,” Dr. Daniel Van Durme told the students in his commencement address, “for there is where the true joy and satisfaction of medicine is found. There will be some who will tell you to keep your distance and not get too attached to your patients. They will praise the value of objectivity in part to protect yourself when your patients do not recover and die. However, ‘objectivity’ can be a code word for treating someone like an object and not a living, breathing and feeling person.”

Class President Corinne Brann reminisced about the four years the students had shared: the reams of information they had absorbed, the mistakes they had made (“I’m convinced the faculty is hiding a tape of bloopers somewhere”), the ways they had supported each other, the new talents they had developed (“I gained the skill of falling asleep standing up”). She also thanked the IT department for all of its assistance.

One advantage of having the ceremony at Christian Heritage Church was that people who didn’t have great seats could watch the action on giant video screens on the walls. So they could see Christopher Rees Porta close-up when, after his father had shouted “Way to go, buddy,” the graduate calmly corrected him with a smile: “Dr. Buddy, Dad.”

The family and friends of Kendra Jo Buscetta held up giant cards that spelled out, “NY LOVES KENDRA.” And when Irmanie Eliacin crossed the stage, a woman called out, “Irmanie, I’m so proud of you, baby!”

In his charge to the class, Dr. Charles Ouimet spoke of the College of Medicine’s pride in these graduates.

“We are not proud because you are smart; being smart has always been necessary for good doctoring, but it has never been sufficient,” he said. “We are not exactly proud of what you are. We are proud of who you are, the kind of persons that, through dedication, self-sacrifice and love of mankind, you have become. You forfeited the right to be ordinary.”

By coincidence, both Dr. Ouimet and Dr. Van Durme closed their addresses with the same quote from Albert Schweitzer: “I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve."

• Dr. Van Durme address to the graduates
• Dr. Ouimet address to the graduates
• Leslie Davis-Singletary address to the graduates
• Class President Corinne Brann address to the graduates

May 15, 2009

STUDENTS HONORED AT COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AWARDS PROGRAM

One of the advantages of a medical school that’s spread across multiple campuses, Dean John Fogarty said Thursday, “is that we can give out more awards.” And the awards were nonstop during the afternoon presentation in the Florida State University College of Medicine auditorium. Twenty-nine students were recognized, some more than once. Becky McGilligan took home four honors, including the Outstanding Student Award.

Mikel Hofmann provided the most memorable moment, although she wasn’t even there. When Senior Associate Dean for Regional Campuses Paul McLeod called Hofmann’s name as recipient of the Individual Student Award, classmate Mai Vo stood up for her. She reported that Hofmann was having car troubles but was on her way. In fact, she had Hofmann on the phone – and she handed the phone to McLeod. Without missing a beat, he informed her of her award. She was on speaker phone, so everyone got to hear her delighted reaction.

The student awards are reported below. At the bottom is an alphabetical list of the students and the awards they received.

COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AWARDS

• Myra M. Hurt Leadership in Medicine Award (“exemplary leadership in one or more areas of medicine”): Corinne Brann
   
• Student Research Award (“has demonstrated sustained interest in research throughout the four years”): Shawn Agee
   
• Altruism in Medicine Award (“embodies the highest ideals of medicine as a service calling”): Jennifer Maziad and Mai Vo
   
• J. Ocie Harris Outstanding Student Award (“the best all-around promise of becoming a physician of the highest caliber”): Becky Sue McGilligan
   
• Access to Care Award (“has demonstrated a strong interest in providing access to health care for underserved populations and volunteered at clinics or on international medical missions for the underserved,” given in honor of We Care Network coordinator Robin McDougall): Molly McKenna and Tessa McKenna
   
• Individual Student Award: Mikel Hofmann

REGIONAL CAMPUS AWARDS

• Regional Campus Dean’s Award (for “the most outstanding student at each College of Medicine regional campus”):
  Shawn Agee and Mai Vo (Daytona Beach)
  Kimberley Thornton (Fort Pierce)
  Corinne Brann (Orlando)
  Aaron Wagner (Pensacola)
  Luis Hernández III (Sarasota)
  Colleen Killian (Tallahassee)

SPECIALTY AND HONOR SOCIETY AWARDS

• Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society inductees (the only national honor medical society): Shawn Agee, Corinne Brann, Elving Colon, Leslie Davis-Singletary, Eboni Ellis, William Higgins II, Shannon Hill, Mary Ann Johnson, Christina Marquez, Jennifer Maziad, Becky McGilligan, Kristen Morrell, Stephen Viel (Faculty inductee: Michael J. Muszynski, dean of Orlando regional campus)
   
• Merritt Ryals Clements*, M.D., Award for Excellence in Obstetrics and Gynecology (“best demonstrated dedication to the health of women”): Stephanie Chase (Tallahassee), Catherine Liu (Pensacola), Stephanie Prada (Orlando), Christine Rojas (Sarasota), Kimberley Thornton (Fort Pierce), Jessica Walker (Daytona Beach) (*FYI, Dr. Clements’ granddaughter, Claire, is an OPS employee in the communications office.)
   
• Florida Obstetric and Gynecological Society Award (“to outstanding medical school graduates entering an obstetrics and gynecology residency program”): Colleen Killian and Natalie Muñoz-Sievert
   
• American Medical Women’s Association Glasgow-Rubin Achievement Citation (“demonstrates leadership, advocacy and ranks in the top 10% of graduating class”): Becky Sue McGilligan
   
• Outstanding Graduate in Family Medicine Award (presented by the Department of Family Medicine and Rural Health and the Florida Academy of Family Physicians for “consistent commitment to the principles and values of family medicine” and the college’s mission): Eboni Ellis
   
• Florida Geriatrics Society Award (“for outstanding performance in geriatrics”): Becky Sue McGilligan
   
• Excellence in Emergency Medicine Award (presented by the society for Academic Emergency Medicine for “excellence in the specialty of emergency medicine”): Stephen Viel
   
• Medical Student Professionalism and Service Award (presented by the American College of Emergency Physicians for “outstanding patient care and involvement in medical organizations and the community”): Richard Joseph Rodriguez
   
• Gold Humanism Honor Society inductees (“excellence in clinical care, leadership, compassion, and dedication to service”): Jada Aikman, Elving Colon, Eboni Ellis, Mary Ann Johnson, Molly McKenna, Tessa McKenna, Kimberley Thornton, Mai Vo (Faculty inductee: Dennis Saver)

FACULTY AWARDS PRESENTED BY CLASS OF 2009

• Outstanding Educator Award: Gene Ryerson
   
• Hippocratic Award: Daniel Van Durme
   
• The students also presented appreciation awards to Emeritus Dean Ocie Harris and Dean John Fogarty.

STUDENT SUMMARY

• Shawn Agee: Student Research Award, Regional Campus Dean’s Award, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
   
• Jada Aikman: Gold Humanism Honor Society
   
• Corinne Brann: Myra M. Hurt Leadership in Medicine Award, Regional Campus Dean’s Award, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
   
• Stephanie Chase: Merritt Ryals Clements, M.D., Award for Excellence in Obstetrics and Gynecology
   
• Elving Colon: Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, Gold Humanism Honor Society
   
• Leslie Davis-Singletary: Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
   
• Eboni Ellis: Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, Outstanding Graduate in Family Medicine Award, Gold Humanism Honor Society
   
• Luis Hernández III: Regional Campus Dean’s Award
   
• William Higgins II: Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
   
• Shannon Hill: Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
   
• Mikel Hofmann: Individual Student Award
   
• Mary Ann Johnson: Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, Gold Humanism Honor Society
   
• Colleen Killian: Regional Campus Dean’s Award, Florida Obstetric and Gynecological Society Award
   
• Catherine Liu: Merritt Ryals Clements, M.D., Award for Excellence in Obstetrics and Gynecology
   
• Christina Marquez: Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
   
• Jennifer Maziad: Altruism in Medicine Award, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
   
• Becky McGilligan: J. Ocie Harris Outstanding Student Award, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, American Medical Women’s Association Glasgow-Rubin Achievement Citation, Florida Geriatrics Society Award
   
• Molly McKenna: Access to Care Award, Gold Humanism Honor Society
   
• Tessa McKenna: Access to Care Award, Gold Humanism Honor Society
   
• Kristen Morrell: Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
   
• Natalie Muñoz-Sievert: Florida Obstetric and Gynecological Society Award
   
• Stephanie Prada: Merritt Ryals Clements, M.D., Award for Excellence in Obstetrics and Gynecology
   
• Richard Joseph Rodriguez: Medical Student Professionalism and Service Award
   
• Christine Rojas: Merritt Ryals Clements, M.D., Award for Excellence in Obstetrics and Gynecology
   
• Kimberley Thornton: Regional Campus Dean’s Award, Merritt Ryals Clements, M.D., Award for Excellence in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gold Humanism Honor Society
   
• Stephen Viel: Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, Excellence in Emergency Medicine Award
   
• Mai Vo: Altruism in Medicine Award, Regional Campus Dean’s Award, Gold Humanism Honor Society
   
• Aaron Wagner: Regional Campus Dean’s Award
   
• Jessica Walker: Merritt Ryals Clements, M.D., Award for Excellence in Obstetrics and Gynecology