• Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine

    What is BSSM?

    Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine (BSSM) centers on research, scholarship, teaching, training, clinical care and service that emphasizes social, behavioral and population-based factors in medicine, health and health outcomes. Our work prioritizes impacts on community health, especially for historically underserved populations and aims to develop and deploy effective solutions to improve health.

  • Corporate Leadership Workshop on Safety & Mental Health in the Workplace

    Importance of Safety and Mental Health in the Workplace

    The Florida Chamber Leadership Cabinet on Safety, Health and Sustainability hosted its 2025 Corporate Leadership Workshop on Safety & Mental Health in the Workplace. The workshop featured expert-led discussions by mental health care integration expert Heather Flynn and safety leader Mark Morgan, emphasizing the role leadership plays in fostering safer and healthier workplaces.

    Learn More

  • Navigating Florida’s Health Care Landscape

    Navigating Florida’s Health Care Landscape

    BSSM was honored to host Mary Mayhew, President and CEO of the Florida Hospital Association, for her insightful lecture to our medical students on “Navigating Florida's Health Care Landscape: Challenges, Innovations, and Strategic Opportunities.” Her data-driven presentation examined workforce development, payer models, behavioral health, innovative care solutions, recent legislative changes, and key hospital investments. Attendees gained a comprehensive understanding of these critical issues, as well as valuable strategic insights into the future of Florida's evolving health care system.

  • Call to Action to Address Maternal Mental Health

    Call to Action to Address Maternal Mental Health

    The Center for Behavioral Health Integration recently spoke at the “Maternal Mortality Call to Action” webinar hosted by the Florida Hospital Association. Hear from Dr. Cole Greves, MD, reviewing maternal mortality rates, BSSM Department Chair Heather Flynn, Ph.D., highlighting efforts from Florida BH Impact to improve maternal and pediatric access to care and treatment, Lori Shea detailing how Lakeland Regional Health supports maternal patients, and Andrew Reeve from Babyscripts on their mobile solution for reducing maternal mortality.

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  • 5th annual “Be Kind to Your Mind” Mental Health & Wellness Fair

    5th annual “Be Kind to Your Mind” Mental Health Fair

    During Mental Health Awareness Week, BSSM attended the 5th Annual Be Kind to Your Mind Mental Health and Wellness Fair, offering resources to turn awareness into action. This event is hosted by the Mental Health Council of the Big Bend, of which BSSM Chair Dr. Heather Flynn is a member. Members from the FSU Neuromodulation Lab and NCRT-CE hosted booths to share insight with attendees on how their research and community outreach efforts can help individuals facing mental health challenges.

    Mental Health Council Website

  • interRAI

    ADvancing interRAI: Using Better Data, Better

    BSSM faculty members Jeffrey Harman, Ph.D., Samantha Goldfarb, Dr.PH., M.P.H., Katelyn Graves, Ph.D. and Jon Mills, Ph.D., M.B.A. introduce ADvancing interRAI. This new initiative is building shared infrastructure that supports state efforts to improve how they assess people and provide them Home and Community Based Services using the interRAI Home Care system, to assign resources and use data for policy and program improvement.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT, CLICK HERE

  • 2024 Recipient of the Melissa L. Knabe Community Impact Award Revealed

    2024 Recipient of the Melissa L. Knabe Community Impact Award Revealed

    Last year we created the Melissa L. Knabe Community Impact Award to honor the memory of our wonderful colleague. The Award honors individuals that are making significant contributions to their community through time, actions, talents, dedication, and resources. These individuals serve as role models for compassion and service and strive to make their communities better places to live and work.

    Learn More about Rob Glueckauf Receiving the Award

  • Community Rounds

    Community Rounds on Highlighting Rare Diseases

    BSSM resumes its Community Rounds series with “Highlighting Pediatric Rare Diseases and Community Impacts” on April 3, from 12pm - 1pm EST. The virtual panel of participants includes Pradeep Bhide, Director of the Florida State University Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases, Michele Holbrook, 2023 National Ambassador for the Children's Tumor Foundation, and Yang Hou, Assistant Professor in FSU College of Medicine Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine.

    Full Video & Timestamps

DEPARTMENT SPOTLIGHT

Who we are

As one of two academic research departments in the College of Medicine, BSSM’s goal is to be a leader in the creation of new knowledge emphasizing multidisciplinary, applied research, partnered with community members, health care providers and patients.
 

Centers

BSSM has an interdisciplinary faculty representing fields of psychology (clinical, developmental, personality, social), public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, bioethics, health services and health policy, and medical history. Faculty research interests are all centered on work aimed to impact communities, especially underserved populations. BSSM includes three centers: the Center for Translational Behavioral Science (CTBS), The Center for Behavioral Health Integration (CBHI), and the Center for Medicine and Public Health Policy and Practice (CMPHPP). Members of BSSM conduct cutting-edge research and scholarship, much of which is driven by the Mission of the FSU College of Medicine.
 

Research

Areas of research focus include social and behavioral aspects of chronic disease prevention and maintenance with a particular focus on HIV, psychological and medical aspects of healthy aging, mental health, substance use and addiction, health care service optimization and policy, and bioethical and historical conceptual foundations of science and medicine. BSSM draws on a wide variety of research methodologies, including intervention development and implementation science, policy and program evaluation, comparative effectiveness research, clinical trials, epidemiology and prevention science. BSSM also has a major focus on health care workforce development and clinical skill-building. 

BSSM Community Rounds

Highlighting Pediatric Rare Diseases and Community Impacts

Hear from Fran Hokkanen, Michele Holbrook, Yang Hou, and Pradeep Bhide to learn about pediatric rare diseases, experiences with rare diseases, and the new FSU Institute of Pediatric Rare Diseases.

Additional Resources & Timestamps

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