This one-year pilot project will explore how large language models can be used to enhance both privacy and data quality in mental health records. Naar will provide progress updates throughout the project and for up to two years after its conclusion.
We look forward to the meaningful contributions this work will make in the field of digital mental health.

Professor George Rust, M.D., offers expert insights on measles outbreaks, emphasizing the serious risks of measles and the critical importance of maintaining high community immunization levels through interviews and FAQs.

Professor Regan Bailey, Ph.D., nominated Associate Professor Gregg Stanwood, Ph.D., for the esteemed 2025 Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Emerging Leaders in Health and Medicine (ELHM) Forum, hosted by the National Academy of Medicine in Washington, D.C. Both scholars were honored with invitations to participate in this prestigious event.
The ELHM Forum convenes emerging leaders and experts across disciplines to foster collaboration, mentorship, and innovation. During the gathering, Professor Bailey contributed to discussions on information sharing, and pressing issues in biomedical science and public health. Topics included the mental health crisis, the integration of artificial intelligence in healthcare, health equity and access, precision health, and more.

A new study highlights key differences in how dietary supplement (DS) intake is measured using a 24-hour recall and a food frequency questionnaire (two common tools used in research). Information from multiple reports, over the course of a year, were evaluated among adults (n- 795 adults; 50–74 years) on dietary and supplemental intakes.

We were honored to have Vice President for Research, Stacey Patterson, and Dean Littles join us in celebrating our Postdoc Research Day. It was an exciting opportunity to showcase the incredible research being conducted across our department.

The workshop offers practical information about developing a well-rounded estate plan to arrange and protect your family assets. Key topics of the workshop include the importance of estate planning, basics in creating a last will and testament and a living will, pros and cons of trusts, and instructions for using advance directives.

This award recognizes and celebrates a faculty or staff member who enhances cultural awareness and fosters a deeper understanding of the contributions of the Hispanic community’s contributions to the landscape of FSU.
We are proud to have Rosado's dedication and leadership recognized in such a meaningful way.

In a recent article from WFSU, Department Chair Heather Flynn, Ph.D., addresses the effects of trauma and mental health on the lives of unhoused people accessing Kearney Center services.

The FHSLA works to foster the development of medical libraries in Florida in accordance with professional standards, to inspire and educate medical library personnel, and to implement the exchange of library materials and services.

On February 15, 2025, at the FSU College of Medicine, ACTS2 joined the Alzheimer’s Project Caregiver Conference, connecting with dedicated caregivers and sharing vital resources on dementia care. This event provided practical strategies, emotional support, and essential training to help caregivers navigate their journey with strength and confidence.

The mission of ACTS2 continues beyond the conference! If you're a family caregiver, know that ACTS2 offers FREE training, support, and resources to help you care for your loved one while also taking care of yourself.

Call us at toll-free 1-866-778-2724 to learn more about our programs! Ask for ACTS2 Project Coordinator, Tomeka Norton-Brown or email tnnorton@fsu.edu today to learn more and sign up for our free services.

A study led by faculty members Martina Luchetti, Ph.D., and Angelina Sutin, Ph.D., has shed new light on the global relationship between loneliness and cognitive decline. This comprehensive research analyzed data from over 20,000 participants across seven countries: the U.S., England, India, China, South Africa, Mexico, and Chile.
Notably, this study underscores that the link between loneliness and cognitive function is not confined to Western cultures. The findings indicate that loneliness impacts cognitive health across a broad spectrum of global populations.

Professor George Rust, M.D., director of the FSU-College of Medicine Center for Medicine and Public Health Policy and Practice, appeared on WCTV recently to discuss 2025 measles outbreaks
Experienced in advising the public on how to handle measles outbreaks, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines as three or more related cases, Rust stressed the importance of maintaining a 95% vaccination rate to prevent widespread transmission of the highly contagious disease. However, declining vaccination rates are increasing the risk of further outbreaks. The one death reported in West Texas was a school-aged child who was not vaccinated.
He also addressed a recent measles case at a Miami-Dade high school, warning that if students in the affected classroom are not vaccinated, up to 90% could be at risk of contracting the virus. Rust emphasized that full vaccination offers 97% lifelong protection.
At the time of the interview, an outbreak in West Texas had reported 159 cases, 20 hospitalizations, and one death. Since then, the total has risen to 223 cases and a second death is under investigation. Also, the outbreak has spread across the state line into eastern New Mexico, where 26 of the 30 people who contracted measles were not vaccinated and one person died.

William Bobo, M.D., MPH, has been appointed Section Editor for Pharmacoepidemiology in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology (JCAP).

JCAP is a leading international, peer-reviewed journal that focuses on the clinical and translational aspects of psychopharmacology and neurotherapeutic interventions for children, adolescents, young adults, and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders.

This book provides valuable insights into creating and sustaining partnerships between public health agencies and academic institutions, offering practical examples, strategies, and a working model designed to strengthen public health capacity and improve community health.

The Center for Translational Behavioral Science attended the HIV Implementation Science Symposium, where Director Sylvie Naar, Ph.D., presented on “Tailored Motivational Interviewing: Results of a Type 3 Effectiveness-Implementation Trial.”

The study highlights ongoing challenges in HIV prevention and care for youth. Researchers tested Tailored Motivational Interviewing (TMI) to improve HIV care delivery. Conducted across 10 clinics with 151 providers, the study found significant gains in providers' MI competence. While some decline in competence occurred after 12 months, improvements remained above baseline. TMI shows promise for enhancing HIV care for young people and strengthening the health care workforce.

Yang Hou, Ph.D., and her lab team have co-authored two new publications that explore ADHD, Internalizing, and Externalizing symptoms in individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). The full articles are available below.

Department Chair Heather Flynn, Ph.D., and CTBScience Director Sylvie Naar, Ph.D., co-authored “Chapter 6: Motivational Interviewing in the Treatment of Depression” in the newly released book “Motivational Interviewing in the Treatment of Psychological Problems.”
In this chapter, the authors highlight the effectiveness of using Motivational Interviewing (MI) in treating major depressive disorder. They demonstrate how interviewers can build empathy, encourage collaboration, ask open-ended questions, and more when engaging with clients. The authors suggest that MI, by itself, can improve mood and lay a solid foundation for addressing therapeutic alliance and motivation in other interventions. Their findings provide compelling evidence that MI enhances the outcomes of drug treatment.

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.

During this event, Dr. Flynn shared data-driven strategies to weave mental health into workplace culture. Her session sparked valuable conversations on supporting employee well-being, fostering open dialogue, and implementing impactful mental health initiatives.

Research by Professor Angelina Sutin, Ph.D., has recently garnered attention in major media outlets.
Sutin’s study on “Changes in Personality Before and During Cognitive Impairment” was quoted in a New York Times article, “Memory Loss Isn’t the Only Sign of Dementia.” The research reveals that individuals with dementia show early declines in traits like extroversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness before cognitive impairments become apparent. As dementia progresses, these personality changes become more pronounced, highlighting how these early shifts in personality can offer valuable insights into the progression of dementia.
Check out the Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/26/well/mind/dementia-signs-symptoms.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Additionally, Sutin’s work on “Sense of Purpose in Life Is Associated with Lower Risk of Incident Dementia: A Meta-Analysis” and “Purpose in life and stress: An individual-participant meta-analysis of 16 samples” was cited in U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s recent “parting prescription” for the nation. Dr. Murthy underscored the critical need to increase purpose and decrease loneliness to improve the overall health of the country—an idea supported by Sutin’s research.
Read Dr. Murthy’s Prescription: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/my-parting-prescription-for-america.pdf

Georgia has confirmed its first case of bird flu in a commercial poultry flock in Elberton, raising concerns about public safety and the state's $30 billion poultry industry. The infected farm, home to 45,000 chickens, is now under containment.

Professor and public health expert, George Rust, addressed public concerns, reassuring that the risk to human health remains low. Rust emphasized that while bird flu can have a high fatality rate in some cases, human-to-human transmission has not been observed. "The general public is not at risk right now," Rust said, noting that only agricultural workers or those in close contact with infected birds are more vulnerable.
Rust encouraged poultry farmers to implement strict biosecurity measures, including keeping chickens indoors to limit exposure to wild birds. He also commended the coordinated efforts of public health and agricultural agencies, which have helped prevent the spread to humans.

2023 Bridge Graduate John Acosta-Peñaloza partnered with faculty mentors, Karen Geletko, MPH, and Jon Mills, Ph.D., on his Bridge research project titled “Demographic Characteristics Associated With Adolescent Receipt of Provider E-Cigarette Screening and Advice and the Impact on Harm Perception.”

Published in AJMP Focus, this study examines the frequency at which providers screen adolescents for e-cigarette use and advise against use during healthcare visits. It also examines associations between provider intervention and adolescent harm perception. In this manuscript, the researchers demonstrate that provider intervention was more likely among those aged 13-18, who are male, White and/or non-Hispanic, and that provider intervention was associated with the belief that e-cigarettes are equally or more addictive the cigarettes. These findings have implications for altering physician-patient interaction which can ultimately contribute to the prevention of e-cigarette initiation among youth.

Immokalee Regional Director Javier Rosado, Ph.D., and Clerkship Faculty Alicia Fernandez-Garcia, M.D., have co-authored an article published in the Journal of Pediatric Health Care titled “Examining Interventions for Pediatric Adverse Childhood Experiences in an Integrated Primary Care Setting.”
The study highlights how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) contribute to both long-term chronic health issues and neurobehavioral challenges during childhood and adolescence. The research focused on interventions in a pediatric primary care setting that integrated behavioral health services. Immediate interventions following positive ACE screenings included psychoeducation, crisis management, mental health referrals, and case management. For follow-up, the study involved skills training, cognitive-behavioral therapy, behavior management strategies, motivation-based interventions, and symptom surveillance for observation in significant decreases in psychosocial problems and adolescent depression.
The findings demonstrated significant reductions in psychosocial problems and adolescent depression, underscoring the effectiveness of integrated behavioral health care in improving psychosocial functioning and mood in children with positive ACE screenings. These insights are particularly valuable for nurse practitioners seeking to implement or enhance ACE screening and intervention programs in primary care settings.

This workshop offered practical information on engaging the power of music to improve the well-being of loved ones with dementia and family caregivers.
The first two presenters, music therapists Dr. Gooding and Dr. Hernández, provided easy-to-use tips on how to use music for building partnerships in caregiving activities and reducing caregiver distress. They also discussed the best methods for accessing professional music therapy for loved ones with dementia and the costs of such services.
The third speaker, Dr. Bakan, shared innovative developments in ethnomusicology, the study of music from different cultures, to increase the quality of life of older adults with dementia and their family members, particularly men in faith community settings.
Tomeka Norton-Brown provided information about caregiver skills training and support, and dementia care resources were discussed.
Elder care professionals, future caregivers, and other interested community members were also strongly encouraged to join the workshop.

At this year’s All Faculty Meeting, The FSU College of Medicine announced Yang Hou as the recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Junior Faculty Researcher Award. Yang Hou, an Assistant Professor, has demonstrated exceptional promise through her impactful research on neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) in just two years at FSU.
With 13 published articles, including four as first author, in prestigious journals like Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Dr. Hou has advanced the understanding of cognitive and behavioral outcomes in individuals with NF1. Her Department of Defense-funded project mapping neurobehavioral trajectories is particularly significant, shaping future research and clinical practices.
Dr. Hou has earned national and international recognition, including the Early Career Outstanding Paper Award from the American Psychological Association in 2021. She has been nominated for the Boyd McCandless Award and the Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution to Psychology. Recently, she was invited to present at the Banbury Center on “Cognition and Behavior in Neurofibromatosis Type 1.”
A highly collaborative scholar, Dr. Hou’s work continues to drive progress in NF1 research and developmental psychology, marking her as a rising star in the field.

It’s competitive — recruiting top-notch educators, clinicians and researchers to a university, particularly those whose field of expertise is in high demand. The stars aligned perfectly at the Florida State University College of Medicine, resulting in the addition of William Bobo, M.D., MPH, to its faculty. Prior to coming to FSU, Bobo served as chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, as well as co-director for the Center for Individualized Medicine in Florida, at Mayo Clinic Florida, based in Jacksonville.

“My ideal career is involvement in at least three areas,” Bobo said. “First, clinically, to remain involved and to keep my axe sharp — which is priority number one. Second is I am an educator. My parents were both college professors, so I am a teacher at heart, and I always have been. In the past, research and administrative duties took me away from teaching. This move to FSU has represented a very enticing opportunity to get back into teaching — both at the bedside and the lecture hall.

“And third, I am hoping to combine my clinical and research interests to help build something excellent and widely recognized, both at the regional and national levels.”

A foundational underpinning of faculty recruitment at Florida State is ASPIRE, the strategic research plan for the university that fosters a culture of research excellence.

“ASPIRE guides us in our decision-making process,” said Stacey Patterson, Ph.D., FSU vice president for Research. “From retaining and recruiting high-quality faculty like Dr. Bobo, to increasing research support and creating opportunities for researchers to work together and develop impactful solutions, all are part and parcel of ASPIRE.”

Bobo said the mission of the College of Medicine was also a big draw for him, as it reminds him of where he received his medical degree in Missouri.

“The University of Missouri, Columbia, is a rurally situated medical school within a large university community,” he said. “It has as its focus primary care, service to rural and underserved persons, just like FSU. The implication of that for me, personally, was an incredibly rich educational experience that proved to be foundational for the rest of my career.”

Of course, who you know and the caliber of existing faculty at an institution can also be a big draw for attracting top talent. Bobo said Heather Flynn, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, proved to be pivotal in his decision to leave Mayo, a place where, admittedly, he was very happy. Both he and Flynn worked together on several collaborations for the National Network of Depression Centers.

“We started to discuss what she wanted to build at FSU and what was possible,” Bobo said. “This aligned with the things that I always wanted to build myself. It struck me as such a good opportunity because of a clear convergence of interests. And, through our discussion, we began to talk in more detail and those details were very appealing. I made a very difficult decision to leave a place where I was very, very happy and move two and a half hours west to Tallahassee.”

“We work hard to not only recruit outstanding faculty, but retain them and provide the tools they need to be successful in their work — all for the benefit of our students, patients and, in reality, all of us through new treatments and discoveries made by the groundbreaking research being done here,” said Dean Alma Littles, M.D.

Now settling into life at FSU as a professor of psychiatry in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, Bobo is teaching, conducting research focused on mood disorders, and seeing patients at FSU BehavioralHealth™ (behavioralhealth.fsu.edu). He says he is looking forward to growing his role even further.

“My first priority is to be a good citizen and be of value to this department, to the college of medicine and the broader FSU community,” Bobo said. “I’m currently teaching Evidenced-based Psychological Treatments to fourth-year medical students. I am hoping to submit applications for new courses and integrate into existing courses and blocks of instruction wherever I’m welcome and wherever people think I can be helpful.”

Flynn said she is excited about adding Bobo’s unique expertise and enthusiasm to the department and stated, “As we continue to recruit outstanding faculty like Dr. Bobo who will focus on our priorities of teaching students, caring for patients and conducting research in an integrated fashion, we will undoubtedly have a tremendous, positive impact on patient care, new therapies and novel solutions to some of our nation’s most pressing health issues.”

Meanwhile, Bobo continues his clinical practice and his grant-funded research focused on predicting the clinical effect of treatments for severe mood disorders, as well as integrating machine learning and asynchronous study designs to examine complex mood disorder phenotypes and correlated states, such as professional burnout in health care workers. He will soon launch the FSU Mood and Anxiety Center of Excellence, part of the National Network of Depression Centers (nndc.org). This will coalesce advances in patient care, training and research at FSU and nationally, similar to the National Cancer Center model.

“I’ve worked at very good health care institutions that are values-driven; people talk about the values, they weave the values into every decision that’s made, from administrative to the clinic. I’ve been blessed to be a part of that,” Bobo said. “FSU is one of those institutions where the way that policy is discussed, the way that patient care is discussed and the way research is planned — it’s consistent with our mission and that’s pretty inspiring, particularly if you care about being attached to things that are greater than yourself.

”That’s important to me.”

George Rust, M.D., has been recognized with the Faculty Advisor of the Year Award by the Medical Student Council for his exceptional leadership and mentorship with FSUCares. This student-driven service-learning organization makes a profound impact through initiatives like health screenings and community events.
Rust's dedication shines in his support of projects such as the Social Service Fair in Quincy and health screenings for blood pressure and diabetes at the homeless center. His efforts reflect the commitment of FSUCares faculty and students to advancing community health and wellness.
Below is the heartfelt letter Rust received with this well-deserved honor.

RSO Advisor of the Year 2024
FSUCares, Dr. George Rust
You know those people who are just "light"? Those people who illuminate a room just by being the person they are? Our advisor, Dr. George Rust, is one of those people. He is a very soft-spoken person and carries himself with a quiet confidence, but his passion for health equity and sharing his fountain of knowledge with students is evident and unparalleled. As an advisor for FSUCares, we could entrust him with the basics like signing-off on any forms that needed to be processed, but more importantly, we valued him as someone who led, but also fostered student leadership and initiatives. We could always count on Dr. Rust to join us at our events which included our FSUCares lmmokalee Service-Learning Trip, FSUCares Service-Learning Trip Reflections Night, FSUCares Township Throwdown Fundraiser, PAEC Health Fair, and the FSUCares Service-Learning Interest Meeting. We are left in awe knowing that he would support our cause by offering one of the most valuable assets in life - time. Without Dr. Rust, service opportunities like the lmmokalee service-learning trip would not be possible as he is a faculty member who has consistently been willing to travel with students on a seven-to-eight-hour ride to lmmokalee, Florida where he stays alongside college of medicine students during their immersive experience for time spanning over five days. He is one of the faculty who keeps the spirit of the FSU COM mission alive. As quoted by some of this past years' service-learning trip participants, one of their favorite phrases of his is "it's re.lational over informational" in the context of serving underserved or marginalized communities. These coined phrases like the aforementioned by Dr. Rust are sayings students will carry with them throughout their journey in medicine. They emphasize the importance of seeking to understand and getting to know the people we will serve to build trust in them and the greater communities. Dr. Rust embodies what it means to be a compassionate physician who fosters humanism, and he empowers other students to strive towards that. We are grateful for the time he has committed to FSUCares and look forward to our continued work with him.

We are proud to announce that Associate Professor Laura Reid Marks, Ph.D., has been selected as the recipient of a 2024-2025 William R. Jones Outstanding Mentor Award. This prestigious honor, presented annually by the Florida Education Fund, recognizes exceptional mentors statewide who have made significant contributions to the McKnight Doctoral Fellowship Program.

Dr. Marks was nominated by her student and lab assistant, Nicholas Reese, and after a thorough review, the William R. Jones Awards Committee unanimously selected her for this recognition. As part of the award ceremony, Dr. Marks was celebrated at the Annual McKnight Doctoral Fellows Meeting and received a plaque in recognition of her outstanding mentorship.

Assistant Professor Samantha Goldfarb, DPH, has been awarded a research fellowship funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to attend the MIT Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Ventures Bootcamp. As part of the fellowship, Goldfarb will participate in an intensive hybrid program featuring live expert webinars, online courses, and a five-day bootcamp at MIT. The program aims to support the development of innovative biomedical ventures to address substance use disorders, a complex and critical area in healthcare.

Yang Hou, Ph.D., Principal Investigator of the Development, Equity, and Resilience (DEaR) Lab, was honored to take part in the “Cognition and Behavior in Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)” conference in New York. There she shared insights on neurobehavioral function of individuals with NF1, a genetic disorder that often develops various tumors and exhibits more neurobehavioral problems (e.g., cognitive deficits and learning difficulties) than the general population. The DEaR Lab is looking forward to launching their collaborative projects, advancing the NF field, and promoting resilience in individuals with NF1!

Congratulations to CTBS Director Sylvie Naar, Ph.D., Associate Professor Zhe He, Ph.D., Department Vice Chair Nicole Ennis, Ph.D., and CTBS Assistant Director Sara Green, MSW, on receiving an NIH R21/33 award for their new project, “Precision HIV Prevention: Piloting a youth learning health community.” This new initiative aims to tackle North Florida’s HIV epidemic among youth by combining data, community engagement, and tailored intervention strategies. Despite progress in HIV prevention, young people are still disproportionately affected, especially in Florida, ranking second in the number of End the Epidemic jurisdictions. The project will establish a Youth Learning Health Community to design impactful, community-driven solutions using data from OneFlorida+ Data Trust, a clinical research consortium of 11 health systems in Florida.

Susan Epstein, Head of Library Access Systems, co-presented a webinar titled “Strategies and Tips for Resolving Access Issues with Vendors.” This engaging session offered strategies for effectively documenting and resolving access issues based on real-world success stories with vendors. Participants in the webinar represented a variety of library types: public, higher education, and K-12, and hailed from Florida, Virginia, and Barbados.

Sponsored by the Panhandle Library Access Network (PLAN), the event highlighted PLAN’s commitment to strengthening library networks and supporting information access for regional educational, social, and economic development.

Immokalee Regional Director Javier Rosado, Ph.D., Associate Professor Jean Kesnold Mesidor, Ph.D., and Data Manager Yuxia (O ha) Wang, MPH co-authored a new article published in Neurotoxicology and Teratology titled “Assessment of adverse childhood experiences in adolescents from a rural agricultural community: Associations with depressive symptoms and psychosocial problems.” This study examines the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among Latino adolescents in a rural agricultural community and their impact on mental health. Of the 852 adolescents screened at a rural primary care clinic, 64% had experienced at least one ACE, 23% showed signs of depression, and 11% faced psychosocial challenges. The study found strong links between ACEs and both depression and psychosocial problems, with females reporting more depression than males, and older adolescents having fewer psychosocial issues. The findings suggest that exposure to both childhood stress and environmental factors in agricultural settings may harm adolescent development, calling for further research to understand the combined effects of these stressors.

Assistant Professor Martina Luchetti, Ph.D., and Professor Angelina Sutin, Ph.D., co-authored an article published by Nature Mental Health titled “A Meta-analysis of Loneliness and Risk of Dementia using Longitudinal Data from >600,000 Individuals.” This study highlights the link between loneliness and dementia by analyzing data from over 600,000 individuals. Researchers found that loneliness significantly increases the risk of developing all-cause dementia, including Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and cognitive impairment. The study emphasizes the need for more research into the types and sources of loneliness to create interventions that can reduce the risk of dementia.

The ACTS2 Caregiver Project recently attended the FSU Health Expo held at the Tallahassee Senior Center. This event provided seniors with the opportunity to explore FSU’s cutting-edge research and services in health and wellness. Attendees learned about the wide array of initiatives for enhancing physical and mental health and how to access them. At the Expo, ACTS2 provided dementia awareness resources and offered free skills-building and support services for caregivers of loved ones with dementia.

Cheryl Porter, Ph.D., Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Associate Professor, was recently elected as Member-At-Large for the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Southern Group on Student Affairs. The AAMC is a not-for-profit association dedicated to transforming health through medical education, health care, medical research, and community collaborations.


The Members-at-Large attend scheduled meetings of the regional Steering Committee, attend scheduled regional business meetings, coordinate and facilitate the orientation for new members at the regional spring meeting, manage the SGSA mentoring program, ensure that schools in the region have designated institutional voting representatives and institutional representatives to all GSA communities/areas of expertise, assist with the development of the regional spring meeting, assist in carrying out special projects of the region, provide perspective and insight to discussions/action of the regional Steering Committee, gain an understanding of regional leadership, and gain an understanding of areas of interest/concern to regional members and the GSA.

Austin Spitz, MS, a medical student working with Kozel, won a 2024 Young Investigator Travel Award from the National Network of Depression Centers Conference for his work on a study titled “The Relationship of Anxious Arousal with Treatment of Dysphoria Using VR Mindfulness and Two Accelerated TMS Protocols.” This study highlights the potential of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to rapidly treat mental health conditions that have been resistant to antidepressant treatment. Additionally, this research demonstrates the importance of ongoing research and clinical efforts at the FSU Neuromodulation Lab. The ability to conduct such research was a direct result of the opportunity provided via the Florida State University College of Medicine Summer Research Fellowship.

Assistant Professor Julia Sheffler, Ph.D., recently presented groundbreaking research at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, demonstrating the significant role of nutrition education in promoting brain health. Her study spotlights the potential benefits of simple dietary adjustments in reducing dementia risk. Complementing her findings, a related study suggests that reducing daily consumption of processed red meat, such as bacon and hotdogs, by just one ounce could lower the risk of dementia by 20%. In response to these insights, Dr. Sheffler is spearheading the development of community programs designed to support individuals in making and maintaining effective dietary changes over the long term.

We are excited to welcome Laura Reid Marks, Ph.D., Ed.S., MAE, to the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine! Earning her Ed.S. & MAE from the University of Florida, and Ph.D. from Purdue University, Marks is currently an associate professor working directly with our Center for Translational Behavioral Science.

Workshop presenters, Justice Lewis and Stephanie Malally, social workers and clinic coordinators, will describe the procedures typically included in memory assessment and their costs, as well as treatment options for memory disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. They also will discuss how to access memory evaluation services and clinic-based educational and support opportunities.

Family caregiver and dementia care advocate, Priscilla Jean-Louis, will share her personal journey in obtaining a memory evaluation and medical treatment for her loved one with dementia.

Last, ACTS2 Project Coordinator, Tomeka Norton-Brown, will provide information about training and support for dementia caregivers, as well as local, state, and national dementia care resources. Persons with memory difficulties, family caregivers, elder care professionals, and other interested community members are strongly encouraged to join the workshop.

GSA is the nation’s largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging. Achieving fellow status is a prestigious recognition by peers for outstanding contributions to the field of gerontology and represents the highest category of GSA membership. This distinction comes at varying points in a person’s career and is given for diverse activities that include research, teaching, administration, public service, practice, and notable participation in the Society. Professor Sutin and the new fellows will be formally recognized during GSA’s 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting, which will be held from November 13 to 16 in Seattle, Washington.

Earning his M.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an M.P.H. from Vanderbilt University, Bobo held key positions as professor and chair, Department of Psychiatry & Psychology and as the Cecilia and Dan Carmichael Family Associate Director for the Center for Individualized Medicine at Mayo Clinic Florida. Bobo’s research and clinical interests are in addressing complex and difficult-to-treat cases of depression, perinatal and perimenopausal depression, and multifactorial correlates of depression such as occupational burnout, through the use of machine learning, clinomics, digital health tools (digitomics), other-omics, and asynchronous or semi-synchronous study designs. With over 200 publications, continuous funding from NIH and other sources since 2006, and over 22 years of clinical experience, he brings a wealth of expertise and a remarkable track record in mental health practice, research, and education.

Assistant Professor Mike Drury, Psy.D., co-authored a journal article titled “The Promise of Transdiagnostic Treatment in Rural Primary Care: The Unified Protocol,” which highlights the high rates of behavioral health challenges faced by individuals in rural areas. The study focuses on the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP), a therapeutic approach designed to address a variety of emotional disorders by targeting their underlying factors. The authors aim to evaluate the efficacy of UP in rural primary care settings, with the goal of improving mental health outcomes in these communities.

Department Chair, and President of the International Society for Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Heather Flynn, Ph.D., co-authored a chapter in a new textbook titled “Interpersonal Psychotherapy: A Global Reach.” The textbook describes the rapidly expanding global diss­­emination of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), an effective treatment for depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. The book, authored by the developer of IPT Dr. Myrna Weissman, includes the development of new training, technologies, and the use of IPT in over 30 counties around the world. In Chapter 5, Flynn discusses ISIPT Certification Programs and their goal to develop standards and processes supporting continued educational development and certification of IPT trainers and supervisors.

Office of Student Counseling Services members published an eye-opening article in the Florida Psychologist titled “The Wellness Prescription: How Psychologists Can Support Tomorrow’s Medical Providers.” In this article, the authors discuss mental health needs of medical trainees who navigate highly competitive college admissions, rigorous training, and substantial student debt. Statistics reveal that medical trainees and practicing providers experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and burnout compared to the general population. This calls attention to the importance of attending to the mental health of medical practitioners, as findings suggest that, when medical providers suffer, so do their patients.

Associate Professor Michael Nair-Collins, Ph.D., authored a new article discussing bioethics titled “The Uniform Determinations of Death Act is Not Changing. Will Physicians Continue to Misdiagnose Brain Death?” In the article, Nair-Collins explains how brain death is routinely misdiagnosed, with common practice declaring some patients dead by neurologic criteria even though they do not meet the legal standard for death. Despite vigorous efforts to revise the Uniform Determinations of Death Act (UDDA), guidelines will not change in the foreseeable future. Thus, legally living people will continue to be declared dead, contributing to mistrust in the determination of death.

BSSM researchers authored a journal article titled “Healthcare visits by smokers: Does cessation treatment differ based on clinical condition?” The study finds that providers are offering cessation treatment to individuals with behavioral health conditions at either higher or comparable rates to those without. Using data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, researchers seek to examine if cessation treatment offered at healthcare visits differs based on the clinical condition.

Department Chair Heather Flynn, Ph.D., was interviewed by WCTV News regarding the challenges rural North Florida counties face in accessing mental healthcare. Eight counties in North Florida have no psychiatrists at all and suffer from a shortage in psychologists, social workers, and licensed mental health professionals. Flynn and colleagues are working to develop mental illness training, as well as establish mental health clinics with local partners to bridge the mental healthcare gap throughout rural communities in Florida.

Professor Angelina Sutin, Ph.D., and Assistant Professor Martina Luchetti, Ph.D., co-authored a brand-new journal article titled “Are social interactions perceived as more meaningful in older adulthood?” The study seeks to test the socioemotional selectivity theory, which states as people age the stronger their preference for emotionally meaningful social interaction becomes. To test this hypothesis, researchers collected data from three-hundred-six participants from the ages of 18-88 to examine the perception of meaningful social interactions in younger and older adults.

Professor Robert Glueckauf, Ph.D., and Tomeka Norton-Brown from the ACTS2 Caregiver Project recently held a workshop titled, “Effective Communication and Creative Problem Solving for Family Caregivers of Loved Ones with Dementia in Assisted Living Facilities: Keys to Success.” During this workshop, Rebecca Adelman & Heather Bornstein gave tips on effectively communicating with assisted care staff about loved ones with dementia, ViElla Lindsay about her personal experience with a loved one in assisted care, Tomeka Norton-Brown on ACTS2 services.

Assistant Professor Yang Hou, Ph.D., was given the 2024 FSU SEED Award for her research on “Psychosocial and Lifestyle Predictors of Neurobehavioral Function of Adolescents with Neurofibromatosis Type 1: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study.” The proposed project will utilize ecological momentary assessment measures and activity trackers to collect rich data from adolescents with NF1: their daily neurobehavioral (i.e., cognitive, emotional, and behavioral) function and its predictors.

Department Chair Heather Flynn, Ph.D., co-authored a journal article titled “Antenatal Anxiety Symptoms Outperform Antenatal Depression Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation as a Risk Factor for Postpartum Suicidal Ideation.” During this study on Suicidal ideation (SI), Flynn’s team identified antenatal anxiety symptoms to outperform the previous leading risk factor, antenatal depression symptoms, as a predictor of SI during a mother’s postpartum phase.

Assistant Professor Julia Sheffler co-authored a newly published journal article titled “A modified Mediterranean-style diet enhances brain function via specific gut-microbiome-brain mechanisms.” This study seeks to demonstrate the potential benefits of a modified Mediterranean-ketogenic diet (MkD) on treating AD-related neurocognitive pathophysiology, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, by comparing changes that occur in mice when consuming a standard Western-style diet or an MkD.

Associate Professor Michael Nair-Collins, Ph.D., participated in a debate with Tracie Mahaffey, Ph.D., from the FSU Department of Philosophy on the topic “Organ & Tissue Donation Programs: The Bioethical Issues.” The debate centered on the idea of transitioning to an opt-out organ donation system. Mahaffey supported this approach, citing widespread public approval and willingness to participate, while Nair-Collins opposed it, emphasizing concerns about organ donors' lack of valid consent and the accuracy of death determination relative to the legal standard.

Professor and Mina Jo Powell Endowed Chair in Neurological Sciences, Andrew Kozel, M.D., gave a talk on mental and behavioral health at the FSU Office of Research’s Collaborative Collision event in March. Kozel’s lecture provided an overview of how far the field has come and challenges that continue to face the research community.

Assistant Professor Yang Hou, Ph.D., recently delivered an informational lecture on rare diseases at BSSM's quarterly Community Rounds series with a panel on “Highlighting Pediatric Rare Diseases and Community Impacts.” Also hear from Fran Hokkanen, volunteer at NORD, Michele Holbrook, 2023 National Ambassador for the Children’s Tumor Foundation, spoke on her personal experiences with rare diseases, and Director of the Florida State University Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases, Pradeep Bhide, Ph.D., introducing this new FSU institute and the services it will provide to the community.

Assistant Professor Julia Sheffler, Ph.D., and Associate Professor Scott Pickett, Ph.D., recently co-authored a journal article titled “Sleep Quality as a Critical Pathway Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Multimorbidity and the Impact of Lifestyle.” This study aims to establish the effects of adverse childhood experiences on multimorbidity through sleep quality and investigate whether lifestyle factors may influence this relationship among middle-aged and older adults.

Assistant Professor Julia Sheffler, Ph.D., and Associate Professor Scott Pickett, Ph.D., recently co-authored a journal article titled “Sleep Quality as a Critical Pathway Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Multimorbidity and the Impact of Lifestyle.” This study aims to establish the effects of adverse childhood experiences on multimorbidity through sleep quality and investigate whether lifestyle factors may influence this relationship among middle-aged and older adults.

Professor Robert Glueckauf, Ph.D., & Tomeka Norton from the ACTS2 Caregiver Project recently held a workshop titled, "Managing Sleep Difficulties in Caring for a Loved One with Dementia: Strategies for Success." During this workshop, Associate Professor Scott Pickett discussed effective habits and resources on how to maintain sleep while providing care to a loved one with dementia.

BSSM Department Chair Heather Flynn, Ph.D., and Co-Chair of the Florida Maternal Mental Health Collaborative (FL-MMHC), alongside Alex Carlisle, Ph.D., and CEO of The National Alliance against Disparities in Patient Health (NADPH), are working on groundbreaking projects to address healthcare disparities and promote health equity.

Associate Professor Michael Nair-Collins, Ph.D.,  argues that the evaluation for brain death should require assessment for loss of hormonal secretion from the pituitary gland and hypothalamus to fit the current guidelines of the Uniform Determination of Death Act.

Susan Epstein's collaborative endeavor seeks to enhance the integration of Cognitive Information Processing theory, research, and practice.

Associate Professor Joseph Gabriel, Ph.D., talked on how the increased sale of proprietary medicines led to a professional crisis among pharmacists related to their loss of autonomy.

FSU Professor Sutin is part of a team of researchers who have identified a potential low-cost method for predicting if a person is at risk of developing dementia