College of Medicine

H. William Higgins, M.D., College of Medicine Class of 2009

Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology, Penn Medicine

Surgeon and Lab Director, Pennsylvania Hospital Mohs Micrographic Surgery Unit

The thing I appreciate the most about my FSU medical education:

“From Day One, I was impressed by the kindness and willingness of faculty to teach and mentor students. Dr. Eugene Ryerson, Dr. Bruce Berg, and Dr. Edward Bradley are people who come to mind. They always had an open door, ample time, and generous wisdom that to this day I harken back to. During my internship year at Yale, I felt well-prepared by FSU to manage and provide quality care to a high volume of patients. I was also fortunate to make lifelong friends with my FSU classmates, and have enjoyed watching them thrive during their residencies and careers.”

The thing I am most proud of in my health-care career:

“Earning the Haffenraffer Family House Staff Award, which is awarded to the top resident or fellow graduating from Brown University. I am also proud of my term as President of the Rhode Island Dermatology Society, during which we successfully advocated the Rhode Island Legislature to pass stricter laws restricting minors from accessing tanning facilities. FSU's nurturing but rigorous environment prepared me to work hard and to be a leader, especially when advocating for our patients.”

Wendy Myers, M.D., PIMS ‘77

Former President/CEO, Florida Health Care Plans, Inc.

Hospitalist, Internal Medicine, Halifax Health

The thing I appreciate the most about my FSU medical education:

“That FSU/PIMS/UF gave me the opportunity to be a physician.  At the end of my career, I am more convinced than ever that the profession of medicine is one of the most rewarding ways to give and spend a life.  My education was part of the foundation of my life to succeed as a physician, a wife, a mother and to make a difference in the lives of thousands of people.  The life of a physician is a beautiful trust relationship with those we serve.  I am very thankful for the education that opened many doors.”

The thing I am most proud of in my healthcare career:

“I was given the opportunity to care for individual patients and families and encourage them to work toward their best life as their primary-care physician.  I also was given the opportunity to lead and serve as Chief Medical Officer and Chief Executive Officer for a health plan with almost 100,000 patients/members.  As a team with insurance expertise (payor), a multispecialty physician group, pharmacists, member pharmacies and over 1,200 employees, we worked toward the goals of rendering excellent medical care, providing easy access to care and keeping premium/copayment/coinsurance costs affordable for employers and individuals who purchased health care and who chose our group/system.

Our system is built on the premise everyone needs a personal physician, their primary-care physician, who can provide most of the care they need and has available to them any needed specialty care expeditiously. We worked to reduce the fragmentation and the friction in the health-care system and to give our patients help when they needed it.  The entire team was engaged in finding solutions to problems and wanted to make a difference to someone every day.  I am proud that my team achieved many goals and is known for providing excellent medical care that is cost effective.”

Michael Okun, M.D., PIMS ’93

Executive Director, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at UF Health

Chair and Professor, UF Health Department of Neurology

The thing I appreciate the most about my FSU medical education:

“The opportunity to mix my interests in history and humanities with my medical education.”

The thing I am most proud of in my health-care career:

“Playing a role on the team to create the vision for the Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, which has impacted the lives of tens of thousands of patients, clinicians, researchers and trainees in the areas of Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, movement disorders, ALS, Alzheimer’s, dementias and TBI.”

Michael J. Sweeney, M.D., PIMS ‘75

The thing I appreciate the most about my FSU medical education:

“The concern and support of my undergraduate advisor, Dr. Paul Elliot, who was the first Director of PIMS. Dr. Elliot allowed me to enter the program after three years of college, which allowed me to save a year in my pursuit of my M.D. This was critical since I was working my way through school and struggling to support myself and reach my goals. This kindness was emblematic of the concern and personal attention FSU continues to provide to students at all levels and is really the culture of this great university.”

The thing I am most proud of in my health-care career:

“It’s really been two careers, and I have enjoyed every part of it. My initial career was as a vascular and general surgeon and this stage was rewarding as I believe I made significant contributions to the health of my patients and community.

Stage 2 started at an FSU alumni event shortly after the opening of the College of Medicine and the current Thrasher Building. That's where I ran into Dr. Ocie Harris and Dr. Gene Ryerson, both of whom I had known as a medical student at UF. This meeting led to my joining the teaching faculty and eventually becoming a full-time contributor to the education of the next generation of physicians. Once again, I believe I have been fortunate to be able to indirectly influence health care for many of their future patients and for the communities where these new doctors will practice. Really, my entire professional career has been intertwined with and largely dependent on my decision so many years ago to come to Florida State University.”

Mary Watson, M.D., College of Medicine Class of 2009

Family Physician, Medical Group of Mitchell County, Camilla, Georgia

The thing I appreciate the most about my FSU medical education:

“The amount of hands-on learning and experiences I received while I was at FSU.  In our third- and fourth-year clerkships we were given the opportunities to assist with surgeries if we wanted (instead of standing at the end of the table and trying to peek around others to learn); we saw our own panel of patients throughout the third and fourth year and the faculty was always supportive of us being able to have hands-on learning experiences.”

The thing I am most proud of in my health-care career:

“Being able to help the Calhoun Liberty Community after Hurricane Michael. We did not have any resources – no power, water, phones, cell-phone service – so figuring out how to provide medical care with limited supplies (in the first couple of days post-storm) and limited methods of communication with outside hospitals was an excellent learning experience, but also incredibly challenging and nerve-wracking at times.”