Steven Spence, who has served as clerkship administrator for the College of Medicine's rural clinical training program since its inception in 2006, is relinquishing that role as of April 10. His replacement will be one of his former students - John D. (JD) Byrd (M.D., '14).

In addition to leading the clerkship for 14 years, Spence maintained his practice in internal medicine and taught students in that specialty. He also oversaw the College of Medicine's switch to a longitudinal integrated clerkship in Marianna.

Byrd, who came to medical school at Florida State from the small, Panhandle town of Graceville, was recognized at graduation with the college's Mission Award, honoring the student who most embodied the school's mission to care for the underserved.  Byrd also received the Internal Medicine Award, presented by the Department of Clinical Sciences and the Florida Chapter of the American College of Physicians. He also was inducted into the Chapman Chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society.

Following completion of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at the University of South Alabama, Byrd returned to Graceville to practice at Campbellton Graceville Hospital, where he has been teaching FSU medical students from the Marianna program.