The ink is drying on a deal for a long-awaited program that aims to bring more doctors to Southwest Florida. Lee Memorial Health System has contracted with the Florida State University College of Medicine for a physician residency program for doctors-in-training. Compared to other states, Florida has one of the highest physician shortages because of a limited number of training programs for newly graduated doctors, experts say. Florida has 243 physicians for every 100,000 residents, compared with 267 doctors for every 100,000 nationally, according to the Florida Medical Association.

Ewa Bienkiewicz, assistant professor in the College of Medicine's Department of Biomedical Sciences, is one of four chosen to receive a Florida State University GAP award. For more information about the GAP Program at Florida State University, visit http://www.techtransfer.fsu.edu

 Tim Megraw studies microcephaly (literally "small heads"). In this rare congenital disease, the 
head is small because the brain does not develop to its normalsize.

Dozens of Florida State medical students hit the road to learn more about living and working in small towns and rural communities.View News Story 1 View News Story 2

Though we will always be touched by those we are closest with, our true character is defined by how we treat those who can do nothing for us. As doctors we must face the worst in the world with the best in our hearts. My white coat is ready.

The 2012 PIMS and College of Medicine Alwuni Reunion will take place in April at the main campus in Tallahassee. 

Dr. Rafael MUon (PIMS, 'CJ1) teaches for a simple reason. "I was always interested in academics," he said. "Few people are the triple threat: great teacher, excellent clinician and researcher. I aspire to be all three."

One of the most important items on the agenda for the Third Annual College of Medicine and PIMS Alumni Reunion in April was the selection of a new alumni board and president. Michael J. Sweeney, M.D., the new president, encouraged fellow board members to join him in building a strong foundation toward the development of a robust alumni association.

Bhullar places Herrera among the top 10 physicians to pass through the residency program in the 12 years he's been associated with it, stressing his focus on making sure to leave no loose ends.

No matter how many patients he sees in his lifetime, Justin Casey (M.D., '11) likely won't ever reach a bigger audience than when he blogged recently about the health benefits of wearing flip-flops.

This newest faculty member in the Department of Family Medicine and Rural Health started out 
as one of the first mentors in SSTRIDE (Science Students Together Reaching Instructional 
Diversity & Excellence). 

Motivated Florida State University students are doing more than ever to help improve children's health.In February, more than 1,500 of them helped raise a record $487,000 as part of the 16th Annual Dance Marathon at Florida State.

 In a move that took Florida State's breath away, the LCME turned down initial provisional accreditation. Three years later, full accreditation was granted.

In the summer of 2008, some of us affiliated with Students Interested in Global Health went to Nicaragua and conducted medical clinics for people with almost no regular health care. We went back in 2009, and started to think, "This might work for a long-term project."

Though we will always be touched by those we are closest with, our true character is defined by how we treat those who can do nothing for us. As doctors we must face the worst in the world with the best in our hearts. My white coat is ready.

Legacy Celebration Program

Here is an excerpt from an Alumni Reunion interview with Drs. Stephanie and Matt Lee from the Class of 2006.

This is a story about two students for whom a little knowledge was not a dangerous thing but, as it turned out,
just the right thing.

Tallahassee Memorial Hospital has seen an increase in the number of older patients admitted in recent years, meaning the potential for more cases of delirium.

Kabbaj, an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, is one of six FSU faculty members chosen for Developing Scholar Award from Florida State University.

The College of Medicine is actively pursuing every opportunity to help increase the number of 
available residency positions in Florida.

Far more planning goes into the development of the College of Medicine's pipeline programs, but the intent is the same: a 
diverse student body that can help the medical school achieve its mission of producing the physicians Florida needs most.

 Proteins represent the fastest-growing category of new drug approvals for human therapeutic application.

In the summer of 2008, some of us affiliated with Students Interested in Global Health went to Nicaragua and conducted medical clinics for people with almost no regular health care. We went back in 2009, and started to think, "This might work for a long-term project."

 College of Medicine researcher James Olcese is a step closer to demonstrating there's a better 
way to treat common and serious health issues related to pregnancy.

When he was a medical student at Florida State Nick Seeliger (M.D., '06) sought an opportunity to work where patients had the greatest need for his services. He has found those patients as a captain in the U.S. AirForce.  

Sachin Parikh (M.D., '05) and Joe Rousso (M.D., '07) joined a team of 30 people, including five surgeons, with Healing the Children NE on a medical mission trip to Santa Marta, Colombia, in February. The goal of the trip was to provide treatment for kids with cleft lips and cleft palates.

On May 23, Spencer crossed the stage to receive her medical degree from Florida State Univenrity, and then headed straight for the two men who made it possible.

As part of his efforts to make a strong department stronger, Richard Nowakowskihas just hired four faculty members who represent his vision of the future: 

The College of Medicine lost one of its best friends in May. Charles R. Mathews. 
distinguished physician and active volunteer providing primary care for indigent people, was 
celebrated in a memorial tribute at the medical school.

With little fanfare or money but loads of enthusiasm,theHavana Health and Wellness Center is 
taking shape.

Description of one of our students - one who has excelled despite a challenging childhood and has just received a prestigious national award.

The story behind Vanessa Escobar's journey from Colombia to The Florida State University College of Medicine, from which she graduated on May 21, 2011.

Natasha Spencer's view of the world has changed since she was 12 and living in Tampa's Ponce de
Leon area. Here's an excerpt from the essay she wrote about her experiences. There is a little girl getting ready for school. She dresses, brushes her teeth and rushes downstairs to eat
breakfast. After packing her backpack, she steps outside. As she takes a deep breath, she is overcome by a feeling of
despair. 
She wants so much to break the mold and conquer the fears that have burdened her for her entire life. As she
walks to school she thinks about her future and the options that are typically present for her to choose.

Natasha Spencer has graduated from FSU's medical school with the help of her long-time mentor, former NFL player Derrick Brooks.Watch WTXL News Report  [wmv]

When the 114 members of FSU's College of Medicine graduate on Saturday, they will have a celebrity physician in their midst.

A community college A community college in our area is seeing green after being awarded a half a million dollars in grant money. North Florida Community College was awarded $521,124 in grant money to go toward the North Florida Rural Health Workforce Development Network - and organization aimed at improving health care options and services in rural areas. Founders of the Network include FSU's College of Medicine.

In 2005, Archbold and the Florida State University College of Medicine formed a clinical education partnership to provide FSU medical students third and fourth-year clinical training under the supervision of Archbold physicians.

PRESS RELEASE Florida State University (FSU) experts in medicine, exercise science, nutrition, sports psychology and athletic training have partnered with one of the nation’s premier sports medicine and orthopedic treatment centers to establish the Institute of Sports Sciences and Medicine (ISSM), a public-private collaboration that spells good news for millions of athletes of all ages. For an online version of this story, associated images, and a video featuring Kasper, Shipman and Jost, visit the Florida State University news site at http://fsu.edu/news/2011/05/11/sports.sciences/.

Fifteen newly minted doctors will graduate this month from the Fort Pierce Regional Campus of the Florida State University College of Medicine.

Finding out that your child has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD)—or some other developmental delay—is difficult or parents. But getting your child tested at a younger age can lead to earlier intervention, and potentially a better long-term outcome. The use of a simple checklist, developed by Amy Wetherby, Ph.D., The Florida State University College of Medicine, at a baby’s one-year checkup helps pediatricians identify delays that can indicate autism spectrum disorders (ASD) as well as language and other developmental issues. Article also appears at CBSNews.com [pdf]. View gallery.

Shared checkups aim to help patients who are battling certain chronic diseases, and they're far from the typical 15-minute office visit. They're stretched over 90 minutes or even two hours, offering more time to quiz the doctor about concerns, learn about managing the disease — and get tips from fellow patients. Peer pressure among patients helps, says family physician Dr. George Whiddon of Quincy, Fla. He has about 40 diabetic patients divided into groups for shared checkups at Tallahassee Memorial Family Medicine Quincy, and he wants to add more.  

Organized by Indian River Medical Center rheumatologist Dr. Alistair Kennedy, 20 pre-med students from the Florida Institute of Technology toured IRMC’s Critical Care Unit and Vero Radiology Associates recently. Due to their intense interest, the two-hour tour extended to three hours, giving the students the opportunity to ask questions and meet with several Florida State University medical students who are currently rotating through IRMC as part of their medical training. Also featured in The Stuart News [pdf]

New research from the Autism Institute at The Florida State University College of Medicine suggests that a five-minute survey for parents could detect signs of autism spectrum disorders in babies as young as one.

First Words Project at Florida State University (firstwords.fsu.edu) includes the checklist that was used in the new study to help screen 1-year-olds for signs of autism. It also has a “video glossary” illustrating typical behaviors in children with and without autism. Article also appears in NewsLeader.com. [pdf]

In the jittery world of anxiety research, one of the field's most consistent findings is also perhaps its biggest source of controversy: Women, according to countless studies, are twice as prone to anxiety as men. A 2010 study at Florida State University revealed that male rats' higher testosterone levels seem to give them a larger buffer against anxiety than female rats have.

A long-standing goal in de novo protein design has been the exploitation of a hierarchical design strategy, utilizing appropriately designed peptide "building blocks," to spontaneously assemble the desired target architecture.

Academic Medicine's cover art features a work by Jared Rich, a third-year medical student at the Florida State University College of Medicine.

Dr. Kenneth Brummel-Smith, Charlotte Edwards Maguire Professor and Chair, Department of Geriatrics at the Florida State University College of Medicine, will share insights and talk about what can be improved in health-care reform.

The latest research and information concerning health care for older adults will be on the agenda at the 11th Annual Geriatrics Health Care Symposium, sponsored by the Department of Family and Geriatric Medicine in the University of Louisville School of Medicine. 
Two keynote sessions kick off the day's agenda. At 8 a.m., the 11th Annual Irving B. Perlstein Gerontology Lecture will feature Kenneth Brummel-Smith, M.D., addressing "Rehabilitation of the Older Patient." Brummel-Smith is the Charlotte Edwards Maguire professor of geriatrics and the founding chair of the Department of Geriatrics at Florida State University in Pensacola