Niharika Suchak has been named Big Bend Hospice's new medical director. Dr. Suchak has served as the associate medical director since February 2016. Suchak is a clinician-educator and an associate professor in the Department of Geriatrics at the College of Medicine. She is the director of Year 1 Clinical Skills at the med school and also serves as medical director of FSU TeleHealthTM, and chair of the FSU TeleHealthTM Committee.

Melissa Radey, professor in the College of Social Work, is conducting a project that seeks to examine the economic, social, and health impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on vulnerable single-mother families.Dr. Radey’s research team includes co-Principal Investigator, Dr. Joedrecka Brown Speights, a professor with the FSU College of Medicine and social work graduate research assistants.

Associate Professor Choogon Lee is partnering with the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering on a grant to create more learning opportunities for underrepresented students in engineering while also making improvements to existing medical applications.

Ohio’s aggressive, early response to coronavirus and its measured reopening helped Ohio avoid a spike in cases seen in other Republican states like Texas, Florida and Arizona, experts say. In Florida, “our public health officials have been much less visible than they have in Ohio,” said Dr. Leslie Beitsch, a Florida State University College of Medicine professor and a former Florida Department of Health official.

As Florida posted one record-breaking coronavirus total after another, many suggested the huge counts simply reflected increased testing. Les Beitsch, chair of the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine at the FSU College of Medicine, commented on the theory.

In recent years, MagLab biomedical engineer Sam Grant has studied how stem cell therapies can help the body recover from stroke and other health problems. But in April, with colleagues from the Florida State University College of Medicine and the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, he began aiming the technique at a new enemy: COVID-19. The study is led by College of Medicine Associate Professor David Meckes.

Twenty-two Immokalee High School seniors completing a college pipeline program with the Florida State University College of Medicine have combined for more than $2 million in college scholarship offers.

New research from Assistant Professor Martina Luchetti and Associate Professor Angelina Sutin found that social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic has not led to an overall increase in loneliness among Americans. Instead, people reported feeling more supported by others than before the pandemic.

Les Beitsch, chair of the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine at the Center for Medicine and Public Health at the College of Medicine, co-wrote an op-ed for the Tallahassee Democrat about voting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A research team from Florida State University’s Art Therapy Program has received a $99,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to study using the arts as a proactive mental health strategy for Generation Z, individuals who were born between 1995 and 2015. In a recent partnership with FSU’s College of Medicine, the research team has been able to demonstrate psychological and physiological outcomes associated with art therapy. Their project combines mindfulness practices with art therapy to promote health, wellness and adaptive responses to stress.

A record single-day increase in coronavirus cases in Florida may indicate a resurgence of the disease after stir-crazy residents returned to restaurants, malls and beaches, experts say. Les Beitsch, chair of the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine at the FSU College of Medicine, said the rise in new cases raises the question of when state leaders may conclude that they need to pause their phased reopening.

M.D. Class of 2013 alumnus Rashad Sullivan wrote a blog post for Medium about subtle racism in response to the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd and the actions of Amy Cooper. It reads, in part, "As an African American physician, I’m am well aware that systemic racism is as pervasive in medicine, as it is in law enforcement, education and government."

An article on the blog "Rookie Moms" lists 16 gestures babies should make by 16 months and stresses the importance of screening babies for communication delays. The post references the First Word Project, a Florida-based initiative aimed at identifying early signs of developmental language disorders, autism spectrum disorder and other communication delays in children from 9 to 24 months of age.

It is part of a research investigation by the Florida State University Autism Institute. 

The FSU College of Medicine ranks eighth on a list of the 10 medical schools with the most African Americans.

Even with stay-at-home orders being lifted, GPS data that people in South Florida are driving more than they did at the low point in early April but most are still staying close to home. “People are remaining skeptical and cautious,” said Les Beitsch, chair of the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine at the FSU College of Medicine. “People already made decisions about their own personal conduct, and that has governed how people behave, not the government.”

An article from Psychology Today looks at the impacts of social isolation and loneliness, particularly as it relates to seniors who lived alone during the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. The article mentions Associate Professor Angelina Sutin's 2018 study that showed loneliness increases the risk of dementia by 40 percent. 

FSU’s 16th class of M.D. students graduated Saturday in a virtual ceremony, an emotional milestone even though participants were isolated from each other and from faculty and mentors because of social distancing requirements. The ceremony also included 11 students receiving a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences degree through FSU’s Bridge to Clinical Medicine program. Those students are now part of the Class of 2024, scheduled to begin medical school at Florida State next week.

Myron Rolle, a former star defensive back at Florida State and 2017 College of Medicine alumnus, has received nearly the same amount of high-profile attention for his work on the frontlines of fighting COVID-19 than he did playing football, wrote Pete Thamel of Yahoo! Sports.

Florida State University’s Office of Research will allocate over $400,000 to fund 26 interdisciplinary projects that address questions related to COVID-19.

Like many others, second-year med students Vinita Akula and Gabby Cintron were overwhelmed and anxious in response to unrelenting and ever-changing news and headlines at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an effort to offset the anger, sadness and stress felt across the globe, the duo created a website, “Kindness amid the Coronavirus ,” to highlight and share positive stories. The website collects and tracks user-submitted stories and displays them in a map.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found less than 20% of black workers and roughly 16% of Hispanic ones are able to telecommute. About two-thirds of employed Hispanic adults say they would not get paid if the coronavirus caused them to miss work for two weeks or more, a Pew Research Center survey found. "The very people we rely on to do many essential services are disposable hourly workers living in crowded conditions," says Leslie M. Beitsch, chair of behavioral sciences and social medicine at Florida State University College of Medicine. "Were asking that very group to take on essential tasks in a time of great need."

As Florida relaxes restrictions meant to keep people at home, some area doctors are warning against heading back to work or shopping right away. “The big message is to please, please, please, continue to stay home,” said FSU College of Medicine Assistant Professor Christie Alexander, who is also president of the Florida Academy of Family Physicians.

Florida Keys News asked public health experts - including Les Beitsch, chair of the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine at the FSU College of Medicine - to weigh in on Florida's reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic. “Once you reopen, it’s difficult to have a time out. It creates a serious concern about people’s trust in their leadership,” Beitsch said. “And if you’re incorrect, the consequences could be catastrophic.”

The Tampa Bay Times asked public health experts to weigh in on Florida's reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic. Les Beitsch, chair of the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine at the FSU College of Medicine, shared some concerns about low testing levels and discussed how public sentiment may have an impact.

College of Medicine alumna Remi Omotayo (M.D. '19) shares her experience as an OB-GYN resident during the COVID-19 pandemic.

An article from the South Florida Sun Sentinel reads, "The stakes are high as state and local officials puzzle over when to ease coronavirus restrictions: open too quickly and Florida risks a deadly second wave, open too late and the chance of economic recovery gets smothered." Les Beitsch, chair of the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine at the College of Medicine cautions against opening too soon.

Seniors graduating from high school and college are missing out on milestones and recognition amid the coronavirus pandemic and "safer-at-home" orders. Ludmila De faria, a psychiatrist and clerkship faculty member with the College of Medicine, discusses the impact this may have on seniors, and what parents can do to help their children cope.

FSU's Innovation Hub has become the center of an effort to help outfit health care workers battling COVID-19. Instead of student projects, the printers are cranking out face shields that project organizers are donating to local medical facilities. “The Hub slogan — ‘empathize, ideate, build’ — is a handy one here,” said Emily Pritchard, a research faculty member with the College of Medicine and one of the organizers of the project.

The creative minds working through the Innovation Hub at Florida State University are using their talents to produce face shields to help protect those on the front lines during the coronavirus pandemic. Emily Pritchard, a research faculty member with the College of Medicine, is one of the organizers.

As millions of moms and dads in COVID-19’s stay-at-home Florida wonder what to do next, Florida State University education experts are offering resources to help parents-turned-teaching-assistants make good choices. An activity book developed by the Center for Child Stress and Health, a part of the College of Medicine’s Immokalee Health Education Site, educates children about COVID-19. It’s intended to help parents speak with young children about the virus and to give children tips on how to cope with all of the changes brought on by the outbreak.

An article from WFSU discusses the difficulties many face when grappling with the realities of the coronavirus pandemic. College of Medicine Dean John P. Fogarty commented on international resources and the potential reopening of the economy.

As parents and their children grapple with the changes brought on by COVID-19, Ludmila De faria, a psychiatrist and College of Medicine clerkship faculty member, comments on helping children and teens who may be missing out on big milestones due to stay-at-home orders.

During FSU's annual Student Employee of the Year Awards ceremony, Devyn Wallin, a senior editing, writing & media student from Oviedo, Florida, received the Artes (Skill) Award. It recognizes the student employee who best demonstrates critical thinking skills in the workplace. She was nominated by the College of Medicine Public Affairs and Communications Office.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, College of Medicine alumni Will Stross (M.D. ’16) and Staci Biegner (M.D. ’17) tied the knot in a simple, social distancing, backyard wedding ceremony at their home in Jacksonville on April 18. Family, friends and other well-wishers held a car parade in their honor.

Florida State University will stream a virtual commencement ceremony for its spring graduates Saturday, May 2. The College of Medicine, which will graduate 114 new medical doctors, has scheduled a virtual commencement ceremony for 10 a.m. Saturday, May 16. The ceremony will be live streamed at med.fsu.edu. 

Medical and nursing students in Florida are unable to complete work in clinical settings due to the coronavirus pandemic. Many faculty members already make use of technology in lieu of clinical training, but they know it’s no substitute for the real thing.

“There really is nothing that can replace the real contact with a real patient,” said Dr. John Fogarty, dean of the Florida State University College of Medicine. “Quite frankly, reading a book and going through a case just doesn’t have the imprint on your psyche.”

For Matthew Khayata, a 2017 FSU College of Medicine alumnus, a lifelong interest in working with infants, toddlers, and adolescents, combined with the complex, problem-solving nature of neurology led him to pursue a residency in child neurology at Duke. He talks about his responsibilities as a neurology resident, impacts of COVID-19 and what he misses most about Florida.

Sarasota Memorial Hospital is one of a handful of hospitals in the country doing clinical trials to help find a cure for COVID-19. SMH will partner with the Suncoast Blood Centers, which will collect and provide the donated plasma for this FDA-approved trial. Sarasota Memorial Hospital - Florida State University Internal Medicine resident physicians will collaborate with the SMH Clinical Research Team to help gather data to conduct this research.

Alumnus Myron Rolle (M.D. '17) has volunteered for shifts in the COVID-19 surge clinic at Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital. He shares his experience and the parallels he's drawn from football.

Like everyone else, College of Medicine alumnus Myron Rolle’s (M.D. '17) normal life has been put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic. His floor at Mass. General has been transformed into an emergency COVID-19 ward, as doctors and healthcare professionals exchange their usual hospital roles to help deal with the crisis.

As of Tuesday, March 31, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had not yet issued a “stay-at-home” order to stem the spread of the coronavirus. “I would be doing a stay-at-home order” across the state, said Les Beitsch, chair of the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine at the College of Medicine. “It tells people this is serious and we are doing something unprecedented.”

As the novel coronavirus continues to spread across the United States, the belief that the flu vaccine can cause people to test positive for coronavirus is circulating. Since coronavirus isn't in the flu shot, the shot won't give anyone symptoms of the coronavirus or cause them to test positive, said Associate Professor Christie Alexander.

As of Tuesday, March 31, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had not yet issued a “stay-at-home” order to stem the spread of the coronavirus. “I would be doing a stay-at-home order” across the state, said Les Beitsch, chair of the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine at the College of Medicine. “It tells people this is serious and we are doing something unprecedented.”

As a third-year neurosurgery resident, Myron Rolle's (M.D., '17) life is typical of doctors across the country
during this time of crisis. “Our neurosurgical floor has been transformed into a floor just full of COVID-19
patients," he told ESPN last week. “It is hectic, that’s for sure.”

Monday, March 30 is National Doctors' Day. Read the perspectives of four local doctors watching and working as the COVID-19 epidemic unfolds. College of Medicine professor and director of FSU's Center for Medicine and Public Health, George Rust, is featured.

An article from The New Yorker discusses the impacts coronavirus is having on feelings of isolation around the globe due to self-isolation efforts. It cites research from Associate Professor Angelina Sutin, who found that loneliness is associated with a 40% increase in the risk of dementia.

Graduating students in the Florida State University College of Medicine Class of 2020 were notified where they will enter residency training this summer. The traditional Match Day Ceremony just took place a little bit differently this year.

According to new data released from U.S. News & World Report, Florida State University's medical school is the most selective in the country with a 2.2% acceptance rate in fall 2019.

Three of Florida’s largest universities have canceled their Match Day, a highly anticipated event set for March 20 where future doctors at schools nationwide learn where they will train as residents. FSU med students will still get envelopes containing their residency locations, but they will open them at smaller events on the school’s regional campuses rather than in a big group inside the main campus’ Ruby Diamond Concert Hall.

Researchers from FSU suggest practicing the Argentine tango could provide useful relief for Parkinson's patients. A College of Medicine Summer Research Fellowship helped the research team complete its project.

“This is a perfect example of why we encourage our medical students to explore research opportunities,” College of Medicine Dean John P. Fogarty said. “It makes them better physicians, and it can make life better for their patients.”