The rise in popularity of podcasts is a trend that’s hit Florida State University, especially as the campus community looks for ways to stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beyond the Diagnosis is a podcast from the FSU Chapman Chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society that seeks to answer questions about the relationship between structural factors and health. With each episode, join FSU med students Edward Corty and Richard Wu as they dive into a topic that shapes the lives and health of patients and communities.

Heidi McNaney-Flint, an OB-GYN and College of Medicine clerkship director for the Fort Pierce Regional Campus, was featured in a TC Palm article for donating her time to administer COVID-19 vaccines.

In an AAMC article, first- and second- year medical students shared how the lack of personal contact with peers and professors takes a toll, and how faculty and fellow classmates are helping them cope. Comments from second-year College of Medicine student Daniel Alban were included in addition to comments from Cheryl Porter, assistant dean for student counseling. AAMC also highlighted the College of Medicine's check-in process in which staff provide students with cleaning supplies.

Amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dance Marathon at Florida State University raised more than $1.47 million during its first-ever hybrid event March 5-7. Roughly half of Dance Marathon's funds raised are donated to the College of Medicine's pediatric outreach programs.

Local churches from Gadsden and Leon counties celebrated Heart Month recently via a Virtual Leadership Institute. In total, 45 churches are involved in Health for Hearts United, an initiative implemented in conjunction with FSU and other universities. The program included a medical update on “COVID-19: Building Your Immunity & The Vaccine” presented by Dr. Alma Littles and Dr. Joedrecka Brown-Speights from the FSU College of Medicine.

The COVID-19 vaccination rate remains low among Black and Hispanic Floridians despite initiatives announced by Gov. Ron DeSantis to bring more shots to underserved communities. The Federal Emergency Management Agency plans to open four mass vaccination sites in Florida with one at Miami Dade College’s North Campus and the others in Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville. Around each site, two mobile units will go into nearby underserved areas and give out 500 vaccinations a day. College of Medicine Professor Les Beitsch commented on the disproportionate burden COVID-19 has placed on underserved communities.

While opioids are known for being addictive and deadly, many physicians also know they can be invaluable drugs used to treat acute and chronic pain and, when carefully managed, can improve the quality of life for people 65 and older. More than one in four Medicare prescription drug beneficiaries are prescribed opioids for pain, and Medicare beneficiaries have become addicted to the drugs at a faster rate than any other age group, notes the Fort Myers Florida Weekly. 

Michael Gloth, a Naples-based geriatrician and clerkship faculty member at the College of Medicine, commented on the opioid crisis and the difficulty of prescribing opioids for pain.

Nearly a half-million people a year die from sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the U.S. — the result of malfunctions in the heart’s electrical system.

A leading cause of SCD in young athletes is arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), a genetic disease in which healthy heart muscle is replaced over time by scar tissue (fibrosis) and fat. Stephen Chelko, an assistant professor of biomedical sciences at the Florida State University College of Medicine, has developed a better understanding of the pathological characteristics behind the disease, as well as promising avenues for prevention. His findings are published in the current issue of Science Translational Medicine.

Stephen Chelko, Ph.D., an assistant professor of biomedical sciences, surveyed patients with genetic heart diseases about their stress levels during annual clinical follow-ups. They found that those with higher levels of perceived psychosocial stress showed a strong correlation with clinical symptoms as measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging or electrocardiogram.

The second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine may cause more symptoms than the first dose like chills, fever, and fatigue. Zucai Suo, professor of biomedical science at the College of Medicine, helps explain why.

Nearly a half-million people a year die from sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the U.S. — the result of malfunctions in the heart’s electrical system.

A leading cause of SCD in young athletes is arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), a genetic disease in which healthy heart muscle is replaced over time by scar tissue (fibrosis) and fat.

Stephen Chelko, an assistant professor of biomedical sciences at the Florida State University College of Medicine, has developed a better understanding of the pathological characteristics behind the disease, as well as promising avenues for prevention.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality profiled George Rust, professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine. It reads, in part, "Working in medically underserved communities revealed to George Rust, M.D., M.P.H., that care processes developed in tightly controlled research settings don’t always work in what he calls 'the messiness of the real world.' This realization led Dr. Rust to devote his career to understanding disparities and making health equity a reality for minority and disadvantaged populations."

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that more than a third of all Walmart stores in Florida will begin distributing COVID-19 vaccines on Friday, Feb. 12.

"Walmarts are closer to the population that are more at risk of getting severe illness from COVID-19, those with multiple cormorbidities that would be more at risk if they came down with COVID-19," said Associate Professor Christie Alexander. "So the fact that Walmart serves those populations and those populations can get their vaccine more easily will decrease the effect on our hospital systems as well."

On Tuesday, Feb. 2, Florida State University in partnership with the Leon County Department of Health began offering the Tucker Center to provide vaccines to those 65 and older who had previously registered and were on a waiting list to get their first shots. James Zedaker, director of the Physician Assistant program at the College of Medicine and director of university projects for health and emergency operations, commented on the vaccination plan.

In an Orlando Sentinel op-ed piece, Florida State University College of Medicine student Ian Motie advocates for the adoption of a needle-exchange program in Orange County, Fla. as a measure to address the opioid epidemic.

The FDA has approved an injectable drug, Cabenuva, for the treatment of HIV in adults, giving patients the ability to opt for monthly shots rather than daily pills. Jonathan Appelbaum, chair of the Department of Clinical Sciences, commented on the potential use of the drug for HIV prevention.

The American Heart Association sponsors “American Heart Month” every February as a strategy for increasing heart disease awareness and promoting prevention at home and in the community. In conjunction with Heart Month, National Heart Failure Awareness Week takes place Feb. 14 – 20.

Florida State University experts, including the College of Medicine's Judy Delp and Stephen Chelko, are available to comment on a variety of topics related to heart disease awareness and self-care after heart failure.

Zucai Suo, an eminent professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, was quoted in a WTXL article about the UK COVID-19 variant. This variant specifically is more contagious than the original virus because it enters the immune system faster and without much effort, said Suo.

Zucai Suo, an eminent professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, commented on the effectiveness of existing COVID-19 vaccines against a new variant of the virus. He says changing the vaccine formula can be done relatively easily.

When the virus evolves to evade an immune response, "we need to tweak our immune system and the only way to do it is tweak the vaccine," he said.

“With more information, we could figure out ways to mitigate side effects,” said Dr. Zucai Suo, a professor of biomedical science at Florida State University. “We don’t have a clear picture of which things might be going wrong. At the moment, I’m not sure what this population is experiencing is any different a reaction than if you gave them the placebo.”

As COVID-19 vaccine distribution continues, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) currently recognizes three dominant variants of the virus found in the United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa. Zucai Suo, an Eminent Professor and Dorian and John Blackmon chair in Biomedical Science at Florida State University is researching the accuracy of the COVID-19 replications or mutations. 

Sarasota Memorial Hospital held a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at its Internal Medicine clinic in Newtown, which houses an FSU College of Medicine internal medicine residency program.

Employees and students 65 and over began receiving the COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday, Jan. 13, at Florida State University. “This is a true example of what can come together through collaborative partnerships,” said Dr. James C. Zedaker, director of the PA program who is also leading the university’s testing and vaccination programs.

Employees and students 65 and over began receiving the COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday, Jan. 13, at Florida State University. “This is a true example of what can come together through collaborative partnerships,” said Dr. James C. Zedaker, director of the PA program who is also leading the university’s testing and vaccination programs.

Karen Geletko, research faculty member in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, was featured in WalletHub's article about the cost of smoking by state. She spoke about effective strategies to quit, the regulation of e-cigarettes, and how state and local authorities can encourage people to quit smoking.

Read the full article.

Patients with multidrug-resistant HIV currently make up a smaller but still challenging part of the population living with HIV. With careful monitoring and new drugs coming, providers can still help their patients. Jonathan Appelbaum, a professor and the chair of the Department of Clinical Sciences at Florida State University College of Medicine, commented on the new drugs.

To date, the United States has witnessed more than 356,000 deaths over the past eleven months of the pandemic—by far the highest total for any country worldwide. Fifteen medical experts including the FSU College of Medicine's Daniel J. Van Durme, chief medical officer of the Florida State University COVID Program and senior associate dean for clinical and community affairs,  spoke to The National Interest about what to expect next.

The COVID-19 pandemic’s worst months could still be ahead as a variant found in the United Kingdom has been identified in a handful of states across the country. The new strain has doctors worried.

“It’s more transmissible; it appears in people under the age of 20 and more transmissible in children,” said Michael Muszynski, former dean of the College of Medicine's Orlando Regional Campus.

An article from the Tampa Bay Times discusses the confusion surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine - including who is eligible, and where they can be distributed. 

College of Medicine Professor Leslie Beitsch, a former Oklahoma commissioner of health and former deputy secretary for the Florida Department of Health, said that while state and local officials must “do better” with vaccine rollout and communications, the public must also have patience.

College of Medicine Professor Zucai Suo was quoted in an article about the COVID-19 vaccination plan. The first phase of COVID-19 vaccine distribution will prioritize healthcare workers, residents of assisted living facilities, essential workers, adults ages 65 and older, and adults with high-risk medical conditions, in that order. It began in December and will likely run until April, May, or June, after which members of the general population may be eligible for vaccination.

For caregivers of loved ones with dementia, holidays can often bring on additional confusion and anxiety.

ACTS 2 coordinators and past participants want to remind caregivers that the 2020 holidays can still be meaningful, calm and enjoyable for loved ones with dementia, their family care partners, and extended families. ACTS 2 – shorthand for African-American Alzheimer’s Caregiver Training and Support Project 2 – offers free, faith-based, skills-training and support for caregivers and is housed at the Florida State University College of Medicine.

Assistant Professor Martina Luchetti, who studied loneliness and perceived support this year during stay-at-home orders, commented on the human need for connection amid COVID-19 in a Psychology Today article.

For the fifth consecutive year, Florida State University employees claimed a total of 14 Florida TaxWatch Productivity Awards, the most by any institution in the State University System. The Florida TaxWatch Productivity Awards recognize and reward state employees and workgroups who find ways to improve services, increase efficiencies and save Florida taxpayers millions of dollars each year.

The College of Medicine's database administrator, Andres Castaneda, won the award for increased efficiency related to the college's student applications. 

Federal approval of an emergency use authorization for Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine is imminent, and shipments could go out to states, including Florida, for local distribution just days later. There are dozens of coronavirus vaccines being tested. But of the two that the federal government is funding — Pfizer and Moderna — both are very similar. Florida State University infectious disease expert and former Orlando Regional Campus Dean Michael Muszynski says because both were made using similar manufacturing methods, and both show a high level of effectiveness — about 95% — he says people really have no reason to prefer one or the other and should get the one that’s available to them first.

In recognition of his decades-long contributions to the biomedical field both through academia and the corporate world, Assistant Vice President for Research Eric Holmes has been named to the National Academy of Inventors.

College of Medicine Professor Zucai Suo was quoted in an article about the COVID-19 vaccination plan and viability of the vaccine.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health & Human Services aim to release new dietary guidelines by the end of 2020. For the first time, the guidelines are mandated to include dietary recommendations from birth to 24 months and for women who are pregnant or lactating.

Ahead of the release of the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, Joan Younger Meek, dean of the College of Medicine's Orlando Regional Campus, discussed parts of the scientific report at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics, held virtually this year.

Florida State University College of Medicine Professor Zucai Suo is available to comment on the development of a COVID-19 vaccine.

In exchange for a full-ride through medical school, first-year student Sheena Chege has promised to practice primary care in a medically underserved community for four years after residency.

The College of Medicine will celebrate its 20th anniversary on Friday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. with a virtual ceremony.

It has been two decades since the Florida State University College of Medicine was established.

The college will commemorate its 20th anniversary with a virtual ceremony Friday, Nov. 6. The event will recognize Myra Hurt, who served as the college’s acting dean when it opened, and the college’s Hall of Fame Class of 2020. The event also will serve as a virtual reunion for alumni.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, social-distancing regulations have pushed individuals into isolation rather than proximate relationships. In an interview with Psychology Today, Assistant Professor Martina Luchetti sheds light on her research on how social support and human resilience have overcome increased loneliness despite the regulations.

The Florida State University College of Medicine Family Medicine Residency at BayCare Health System in Winter Haven welcomed its inaugural class of residents this summer.  

The first six residents of the Winter Haven program – Dr. Marvin Dieujuste, from Fort Lauderdale; Dr. Brian Greene, from Reno, NV; Dr. Feisal Hamam, from Paterson, N.J.; Dr. Trevor Owens from Cocoa; Dr. Ravi Patel from Bonifay and Dr. Dianna Pham, who was raised in Winter Haven – are learning more about the family medicine specialty during a three-year stint.

"We wanted people with strong medical knowledge, but they also need to have a passion for caring for the whole person. They also have to be a good team player who is able to interact well with everyone, from pharmacists to nurses and everyone on the patient journey," said founding program director Nathan Falk.

Dance Marathon at Florida State University hosted its sixth annual Florida Statement fundraising push on Oct. 27. Florida Statement took place over the course of 26.2 hours with a goal of raising $424,000.

At the center of this year’s Florida Statement is Leon county and its surrounding counties and the medical needs provided by DM at FSU through FSU’s College of Medicine Pediatric Outreach Program.

Cardiologist Lensey Scott, a 2006 M.D. graduate of the FSU College of Medicine, recently joined the team at Baptist Health Heart Institute/Arkansas Cardiology-Conway.

Tallahassee clerkship faculty member Ronald Saff was quoted in a Healthline article about knowing the difference between allergy symptoms, COVID-19 and wildfire smoke irritation.

The College of Medicine's M.D. Class of 2024 will receive their white coats during a virtual ceremony on Friday, Oct. 16.

Sanjay Kumar, an associate professor in the College of Medicine’s Department of Biomedical Sciences, and his team are paving the way toward finding effective therapies for this disease.

He and his team found a mechanism in the brain responsible for triggering epileptic seizures. Their research indicates that an amino acid known as D-serine could work with the mechanism to help prevent epileptic seizures, thereby also preventing the death of neural cells that accompanies them.

A team of researchers from the Florida State University College of Medicine has found that an amino acid produced by the brain could play a crucial role in preventing a type of epileptic seizure. Temporal lobe epileptic seizures are debilitating and can cause lasting damage in patients, including neuronal death and loss of neuron function. Sanjay Kumar, an associate professor in the College of Medicine’s Department of Biomedical Sciences, and his team are paving the way toward finding effective therapies for this disease.

When the pandemic hit, mental health professionals predicted lockdowns and social distancing would result in a wave of loneliness. But researchers who study loneliness, including the College of Medicine's Angelina Sutin, say that hasn't happened.

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