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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.”

Dance Marathon at Florida State University raised $1,941,368.54 for Children’s Miracle Network, falling short of last year’s $2,210,165.21. DM at FSU announced the grand total at the Total Reveal Ceremony on March 8 after the weekend-long event. The money is donated to Florida State University's College of Medicine, to benefit pediatric programs and Shands Children’s Hospital. 

Alex Ho, an emergency medicine physician at TMH and FSU College of Medicine clerkship faculty member, said people are appropriately concerned about the coronavirus, but it's important to remember most patients will have mild symptoms, adding they'll be able to take care of themselves if they test positive. 

Florida State University researchers working in an international collaboration have identified new genetic variants that cause heart disease in infants, and their research has led to novel insights into the role of a protein that affects how the heart pumps blood. It is a discovery that could lead to new treatments for people suffering from heart disease.

Florida State University researchers working in an international collaboration have identified new genetic variants that cause heart disease in infants, and their research has led to novel insights into the role of a protein that affects how the heart pumps blood. It is a discovery that could lead to new treatments for people suffering from heart disease.

WCTV encouraged its viewers to send in their questions about the COVID-19 coronavirus. The FSU College of Medicine's Christie Alexander joined WCTV on Friday, March 6 to answer those questions.

For the 25^th consecutive year, hundreds of students are set to dance the night away in the name of charity as Dance Marathon at Florida State University marks its silver anniversary March, 6. Proceeds from the marathon and the related fundraisers are split evenly between the FSU College of Medicine Pediatric Outreach Program and UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital.

In a paper published in Nature Cell Biology, Associate Professor Timothy Megraw and colleagues explore how molecules and information use well-organized highways to travel in an out of a cell - and the effect misdirected traffic can have on organs.

In a paper published in the journal Nature Cell Biology, Florida State University College of Medicine Associate Professor Timothy Megraw and colleagues provide an understanding of how microtubules - information highways in a cell - are assembled and organized. They also identify a mechanism that keeps them flowing smoothly.

Mayo Clinic Florida and Florida State University announced a collaborative education effort Feb. 25 to attract and retain talent in the biomedical field.

Florida State University and the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville have entered a partnership designed to provide educational, research and entrepreneurial
advancements.

Sen. Travis Hutson (R-Palm Coast) wants to create state rules for clinics that offer stem-cell products and treatments. His proposal would require such clinics to be licensed by the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA). FSU College of Medicine Professor Cathy Levenson commented on the importance of regulation.

FSU President John Thrasher and Mayo Clinic representatives signed an agreement on Tuesday, Feb. 25 in Jacksonville to attract and retain top talent in the biomedical field. The collaborative education efforts will focus on medical innovation and promote a market-driven approach to create a highly trained workforce focused on taking medical technology from the research space to clinical practice.

FSU President John Thrasher and Mayo Clinic representatives signed an agreement on Tuesday, Feb. 25 in Jacksonville to attract and retain top talent in the biomedical field. The collaborative education efforts will focus on medical innovation and promote a market-driven approach to create a highly trained workforce focused on taking medical technology from the research space to clinical practice.

For the second year in a row, PremierMED Family & Sports Medicine in Ocoee was named to the Seminole 100 list, announced Feb. 25. The practice is co-owned by 2007 FSU College of Medicine M.D. alumni Adam Langley and Gary Visser. The annual list recognizes 100 of the fastest-growing businesses owned or led by FSU alumni. The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, in Florida State University’s College of Business, compiles the list.

A group of researchers, led by College of Medicine Professor Zucai Suo, have revealed the mode of action of two HIV drugs and identified how resistance can develop, which they say could lead to improved drug design in the future.