In case you missed them, here are some recent news items about the College of Medicine.
- The FSU College of Medicine is partnering with the St. Joe Company and Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare to build a health care campus in Panama City Beach. The news was announced April 8 in a release from the St. Joe Company. The health campus is planned to complement the Latitude Margaritaville Watersound community, a "55-and-better community" underway by St. Joe and its partners. The letter of intent involves the three parties planning and developing the campus to initially include an ambulatory and urgent care center.
The “health campus” should not be confused with the College of Medicine’s six existing regional campuses and its community-based model. Nothing changes about the college’s regional campus system, though the new “health campus” with St. Joe and TMH will provide for some clinical education opportunities for students and residents.
Future development includes building an emergency center and 100-bed inpatient medical center offering services such as gastroenterology, urology, gynecology, cardiology and general surgery, among others.
Tallahassee Democrat: FSU Medicine, TMH, St. Joe Co. bringing medical campus to Panama City Beach
Panama City News-Herald: Area officials ecstatic over plans for new Panama City Beach medical campus
WJHG: More details emerge on collaborative Panama City Beach health care campus (video)
WMBB: The St. Joe Company to build a major healthcare campus in Panama City Beach (video)
- Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and the Florida State University College of Medicine are also discussing the establishment of an academic medical center, which would strengthen the 20-year relationship between the two institutions.
Tallahassee Democrat: TMH, FSU College of Medicine in discussions to establish 'academic medical center'
- New research from Professor of Geriatrics Antonio Terracciano has found that the personality trait neuroticism is consistently associated with a higher risk of developing the brain disorder Parkinson’s disease.
The Hill.com: New study finds factor that increases your risk of Parkinson's by 80 percent
Medical News Today: Parkinson's disease: Does neuroticism increase risk?
ScienMag.com: FSU College of Medicine research links Parkinson’s disease and neuroticism
Medical Xpress: Research links Parkinson’s disease and neuroticism
- Savion Harris, a Crestview High School student in the College of Medicine’s SSTRIDE pipeline program, was at work when he performed life-saving CPR on a 6-month-old baby in March. His story was featured in People magazine as well as the local news.
People: Fla. Teen Saves Baby's Life After Learning CPR in High School: 'It Was Extremely Intense'
- FSU’s graduate and professional programs continue to rank among the best in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 edition of “Best Graduate Schools.” The College of Medicine tied for No. 13 in diversity and ranked No. 13 for percent of graduates practicing direct patient care in health professional shortage areas. The college also came in at No. 42 in primary-care production.
The college also topped the list of the 10 med schools with the lowest acceptance rates.
FSU News: FSU shines in latest U.S. News graduate school rankings
Tallahassee Democrat: FSU's graduate and professional programs place high in national rankings
U.S. News & World Report: 10 med schools with the lowest acceptance rates
- Thirteen interdisciplinary medical sciences undergraduates were among 236 Florida State University students inducted into the Garnet & Gold Scholar Society during a virtual ceremony on Thursday, April 22.
Thirteen IMS students inducted into Garnet & Gold Scholar Society
- The College of Medicine’s Chapman Community Health Program made its way to Maryland Oaks Crossing during Easter weekend to serve families and host a holiday event with kids. The group told WCTV that they were hoping to bring some cheer to families during difficult times.
- 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.
AAMC.org: COVID-19’s emotional impact: Medical students cope with isolation
- Fourth-year medical student Ian Motie was on the American Medical Association's COVID-19 update panel providing insights about the pandemic. He and other medical students shared their stories about getting involved in advocacy and the power of students to shape health care policy during the pandemic and beyond.
AMA-assn.org: The power of medical student advocacy (video)
- Roughly one year ago, Floridians saw their worlds flipped upside down as Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the stay-at-home executive order. Associate Professor Christie Alexander says the past year has taught us a lot. “Just looking back, it’s just incredible to think about the number of things that of happened in one year and how far we’ve come, but yet how far left we have to go,” she said in an interview with WCTV.
WCTV: Locals remember one year anniversary of stay-at-home order (video)
- Alexander also did interviews with WCTV to answer more COVID-19 questions, to discuss the importance of staying COVID-19-vigilant, and to provide insight on fallout from the pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
WCTV: Dr. Christie Alexander answers more coronavirus questions - Feb. 26, 2021 (video)
WCTV: Christie Alexander on staying COVID-19-vigilant: wear masks, socially distance and abide by safety guidelines (video)
WCTV: Local experts talk fallout from J&J vaccine pause (video)
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that more than a third of all Walmart stores in Florida would begin distributing COVID-19 vaccines on Friday, Feb. 12. Alexander commented on how the move increased accessibly to the vaccine and put less of a strain on hospital systems.
WESH2: Walmart to begin distributing vaccines in Florida this week (video)
- The Leon County Sheriff's Office is going all-in for this year's Autism Awareness Month in April with a partnership with Florida State University's Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (FSU CARD). LCSO is participating in FSU CARD's "Autism Spectrum Disorder and Law Enforcement: Recognition and Response" training for the second year in a row.
WTXL: LCSO partners with FSU CARD to promote autism awareness (video)
- 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.
TC Palm: Behind the needle: Dr. Heidi McNaney-Flint gives the COVID-19 vaccine on her own time
- Florida A&M University’s Al Lawson Center vaccinated 278 people on Monday, April 5 — the first day all adults in Florida were eligible to receive COVID vaccines. As more people line up to get vaccinated, there's a new question; just how long will the shot keep them protected. The CDC says six months of protection are guaranteed. Daniel Van Durme, senior associate dean for clinical and community affairs, says as scientists collect more data, that number could grow.
- 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.
FSU News: Podcasts across FSU’s campus foster connections during the COVID-19 pandemic
- FSU researchers have found that the Argentine Tango, a type of dance, can help those living with balance disorders like Parkinson’s Disease reduce their risk of falling and improve their quality of life. College of Medicine Professor Gerry Maitland says the university has completed more than 50 research studies on Parkinson’s over the last 15 years, but a study like this one has never been done.
WCTV: FSU researchers put tango to the test as a treatment for Parkinson’s (video)
Parkinson’s News Today: Dancing the tango may reduce fall risk, help with balance
- Sylvie Naar, director of the Center for Translational Behavioral Science, is a co-principal investigator on a one-year, $765,000 research grant awarded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Naar part of team landing NIH grant to study obesity in Black adolescents and their caregivers
- Nearly a half-million people a year die from sudden cardiac death 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). Stephen Chelko, an assistant professor of biomedical sciences at the College of Medicine, has developed a better understanding of the pathological characteristics behind the disease, as well as promising avenues for prevention.
Medical Xpress: Mental wellness may be important prevention factor for sudden death in genetic heart disease
Technology.org: Researcher develops new possibilities to prevent sudden cardiac death
- Jose Pinto, associate professor of biomedical sciences at the College of Medicine, teamed up with researchers from Eastern Virginia Medical School and the University of Virginia and made an important discovery regarding a tiny muscle filament in the heart. The research was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
FSU News: Key research advance could spawn new treatments for heart diseases
Cardiovascular business: Researchers make history, identify new details about the beating heart
FSView: FSU researchers explore cardiomyopathy prevention in the heart
Tallahassee Democrat: FSU research part of discovery that could lead to new treatments for heart disease
- The second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine may cause more side-effects than the first dose. Common side-effects include chills, fever, and fatigue. Zucai Suo, the Dorian and John Blackmon Chair in Biomedical Science at the College of Medicine, helped explain why.
Verywell Health: Why your symptoms may be worse after your second COVID-19 shot
- In early March, the COVID-19 vaccination rate remained low among Black and Hispanic Floridians. College of Medicine Professor Les Beitsch commented on the disproportionate burden COVID-19 has placed on underserved communities.
South Florida Sun Sentinel: Who is getting the vaccine? Disparities persist.
- Beitsch was also quoted in a Sarasota Herald-Tribune article about criticisms surrounding Florida’s pop-up vaccine clinics.
Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida’s pop-up vaccine clinics raise ethical concerns
- An article from Newsweek explored the El Chaparral migrant camp in Tijuana, Mexico. About 25% of the camp residents are children. The article tells the stories of some of those children and the adults who teach and care for them. Elena Reyes, director of the Center for Child Stress & Health at the College of Medicine, commented on the opening of a new school that offers the children routine and a safe place to go.
Newsweek: Asylum seekers struggle to keep kids safe and learning in Tijuana tent city
- On March 19, Graduating M.D. students in the College of Medicine's Class of 2021 learned where they will enter residency training this summer.
FSU News: Florida State University College of Medicine announces Match Day results
Tallahassee Democrat: FSU College of Medicine students meet their match in virtual lottery
- Eight new family medicine residents will begin their training at Lee Health through the Florida State University College of Medicine’s family medicine residency program.
South Florida Hospital News: Lee Health welcomes eight new resident physicians on Match Day 2021
- 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.
FSU News: Dance Marathon at Florida State University raises $1.47M during first-ever hybrid event
- The American Academy of HIV Medicine strongly supports the reintroduction of the HIV Epidemic Loan-Repayment Program (HELP) Act. The bill would bring up to $250,000 in loan repayment over five years to physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists and dentists for providing HIV care and treatment-related services. Jonathan Appelbaum, the Academy’s board chair and chair of Clinical Sciences at the College of Medicine, commented on the importance of the bill.
AAHIVM.org: AAHIVM applauds the reintroduction of the HELP Act
- Local churches from Gadsden and Leon counties celebrated Heart Month in March 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 Alma Littles and Joedrecka Brown Speights from the College of Medicine.
Tallahassee Democrat: Local churches celebrate Heart Month with Virtual Leadership Institute
- Alice Pomidor, a geriatrician and professor at the College of Medicine, commented on a Forbes article discussing the safety of older drivers.
Forbes: Senior drivers are safer than previously thought
- Pomidor also spoke to MoneyGeek.com about when older adults should stop driving. She commented on specific challenges seniors face behind the wheel, methods for easing a senior driver off the road, and other useful tips.
MoneyGeek.com: Safe driving guide for seniors and older adult drivers
- 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. 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.
Fort Myers Florida Weekly: Addiction prescription
- 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 as a measure to address the opioid epidemic.
Orlando Sentinel: Needle-exchange program vital for Orange County
- 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 [Rust] 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 Rust to devote his career to understanding disparities and making health equity a reality for minority and disadvantaged populations."
AHRQ: Grantee Profile: George Rust - Understanding disparities in the search for equity
- On Tuesday, Feb. 2, Florida State University (in partnership with the Leon County Department of Health) began offering 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.