By Audrey Post
FSU College of Medicine

The Florida State University College of Medicine honored Hippocrates in multiple ways Friday as it celebrated the M.D. Class of 2026 in the college’s Chapman Wellness Garden. 

First, it presented the annual Hippocratic Award, which honors a faculty member for exhibiting the ideals of humility, service, integrity and dedication to both patients and the next generation of physicians. This year’s recipient is Dr. Fawn Harrison, director of the pediatrics clerkship program at the Sarasota Regional Campus.

Then, it dedicated a bust of the “father of medicine” that had been installed in the garden last fall, recognizing several people who helped make it happen. The outdoor ceremony was part of a full afternoon of celebration at the college for the 121 students who were  graduating the next day at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. 

Full list of awards and winners 

As Dean Alma Littles, M.D., explained to the crowd gathered in the garden, medical school students, faculty and staff are quite familiar with the Hippocrates’ contributions to medicine. For those not quite so immersed, she offered a brief primer:

“Around 400 B.C., Hippocrates elevated the practice of medicine from its foundations in witchcraft, sorcery and religious curses to a practice based in nature, science and observation,” she said. “He rejected the idea that diseases are punishments from the gods and introduced the notion that they had natural, environmental or lifestyle-driven causes.”

He also believed that given proper diet, enough rest and gentle treatment, the body has an innate ability to heal itself, she said. Ancient wisdom indeed.

Nicole Uthuppan, a vice president of the M.D. Class of 2026 representing the Sarasota campus, said it was a privilege to present the award to Harrison.

“Students consistently described how Dr. Harrison gives every patient and family her full attention, never rushing through encounters, and always making them feel heard, respected, and cared for,” Uthuppan said. 

“There is passion, not obligation, in every role she serves. Whether she is caring for underserved children, mentoring students, leading clerkship education or supporting someone during one of the  most difficult moments of their career journey, she consistently goes far beyond what is required of her.”

Harrison, who graduated with the college’s inaugural class in 2005 and was inducted into the FSU Medical Alumni Hall of Fame in 2021, was obviously humbled hearing those words. She thanked everyone, and her advice was “to give a little piece of your heart to every person you meet.”

As the topic shifted to the sculpture dedication, Littles thanked FSU’s Master Craftsman Studio for installing the bust last October. She also thanked Michael and Linda Dodson, whose $25,000 donation enabled the college to commission artist Vangelis Ilias to sculp the bust in Athens, Greece. 

Michael Dodson, who helps teach medical and PA students how to interact with patients by serving as a standardized patient (SP) and has since 2008, said the gift was made as a tribute to Professor Robert Watson, M.D. Known as “Dr. Bob,” Watson is a faculty member who also serves as trustee of the Jules B. Chapman and Annie Lou Chapman Private Foundation. The foundation contributed significant financial support to the garden’s creation, hence its name. 

“Dr. Watson has been a very compassionate physician, is a wonderful role model for the students, and I thought I would help out because he exemplifies for our students what Hippocrates recommended,” Dodson said. “I thought this certainly would be a little bit of inspiration.” 

Asked why he enjoys being an SP, Dodson, 82, said working with the faculty and students is “a wonderful environment to be in.”

“The faculty really do care about their students. It's such a contrast to my professional training,” he said. “I'm an attorney, and my professional training was very adversarial, not particularly pleasant. Our faculty at the medical school are such a wonderful contrast.”

Littles also welcomed and thanked Penelope Salmons, a successful Greek-American businesswoman who has been a longtime Chapman Foundation supporter. Through her network of connections in Greece, she helped the college locate its sculptor.

In addition, Littles recognized Phoenix Fermin, who while FSU greenhouse manager cared for the college’s sycamore tree sapling for a more than a year, until it could be planted two years ago during the dedication of the Chapman Wellness Garden. A scion of the original tree in Greece under which Hippocrates lectured, it has been replicated for centuries and shared with medical schools all around the world. 

FSU’s tree was a gift from the University of Florida. UF's M.D. Class of 1969, of which Dr. Bob Watson was a member, worked with Greek consulates to obtain six saplings to commemorate its graduation. Dr. Craig Tisher, former dean of the University of Florida’s College of Medicine and now director of UF’s Wilmot Gardens, made it a “full circle” moment when he gave Watson a sapling for FSU’s Chapman Wellness Garden.

Tisher was one of two people who couldn’t attend Friday’s ceremony but whom Littles acknowledged had made significant contributions to the day. The other was the late John Thrasher, FSU president-emeritus who died in 2025. Recognized along with Myra Hurt, Durell Peaden and Sandy D’Alemberte as one of the four pillars who helped get the FSU College of Medicine established, Thrasher was speaker of the Florida House of Representatives in 2000, when the Legislature voted to create the first new medical school in the United States in 25 years and the first of the 21^st century. Gov. Jeb Bush’s pen stroke on June 15, 2000, made it official. The College of Medicine administration building is named the John Thrasher Building in his honor.

“We would not be here without him, and we were delighted he took part in this garden’s dedication two years ago,” Littles said. “His family was unable to join us today to celebrate the addition of the bust of Hippocrates, but they – and he – are with us in spirit, as is Dr. Tisher. 

“We are videotaping this ceremony to share our appreciation with the Thrasher family and with Dr. Tisher.”