College of Medicine

Dean’s Message

     These are challenging times for medical education in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. All of our M.D. and PA classes have been seriously affected.

• M1s and PA1s are both taking online courses in lieu of lectures, and our faculty are developing creative solutions to how to address clinical skills, decision-making and small-group activities.
   
• M2s were on study block, and the testing centers for Step 1 are closed for the next month, so we’re asking them to be flexible. We’ll have them do their “boot camp” prior to clerkships online, and waive the requirement for Step 1 passage to early third year. 
   
• M3s and PA2s were taken off their clinical rotations based on guidelines from the AAMC on March 17. Fortunately most had already accomplished the objectives for this six-week clerkship in 4½ weeks, so they took their end-of-clerkship exams March 27. The next rotation involves two four-week online electives in hopes that they will return to clinical experiences around June 1.
   
• Our M4s celebrated their Match results virtually online March 16 with a fine performance by the FSU main campus “players” and introduction of our seniors and their matches by each of our regional campus deans. While not as raucous as the Ruby Diamond event, students appreciated the efforts to make this a special day. Unfortunately the calendar is flying by, and it looks like we’ll have to do our commencement virtually also. More details to follow.  

     During Match, we also held our Clerkship Directors Meeting, usually here in Tallahassee, virtually. The dialogue among the clerkship and education directors, along with education leadership and regional deans, was amazing, and there was a true sense of mission to do what is best to produce the best physicians for the future. I am impressed each day with the energy, dedication and professionalism of our faculty and staff, who are responding to this national emergency in creative and impressive ways. Our challenge will be to take advantage of these great ideas once we return to “normal.”

         Our students and faculty continue to excel and make us proud.     

         Be safe and stay healthy!  J.    

John P. Fogarty, M.D.

Dean

Florida State University College of Medicine