Scott M. Pickett and Julia L. Sheffler of Florida State University's Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine were involved with an initiative to examine the link between poor sleep health, obesity, and addictive-like eating behaviors in African American and Black people. The results point towards intervention being necessary for abnormal eating behaviors when excessive daytime sleepiness is observed. 

Read the Study

Individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and plexiform neurofibromas (PNs) have a higher risk for and are more vulnerable to socioemotional difficulties. Though, there is little known about exactly how socioemotional functioning changes throughout a lifespan and the things that predict such changes. 

Yang Hou, Ph.D., was part of a group studying such effects. Their findings indicated that individualized patient care and consideration for the socioeconomic background of a child should be uniquely met. Though ultimately, the results suggest further longitudinal study is needed.

Read the study.

Every woman in Florida and her family will receive the help and support they need for optimal maternal mental health and related conditions. The Florida Maternal Mental Health Collaborative (FLMMHC) brings together statewide partners to close the critical gaps in perinatal mental health equity, education, policy/financing, prevention, treatment, and outcomes for women and their families.

This conference is hosted by the Florida Meternal Mental Health Collaborative. Founded in 2015 by Lauren DePaola, LCSW and Heather Flynn, Phd, the FLMMHC engages leaders, professionals, advocates, and families around Florida to achieve our vision, mission, and goals. By attending this conference you are a continuing part of finding solutions and addressing and overcoming barriers that face parents and families during the time surrounding pregnancy and delivery. This year the conference will discuss policy making and change, health equity, substance use, and pathways to improving health access. 

view quarterly issue [pdf]

View quarterly issue [pdf]

Myocarditis Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review of Case Reports

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9235262/#__ffn_sectitle

Fourth-year College of Medicine medical student Hayden Greene shared how connecting with a terminal patient provided an important lesson on her path to becoming a physician. Greene's first-person article - An Unexpected Apology - was published by in-Training, the online peer-reviewed publication for medical students.

Greene, a student at the Sarasota Regional Campus, is a St. Petersburg, Fla. native. She has been actively involved in research throughout her academic career. As an undergraduate at Florida State University, where she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in dietetics, her research led to contributions in two publications in the American Journal of Physiology.

Following her graduation she worked at an assisted-living facility in her hometown, where she continued working with memory- and cognitively-impaired individuals. Greene returned to school and completed here master's degree in medical sciences at the University of South Florida. Following her degree completion she began research work at USF, where she studied Angelman syndrome. Her research efforts led to a potential patent and publication.

Marc W. Chartier, a third-year medical student at Florida State University’s College of Medicine, is one of 15 medical students from across Florida to be honored as 2022-2023 recipients of the Dr. Robert C. Knapp Medical Student Award.

The award, established in 2011 by Hearing the Ovarian Cancer Whisper (HOW), an educational and support group for ovarian cancer research and patient support, allows medical students to spend a minimum of four weeks with a gynecologic oncologist as one of their elective clinical rotations. Honorees submit a report to HOW about their experiences; they also receive a $3,000 cash award.

Chartier, a Sarasota native now studying at the Sarasota Regional Campus, majored in biochemistry and minored in chemistry as an undergraduate student FSU. He has long planned to focus on obstetrics and gynecology as a medical specialty and the Knapp Award will expand his training in the sub-specialty of gynecologic oncology.

“The state of women’s healthcare and women’s rights needs greater representation. . . ,” he wrote in his College of Medicine student profile. “The stories of
poor healthcare outcomes for disadvantaged women of all ages and demographics are too myriad to list.

“My mission is to use medical education and the subsequent practice of medicine to directly influence clinic care in an obstetric and gynecologic setting, as well as shape healthcare policy in the legislative environment at the state and federal levels.”

This year’s recipients included medical students studying at the University of Florida, the University of Miami Miller School Medicine, the Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, and the FSU College of Medicine.

Dr. Washington Hill has received the 2022 Distinguished Service Award from the National Medical Association for exceptional work in medical service. Hill, an OB-GYN with CenterPlace Health, accepted the award on July 31 at the NMA’s Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly, the nation’s foremost forum on medical science and African-American health.