Shermeeka Hogans-Mathews, assistant professor in the FSU College of Medicine’s Department of Family Medicine and Rural Health and a 2015 M.D. alumna, is one of seven recipients of the 2023 Exceptional Mentor Award, presented by the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA).
Hogans-Mathews said she “was in complete awe” when she learned she was being honored, especially on the national level, because “helping others to recognize their talents and abilities and finding avenues to bring these out is very important to me.”
“As a first-generation college student and physician, my path to becoming a physician and educator was filled with lots of hurdles,” Hogans-Mathews said, “and I want to ensure that I provide support to others so that their journeys can be smoother.”
According to the notification letter, the award “celebrates those who have made an impact on the lives of students in medicine. An ‘Exceptional Mentor’ goes above and beyond what is required and actively reaches out to those around them to help guide those individuals in their career path.”
Hogans-Mathews was nominated by Hayden Greene, a fourth-year medical student and a member and former officer of the Florida State University AMWA chapter.
Greene’s relationship with her mentor began her first year of medical school, when Hogans-Mathews was her faculty advisor. But, as Greene explained in her nomination letter, Hogans-Mathews did more than coach her academically.
“Outside of my academic performance, she made an intentional effort to always ask about my mental health,” Greene wrote. “In our meetings, she would emphasize the importance of making sure I prioritized time for myself, activities outside of school to help me combat stress and ways to reward myself after exams.
“She cared about me as a person more than me as a student; in doing so, I believe it made me start to value and prioritize myself more,” she continued. “From our meetings, I’ve been able to translate those tools to third and fourth year of medical school. I believe they’ve allowed me to be a more successful student, compassionate provider, as well as a better version of myself overall.
“I thank her for her guidance, as I think life would have looked differently without her influence.”
Hogans-Mathews said the award “showcases that we are making a difference as advisors, mentors and coaches here at the FSU College of Medicine.”
She will receive an award certificate and be recognized in the program for AMWA’s 108th annual meeting, March 23-26 in Philadelphia. The theme of this year’s conference is “Thriving with Tenacity, Humor & Hope.”