News of the Week

FSU Chapman Chapter of GHHS announces Class of 2022

Sixteen members of the M.D. Class of 2022 are the newest members of the FSU Chapman Chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society.

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation of Humanism in Medicine defines humanism as the link between compassion and scientific competence. Humanism in medicine fosters relationships with patients and other caregivers that are compassionate and empathetic. It describes attitudes and behaviors that are sensitive to the values, autonomy, cultural and ethnic backgrounds of others. 

The students selected for the Class of 2022 are listed below, with their regional campuses.

•    Stenia Accilien (Fort Pierce)
•    Vinita Akula (Orlando)
•    Maria Badino (Fort Pierce)
•    Dominique Catena (Fort Pierce)
•    Shalom Chege (Pensacola)
•    Blaire Cote (Tallahassee)
•    Mitchell Darnell (Orlando)
•    Julie Davila (Daytona)
•    Harrison Diaz (Pensacola)
•    Shanquell Dixon (Tallahassee)
•    Leah Genn (Marianna/Sarasota)
•    Je’Coy Hawley (Fort Pierce)
•    Laken Johnson (Pensacola)
•    Nicholas Ott (Fort Pierce)
•    Christopher Pope (Tallahassee)
•    Brian Thedy (Daytona)

In addition to the aforementioned 16 selections, two members selected last year as part of the original Class of 2021 – Joey Leonard and Richard Wu – are now in the GHHS Class of 2022.

“It was encouraging to see so many of our students recognized by faculty and staff from across all four years of the curriculum, and their classmates” FSU Chapman Chapter faculty advisors Daniel Van Durme and Suzanne Leonard Harrison wrote in an email announcing the winners. “These students rose to the top as true exemplars of humanism by receiving multiple nominations from faculty, staff and peers in every category demonstrating clinical excellence, service to others, patient-centered approach to care and compassion.”

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation for Humanism in Medicine defines the humanistic doctor as one who demonstrates the following attributes (I.E., C.A.R.E.S.)
•    Integrity: the congruence between expressed values and behavior.
•    Excellence: clinical expertise.
•    Compassion: the awareness and acknowledgement of the suffering of another and the desire to relieve it.
•    Altruism: the capacity to put the needs and interests of another before your own.
•    Respect: the regard for the autonomy and values of another person.
•    Empathy: the ability to put oneself in another’s situation, e.g., physician as patient.
•    Service: the sharing of one’s talent, time and resources with those in need; giving beyond what is required.

The group will be formally inducted at the Aug. 6, M.D. Class of 2025 White Coast Ceremony & GHHS Induction Ceremony.
 

Television

Jun 23, 2021
Alexander answers questions in WCTV interview

Press Release

FSU researchers find small mutation disrupts protein network, causing heart disease

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACT: Kathleen Haughney, Florida State University, (850) 644-489, khaughney@fsu.edu 

Each day the average human heart beats 100,000 times and pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood. It’s a process that is critical to life, and yet it often goes awry for unknown reasons.

“Despite knowing a lot about muscle contraction and the heart in particular, there are still a number of questions scientists have about the underlying structures and how things can go wrong, causing disease,” said Bryant Chase, professor of Biological Science at Florida State University.

Chase and a team of FSU researchers have conducted a deep dive on a group of proteins and a mutation that often results in a type of heart disease called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart muscle thickens, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood. The hope is with greater understanding of the molecular underpinnings of this disease, scientists may find a path forward for treatment.

Their study, which focuses on the genetic variant of a protein called cardiac troponin C, is published in Chemical Science, a journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Chase and FSU Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences Jose Pinto have been focused on the role that troponin C protein plays in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy for several years.

Cardiac troponin C is part of a group of related proteins that resides on filaments of striated muscle, such as the heart. It is responsible for binding calcium to activate muscle contraction — it could be thought of as an on-off switch for the heart.

The team concentrated on a genetic variant of cardiac troponin C because that variant seemed to be implicated in many cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. They found that a seemingly small change in this molecule affects the protein structure so adversely that it triggers a series of problems.

“The presence of a pathogenic variant found in humans with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in this region of cardiac troponin C disrupts the intricate network of chemical interactions within the protein. Thus, causing deleterious effects to other protein partners, negatively impacting the heart function,” Pinto said.

The team conducted their research on a variety of fronts, looking at the variant in mice models while also using several advanced spectroscopy techniques to examine cellular and molecular samples. This included nuclear magnetic resonance, a technique using magnetic fields to better observe molecular changes.

They also relied on the expertise of colleagues not only from FSU, but from across the globe.

In addition to Chase and Pinto, other FSU researchers on this project were Assistant Professor of Health and Human Sciences Michelle Parvatiyar, College of Medicine graduate students Maicom Landim-Viera, Jamie Johnston and Karissa Dieseldorff Jones; and College of Health and Human Sciences graduate student Isela Valera.

Other institutions contributing to this work were Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Eastern Virginia Medical School and Loyola University of Chicago.

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association.  

Press Release

FSU Physician Sheds Light on LGBTQ Health Disparities

Dr. Jonathan Appelbaum, Florida State College of Medicine

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
CONTACT: Kathleen Haughney, University Communications 
(850) 644-1489; khaughney@fsu.edu
 
@FSUResearch
 
June 2021
 
PRIDE MONTH: FSU PHYSICIAN SHEDS LIGHT ON LGBTQ HEALTH DISPARITIES
 
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Recent moves by the Biden administration to prohibit health care discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity were widely applauded by civil rights groups. But health officials are still fighting a battle when it comes to making sure all LGBTQ individuals receive adequate health care.
 
Dr. Jonathan Appelbaum, professor and chair of the Department of Clinical Sciences in the Florida State University College of Medicine, researches health disparities in the LGBTQ population. He also is the Laurie L. Dozier Jr., M.D, Education Director and a professor of internal medicine, as well as a practicing physician.
 
He has been quoted in the Tampa Bay Times discussing health disparities and transgender patients and in Verywell Health discussing a new injectable HIV treatment. 
 
“The discrimination, social stigma and denial of their civil rights that LGBTQ individuals face contribute to poorer health outcomes,” Appelbaum said. “Research shows us that they face a higher rate of bullying, suicide, substance use disorders and various cancers. These health outcomes don’t happen for biological reasons. A shortage of gender-affirming health care keeps people from accessing the services they need.”
 
For media interviews, Dr. Appelbaum can be reached at jonathan.appelbaum@med.fsu.edu.
 
###
 
Photo: Dr. Jonathan Appelbaum, professor and chair of the Department of Clinical Sciences in the Florida State University College of Medicine. (Courtesy of Dr. Jonathan Appelbaum)
 

Television

Jun 09, 2021
Alexander discusses vaccine hesitancy in TV interview

Print

Jun 09, 2021
Fatherly
PRESS RELEASE

Florida State College of Medicine's Dr. Christie Alexander shares some ideas of how to approach those who may be COVID-19 vaccine-hesitant in a story published in Fatherly.

Print

Jun 03, 2021
ABC News
PRESS RELEASE

As public health officials across the United States scramble to counter a drop in demand for COVID-19 vaccines, another concern is quickly emerging: hundreds of thousands of doses already distributed to states could soon expire if they are not used.

Florida State College of Medicine's Dr. Christie Alexander was among several experts addressing the issue.

"We need to start bringing the vaccine to the people instead of expecting people to come get the vaccine," Alexander said.

 

News of the Week

Christie Alexander participates in live expert panel on managing COVID-19 vaccine skepticism

On May 20, Florida State College of Medicine’s Dr. Christie Alexander participated in Newswise’s live expert panel discussion on winning over COVID-19 vaccine skeptics and related pandemic issues.  

Click here to read the full transcript.

Click here to watch the full video.

Christie Alexander Newswise expert panel

Spring 2021

Apr 26, 2021

News of the Week

FSU PrimaryHealth™ quietly celebrates anniversary

Two years ago – on May 17, 2018 – the College of Medicine, FSU President John Thrasher and community leaders broke ground on a new primary-health clinic to be built in a medically underserved community in southwest Tallahassee.

Today, FSU PrimaryHealth™ is a thriving community medical center with nearly 9,000 patients – most of those being individuals who previously had limited options for receiving health care.

FSU PrimaryHealth™ opened its doors on May 13, 2019, and quickly became an essential part of the neighborhood.

“Many of these patients have never had a medical home or a primary-care physician before,” said College of Medicine Dean John P. Fogarty. “Many of them actually live within walking distance of PrimaryHealth, a key aspect that helps to address the need for better health-care access.”

In a message to faculty, students and staff celebrating FSU PrimaryHealth’s success, Fogarty also noted:

  • Multidisciplinary, interdepartmental and multi-institutional care
    • Faculty clinicians who work at PrimaryHealth come from the Departments of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, Clinical Sciences, Family Medicine and Rural Health, Geriatrics, and the School of PA Practice.
    • Recent partnership with the FAMU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences brings PharmD consultation services to patients.
    • Integration of these departments and services means many patients with complex psychosocial and pharmacological needs have been able to get them addressed through a single access point within an interdisciplinary team approach.
  • Essential community partnerships have been formed
    • Medical care as a core partner with nearby Sabal Palm Elementary as the only Community Partnership School in the region.
    • A community advisory board made up of members of the surrounding neighborhoods that meets monthly to help better understand and meet community needs.
  • Teaching person-centered, evidence-based, interdisciplinary care
    • Medical students and PA students from across every year of training have had rotations at PrimaryHealth.
    • Graduate students from the FSU College of Nursing and FAMU Department of Social Work have rotated as well.  FAMU PharmD students will start soon.
  • Pre-professional development
    • Although sad to see them go, it is worth celebrating that (so far) seven Medical Assistant staff have started or will soon start medical or PA school. Their experience here as medical assistants provided great service to the community and a wonderful lesson for future practice.
  • Stepping up to meet health care needs in the pandemic
    • Did not miss a day of care due to the pandemic.
    • Made telehealth options available for patients.
    • Continue to provide COVID vaccines and testing.

 “This has been an extraordinary year and FSU PrimaryHealth truly stepped up to provide quality care in the midst of the pandemic, in person or by telehealth, did COVID testing and immunizations and did not miss a day caring for their patients,” Fogarty said. “The staff and faculty of FSU PrimaryHealth deserve our praise and gratitude for this notable anniversary of service and commitment to their community.  I couldn’t be prouder of what they’ve accomplished.”

While FSU PrimaryHealth™ celebrates its two-year anniversary, Florida Medical Practice Plan, Inc. (FMPP), the not-for-profit organization that administers the clinical practices of the College of Medicine, also has a number of other endeavors underway.  These include:

FSU SeniorHealth™

  • The College of Medicine’s first practice – established as a pilot program in 2012
  • Primary care outpatient services provided to the 65+ population by board-certified geriatricians
  • Outpatient clinic on Meandering Way (in leased space on the campus of Westminster Oaks) and on Roberts Avenue (within FSU PrimaryHealth™)
  • Inpatient services in skilled nursing facilities
  • House calls for independent and assisted living seniors
  • Medical directorships in hospice, life plan, and assisted living communities
  • Comprehensive geriatric assessments at Capital Health Plan

FSU BehavioralHealth™ at Apalachee Center

  • The College of Medicine’s newest practice – opened in July 2020 in a clinic on Lee Avenue (next door to Whole Child Leon)
  • Staffed by FSU clinical faculty from the colleges of Psychology, Social Work, Nursing, and Medicine
  • Have offered over 300 patient services to-date for psychiatric assessments, medication management, and psychotherapy
  • Specializing in treating anxiety and mood disorders in children and adults
  • All back-office support managed in partnership with Apalachee Center  

Also, in 2021 FMPP launched a COVID-testing clinic for FSU guests.  The clinic is managed through the university’s testing services at the Tucker Center and offered for a nominal fee to patients who are not faculty, staff, or students of the university. 

In addition, FMPP currently has in development two other clinical services: a neuromodulation clinic at Innovation Park, with specialty services for treatment-resistant depression, and the launch of a feasibility assessment phase for a substance-use clinic in the future.

 

 

 

 

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