As parents and their children grapple with the changes brought on by COVID-19, Ludmila De faria, a psychiatrist and College of Medicine clerkship faculty member, comments on helping children and teens who may be missing out on big milestones due to stay-at-home orders.
An article from WFSU discusses the difficulties many face when grappling with the realities of the coronavirus pandemic. College of Medicine Dean John P. Fogarty commented on international resources and the potential reopening of the economy.
Alexandraki honored for medical education research
Irene Alexandraki, professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences, received the 2020 Clerkship Directors in Internal Medicine Charles H. Griffith III, M.D., Educational Research Award from the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine.
Nowakowski authors article on Cystic Fibrosis and COVID-19
Xan Nowakowski, assistant professor for the departments of Geriatrics and Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, authored an article for CF Roundtable providing information about staying safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic for people living with cystic fibrosis: COVID-19 and you: Staying safe with current science and common sense
CF Roundtable is published quarterly by the United States Adult Cystic Fibrosis Association.
"The article is relevant far beyond the CF community itself," Nowakowski said. "Lots of general guidance for healthy infection-control habits."
The Germ that Wears a Crown: A Story About the Coronavirus
The FSU Center for Child Stress & Health created a story, coloring & activity book to help children cope with COVID-19. The book teaches children about the virus, social distancing and how to express and manage strong emotions triggered by the outbreak. Children will enjoy reading the story, coloring the pages and completing several activities. Caregivers can use the book as a tool to help them have conversations with children about the virus and any related fears they may have.
It's available now in English; coming soon in Spanish and Creole.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, College of Medicine alumni Will Stross (M.D. ’16) and Staci Biegner (M.D. ’17) tied the knot in a simple, social distancing, backyard wedding ceremony at their home in Jacksonville on April 18. Family, friends and other well-wishers held a car parade in their honor.
Trio of College of Medicine students recognized during FSU’s Leadership Awards Night
Each year, Florida State University honors its students, employees and organizations during its annual Leadership Awards Night. While the event could not be held in person this year due to COVID-19, the University announced its 2020 recipients during a virtual ceremony on April 14.
Second-year medical students Vinita Akula and Shalom Chege each received Academic Leadership Awards. The award is based on academic performance, university service and other contributions in and out of the classroom.
Cian Cranfield, a junior in the Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences B.S. Program, was also recognized as a nominee for the President’s Undergraduate Humanitarian of the Year Award, a prestigious award that recognizes students who exhibit tremendous commitment to service.
Vinita Akula
Akula,an Academic Leadership Award recipient, has held a number of leadership roles at the College of
Medicine. She is the president of the Medical Student Council. She has also served as co-director of Healthcare for All Week and helped to organize a week of events and activities on the topic of uninsured and underinsured populations to the FSU community and the public. Akula is co-founder and co-chair of the Hematology/Oncology Student Interest Group, vice president of the American Medical Association/Florida Medical Association FSU Chapter, and is social chair of the M.D. Class of 2022. She’s also heavily involved in the College of Medicine’s Leadership in Medicine para-curricular program.
Akula is currently working on a project along with second-year med student Gabby Cintron called The Coronavirus Kindness Project, which aims to track and visualize news stories about kindness during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Shalom Chege
Chege is on the Medical Student Council, serves as the M.D. Class of 2022 years 1 and 2 hospitality chair, and is a Choosing Wisely Co-STAR (Students and Trainees Advocating for Resource Stewardship) for the College of Medicine. In addition, she has served as chair of the Student National Medical Association at the College of Medicine and was the lead teaching assistant for the M.D. Class of 2023.
Chege has participated in numerous community events spanning hurricane relief efforts, health screenings, student panels and more.
Cranfield, the College of Medicine’s Undergraduate Humanitarian of the Year nominee, is a junior majoring in interdisciplinary medical sciences with a focus in pre-clinical professions. He has worked with Camp Boggy Creek, a SeriousFun Children’s Network organization that serves children experiencing severe pediatric illness, since 2018.
Cian Cranfield
In a letter of recommendation, Camp Boggy Creek Residential Life Coordinator Nick Sano wrote, “Cian
sincerely cares about the well-being of these children and their families who live with medical issues every day, and I know he will show the same care in his career … I have supervised volunteers and staff for many years, Cian is among the top 1% of people that I have worked with.”
Cranfield has also been involved with organizations like the Hang Tough Foundation and has worked with the SSTRIDE program at FSU, serving as a mentor to local elementary school students from underserved communities near Tallahassee.
Medical and nursing students in Florida are unable to complete work in clinical settings due to the coronavirus pandemic. Many faculty members already make use of technology in lieu of clinical training, but they know it’s no substitute for the real thing.
“There really is nothing that can replace the real contact with a real patient,” said Dr. John Fogarty, dean of the Florida State University College of Medicine. “Quite frankly, reading a book and going through a case just doesn’t have the imprint on your psyche.”
