The Florida State University College of Medicine ranks No. 12 among public medical schools for having the most graduates who practice in health professional shortage areas, according to the 2024 U.S. News & World Report rankings of U.S. medical schools released July 23.

FSU also ranks No. 1 in Florida for having the most graduates who practice in health professional shortage areas and No. 17 among all public and private institutions rated in the category.

“This ranking is particularly important to us, as it speaks directly to our mission of preparing physicians who will deliver high-quality, patient-centered care in communities of greatest need,” said Alma Littles, M.D., dean of the College of Medicine. “This is why we are here — and this is one of the primary reasons why the Florida Legislature established this college 24 years ago. I am pleased that this ranking validates the commitment of our students, our alumni and the hard work of our faculty and staff who make this possible.”

Among all public colleges ranked in the survey, the FSU College of Medicine also achieved the following:

• No. 30 for the most graduates who practice in a primary care area such as family medicine, internal medicine, geriatrics, general practice, pediatrics, and obstetrics/gynecology. FSU is also No. 1 in Florida in this category.
• No. 39 as having one of the most diverse student bodies.
• No. 88 with the most graduates practicing in a rural area.

As of July 2024, the FSU College of Medicine has 1,953 physician alumni, with 1,074 in practice and the remainder either in residency or fellowship programs or having chosen another career path. More than 53% of practicing M.D. alumni work in the state of Florida.

Professor Robert L. Glueckauf, Ph.D., has been named the inaugural recipient of the Melissa L. Knabe Community Impact Award, which honors individuals who are making significant contributions to their community through time, actions, talents, dedication and resources.

Glueckauf was selected for his work with the African American Alzheimer’s Caregiver Training and Support Project 2 (ACTS2).

“I am honored to be the first recipient,” Glueckauf said. “Having the opportunity to serve as director of ACTS2 has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. ACTS2 is dedicated to providing culturally-responsive, skills-building and support services to Black care partners of older adults with dementia across Florida.”

He said he has been fortunate to work with a strong team of talented staff members, faith community leaders and care partners of loved ones with dementia.

“Guided by their collective wisdom and efforts, ACTS2 services have increased the quality of life of Black care partners and their loved ones with dementia, as well as statewide advocacy for their intervention priorities and concerns,” Glueckauf said. 

The Florida State University College of Medicine’s Department of Behavioral Science and Social Medicine created the award last year in memory of Knabe, a longtime colleague in the Area Health Education Center who died of breast cancer. She believed passionately in the College of Medicine’s mission to serve the underserved, and the award reflects her years of commitment, leadership and unselfish dedication to serving others.

The award was created not only to honor her memory, but also to serve as an inspiration to others for ongoing service.

All the nominees serve as role models for compassion and service, and they strive to make their communities better places to live and work. People may be nominated for their commitment to community impact; work in substantive community partnerships with power-sharing principles; advocating for and effecting change within a specific community; addressing critical health, social, economic or environmental needs in the community; or a combination of those factors.

Austin M. Spitz, a medical student (Class of 2026) working with Dr. F. Andrew Kozel’s FSU Neuromodulation Lab, was the lead author of an article published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

Co-authors on the work, titled “The Relationship of Anxious Arousal with Treatment of Dysphoria Using Virtual Reality Mindfulness and Two Accelerated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Protocols,” were Kozel, Mariah Jensen, Isabelle Taylor, M.A., Kevin A. Johnson, Ph.D., and Megan C. Senda, B.S.

All the authors work at either Kozel’s lab, the FSU Neuromodulation™ Clinical Practice, or both.

As the article noted, “Dysphoria, defined as ‘a mood characterized by generalized discontent and agitation,’ is a symptom complex present in several medical conditions including major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain.”

The article is also posted on the journal’s website, www.psychiatrist.com. Spitz also presented the work in poster form at the College of Medicine’s 20^th Annual Research Fair on Feb. 9.

Now at the Pensacola Regional Campus, Spitz hopes to specialize in psychiatry.