By Audrey Post
FSU College of Medicine

Dance Marathon at FSU, one of the five founding Children’s Miracle Network Dance Marathons, continues to be one of the most successful at raising money for children’s healthcare.

At an Oct. 5 celebration in the Florida State University College of Medicine atrium, Dean Alma B. Littles, M.D., shared that while DM@FSU has consistently finished in the top five, it has actually moved up a notch and is ranked fourth. The 2026 DM@FSU raised a little over $1.5 million.

“Our dance marathon here at FSU actually raised more money this year than the Dance Marathon the same weekend at our sister university over in Gainesville, my alma mater,” Littles said. “But no matter which school brings in the most money, the beauty of friendly competition for a worthy cause means everybody wins – very different from that last weekend in November!”

The College of Medicine's Pediatric Outreach Program expands access throughout the Big Bend

This year was the 12^th that FSU topped the $1 million mark, with the proceeds divided between the College of Medicine’s Pediatric Outreach Program and UF Health’s Shands Children’s Hospital in Gainesville, the region’s Children’s Miracle Network hospital. Dr. Rashmin Savani, chair of the University of Florida College of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics and Shands’ physician-in-chief, heads a delegation from UF Health each year to thank the dancers for their support.

“It's all about making meaningful change for families and children that have diseases that end them up in hospitals, that put their future in doubt,” he said. “And it's the things that you do that alter the outcome.

“Just think about that. I couldn't be more grateful for all the things that you do. Thank you again.”

The highlight of the annual celebration, the unveiling of an oversized ceremonial check, revealed a $697,380.85 donation to the college this year, bringing total support since the College of Medicine was added as a beneficiary in 2003 to more than $11.5 million. The dean’s annual Ice Cream Social wrapped up the festivities.

Hundreds of students participate in DM@FSU, the largest student-run philanthropy on campus. It’s an entire year of fund-raising and planning, culminating in whirlwind three-day weekend of dancing at FSU’s Donald L. Tucker Civic Center. The closing ceremonies are held the first Sunday in March. Since its inception, DM@FSU has raised almost $25 million.

Emmanuella Essien, 2027 DM@FSU executive director, explained why the students put their hearts into the effort. 

“The mission of Dance Marathon is greater than the dollars raised,” she said. “It’s about bringing people together around something that matters, while helping ensure kids have access to the care they need and families don’t have to face difficult moments alone.”

Photo captions:

Spotlight photo on Home page:

From left, Dr. Rashmin Savani, physician-in-chief at UF Health Shands Children's Hospital, Dr. Alma Littles, dean of the FSU College of Medicine, and Emmanuella Eissen, executive director of the 2027 Dance Marathon at FSU, are all smiles at the check reveal.

Photo at top right: 

FSU Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Zduy Chu, Ph.D., poses for a selfie with DM@FSU student leaders and the ceremonial check.

Photos by College of Medicine Creative Services Team