Anthony Speights, M.D., who has been a part of the FSU College of Medicine family for almost 20 years, has been appointed senior associate dean for Medical Education and Academic Affairs.

Dean Alma Littles, M.D., shared the announcement with faculty and staff in a Nov. 6 email. Speights was selected following a nationwide search that netted more than a dozen qualified applicants and culminated with his selection from three finalists interviewed by a search committee. He began his new assignment Nov. 7.

“I am excited to have Dr. Speights in this role  and look forward to working with him to advance the mission and vision of the college,” Littles said in announcing her successor in a job she first assumed in 2003 – and has continued to fill while serving as interim dean and dean over the past three years.

“His proven experience as chair of the curriculum committee, collaboration with university personnel regarding accreditation activities, and leadership across multiple departments have positioned him well to lead the college’s upcoming LCME re-accreditation process.”

Members of the search committee, led by Fort Pierce Regional Campus Dean Juliette Lomax-Homier, M.D., cited Speights’ extensive institutional knowledge and ability to bring fresh ideas to the position as factors in his selection.

Littles said Speights’ duties will include collaboration on the strategic direction of the Bridge to Clinical Medicine, M.D. and Graduate Medical Education programs in alignment with the college’s mission.

Bringing the undergraduate Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences program under the Medical Education and Academic Affairs umbrella is the perfect realignment, as Speights has had a leading role in IMS since 2018, first as assistant dean, then as associate dean beginning in 2019 and as senior associate dean since 2022.

He will provide executive oversight of academic programs and supervise leadership of the Office of Medical Education, Graduate Medical Education, the Charlotte Edwards Maguire Medical Library, the Clinical Learning Center, and Student Affairs and Admissions.

“Coming from rural Florida, working for a college of medicine, let alone becoming chief academic officer, was never something I thought was possible,” Speights said. “I’m sure this sounds odd coming from a physician, but I’ve never seen myself as a leader.  In fact, there were points in my life I very actively avoided it.”

Leadership, however, found Speights – right back where he had started.

After earning his undergraduate degree in microbiology and cell science from the University of Florida and his Doctor of Medicine from the University of South Florida, the Jackson County native completed his obstetrics and gynecology residency at Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News, Virginia.  Then he went back home and established his practice at Jackson Hospital in Marianna.

Over the course of 10 years in Marianna, he was chief of surgery during two of his five years at Jackson Hospital, followed by five years as medical executive director at the Florida Department of Health in Jackson County. Speights joined the College of Medicine as OB/GYN clerkship faculty in 2006, serving in the Rural Medical Education Program in Marianna.

“Becoming clerkship faculty as a new physician was the best decision I’ve made in my career,” Speights said. “It allowed me to impact the next generation of physicians – including my own primary care physician, Dr. Brittany Schafer – and show the impact that a dedicated, caring physician can have on a community, all while continuing to care for my own patients.”

It would be the launching point for a budding career in medical education leadership.

Speights joined the College of Medicine full time in 2014 and was initially recruited to serve as director of Rural Medical Education within the Department of Family Medicine and Rural Health. His work alongside Daniel Van Durme, M.D., was instrumental in transitioning the rural program into its current longitudinal integrated clerkship model.

Since 2017, Speights has played an instrumental role in a variety of the college’s pathway programs, which have literally led hundreds of students to medical careers. He was first tapped to succeed Helen Livingston, Ed.D., as director of the Bridge to Clinical Medicine master’s degree program and co-director of the Honors Medical Scholars program. A year later he added IMS to his duties and shepherded its expansion to the FSU Panama City campus -- the first four-year pre-health degree at that site.

Speights was appointed chair of the curriculum committee in 2024 and remains active with a variety of other committees and advancement projects, as well as university accreditation activities.

“I owe a lot to FSU and the College of Medicine,” Speights said. “I owe even more to my mentors, colleagues and College of Medicine students who have entrusted me to help guide the college into the future.  The outpouring of support has been overwhelming. Whoever thought a “farm boy” could be here? Together we are all stronger!”

Contact Bob Thomas at robert.thomas@med.fsu.edu