College of Medicine

Rocio Diaz, a second year IMS student majoring in Clinical Professions has a very impressive resume. She has completed more than 600 EL hours so far. She is co-Manager of Two Research Teams in the FSU College of Medicine/FAMU Collaboration Global Health Research Project, and was a research assistant from Fall 2019-Fall 2020, and promoted to manager Spring 2021. She is co-Author of a Literature Review/Meta-Analysis completed on Hand and Oral Hygiene in Rural and Impoverished Areas (will be sent for publication in near future). She presented at the 17th FSU COM Research Fair; presented in the 2021 American Medical Association Medical Student Section Region 4 Poster Symposium and won 3rd place; and presented at FAMU’s 44th Annual Leonard Lebaron-Inge, Sr. Clinical Pharmacy Symposium. 

Rocio was recently awarded an IDEA Grant, to conduct her own research this upcoming summer 2021. She will be conducting a comprehensive literature review of past hand and oral hygiene/sanitation interventions conducted in rural and impoverished areas. She will be using that information to create an education curriculum in both English and Spanish that highlights the best practices to increase hand and oral hygiene standards in poor, rural areas. This education curriculum will be used to train two village health workers (to be hired directly from the community and salaried through the IDEA grant). The IDEA grant will also be used to purchase supplies such as soap bars, toothbrushes, etc. The two village health workers will work directly in Gracias a Dios, Honduras, a small, impoverished village located in the mountains. The aim of her research is to reduce the overall mortality and morbidity rates of preventable diseases in this village in Honduras.

In addition to her research, Rocio is part of Public Health Brigades (RSO) Education Sub-Committee, and she was inducted into Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Health Professional Society. She has volunteered for Crisis Text Line, Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare, the Kearney Center, Westminster Oaks Retirement Community, and Grace Mission.  Rocio has also participated in Leadership LOGIC a leadership development program on campus. 

Rocio's contributions are far-reaching - impacting not only the FSU community but the surrounding community as well. Her involvement in research furthers important scientific knowledge for the medical community, and her service to the community touches various disadvantaged and vulnerable populations and addresses a host of needs, including social isolation, elder care, crisis counseling, K-12 tutoring, housing and food insecurity, and health services. At FSU, Rocio has not only engaged in these activities individually, she has also involved and inspired her peers. Rocio has accepted numerous leadership roles within the organizations and activities she's been involved with and she has made a positive impact on those around her. She is a leader, co-manager, manager, co-author, research assistant, committee member, presenter, tutor, volunteer and scholar.
Rocio has a very impressive resume that highlights a willing and caring attitude, strong leadership qualities, and a generous, kind, servant heart. Congratulations Rocio on your accomplishments! We are so proud of you!