The medical outreach effort has been supported by a $103,000, three-year gift from the Pfizer Foundation that expired with this year’s trip in March. College of Medicine students also raised more than $10,000 through November’s FSUCares 5K race.

In addition, the Escambia County Medical Society contributed $1,000 to help pay for needed medications, and the Good Shepherd Catholic Church Youth Group in Tallahassee raised more than $1,500 to support of the students’ efforts. 
Camilo Alleyne, minister of health of Panama, made a courtesy visit to see the students working in his country and presented them with a plaque in appreciation of the FSU College of Medicine.

The plaque recognizes the students, doctors and faculty of FSU’s medical school in the FSUCares program, which has provided services to the communities of Portobelo, Colon, Filipinas and Bejuco for the last five years.