As second-year students prepared to depart for regional campuses several were recognized during the Class of 2009 End of Year Gala in April. Awards were presented for Outstanding Leadership (Corinne Brann); Distinguished Service (Molly and Tessa McKenna), Golden Caduceus (Kendra Buscetta), College of Medicine Torch Award (Chelsea Boston and Elving Colon) and Excellence in Academics (Bill Higgins, Leslie Davis, Kristen Morrell, Stephen Viel and Elving Colon).

Faculty awards were presented to Charles Ouimet (Excellence in Teaching, Year One Basic Science), Dr. Edward Klatt (Excellence in Teaching, Year Two Basic Science) and Dr. Gene Ryerson (Outstanding Clinical Professor).

The Class of 2009 also reelected Corinne Brann as president for a two-year term through the fourth year. The offices of vice-president, treasurer secretary and social chair will be elected during orientation at regional campuses in June.

ALUMNI UPDATE

Jason Farrah (Class of ’06) has accepted a second-year residency position in general surgery at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. Farrah, who competed in the Boston Marathon as part of the Lance Armstrong LIVESTRONG team, was selected as a North Carolina state delegate for LIVESTRONG Day in Washington, D.C. on May 14.

STUDENT SERVICE 

Orlando campus student Paulo Silva was selected to speak to graduating seniors and their parents at the Academy of Health Careers annual awards night at Seminole High School in April. … Third-year student Michelle Asher organized a volunteer project in which several members of the Orlando campus served as medical volunteers for the critical care tent at the finish line of the Disney Marathon in January. Asher, Jessica Fowler, Jessica Auffant and Leia Sammons all participated. … The College of Medicine Oncology Interest Group (OIG) raised $815 as part of $102,000 raised by Florida State University for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Donations are still being accepted at www.relayforlife.fsu.edu.

>>Amy Reimer

STUDENT PRESENTATIONS 

Four College of Medicine students attended and made presentations at the annual Society for Teachers of Family Medicine predoctoral conference in Memphis, Tenn. Third-year student Amy Reimer presented, “Procedures Night” as a Family Medicine Scholars project. Other presentations by second-year students included Shannon Hill (“Learning About the Health Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence from Our Patients”), Angie Soberon (“Obesity’’) and Jennifer Walker (“Geographic Disparities in Breastfeeding.’’)

DANCE MARATHON UPDATE 

More than 600 FSU students were on their feet for 32 consecutive hours at the 2007 Dance Marathon at the Tallahassee Civic Center, raising more than $308,000 for Children’s Miracle Network/Shands and the FSU College of Medicine. Half the proceeds, which mark a 14-percent increase for the 2006 Dance Marathon, will benefit pediatrics projects and programs involving the College of Medicine. Donations are accepted year-round at Dance Marathon Donations

LIBRARIAN DISTINGUISHED 

Suzanne P. Nagy, M.S.L.S., M.S.C.S., web services librarian in the Charlotte Edwards Maguire Medical Library, earned Distinguished Member recognition from the Medical Library Association’s Academy of Health Information Professionals. The Academy is the professional development and career recognition program of the MLA. The Distinguished Member status is the highest designated level in the Academy.