Ocie Harris, M.D.

Suzanne Johnson, Ph.D., chair and professor in the department of medical humanities and social sciences, has been named a Distinguished Research Professor by Florida State University. “She is essentially the grandmother of research conducted on the psychosocial aspects of childhood diabetes,” wrote Senior Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies Myra Hurt in her nomination letter. “… She was one of the first behavioral scientists to apply behavioral and psychosocial science to a serious medical problem in children and helped establish a new field: pediatric psychology.” Distinguished Research Professor is the third-highest faculty award at the university, following the Robert O. Lawton award and the Daisy Parker Flory award. A select panel of current Distinguished Research Professors vets the nominations, submitted by faculty peers, for presentation to the university president. This year’s three recipients will receive a one-time award of $10,000, along with a framed certificate.

Alma Littles, M.D., senior associate dean for medical education and academic affairs, has been accepted into the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program for Women for 2009-10. ELAM offers an intensive one-year program of leadership training, with extensive coaching, networking and mentoring opportunities, aimed at expanding the national pool of qualified women candidates for leadership in academic medicine, dentistry and public health. Nearly 90 percent of U.S. medical schools and 50 percent of U.S. dental schools are represented among its graduates. Here's an excerpt from the persuasive nominating letter Dean John Fogarty sent to ELAM: “Dr. Littles is one of the most dedicated and hard-working physician leaders that I have worked with. She is tremendously organized and is the repository for most of the documents and policies that formed this new medical school over the past 8 years. She is a wonderful role model for students and faculty alike and has unlimited potential for future success.” Myra Hurt’s letter was equally glowing: “I know that Alma will become dean of a medical school. She has the knowledge, the talent, and the desire. She is also one of the most realistic, yet compassionate individuals I know. Best of all, she is pragmatic to the core. Yet, this does not keep her from reaching for the stars.”

Bob Watson, M.D., executive associate dean for administration, received a Lifetime Educator Award from the Southern Education Group of the Association of American Medical Colleges. He has been involved with the AAMC for more than 20 years, in such roles as chair of the Group on Educational Affairs and MCAT Program Advisory Committee member. In 2005 he received the AAMC Alpha Omega Alpha-Robert J. Glaser Distinguished Teacher Award. Previously he received, among many others, the Florida Blue Key Distinguished Faculty Award and the College of Medicine Alumni Wall of Fame recognition. And for two consecutive years, he was the UF College of Medicine’s nominee for the AAMC Humanism in Medicine Award. He also has been recognized as the “grandfather” of mission-based budgeting. “Bob Watson brings an extraordinary commitment to medical education,” wrote Brownell Anderson, AAMC senior director for educational affairs. “Bob is always thinking of ways to make medical education better. He is creative and innovative and always brings an important new perspective to the way we think about educating future physicians. Bob has had an impact on medical education that goes far beyond the major national positions he has held, and students and residents and probably many physicians in practice today owe him more than they will ever know.”

Gene Ryerson, M.D., chair and professor in the department of clinical sciences, has received a Graduate Teaching Award from Florida State University. Nominations are submitted by students and alumni. Here are excerpts from Dr. Ryerson’s nominations: "Amazing professor that taught concepts that help tremendously in clerkships and as physicians. I will refer back to those notes for the rest of my life. He was the highlight of my second year of med school." Also: "His lectures were engaging and taught us key concepts in internal medicine. I recently interviewed with someone who had him in the past, and he said that in my career I would have a handful of inspirational people, and went on to say that Dr. Ryerson was in his handful. He is in mine as well." And: "He makes a strong, intensely positive impact on the quality of education that is virtually second to none." Dr. Ryerson was one of four FSU faculty members to receive this year’s award, which includes $2,000.