FOUR ALUMNI GRADUATE FROM TMH RESIDENCY PROGRAM

Pictured here are the latest graduates of the Tallahassee Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program. Four of them are College of Medicine alumni. Front row: Josef Plum (second from left), Robin Albritton (center) and Garrett Chumney (far right). Back row: Brandy Willis (second from left).

For updates on where our alumni are now, whether in residencies, fellowships or practice, visit our alumni directory. Alumni, you can help us keep the information current by updating yours.

PENSACOLA STUDENTS FILL A NEED FOR PHYSICALS

Creative problem-solving resulted in a good partnership involving the Pensacola regional campus this year. The partnership was with the Foster Grandparent/Senior Companion Program of the Council on Aging of West Florida. It was one of five programs nationally that were awarded $500 from the National Senior Corps Association – and its award resulted from its innovative practice of partnering with the College of Medicine to provide annual physicals to its Senior Corps volunteers.

At a forum during the National Conference on Volunteerism in July, the West Florida council’s executive vice president, Laura Garrett, explained that it all started with a big problem. The volunteers in her Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs are required to get physicals, and previously a hospital had done them pro bono. Then budget woes forced the hospital to cut back, and no other hospitals or medical groups in the area stepped forward.

Enter the College of Medicine, particularly Dr. Donna Jacobi, clerkship director for geriatrics at the Pensacola campus, who was instrumental in organizing this effort. As part of their community-service rotation, and as one way to mark the college’s 10^th anniversary, medical students under the direction of a board-certified geriatrician performed physical exams for the volunteers. The physicals even include mini mental-status exams and depression screenings.

In the end, as Garrett pointed out, everyone benefited. The programs got their volunteers’ physicals on time. The volunteers got to talk with a geriatrician regarding issues affecting their personal health. And the students got exposure to a population that they no doubt will serve in their medical practice. The plan is for the students to offer the physicals again periodically.

KNITTING FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Can you knit or crochet? Do you do other types of fiber art? Are you willing to give one skein of yarn and a little of your time to help those in need in our community?

If so, Carol Warren and Wendy Zebrowski invite you to join COMKNIT during September and October. You'll create warmth (scarves, hats, mittens, etc.) to be donated to Refuge House, an agency of United Way of the Big Bend that provides direct services to battered women, their children and sexual-assault survivors and works to eliminate the social conditions that allow such violence to continue.

You'll meet each day from 1 to 2 p.m. in the atrium of the College of Medicine. (You can work as many or as few days as you like.) If you don’t know how to knit or crochet, someone will be happy to teach you. Please register your project by calling Wendy, 645-7314, or Carol, 644-9754.

IMPORTANT DATES COMING UP

Aug. 16: The Class of 2013 begins its fall schedule.

Aug. 20: The White Coat Ceremony for the Class of 2014 and the Gold Humanism Honor Society Induction take place at 6 p.m. in the Oglesby Union Ballroom on the Tallahassee main campus.

Aug. 23: The Class of 2011 begins its fall schedule.

Aug. 30: The Class of 2014 begins its fall schedule.

Sept. 6: No class because of Labor Day.

Sept. 13: The Class of 2012 begins its fall schedule.

Oct. 7: Darrell Kirch, president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges, is the keynote speaker for the wrap-up celebration of our 10-year anniversary. Beforehand is a video presentation chronicling the first 10 years of the College of Medicine. Events begin at 6 p.m. at the College of Medicine’s Thrasher Building, 1115 W. Call St., Tallahassee.

???????: Homecoming

Nov. 5: “At the Crossroads of Medicine and the Law” is presented by the Alumni Association of the Florida State University College of Law; the College of Law; the College of Medicine; and the Tallahassee Bar Association. Admission is free. The event is scheduled for 2-5 p.m. at the College of Law, 425 W. Jefferson St., Tallahassee.

Nov. 25-26: Thanksgiving break.

Dec. 11-Jan. 2: Winter break for first- and fourth-year students.

Dec. 15-Jan. 2: Winter break for second-year students.

Dec. 18-Jan. 2: Winter break for third-year students.

Dec. 27-30: Winter break for entire university.

March 7-11: Spring Break for first- and second-year students.

April 3-7: The LCME reaccreditation survey team visits the College of Medicine.