A GRADUATION GIFT IDEA

As graduation approaches, it’s time to look at the College of Medicine courtyard in a whole new way. It’s paved not just with bricks but with names and memories. A personalized brick or paver, or even a bench, is a unique way for you to pay tribute to a graduate, family member or faculty member.

Get all the details of the Legacy Celebration Program.

MAKING THE MOST OF 'HOST'

More and more alumni are discovering the fun in hosting a fourth-year student who’s on the road for residency interviews. It’s the HOST program, as in “Help Our Students Travel.” In December, Steffanie (Swanson) Owens (pictured here, M.D., ’10) wrote from San Diego: “Laura Diamond (Class of 2012, Daytona Beach campus) just left this morning after staying with me for two nights. It worked out great. I’m happy to do it again in the future!”
 

Joining the HOST program is easy. We help match our traveling students with our alumni hosts. To see the map showing where our HOST alumni live, or to fill out either a student form or an alumni form, visit our HOST page.

DR. SWEENEY, DISTINGUISHED GRAD
Mike Sweeney, M.D. (PIMS, ’75), chair of the College of Medicine’s Alumni Board, was honored in November as the 2011 Graduate of Distinction for the FSU College of Arts and Sciences. Sweeney graduated from FSU with a B.S. in biological science and the Program in Medical Sciences.

Selection criteria for this award included:
- Dean’s recommendation.
- Evidence of significant professional accomplishments.
- Positive impact/influence on students, faculty and staff.
- Evidence of substantial philanthropic and volunteer activities.
- Leadership qualities.
- Active role in “ambassadorship.”

Sweeney practiced in Fort Myers as a vascular surgeon for nearly 20 years. In recent years he joined the College of Medicine as an assistant professor. Among other activities, he teaches medical students in the anatomy lab and in the Clinical Skills and Simulation Center.

NOMINATION DEADLINE IS APPROACHING
You have until March 2 to submit a nomination for the Distinguished Alumni Award. Alumni from both the College of Medicine and its predecessor, the Florida State University Program in Medical Sciences, are eligible. You may cite their contributions in such areas as patient care, basic research, clinical research, health services administration and more.

Go to our alumni page to view the criteria. The formal presentation will take place at the Alumni Reunion. (See details below.) If you have questions, email Alumni Affairs Coordinator Alexa Von Staden (pictured here) or call (850) 645-9428.

ALUMNI AND ADVOCATES
Speaking to a professional group on a weekend in January, Joan Meek, M.D., pediatric clerkship director at the Orlando campus, spotted a couple of familiar faces in the audience:

“I was invited to speak at the Miami-Dade County Summit for Physicians on Evidence-Based Maternity Care, co-sponsored by the DOH,” she wrote in an email. “Miami-Dade received a large Communities Putting Prevention to Work Grant to address obesity and has a target of increasing the number of maternity care facilities designated as Baby Friendly Hospitals to increase breastfeeding rates. My topic was the role of the physician in implementing change in adopting the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.

“In the audience were two College of Medicine graduates. One was Sandy Ruiz-Calle (M.D., ’07), who has completed her pediatric residency, is a mother of two (breastfed) children and is now employed at a community health center, where she is a strong breastfeeding proponent. The other was Maureen Mendoza (M.D., ’10), currently a pediatric resident at UM/Jackson, where she is working with one of the neonatologists on a breastfeeding quality improvement project, part of which involves becoming a Baby Friendly Hospital. Maureen’s neonatology mentor told me what a great resident Maureen has been.

“It was very rewarding to see these two young physicians, both from the Orlando campus, who have become breastfeeding advocates and spent their Saturdays off duty to attend a CME program to learn more about breastfeeding and optimal maternity care practices.”

THE SNORER REPORT
Eboni Ellis (M.D., ’09), a family medicine resident at Halifax Health, wrote a column on sleep apnea for the Jan. 16 edition of the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

SAVE THE DATE: REUNION IS APRIL 14
The next College of Medicine Alumni Reunion is April 14. This year, the featured guests will be the alumni from the Class of 2007. But, as always, every alum from either the PIMS program or the College of Medicine is encouraged to attend. Spring weather, spring football, fond memories flooding back: Watch our alumni page for more information.

YOUR BOARD MEMBERS
The Alumni Board is made up of:
- Michael J. Sweeney, chair, M.D. (PIMS, ’75).
- Rick Sheridan, M.D. (PIMS, ’76).
- Gordon Burtch, M.D. (PIMS, ’77).
- Scott Warren, M.D. (PIMS, ’81).
- Keith Ingram, M.D. (PIMS, ’81).
- Floyd Jaggears, M.D. (PIMS, ’83).
- Don Levine, M.D. (PIMS, ’91).
- Shannon Price (M.D., ’06).
- Chris Sundstrom (M.D., ’06).
- Tanya Anim (M.D., ’10).
- Marlisha Edwards (M.D., ’11).
- Layla Lundquist-Smith (M.D., ’11).


MEDICAL EDUCATION FOR FLORIDA’S FUTURE
We deeply appreciate the generosity of the College of Medicine’s many friends. Without their financial support, many of the high-quality programs essential to our students’ learning experience would be lost to budget adjustments necessary in today’s financial environment. We extend our profound thanks to the many donors who’ve responded to help support this medical school since it was created in 2000.

If you would like to discuss making a gift in support of the College of Medicine’s vital role preparing new physicians to meet the challenges of Florida’s health-care needs, please contact Wayne Munson, assistant dean for development, 850-644-4389.


JOIN US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER
If you haven’t already done so, please become a fan of the College of Medicine alumni Facebook page. There you can view our latest news, events and photos. And here is a link to our Twitter page.