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09/20/2024Cheryl Porter, Ph.D., Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Associate Professor, was recently elected as Member-At-Large for the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Southern Group on Student Affairs. The AAMC is a not-for-profit association dedicated to transforming health through medical education, health care, medical research, and community collaborations.
The Members-at-Large attend scheduled meetings of the regional Steering Committee, attend scheduled regional business meetings, coordinate and facilitate the orientation for new members at the regional spring meeting, manage the SGSA mentoring program, ensure that schools in the region have designated institutional voting representatives and institutional representatives to all GSA communities/areas of expertise, assist with the development of the regional spring meeting, assist in carrying out special projects of the region, provide perspective and insight to discussions/action of the regional Steering Committee, gain an understanding of regional leadership, and gain an understanding of areas of interest/concern to regional members and the GSA./spotlight/bssm/porter-elected-member-large-aamc/fri-09202024-1033 -
09/18/2024Austin Spitz, MS, a medical student working with Dr. Kozel, won a 2024 Young Investigator Travel Award from the National Network of Depression Centers Conference for his work on a study titled “The Relationship of Anxious Arousal with Treatment of Dysphoria Using VR Mindfulness and Two Accelerated TMS Protocols.” This study highlights the potential of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to rapidly treat mental health conditions that have been resistant to antidepressant treatment. Additionally, this research demonstrates the importance of ongoing research and clinical efforts at the FSU Neuromodulation Lab. The ability to conduct such research was a direct result of the opportunity provided via the Florida State University College of Medicine Summer Research Fellowship./spotlight/bssm/neuromodulation-student-awarded-2024-young-investigator-travel-award/wed-09182024 -
09/12/2024Assistant Professor Julia Sheffler, Ph.D., recently presented groundbreaking research at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, demonstrating the significant role of nutrition education in promoting brain health. Her study spotlights the potential benefits of simple dietary adjustments in reducing dementia risk. Complementing her findings, a related study suggests that reducing daily consumption of processed red meat, such as bacon and hotdogs, by just one ounce could lower the risk of dementia by 20%. In response to these insights, Dr. Sheffler is spearheading the development of community programs designed to support individuals in making and maintaining effective dietary changes over the long term./spotlight/bssm/sheffler-highlights-impact-dietary-changes-dementia-risk/thu-09122024-1118 -
09/10/2024We are excited to welcome Dr. Laura Reid Marks, Ph.D., Ed.S., MAE, to the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine! Earning her Ed.S. & MAE from the University of Florida, and Ph.D. from Purdue University, Dr. Marks is currently an associate professor working directly with our Center for Translational Behavioral Science, and the director of the GROWTH (Global Research on Working to Ameliorate Health Disparities) Research Lab. Her recent research projects have focused on health disparities in people of color and the development of culturally tailored interventions. She is currently funded by a K23 through NIAAA to culturally tailor a mindfulness mobile health application for Black emerging adults who engage in risky alcohol use./spotlight/bssm/welcoming-dr-marks-bssm/tue-09102024-0915 -
09/06/2024We are happy to share that an R34 grant by Associate Professor Karen MacDonell, Ph.D., titled “Optimizing mobile interventions to overcome stigma and promote HIV prevention among Thai young transgender women” that scored below fundable range (19th percentile, 34) was prioritized for funding by NIMH during council./spotlight/bssm/macdonell-receives-r34-grant-hiv-prevention/fri-09062024-1159 -
09/05/2024Workshop presenters, Justice Lewis and Stephanie Malally, social workers and clinic coordinators, will describe the procedures typically included in memory assessment and their costs, as well as treatment options for memory disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. They also will discuss how to access memory evaluation services and clinic-based educational and support opportunities.
Family caregiver and dementia care advocate, Priscilla Jean-Louis, will share her personal journey in obtaining a memory evaluation and medical treatment for her loved one with dementia.
Last, ACTS2 Project Coordinator, Tomeka Norton-Brown, will provide information about training and support for dementia caregivers, as well as local, state, and national dementia care resources. Persons with memory difficulties, family caregivers, elder care professionals, and other interested community members are strongly encouraged to join the workshop./spotlight/bssm/diagnostic-treatment-and-support-services-older-floridians-memory-problems-what-know -
08/27/2024GSA is the nation’s largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging. Achieving fellow status is a prestigious recognition by peers for outstanding contributions to the field of gerontology and represents the highest category of GSA membership. This distinction comes at varying points in a person’s career and is given for diverse activities that include research, teaching, administration, public service, practice, and notable participation in the Society. Professor Sutin and the new fellows will be formally recognized during GSA’s 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting, which will be held from November 13 to 16 in Seattle, Washington./spotlight/bssm/sutin-named-fellow-gerontological-society-america/tue-08272024-0912 -
08/21/2024Earning his M.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an M.P.H. from Vanderbilt University, Dr. Bobo held key positions as professor and chair, Department of Psychiatry & Psychology and as the Cecilia and Dan Carmichael Family Associate Director for the Center for Individualized Medicine at Mayo Clinic Florida. Dr. Bobo’s research and clinical interests are in addressing complex and difficult-to-treat cases of depression, perinatal and perimenopausal depression, and multifactorial correlates of depression such as occupational burnout, through the use of machine learning, clinomics, digital health tools (digitomics), other-omics, and asynchronous or semi-synchronous study designs. With over 200 publications, continuous funding from NIH and other sources since 2006, and over 22 years of clinical experience, he brings a wealth of expertise and a remarkable track record in mental health practice, research, and education./spotlight/bssm/welcoming-dr-bobo-bssm/wed-08212024-0853 -
08/13/2024/spotlight/familymedicine/fpha-annual-education-conference/tue-08132024-1124 -
08/13/2024/spotlight/familymedicine/fsu-college-medicine-dean-elected-vice-president-florida-medical -
08/13/2024Assistant Professor Mike Drury, Psy.D., co-authored a journal article titled “The Promise of Transdiagnostic Treatment in Rural Primary Care: The Unified Protocol,” which highlights the high rates of behavioral health challenges faced by individuals in rural areas. The study focuses on the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP), a therapeutic approach designed to address a variety of emotional disorders by targeting their underlying factors. The authors aim to evaluate the efficacy of UP in rural primary care settings, with the goal of improving mental health outcomes in these communities./spotlight/bssm/drury-discusses-transdiagnostic-treatment-rural-primary-care/tue-08132024-1040 -
08/06/2024Sylvie Naar, Ph.D., and Laura Reid Marks, Ph.D., attended the International Congress of Psychology in Prague, Czech Republic. At this event, Naar shared findings from a study by Scale It Upon on social determinants of mental health in sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY). Statistics on SGMY participants show 77% had high levels of trauma and stress, 78% were reluctant to share their identity with their healthcare provider (HCP), and 67% felt mistreated by a HCP based on their identity./spotlight/bssm/naar-and-reid-marks-international-congress-psychology/tue-08062024-0918 -
07/29/2024Professor Ivan Balan, Ph.D., was given the Supplement Award from The National Institute on Drug Abuse for his currently active R34 grant titled “Integration of Electronic SBI(RT) into an HIV Testing Program to Reduce Substance Use and HIV risk Behavior among MSM in Argentina.” The proposed study seeks to address the disproportionate gap of MSM affected by HIV and substance abuse by developing and piloting an electronic-SBI program tailored for MSM awaiting their HIV test./spotlight/bssm/balan-receives-supplement-award-national-institute-drug-abuse/mon-07292024-1005 -
07/29/2024Department Chair, and President of the International Society for Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Heather Flynn, Ph.D., co-authored a chapter in a new textbook titled “Interpersonal Psychotherapy: A Global Reach.” The textbook describes the rapidly expanding global dissemination of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), an effective treatment for depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. The book, authored by the developer of IPT Dr. Myrna Weissman, includes the development of new training, technologies, and the use of IPT in over 30 counties around the world. In Chapter 5, Flynn discusses ISIPT Certification Programs and their goal to develop standards and processes supporting continued educational development and certification of IPT trainers and supervisors./spotlight/bssm/interpersonal-psychotherapy-global-reach/mon-07292024-1154 -
07/25/2024/spotlight/familymedicine/drs-kerwyn-flowers-and-shermeeka-hogans-mathews-publishes-exploratory -
07/25/2024Office of Student Counseling Services members published an eye-opening article in the Florida Psychologist titled “The Wellness Prescription: How Psychologists Can Support Tomorrow’s Medical Providers.” In this article, the authors discuss mental health needs of medical trainees who navigate highly competitive college admissions, rigorous training, and substantial student debt. Statistics reveal that medical trainees and practicing providers experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and burnout compared to the general population. This calls attention to the importance of attending to the mental health of medical practitioners, as findings suggest that, when medical providers suffer, so do their patients./spotlight/bssm/taylor-thompson-and-drury-address-mental-health-medical-training/thu-07252024-0831 -
07/19/2024Associate Professor Michael Nair-Collins, Ph.D., authored a new article discussing bioethics titled “The Uniform Determinations of Death Act is Not Changing. Will Physicians Continue to Misdiagnose Brain Death?” In the article, Nair-Collins explains how brain death is routinely misdiagnosed, with common practice declaring some patients dead by neurologic criteria even though they do not meet the legal standard for death. Despite vigorous efforts to revise the Uniform Determinations of Death Act (UDDA), guidelines will not change in the foreseeable future. Thus, legally living people will continue to be declared dead, contributing to mistrust in the determination of death./spotlight/bssm/nair-collins-discusses-unchanged-dilemma-brain-death-misdiagnosis/fri-07192024-1117 -
07/11/2024/spotlight/familymedicine/dr-alma-littles-named-dean-college-medicine/thu-07112024-1508 -
07/01/2024BSSM Professors delve into the complex interplay between weight discrimination and health outcomes in a journal article titled “Sociodemographic predictors of perceived weight discrimination.” The study explores how weight discrimination is not just a social issue but also increases risk for chronic diseases and reduced life expectancy. With a focus on minority groups, the authors aim to identify sociodemographic factors associated with heightened perceptions of weight discrimination./spotlight/bssm/gerend-team-examines-sociodemographic-predictors-weight-discrimination/mon-07012024 -
06/21/2024BSSM researchers authored a journal article titled “Healthcare visits by smokers: Does cessation treatment differ based on clinical condition?” The study finds that providers are offering cessation treatment to individuals with behavioral health conditions at either higher or comparable rates to those without. Using data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, researchers seek to examine if cessation treatment offered at healthcare visits differs based on the clinical condition./spotlight/bssm/geletko-team-examines-differing-cessation-treatment-based-clinical-condition/fri -
06/12/2024Department Chair Heather Flynn, Ph.D., was interviewed by WCTV News regarding the challenges rural North Florida counties face in accessing mental healthcare. Eight counties in North Florida have no psychiatrists at all and suffer from a shortage in psychologists, social workers, and licensed mental health professionals. Flynn and colleagues are working to develop mental illness training, as well as establish mental health clinics with local partners to bridge the mental healthcare gap throughout rural communities in Florida./spotlight/bssm/dr-flynn-featured-wctv-news-regarding-mental-healthcare-stigma-provider-scarcity/wed -
06/07/2024Professor Angelina Sutin, Ph.D., and Assistant Professor Martina Luchetti, Ph.D., co-authored a brand-new journal article titled “Are social interactions perceived as more meaningful in older adulthood?” The study seeks to test the socioemotional selectivity theory, which states as people age the stronger their preference for emotionally meaningful social interaction becomes. To test this hypothesis, researchers collected data from three-hundred-six participants from the ages of 18-88 to examine the perception of meaningful social interactions in younger and older adults./spotlight/bssm/sutin-and-luchetti-co-author-perception-social-interactions-adulthood/fri-06072024 -
06/03/2024/spotlight/familymedicine/dr-tana-jean-welchs-new-book-explores-value-medical-posthumanism/mon -
05/31/2024Professor Robert Glueckauf, Ph.D., and Tomeka Norton-Brown from the ACTS2 Caregiver Project recently held a workshop titled, “Effective Communication and Creative Problem Solving for Family Caregivers of Loved Ones with Dementia in Assisted Living Facilities: Keys to Success.” During this workshop, Rebecca Adelman & Heather Bornstein gave tips on effectively communicating with assisted care staff about loved ones with dementia, ViElla Lindsay about her personal experience with a loved one in assisted care, Tomeka Norton-Brown on ACTS2 services./spotlight/bssm/effective-communication-problem-solving-dementia-caregiving/fri-05312024-1335 -
05/28/2024Assistant Professor Yang Hou, Ph.D., was given the 2024 FSU SEED Award for her research on “Psychosocial and Lifestyle Predictors of Neurobehavioral Function of Adolescents with Neurofibromatosis Type 1: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study.” The proposed project will utilize ecological momentary assessment measures and activity trackers to collect rich data from adolescents with NF1: their daily neurobehavioral (i.e., cognitive, emotional, and behavioral) function and its predictors./spotlight/bssm/hou-receives-2024-fsu-seed-award/tue-05282024-1147 -
05/24/2024/spotlight/familymedicine/dfmrh-and-ocoh-team-post-tornado-outreach/fri-05242024-1122 -
05/21/2024Department Chair Heather Flynn, Ph.D., co-authored a journal article titled “Antenatal Anxiety Symptoms Outperform Antenatal Depression Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation as a Risk Factor for Postpartum Suicidal Ideation.” During this study on Suicidal ideation (SI), Flynn’s team identified antenatal anxiety symptoms to outperform the previous leading risk factor, antenatal depression symptoms, as a predictor of SI during a mother’s postpartum phase./spotlight/bssm/flynn-links-antenatal-anxiety-postpartum-si-predictor/tue-05212024-0839 -
05/09/2024Assistant Professor Julia Sheffler co-authored a newly published journal article titled “A modified Mediterranean-style diet enhances brain function via specific gut-microbiome-brain mechanisms.” This study seeks to demonstrate the potential benefits of a modified Mediterranean-ketogenic diet (MkD) on treating AD-related neurocognitive pathophysiology, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, by comparing changes that occur in mice when consuming a standard Western-style diet or an MkD./spotlight/bssm/sheffler-co-authors-enhancing-brain-function-mediterranean-diet/thu-05092024-1137 -
05/06/2024Professor Frankie Wong and Associate Professor Eugenia Millender joined forces with a Panamanian research institute to address global health. Wong expressed his excitement for this new alliance, stating, “By combining the expertise of both institutions, we can make a real difference in the lives of people in Panama and beyond.”/spotlight/bssm/wong-and-millender-partner-panamanian-global-health-research-institute/mon-05062024 -
05/03/2024Associate Professor Michael Nair-Collins, Ph.D., participated in a debate with Tracie Mahaffey, Ph.D., from the FSU Department of Philosophy on the topic “Organ & Tissue Donation Programs: The Bioethical Issues.” The debate centered on the idea of transitioning to an opt-out organ donation system. Mahaffey supported this approach, citing widespread public approval and willingness to participate, while Nair-Collins opposed it, emphasizing concerns about organ donors' lack of valid consent and the accuracy of death determination relative to the legal standard./spotlight/bssm/nair-collins-debates-bioethical-issues-organ-donation/fri-05032024-1033 -
04/30/2024In this paper, the team led by Sara Green, MSW, discussed electronic health records as a cost-effective approach to providing necessary foundations for clinical trial research, as well as highlighting challenges of the regulatory process in the implementation of utilizing electronic health records in adolescent HIV research./spotlight/bssm/regulatory-issues-hiv-electronic-health-records/tue-04302024-0908 -
04/30/2024Nicole Ennis, Vice Chair of BSSM, Ph.D., had a recent appearance in a reel from CAN Community Health discussing the importance of HIV research at this year’s Florida HIV CPR Conference. In the reel, Dr. Ennis expressed the importance of research being the opportunity to understand what approaches work for who and under what circumstances, and the value of gatherings like the CPR Conference because they bring a robust infrastructure of participants, of what the actual issues people are facing to help academic researchers understand what evidence-based interventions are needed in the treatment and prevention of HIV./spotlight/bssm/dr-ennis-coming-together-shape-hiv-research/tue-04302024-0910 -
04/27/2024Professor and Mina Jo Powell Endowed Chair in Neurological Sciences, Dr. Andrew Kozel, M.D., gave a talk on mental and behavioral health at the FSU Office of Research’s Collaborative Collision event in March. Kozel’s lecture provided an overview of how far the field has come and challenges that continue to face the research community./spotlight/bssm/kozel-tackles-mental-health-challenges-collaborative-collision/tue-04302024-0900 -
04/23/2024Assistant Professor Yang Hou, Ph.D., recently delivered an informational lecture on rare diseases at BSSM's quarterly Community Rounds series with a panel on “Highlighting Pediatric Rare Diseases and Community Impacts.” Also hear from Fran Hokkanen, volunteer at NORD, about her experience in patient advocacy, Michele Holbrook, 2023 National Ambassador for the Children’s Tumor Foundation, spoke on her personal experiences with rare diseases, and Director of the Florida State University Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases, Pradeep Bhide, Ph.D., introducing this new FSU institute and the services it will provide to the community./spotlight/bssm/yang-community-rounds-pediatric-rare-diseases/tue-04232024-1053 -
04/16/2024Assistant Professor Julia Sheffler, Ph.D., and Associate Professor Scott Pickett, Ph.D., recently co-authored a journal article titled “Sleep Quality as a Critical Pathway Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Multimorbidity and the Impact of Lifestyle.” This study aims to establish the effects of adverse childhood experiences on multimorbidity through sleep quality and investigate whether lifestyle factors may influence this relationship among middle-aged and older adults./spotlight/bssm/sheffler-and-pickett-co-author-journal-sleep-quality-multimorbidity/tue-04162024-0 -
04/16/2024Assistant Professor Julia Sheffler, Ph.D., and Associate Professor Scott Pickett, Ph.D., recently co-authored a journal article titled “Sleep Quality as a Critical Pathway Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Multimorbidity and the Impact of Lifestyle.” This study aims to establish the effects of adverse childhood experiences on multimorbidity through sleep quality and investigate whether lifestyle factors may influence this relationship among middle-aged and older adults./spotlight/bssm/sheffler-and-pickett-co-author-journal-sleep-quality-multimorbidity/tue-04162024 -
04/09/2024Professor Robert Glueckauf, Ph.D., & Tomeka Norton from the ACTS2 Caregiver Project recently held a workshop titled, "Managing Sleep Difficulties in Caring for a Loved One with Dementia: Strategies for Success." During this workshop, Associate Professor Scott Pickett discussed effective habits and resources on how to maintain sleep while providing care to a loved one with dementia./spotlight/bssm/challenges-sleeping-while-caring-loved-one-dementia/tue-04092024-1130 -
04/08/2024BSSM Department Chair Heather Flynn, Ph.D., and Co-Chair of the Florida Maternal Mental Health Collaborative (FL-MMHC), alongside Alex Carlisle, Ph.D., and CEO of The National Alliance against Disparities in Patient Health (NADPH), are working on groundbreaking projects to address healthcare disparities and promote health equity./spotlight/bssm/flynns-maternal-mental-health-center-confronts-healthcare-disparities/mon-04082024 -
04/01/2024Megan Deichen Hansen, Ph.D., presented a Grand Rounds lecture at the Harvard Medical School discussing “Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs: An Innovative Tool for Perinatal Mental Health Equity.” Deichen Hansen’s talk focused on the contemporary landscape of maternal mental health inequities, gaps in care along the mental healthcare pathway, and strategies for promoting equitable outcomes using a perinatal integrated care model./spotlight/bssm/deichen-hansen-perinatal-mental-health-equity-grand-rounds-lecture/mon-04012024-0955 -
04/01/2024Associate Professor Karen MacDonell, along with scholars Bo Wang, and Nittaya Phanuphak are co-leading multiple NIH-funded projects focused on HIV prevention in vulnerable groups of young adults in Bangkok, Thailand. Recently, U.S. investigators worked with the Thai team at IHRI and were able to tour multiple clinical partner sites in the Bangkok area. If successful, this collaboration will result in mobile, technology-based intervention tools that IHRI and other clinical partner sites can offer to young adult patients to manage their health and reduce the risk of HIV./spotlight/bssm/macdonnel-thai-collaboration-seeks-innovate-hiv-prevention/mon-04012024-0949 -
03/19/2024Associate Professor Michael Nair-Collins, Ph.D., argues that the evaluation for brain death should require assessment for loss of hormonal secretion from the pituitary gland and hypothalamus to fit the current guidelines of the Uniform Determination of Death Act./spotlight/bssm/nair-collins-urges-adhering-legal-definition-death-diagnosis-brain-death/tue -
03/19/2024Susan Epstein's collaborative endeavor seeks to enhance the integration of Cognitive Information Processing theory, research, and practice./spotlight/bssm/epsteins-latest-collaboration-enhances-cognitive-information-processing/tue-03192024 -
03/19/2024Associate Professor Joseph Gabriel, Ph.D., talked on how the increased sale of proprietary medicines led to a professional crisis among pharmacists related to their loss of autonomy./spotlight/bssm/gabriel-discusses-crisis-american-pharmacy-during-1918-1942/tue-03192024-0935 -
03/03/2024/spotlight/familymedicine/fsu-dance-marathon-2024-raises-over-124-million/thu-03072024-1450 -
02/05/2024The Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Florida State University College of Medicine is in an expansion phase. We are actively seeking exceptional faculty members at all career stages to join us and be a part of our bright future./spotlight/biosci/multiple-tenure-track-open-rank-professor-positions-biomedical-sciences/mon -
01/24/2024/spotlight/bssm/kozel-led-team-lands-144-million-dod-grant-advance-brain-stimulation-technology-ptsd -
01/17/2024/spotlight/familymedicine/jaad-international-publishes-journal-dermatological-investigation-dr -
01/10/2024/spotlight/familymedicine/dfmrh-now-hiring-open-rank-clinical-professor-aprn-dnp/wed-01102024-0953 -
01/05/2024/spotlight/familymedicine/dr-lajoie-takes-new-role-bssm/fri-01052024-1549
