Since 1994, the SSTRIDE Medical Pathway Program has been inspiring future healthcare and STEM leaders through the outreach efforts of the Florida State University College of Medicine.
Our mission has always been clear—to identify students with a genuine passion for medicine, health, engineering, and mathematics, and to give those students the support services to develop a sense of responsibility, focus, and motivation necessary for success in their chosen fields.
Over the past 30+ years, SSTRIDE has guided more than 4,000 students from middle school through medical school. Today, our alumni are thriving in medicine, nursing, healthcare, research, public health, and other STEM fields across Florida and beyond. Their success continues to reflect the strength of our “middle school to medical school” model and the power of investing in future leaders.
PROGRAM HISTORY AND TIMELINE
1970
Florida State University founded the Program in Medical Sciences (PIMS)
1993
Thesla Berne-Anderson, Outreach Coordinator, hired by Dr. Myra Hurt, PIMs Director, to develop an educational pipeline program
1994
SSTRIDE Pre-College Program launched
SSTRIDE Leon County program begins
1996
PIMS Director of Admissions, Dr. Helen Livingston, hired
First Black Premedical Advisor, Thesla B. Anderson
First SSTRIDE In-School Mentor-Dr. Kendall Campbell and Dr. Tirrell Johnson
1997
SSTRIDE After-school Tutoring Program & Computer Lab implemented at FSU’s Montgomery Gym (Former PIMS location)
2000
Florida State University College of Medicine was created
College Level Undergraduate SSTRIDE and Minority Association of Premedical Students (MAPS) implemented at FSU
2001
BRIDGE to Clinical Medicine Post-Baccalaureate program begins
SSTRIDE and Big Bend Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Partnership
2002
FSU College of Medicine was granted provisional accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)
First Medical Assisting Partnership was with Lively Technical School
2003
Rural SSTRIDE Expansion Program Begins in Okaloosa & Madison Counties
Rural Introduction to Premedical Education (RIPE) Three-week Residential Program Begins
SSTRIDE and West Florida AHEC Partnership
2004
SSTRIDE Gadsden County program begins
New SSTRIDE Afterschool Tutoring Center at FSUCOM directed by Dr. Liz Foster
2005
Dr. Helen Livingston Retires
FSU College of Medicine was granted full accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)
SSTRIDE, USSTRIDE, and BRIDGE cited as an Institutional Strength by the LCME
FSU College of Medicine opens first Rural Educational Program in Marianna, FL, approximately an hour’s drive west of Tallahassee.
2007
Dr. Myra Hurt submitted paperwork for Bridge to become a Master's program
FSU College of Medicine opens Rural Clinical-Training Site in Immokalee, FL, a migrant farm community on the edge of the Everglades in South Florida
2008
RIPE Summer Program Transitions to SSTRIDE One-week Residential Summer Institute Program
2009
Dr. Helen Livingston was rehired to facilitate the development of a Masters's Program for Bridge
2011
FSU College of Medicine was granted maximum accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)
SSTRIDE, USSTRIDE, and BRIDGE cited as an Institutional Strength by the LCME
2014
SSTRIDE Orange County program begins
2015
SSTRIDE Collier County & SSTRIDE Walton County programs begin
Dr. Helen Livingston spearheaded the development of the Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences Program (IMS), led the task force, and articulated the various partnerships that contributed to the major
2016
Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (IMS) Bachelor’s program begins
2017
SSTRIDE Sarasota County program begins
2019
SSTRIDE Connect program begins
Dr. Helen Livingston Retires
Dr. Anthony Speights was appointed Associate Dean of IMS and BRIDGE Program Director & Dr. Elizabeth Foster was appointed Assistant Dean of IMS
2020
SSTRIDE Virtual Pre-Med Mentoring program begins (Immokalee & Sarasota)
Dr. Anthony Speights was appointed Senior Associate Dean of IMS & Dr. Elizabeth Foster was appointed Associate Dean of IMS
2021
The Premed Mentoring Program at Booker High School in Sarasota County begins its partnership with USSTRIDE and MAPS
The Premed Mentoring Program at Immokalee High School in Collier County begins its partnership with the Honors Medical Scholars (HMS) program
2025
Dr. Thesla Berne-Anderson Retires