About the Department

The FSU College of Medicine's Department of Clinical Sciences is pivotal in teaching the key disciplines of internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, surgery, emergency medicine, and neurology, which medical students must master to become highly competent and well-rounded physicians. Department faculty at the central campus have teaching responsibilities throughout the four-year curriculum and serve as education directors. They also give lectures, facilitate small groups, teach in the  Clinical Learning Center (CLC), and participate in basic science courses such as Physiology, Pharmacology, Neuroscience, and Medicine and Behavior. They also serve as mentors to students for their respective areas of medicine.

FSU College of Medicine students' first two years of introduction to clinical medicine occurs as preceptorships in physician practices in the Tallahassee and surrounding area as well as in the medical school's CLC. Students complete the required clinical rotations (clerkships) during the third and fourth years at one of the six regional campuses, which are located in Daytona Beach , Fort Pierce , Orlando , Pensacola , Sarasota and  Tallahassee . The clinical training extends to hospitals, skilled-nursing facilities, managed care organizations, private clinics, and many other settings available through the College of Medicine's regional campuses. 

The Department of Clinical Sciences' outstanding faculty members include:

Sarah Alvarez, MD is a board-certified pediatrician and assistant professor. She teaches and first and second year medical students and teaches in the CLC. She also see patients at North Florida Pediatrics as sought-after Clinician.

Nader Akhavan, MD is a regarded internist  and assistant professor for the department where he teaches in the first and Second year CLC and small groups; additionally, he shares his time as a hospitalist at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare.

Debra S Andree, MD, BSN, FAAP,   a respected pediatrician, is the Education Director for the third-year Pediatrics Clerkship, a six-week rotation where students gain experience in caring for children of all ages. 

Rhonda Collins, EdD, MS, PMP , is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences with a background in educational administration, policy, and evaluation in addition to being a certified project management professional. She is involved with the first- and second-year curriculum, 4th year electives, and is engaged in and coordinates multiple research efforts within the Department.

Suzanne Bush, MD , a respected obstetrician and gynecologist, is the Education Director for the third- and fourth-year Obstetrics and Gynecology clerkship. This clerkship is a six-week rotation during which students are introduced to the core content that defines the practice of women's health, obstetrics, and gynecology.

Debra Danforth, DNP, APRN, FAANP , an energetic nurse practitioner with her doctorate in Nursing, she is the Director of the Charlotte E. Maguire, MD, and Tallahassee Memorial Hospital CLC, and is a Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences. 

Donna Hill, MD a respected Neurologist and professor for the Department of Clinical Sciences. She serves as a student-advisor as well a lecturer. She teaches first and second year medical students in their small groups and the CLC>.

Gerry Maitland, MD , a neurologist with expertise in neuro-ophthalmology, lectures in Neuroscience and participates in CLC activities. He also sponsors many students summer research projects. 

Lawrence Mobley, MD , an experienced psychiatrist, serves as the Education Director for the third-year Psychiatry Clerkship, a six-week rotation that provides students with a solid foundation in the fundamentals of evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and appropriate referral of patients with mental health disorders. 

Nora Pepper, MD , a board-certified pediatrician and assistant professor for Clinical Sciences. Dr. Pepper works actively at the FSU Primary Health Clinic, and she teaches first and second year students in small groups and the CLC. 

Stephen Sandroni, MD , a regarded general internist with a focus on nephrology, is a professor of internal medicine. He teaches the first-and-second-year students, by lecturing and advising, as well as leading small groups and teaching in the CLC. Dr. Sandroni provides services at FSU Primary Health Clinic. 

Anthony C Speights, MD , an accomplished OBGYN physician also serves as the Associate Dean of Interdiciplinary Medical Sciences, and the Director of the Bridge to Clinical Medicine Master's Program. Dr. Speights also teaches the first-and second year students and teaches in the CLC. Additionally, Dr. Speights provides clinical services at Care Point Health and Wellness Center. 

Mark Stavros, MD , an emergency medicine specialist, serves as the Education Director for the fourth-year Emergency Medicine Clerkship. This four-week clerkship introduces students to the role that emergency medicine plays in the management of acute disease by offering significant clinical exposure. 

Michael J Sweeney, MD, MBA, FACS , is the Interim Chair for the department and is a well-respected surgeon with expertise in vascular surgery, teaches in the first- and second-year curriculum, as well as the online Finance & The New Physician 4th year elective at the FSU College of Medicine. He is also the Surgery Education Director. This eight-week clinical clerkship is divided into an initial six- week period devoted entirely to general surgery, followed by a two-week selective in orthopedics, otolaryngology, or urology.

Robert Watson, MD , a renowned neurologist, he is responsible for developing and implementing the clinical presentation model in the College of Medicine curriculum and teaches in the area of neurosciences and first- and second-year small groups and CLC. Dr. Watson provides clinical services at the FSU-TMH Family Medicine Residency Program.

Amy Wetherby, PhD, CCC-SLP , is the Director of the Florida State University Autism Institute and heads an internationally recognized group of researchers in various aspects of Autism Spectrum Disorders where she also oversees doctoral thesis candidates.

Departmental Bylaws , updated September 2021.