Christie Alexander was the first graduate to become a full-time faculty
member at the College of Medicine. (Photo by Colin Hackley)
‘I HOPE WE’VE MADE YOU PROUD’
Christie (Sain) Alexander (M.D. ’05)
Twenty years … 20 years since the vision for our medical school became a
reality. Fifteen years of graduated classes out in the world doing extraordinary
things. Family physicians, pediatricians, internists, OB/GYNs, surgeons … every
specialty represented, fulfilling our mission by the hundreds. Serving rural communities,
the elderly population, minorities and the underserved – with integrity
and compassion. And to think that it all started with one incredible woman’s
vision, a shoestring faculty, and 30 excited, scared, brave medical students who
believed in the mission.
I am so proud to be part of what was then thought of as not needed. I am
so proud to be one of the 30 pioneers who took a risk to make this happen. I
am so proud to say that I’m a graduate of the Florida State University College of
Medicine. And now, as a family physician and associate professor, I am so incredibly
proud to be able to pay it forward for the patients I serve and the students I
teach. We started out as a family, and we continue to be a family even to this day.
No matter how big the classes get or how much we grow. This is who we are. This
is what makes us special. And this is why so many others wanted to follow in our
footsteps both locally and nationally.
Dr. Hurt, Dr. Livingston, Sen. Peaden, President Thrasher, President
D’Alemberte, and all of the faculty and staff who were there in those early days
… you paved the way for us as medical students, and in gratitude we will continue
to pave the way for our patients and for our profession. No one knew who
we were when we started, but everyone knew who we were when we finished,
and everyone knows we are here to stay.
76 | Breaking the Mold