January 1998: Florida State Provost Larry Abele, D’Alemberte, Peaden,
Hurt and others talk about possibly expanding PIMS or developing a medical
school.
February-March 1998: Peaden introduces a bill to create a medical school at
Florida State but withdraws it because the state Board of Regents is not convinced.
A compromise puts money in Florida State’s budget to enhance PIMS
and to fund a study on the need for physicians in Florida.
May 1998: At the Legislature’s request, Florida State hires MGT of America
to conduct a study of Florida’s physician workforce.
February 1999: At a Board of Regents meeting, Richard Janeway presents
data from the soon-to-be-released MGT study, documenting the need for 150
more medical students in Florida each year.
March 1999: Abele, Hurt and two MGT representatives visit a community-based
medical school at the University of North Dakota.
April 1999: A legislative compromise calls for planning studies. FSU receives
funding to enhance basic science, enhance PIMS and conduct the studies.
1999: Charlotte Edwards Maguire, M.D., creates an endowed scholarship
fund with a $1 million gift to medical education at PIMS and later at the
College of Medicine.
May 1999: MGT is hired to conduct multiple studies that cover planning a
community-based medical school at FSU. Hurt and PIMS staff members are
very involved.
June 1999: Peaden, Hurt and MGT staff members visit the Michigan
State University School of Human Medicine in East Lansing, as well as the
Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Upper Peninsula clinical campuses.
July-November 1999: Hurt, Abele and others attend community meetings
in Jacksonville, DeFuniak Springs, Pensacola, Orlando, Madison, Perry and
elsewhere. They talk to community members about a medical school with a
mission to serve the elderly and underserved. Contacts are made with hospitals,
clinics, health departments and other facilities. All show interest.
January 2000: Gov. Jeb Bush says he’ll support a new medical school for
Florida State.
92 | Breaking the Mold