PATIENTS AND ALUMNI
Students will see patients like these, who were
there one morning in late June:
Vicki Mock, who moved from
California in May. Like many others,
“If the parents need care, there are tons of
“We made it very clear that we were going
wonderful providers here,” said Norton, who to provide primary care, not specialty care,”
graduated in 2013. “That’s what this place really he said. “We were looking for a place where
offers – making sure the family system thrives.” there was a need, and where we wouldn’t be in
Hogans-Mathews, from the Class of 2015,
competition.”
she’d been unsuccessfully calling also gets a lot of behavioral-care patients, around in search of an available because that’s one of her areas of concentration not just for patients, and not just for students,
primary-care provider. She was thrilled within family medicine. but also for his full-time faculty members at
to register with FSU PrimaryHealth.
“Knowing that I have a partnership here and
Fogarty said FSU PrimaryHealth was designed
the central campus. They keep getting more
Edward Johnson, an FSU grounds that we have social worker Cori McGooden and employee who came in after reading others is very encouraging,” she said. “We have a campus flyer. “I work for the the opportunity to make a difference in people’s and didn’t have much need to practice clinical
university, and it’s been great,” he said. lives. And having behavioral care integrated into medicine,” he said. “They’d already had years
“Seems like everything FSU touches primary care also helps to erase its stigma.” and years in practice. But as we were recruiting
Hogans-Mathews estimates half of her our next generation of faculty, I wanted them
turns to gold.”
numerous – and younger.
“Many of our original faculty were ‘seasoned’
Michele Hood, who was there to see patients have come from the adjoining to look more like the students than like me. I
her doctor of 30 years, Tracey Hellgren neighborhoods. Over and over she has heard wanted role models who recently had walked in
– formerly with Patients First, now an stories like: “I’ve been looking for a primary- the students’ shoes. The last thing that young
FSU PrimaryHealth provider. “She’s care doctor and nobody could take me for faculty members want is to lose their clinical
seen me from single college student to months, and then I heard about you guys.” skills. FSU PrimaryHealth provides a way
married woman with an 11-year-old,”
“The patients are coming,” she said. “They’re
for them to sharpen their skills, to be clinical
Hood said. “She knows my history. spreading the news, and I’m just happy to be a role models for our first- and second-year
She knows the things that I’ve gone part of it.” students and to serve a medically underserved
through health-wise. I just trust her.”
That kind of connection is what newer
physician Shermeeka Hogans-Mathews looks
forward to establishing with patients.
community.”
POSITIVE ATTITUDE
The arrival of the health center doesn’t change
the College of Medicine’s reliance on thousands
Hogans-Mathews also appreciates the diversity
at FSU PrimaryHealth.
“It’s probably one of the most diverse provider
of community physicians around the state – the groups that you’ll see in Tallahassee for primary
water it and watch it grow,” she said. “To help “clerkship faculty” members who provide the care,” she said. “Not just a diverse group, but
empower my patients to be healthier, happier lion’s share of students’ clinical training in Years a group that shares a good camaraderie and
people.” 3 and 4. And as Fogarty has told physicians positive attitude. I just feel like every time I
in Tallahassee, FSU PrimaryHealth has no come here, I’m uplifted.”
“Here, I have the chance to plant the seed,
Hogans-Mathews and Mary Norton are both
College of Medicine alumnae, fairly new faculty
members and FSU PrimaryHealth providers.
intention of stealing their patients.
For more information, visit med.fsu.edu/health
They love the camaraderie and teamwork – and
the emphasis on emotional as well as physical
health.
“Your behavioral health is part of your overall
health status,” Van Durme said. “So rather
than the artificial separation of ‘Here’s where
your mental-health needs are addressed’ and
‘Here’s where the rest of your health needs are
addressed,’ it’s all in one place.”
For example, if Norton is seeing an asthmatic
pediatric patient whose complications are
stressing out the parents, she can do more than
merely recommend they see a behavior specialist
or social worker. She can turn to one of her
colleagues there in The Island and ask her to
come down the hallway and meet the family.
Shermeeka Hogans-Mathews, M.D., consults with a patient.
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