“ We really took a look at four-week pandemics electives that allowed students to , in real time , learn about what was happening in their lives . … We looked at past pandemics and then we really looked at COVID-19 and what was happening in real time . We did several days on just looking at health inequities and social determinants of health as they were happening in real time , because it was during that same time there was all this racial unrest , and all of the sudden we were seeing the racial inequities in the way COVID was acting – and impacting people of color in a more significant way . … “ We were seeing so many deaths and the inequities playing out in real time , so we were able to talk about the multiplying effect of health inequities . And about how COVID really multiplied those inequities so that we could see them more vividly than people had acknowledged them in the past .” Suzanne Harrison , director of clinical programs and professor of Family Medicine and Rural Health
“ We ’ re clearly in uncharted territory . Are we going to revert back to the old way ? My experience has been that very rarely do you revert back to the old way , because the good old times are not always as good as maybe you thought they were . … One of the strengths of the FSU College of Medicine is we don ’ t have that mantra of , ‘ Well , we ’ ve done it this way for decades .’ We haven ’ t really been around that long , and we ’ ve got some really incredible educators who have been working – and are working – on different ways to reach our students and to help our students . That ’ s a great asset . “ I see a lot more of telemedicine . I see a lot more of routine use of masks and social distancing , even after this is gone . … So I think it ’ s going to change now . I also think that the face-to-face and the live interaction both in medical education and in the care of patients is vital . I really believe in the benefit of the healing touch .” Luckey Dunn , dean of the Daytona Beach Regional Campus
“ Since the beginning of this pandemic , I ’ ve been constantly ruminating on what it means to be a part of medicine . As a medical student during this time , I have the rare opportunity of witnessing how both medical professionals and the non-medical public evolve and respond . On the one hand , I understand the mistrust of science by the public and how fear can manipulate thought . However , on the other hand , I understand the frustration of medical professionals whom are constantly under scrutiny because of the spreading of misinformation . “ In reflection , my love of medicine has not changed . However , I understand that as a physician I will be judged not only on my work , but also how my profession is viewed by the public . Though this scares me at times , I am aware more than ever the importance of my role – especially as a black male medical student , I represent more than just a guy with a dream . I represent 400 years of suffering by my ancestors .” Je ’ Coy Hawley , M . D . Class of ‘ 22
Colin Hackley
August
• First in-person classes begin for M . D . ’ 24 students ; M . D . Class of ’ 23 also returns to campus with an emphasis on small-group learning and a limit of eight or fewer students in one place .
• PA ’ 22 students ‘ arrive ’ virtually , and will do online work only until mid-October ; M . D . ’ 24 students begin anatomy course on campus – three months later than normal ; Telemedicine supplements in-person clinical skills training .
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FALL ' 20