Powerhouse IMS program is delivering health care providers, leaders today and beyond
Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences faculty and staff are joined by the students from the 2023 graduating class for a group photo following their Senior Capstone presentations in the College of Medicine atrium.
By Bob Thomas FSU College of Medicine
The origin story of Florida State University’ s Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences undergraduate program fittingly begins with a woman widely recognized as the“ Mother of the College of Medicine.”
In 2012, Myra Hurt, Ph. D., was attending the Harvard Macy Institute, where a worldwide gathering of health care leaders goes for advanced faculty development, thought leadership and networking opportunities. Representing the College of Medicine as its Senior Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs, Hurt was tasked with leading a group in an“ innovation exercise.” From that session sprung the idea of creating an interdisciplinary path to medical school; quite a deviation from the traditional degree paths of biology, chemistry and exercise science.
It planted a seed that would eventually bear fruit.
Fast forward to January 2015, when then-FSU Provost Sally McRorie, Ph. D., gave Hurt the green light to pull such a program together. She lured Helen Livingston, Ed. D., out of retirement to serve as the“ mechanic,” developing the curriculum that would bring seven FSU colleges— Arts & Sciences, Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, Communication & Information, Nursing, Social Science and Public Policy, Social Work and the College of Medicine— together to offer three majors: Clinical Professions, Community Patient Care, and Health Management, Policy & Information.
The goal? To expose students who aspire to careers in health professions to a rigorous science curriculum, individualized advising, experiential service-learning, development seminars and capstone courses, which would help determine their best-suited career paths. Graduates from all three IMS majors receive a B. S. in Biomedical Sciences.
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