As pathway programs to medicine go, Florida State University’ s Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences( IMS) undergraduate program, housed within the College of Medicine, is one of the fastest-growing producers of medical and physician assistant students. IMS’ curriculum is delivered by seven colleges at FSU and includes three majors— Clinical Professions, Community Patient Care, and Health Management, Policy & Information.
“ It was good preparing me for the med side of things, because a lot of the prerequisites were all those classes I need for the MCAT,” she said, specifically mentioning the importance of organic chemistry and biochemistry to the program’ s academic curriculum.
Beyond the classroom, each IMS student is required to complete 256 experiential learning hours; an area where LaCognata set herself apart. She completed her Clinical Professions major requirements in December 2024 with 1,800 experiential hours –- more than seven times the requirement –- for her B. S. in Biomedical Sciences and somehow found time to add a B. S. in Psychology.
She logged those hours at a variety of settings in Gadsden County. Her family relocated to Quincy from Safety Harbor following Emelia’ s graduation from high school.
“ My parents were over the big city hustle and bustle, and so was I,” LaCognata said.“ That ' s why I kind of like FSU, because it ' s a big school, but a smaller town. They wanted to move closer to Georgia, but not over the border. They were looking at small towns and just fell in love with Quincy. My mom always wanted to open a restaurant, so when we saw Quincy Square, she was like, that ' s perfect.”
for two years at the HCA-Florida Gadsden Hospital Emergency Department. Her responsibilities included getting blankets for patients, responding to a call bell at the nurses’ station when they were tied up, stocking the lounge for the responding EMTs pulling long shifts, and occasionally shadowing physicians and other providers.
“ They didn ' t even know what to do with me because they never get volunteers,” she said.“ Now they really welcome me as part of their little team, even though I ' m just a volunteer.”
In addition, she volunteered with the Gadsden Horsemen’ s Association, the Gadsden County Arts Center and Museum with its summer arts camp for children, and the Quincy Farmer’ s Market.
Her” only” volunteer hours outside of Gadsden County were logged in a research lab within the FSU Psychology Department.
LaCognata’ s commitment to service led to her selection as the College of Medicine’ s undergraduate Humanitarian of the Year, where she was honored at a university-wide celebration in March.
“ Growing up in Safety Harbor, that ' s a completely different demographic [ than Quincy ],” said Anthony Speights, M. D., the college ' s senior associate dean for IMS.“ Moving up to this area and completely buying into what’ s needed in that community is a testament of not only her values, but also her whole family and their values.”
And the perfect Mission-fit for acceptance into the College of Medicine’ s M. D. program.
Bantam Bay is open on the square Tuesday- Saturday 7 a. m.– 3 p. m., serving all-day breakfasts and sandwiches.
“ Quincy ' s treated us very, very good,” said Emelia, who has worked at the family eatery throughout her undergraduate days while commuting to the FSU campus. That was no easy feat considering she spent a great deal of time serving the community in a variety of locations.
“ It was already my goal to immerse myself in this town and community and do something,” she said, adding that she felt anonymous living in Safety Harbor. She met that goal, and exceeded her IMS requirements, by volunteering
First-year medical student and IMS graduate Emelia LaCognata is coated by Tallahassee Regional Campus Dean Kerwyn Flowers, D. O., at the M. D. Class of 2029 White Coat Ceremony.
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