J. Ocie Harris, M. D.
Now bearing the title of dean emeritus, J. Ocie Harris, M. D., served as the second dean of the College of Medicine, a post he held from January 2003 through July 2008. During his tenure, he laid a foundation for growth and navigated the Liaison Committee on Medical Education process for the college to achieve full accreditation.
After a 30-year career at the University of Florida College of Medicine, Harris came to FSU in November 2000 as associate dean for medical education and was the first physician to serve on the faculty. He was responsible for overseeing the development of the regional campuses in Orlando, Pensacola and Tallahassee, and for recruiting many of the college’ s clinical faculty. During his tenure, construction began on the building that now houses the college.
In July 2003, the college grew with the establishment of the Department of Geriatrics, becoming the first medical school in the state with a separate department devoted to geriatrics training for medical students. In October of that year, under Harris’ leadership, the college was approved to begin its first doctoral program, a Ph. D. in Biomedical Sciences.
Since 2005, the graduating medical student or students showing the best all-around promise of becoming a physician of the highest caliber have been presented the J. Ocie Harris Outstanding Student Award in his honor.
Nariman Heshmati( M. D.,’ 05)
As the president of the inaugural graduating class of 2005, Nari Heshmati, M. D., was instrumental in building the infrastructure students today still enjoy.
Heshmati worked with the FSU Student Government Association to secure funding for many College of Medicine student interest groups and served as its first SGA student senator. He co-founded the Medical Student Council, which serves as the umbrella organization for groups within the college.
After completion of his OB / GYN residency, Heshmati moved to Washington state and joined The Everett Clinic. Ultimately, he oversaw all surgical and specialty operations and value-based care for both The Everett Clinic and The Polyclinic. He also oversaw the labor and delivery unit at Providence Everett.
Heshmati served as the chair of the Washington Section of the American College of OB / GYNs and as president of the Washington State Medical Association. He was appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee to the Pandemic Statewide After-Action Report Task Force to analyze the state’ s response to COVID-19.
In 2024, Heshmati returned to Florida to become the chief physician and operations executive for Lee Physician Group in Fort Myers. In that capacity, he oversees 1,250 clinicians at more than 100 sites in Southwest Florida. He also has oversight over two FSU College of Medicine residency programs, including Family Medicine and Internal Medicine, and supports his teams in establishing a new FSU OB / GYN residency program.
Amy Neal( M. D.,’ 08)
By combining her ability to take on leadership roles, her thirst for knowledge, and her commitment to patient care and family and obesity medicine, Amy Neal, M. D., continues to make a positive impact on the medical profession, as well as on the lives of her patients and future physicians.
Neal earned three degrees from Florida State— an undergraduate degree, followed by her M. D. and an MBA in 2021. As a capstone to her M. D. degree, she received the Outstanding Graduate in Family Medicine award.
After completing her Family Medicine Residency at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare in 2011, Neal began her career at Capital Health Plan in Tallahassee in urgent care and then transitioned to primary care in 2016. She was elected president of the medical staff at CHP in 2016.
Neal was promoted to associate medical director in 2019 and holds that position today. She currently supervises and hires physicians and actively participates in 20 committees within the CHP organization such as quality, credentialing, new employment, and CHP electronic health record Nex Gen’ s core team. Outside of CHP, Neal provides leadership on the Board of Directors of Capital Medical Society.
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