has an innate ability to heal itself, she said. Ancient wisdom indeed.
In recognizing the people who helped in the acquisition and placement of the bust, Littles started with FSU’ s Master Craftsman Studio, which installed it the previous October. She also thanked Michael and Linda Dodson, whose $ 25,000 donation enabled the college to commission artist Vangelis Ilias to sculpt the bust in Athens, Greece.
Michael Dodson, who helps teach medical and PA students how to interact with patients by serving as a standardized patient( SP) and has since 2008, said the gift was made as a tribute to Professor Robert Watson, M. D.
Known as“ Dr. Bob,” Watson is a faculty member who also serves as trustee of the Jules B. Chapman and Annie Lou Chapman Private Foundation. The foundation contributed significant financial support to the garden’ s creation, hence its name, and it supports the College of Medicine and its students in many other ways.
“ Dr. Watson has been a very compassionate physician, is a wonderful role model for the students, and I thought I would help out because he exemplifies for our students what Hippocrates recommended,” Dodson said.“ I thought this certainly would be a little bit of inspiration.”
Asked why he enjoys being an SP, Dodson, 82, said working with the faculty and students is“ a wonderful environment to be in.”
“ The faculty really do care about their students. It’ s such a contrast to my professional training,” he said.“ I’ m an attorney, and my professional training was very adversarial, not particularly pleasant. And our faculty at the medical school are such a wonderful contrast.”
Littles also welcomed and thanked Penelope Salmons, a successful Greek-American businesswoman who has been a longtime Chapman Foundation supporter. Through her network of connections in Greece, she helped the college locate its sculptor.
In addition, Littles recognized Phoenix Fermin, former FSU greenhouse manager who cared for the college’ s sycamore tree sapling until it was planted two years ago during the dedication of the Chapman Wellness Garden. A scion of the original tree in Greece under which Hippocrates lectured, it has been replicated for centuries and shared with medical schools all around the world.
FSU’ s tree was a gift from the University of Florida. It’ s M. D. Class of 1969, of which Dr. Bob Watson was a member, worked with Greek consulates to obtain six saplings to commemorate its graduation. Dr. Craig Tisher, former dean of UF’ s College of Medicine and now director of the university’ s Wilmot Gardens, made it a“ full circle” moment when he gave Watson a sapling for FSU’ s Chapman Wellness Garden.
Tisher was one of two people who had made significant contributions to the day but could not attend. The other was the late John Thrasher, FSU president-emeritus who died in 2025. Recognized along with Myra Hurt, Durell Peaden and Sandy D’ Alemberte as one of the four pillars who helped get the FSU College of Medicine established, Thrasher was speaker of the Florida House of Representatives in 2000, when the Legislature voted to create the first new medical school in the United States in 25 years and the first of the 21st century. Gov. Jeb Bush’ s pen stroke on June 15, 2000, made it official. The College of Medicine administration building is named the John Thrasher Building in his honor.
“ We would not be here without him, and we were delighted he took part in this garden’ s dedication two years ago,” Littles said.“ His family was unable to join us today to celebrate the addition of the bust of Hippocrates, but they – and he – are with us in spirit, as is Dr. Tisher.”
The ceremony was videotaped to share with the Thrasher family and with Dr. Tisher.
More information can be found online at med. fsu. edu / champ / home.
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