Back in 2007, four University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine (MCOM) students started a student-run free clinic with a couple of exam rooms at the Hillsborough Health Department and an idea to help the underserved communities surrounding the university.

“We wanted to establish somewhere (that) is more a pillar for the community,” said Waldo Guerrero, MD, one of the co-founders of the BRIDGE Clinic. “What really drove the idea of the clinic was having a more substantiable way to provide care to the underserved folks.”

Fifteen years later, the BRIDGE Clinic encompasses more than 20 exam rooms in The USF Carol and Frank Morsani Center for Advanced Healthcare and the volunteer services of USF students from medicine, pharmacy, public health, social work and physical therapy. The experience not only helps the students care for their neighbors but also assists their health care education.

“It was a great opportunity for me to be able to give back to the community while also getting a lot of hands-on experience,” said Marissa Maldonado, a fourth-year MCOM medical student.

The clinic has grown in response to rising demand for medical services among the uninsured and underserved in the community. The US Census Bureau reports that 14.9 percent of people 65 and under lack health insurance, and the Florida Department of Health says that 15.7 percent of employed people in Hillsborough County do not have insurance.

“The proudest moments are every Tuesday night after clinic is done, “said Eduardo Gonzalez, MD, co-medical director of the BRIDGE clinic. “Patients were seen and provided wonderful care that they otherwise they would not have been able to obtain.”

Donations are welcome to maintain and grow the clinic.

“Whatever gift is given, it will be used,” Dr. Gonzalez said. “It will be used 100 percent in the caring of patients.”

For Bianca Arboleda, who was born in Florida and raised in Puerto Rico, getting into medical school was quite the journey.

Arboleda, who wants to become an obstetrics and gynecology doctor, faced many cultural and language barriers before coming to USF. But, she never gave up.

“I always knew I wanted to become a doctor,” Arboleda said. “So, I am beyond grateful to be an MD student at USF. Every obstacle I encountered along the way, gave me the courage to do better and study harder to make my dream a reality.”

Bianca Arboleda receives her white coat.

Arboleda was one of 173 medical students to take the oath of commitment and receive the coveted white coat in front of families, friends, guests and USF Health leaders – marking the beginning of a remarkable journey into the MD program at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine (MCOM).

Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, poses with a group of students from Class of 2021.

The White Coat Ceremony, held this year on Sept. 1 at the Tampa Convention Center, is an annual event that welcomes students to the prestigious MD program at USF Health MCOM.

“This is a surreal experience, I’m in medical school,” said Cannon Nelson, who came to USF from Salt Lake City, Utah, and wants to become a pediatric neurosurgeon. “To us, the white coat is the symbol of transition, responsibility and commitment to a greater cause that’s bigger than any of us. It took a lot of work to get here, so being a part of this event today makes it all worth it.”

Cannon Nelson, student in the Class of 2021, is excited to celebrate the big day with his entire family, who flew in from Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Class of 2021 brought in the most selective medical student cohort in the history of the program — with an average MCAT score of 514 — placing it among the top 25 of all medical schools in the country.

This group of students was selected among more than 6,400 applicants – also a record number — giving them a less than three percent chance of getting into the program.

“It feels absolutely amazing to be among such a talented group of students,” said Katie Reming, student from the class of 2021, who wants to go into internal medicine. “No matter how challenging the road ahead may be, I feel so incredibly grateful for this opportunity and to be surrounded by such supportive faculty, staff and fellow students.”

During the event, Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, welcomed the students to the MD program with an inspirational speech about the future of health care and the challenges the field faces ahead.

Dr. Lockwood speaks to students, families and guests. 

“The future of our nation’s health care belongs to those who are unafraid to challenge the status quo, unafraid to think deeply about problems and unafraid to embrace change,” Dr. Lockwood said. “Decades from now, when people look back on this time in health care, my hope is it will be said of all of you that you were the forward-thinking generation of physicians who did not postpone addressing these great challenges – you embraced them. Your generation leveraged tools such as precision medicine, the mining of ‘big data’, cutting edge tissue imaging, and telehealth to improve health while lowering costs.”

This year, the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Scholarship Fund –the beneficiary of funds raised to sponsor the white coats — was the most successful and largest white coat sponsorship program of all medical schools in the U.S., raising more than $100,000 towards the Class of 2021 scholarships.

“I’d like to thank our faculty, staff, alumni and members of the MCOM Alumni Society Board for their unwavering support in sponsoring white coats for this year’s class,” Dr. Lockwood said. “We are committed to increasing scholarship funding and I’m deeply grateful to all of you who have donated to our White Coat Scholarship fund – you are supporting an amazing group of students.”

Offering the keynote address was Sion “Bill” Carter, MD ’87, chair of the MCOM Alumni Society, who told the new students “The white coat you receive today welcomes you into the community of medicine and signifies your commitment to the long road of training ahead. But most importantly, this ceremony is meant to emphasize the humanistic side of medicine at a time when headwinds can dehumanize its practice.”

Sion “Bill” Carter, MD ’87, chair of the MCOM Alumni Society, gave the keynote address at the event.

City of Tampa Mayor, Bob Buckhorn spoke to the new students during the ceremony and welcomed them to the city of Tampa.

City of Tampa Mayor, Bob Buckhorn.

“This is an exciting time for USF, an exciting time for Tampa and an exciting time for all these young people,” Mayor Buckhorn told the crowd. “This is a city that’s risen from the worst recession since the Great Depression. This is the city of hope, the city of destiny and a city where young people are flocking to. For those of you who will spend four years with us, you are in the midst and part of an amazing renaissance American city. We want you to make Tampa your home when you complete this journey. I promise you this that you’re going to learn to love this place.”

Rose Tillis, a current fourth-year medical student and president of the MCOM student council, spoke to the new students about humanism in medicine and the responsibility of wearing the white coat.

“All of you have a gift,” Tillis said. “It’s a gift of intellect, compassion, motivation and determination, and a decent amount of stubbornness. That’s how you got here. But that gift comes with the responsibility to give back. And that’s what you’ll learn while you’re here. You have the ability to change the trajectory of your patients’ lives, just by walking with them in the hallway. That’s what this white coat represents, and that is the responsibility that comes with it.”

The Class of 2021 also received a copy of “On Doctoring,” a compilation of poems, fiction and essays edited by John Stone, a physician writer, and USF Health’s Lois Nixon, MPH, PhD, professor in the Division of Medical Ethics and Humanities. The books are provided by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation.

To conclude the special evening, the new students recited the Oath of Commitment — a promise they make to the health care profession and their patients.

“This is an important milestone in the journey of becoming a physician,” Reming said. “In some ways it’s celebratory, recognizing that all of the hard work involved in getting to this point has paid off. At the same time, I think it also symbolizes a transition from living life as a regular member of society, to becoming part of the health care profession, which necessitates a higher standard of behavioral expectations, has ethical implications and includes social responsibilities.”

Ameyo Jereen, student from the Class of 2021, is excited to finally wear her white coat.

“This is a celebration of the start of a difficult but rewarding journey in which we will learn intricate details about our bodies, our minds and our society,” said Ameyo Jereen, student from the Class of 2021, who wants to go into neuroscience. “I am very excited and honored to partake in this ceremony to mark the start of this wonderful journey.”

Arboleda celebrates this important milestone with her parents and siblings.

Among the Class of 2021 medical students receiving a white coat was Madeline Carney, shown here as a baby held by her mother Nancy Murphy at Murphy’s USF College of Medicine graduation ceremony in 1996. As she was walking off stage with her new white coat, the now young adult Carney shared a hug with Associate Vice President and MCOM Obstetrics and Gynecology Professor Dr. Catherine Lynch. “I haven’t seen you in a while, I delivered you,” Lynch told her.

Story by Vjollca Hysenlika and photos by Eric Younghans, Sandra C. Roa and Frederick Coleman, USF Health Communications and Marketing

The Charter Class of the USF Health Physician Assistant (PA) program made their commitment to the profession during the inaugural White Coat Ceremony on May 26 at the USF Gibbons Alumni Center.

During the event, the Class of 2019 took the oath and received their first white coats in front of friends, family, guests and USF Health leaders – marking the beginning of a remarkable journey into the PA program at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

The Charter Class of the USF Health Physician Assistant (PA) Program.

Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, welcomed the PA inaugural cohort and congratulated them for entering into one of the fastest growing careers in medicine.

Charles J. Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, speaks to students and attendees at the inaugural PA white coat ceremony.

“We’re delighted to have assembled our first-ever group of compassionate and brilliant PA candidates,” Dr. Lockwood said. “This future belongs to you and it all starts here today. The white coat you will receive is not only a uniform, not only a marker for the beginning of your course as a physician assistant, but a well-recognized symbol of trust and understanding – a commitment to provide great patient care, and also to accept great personal responsibility.”

Dr. Lockwood also recognized donors for their continuous support and contribution to the USF Health PA program, and who sponsored 100 percent of the white coats for this Class of 2019.

“Thank you to all the people who generously donated to our White Coat PA Scholarship fund and are supporting the PA students’ academic success,” Dr. Lockwood said.

The USF Health PA Program was established to help meet the growing demand for health care providers, especially those in primary care. The 30 students in the charter class were chosen from more than 1,500 applicants (50 to 1 ratio, or 2 percent). Students officially began classes on May 8.

“It’s incredible to be one of the few select students to be part of the Charter Class of 2019,” said Katherine Lucas, PA student. “USF Health is a reputable institution and well-known in the community, so to be part of this program is a really special feeling.”

During the inaugural ceremony, Todd Wills, MD, assistant dean and program director for the USF Health Physician Assistant Program, discussed the importance of the white coat and its significance as a sign of respect and compassion between patients and clinicians.

Todd Wills, MD, assistant dean and program director for the USF Health Physician Assistant Program, discusses the importance of the white coat and its significance for PA students.

“Today, you become our colleagues as we share a high interest in the well-being of our patients and the health of our community,” Dr. Wills said. “Your journey to get here has been long, and the journey ahead will be even longer. But with the support of USF Health faculty, staff, leaders and peers, this will be the beginning of an outstanding career and a day to be remembered.”

Students then one-by-one walked to the stage to receive the white coat — taking a symbolic step on their journey toward becoming PAs. Along with the white coat, they also received a special white and gold lapel pin, which signifies the students’ commitment to the care and dedication of their future patients. Beaming with pride and excitement, PA student Shivani Shah said the ceremony was an unforgettable moment.

Students receive their white coats.

“This is the moment I’ve been waiting for a very long time,” Shah said. “It will be a tough two years, but today pushes us to work hard and commit to the wonderful journey of becoming physician assistants.”

Before the end came for the ceremony, which was in part sponsored by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, students recited their Physician Assistant Oath, a students’ pledge to follow the highest professional code of ethics and always make the patients’ health, safety and privacy their highest priority.

PA students recite their Physician Assistant Oath.

“Your job here at USF and going forward is not only to become a great physician assistant, but also to grow as a person who engages in routine self-reflection and one who goes out of your way to establish trust, respect and a sense of belonging among and between all of your unique selves here at USF,” said Gretchen Koehler, PhD, senior associate dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and assistant vice president of USF Health.

Gretchen Koehler, Ph.D. senior associate dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and assistant vice president of USF Health, makes closing remarks.

The Charter Class of 2019 includes:

Story by Vjollca Hysenlika, USF Health Marketing and Communications
Photos by Frederick Coleman, USF Health Marketing and Communications

Research shows breastfeeding is good for babies. But is breastfeeding also good for mothers and their long-term health?

Adetola F. Louis-Jacques, MD, a fellow in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine,USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is focusing her research study on the benefits of breastfeeding and maternal health.

Adetola F. Louis-Jacques, MD, a fellow in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine,USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

To do this, she recently received the 2017 Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) and the American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Foundation (AAOGF) award from the Foundation of SMFM. She is the only fellow in the country to receive the prestigious award.

Dr. Louis-Jacques received $360,000 to study the influence of lactation on DNA methylation and gut microbiome among breastfeeding women and its impact on their long-term health.

“Breastfeeding not only benefits the baby, but it could also benefit the mom – potentially lowering the risk of heart disease, diabetes, hyperextension and breast and ovarian cancers,” Dr. Louis-Jacques said. “However, there is not enough research to know for sure. So, the award allows me to explore breastfeeding’s long-term effects through epigenetic modifications and microbiome modulation.”

Dr. Louis-Jacques will study the difference in methylation patterns and microbial composition between breastfeeding women and formula feeding women. To compare, she plans to recruit 47 women who are breastfeeding at four to six months after giving birth and 47 women who are formula feeding.

Dr. Louis-Jacques will work closely with her primary mentors at USF Health, Charles J. Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, and Maureen Groer, PhD, nurse scientist and Gordon Keller professor at USF College of Nursing. Dr. Lockwood and Dr. Groer will guide her through each stage of this study.

Dr. Louis-Jacques and Maureen Groer, PhD, nurse scientist and Gordon Keller professor at USF College of Nursing.

“This research will be important to maternal health,” Dr. Groer said. “If we find that the act of lactation could have long-term benefits for women and protect their health when they are 50 and 60 years old, that’s just one more calling card that we could show to promote breastfeeding.”

Dr. Louis-Jacques’ award will take effect in July 2017 — running through 2020. The award, funded jointly by the Foundation for SMFM and AAOGF, is given to future academic physician leaders who conduct research in the area of pregnancy.

“Maternal health is my passion,” Dr. Louis-Jacques said. “So, I am excited to spend my next three years conducting such important research that could potentially improve women’s health.”

Story by Vjollca Hysenlika

Funding from National Institutes of Health (NIH) helps USF conduct groundbreaking research every year.

As a leading research university, the institution attracted more than $130 million from NIH in fiscal year 2016 to conduct research in various areas including neuroscience, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and more.

“NIH funding helps USF find treatments and cures for many diseases,” said U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, who represents the 14^th District of Florida. “But, a new budget proposal from the White House would decrease about 20 percent of NIH funding. This could affect many research institutions around the country, including USF.”

To discuss the matter, Castor emphasized the importance of NIH-funded research for USF, the region and population health during a press conference on April 10 at the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute.

“It’s really important to our community that health innovation remains one of our strengths,” Castor said. “That’s why I’m really concerned that the funding cuts will prevent researchers from conducting important research that help make our communities healthier.”

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor emphasized the importance of NIH-funded research during a press conference on April 10 at the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute.

During her visit, Castor met with several researchers who specialize in Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular diseases and maternal-fetal medicine. They were Samuel Wickline, MD, founding director of the USF Health Heart Institute and professor in the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences; Laura Blair, PhD, research assistant professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine at USF Health; Anthony Odibo, MD, professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine; and Hana Totary-Jain, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

USF Health Morsani College of Medicine faculty members meeting with U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor to discuss their research were, from left, Anthony Odibo, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology; Laura Blair, PhD, research assistant professor of molecular medicine; Hana Totary-Jain, PhD, assistant professor of molecular pharmacology and physiology; and Samuel Wickline, MD, founding director of the USF Health Heart Institute and professor of cardiovascular sciences.

“In order to maintain scientific progress, we have to keep young people interested in doing science,” Dr. Wickline said. “If the NIH budget is cut, all the young people interested into science will go find something else to do.”

Samuel Wickline, MD, founding director of the USF Health Heart Institute and professor in the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences.

Castor stressed the importance of keeping young scientists interested in medical research. “If we don’t provide consistent funding, they will go to other countries, find other jobs or their careers will come to an end,” she said.

Dr. Wickline also said that USF is constantly growing — building a new medical school combined under one roof with the Heart Institute downtown, recruiting new faculty and attracting top-quality scientists from the U.S. and around the world.

“If the budget is cut or not improved, I foresee a very challenging environment that could put a damper on the programs we hope to have in place in the next few years,” he said.

Castor speaks with Aisha Remy (far right), a USF biomedical sciences student, during a tour of Dr. Blair’s laboratory at the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute. 

The Congresswoman met students working in a USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute research laboratory.

Story and photos by Vjollca Hysenlika

It was an exciting day at USF Health as hundreds gathered to celebrate the grand opening of a new USF Health Fitness Center on April 3 at the USF Health WELL. The new fitness center is a satellite facility of the USF Campus Recreation Center.

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, USF Health leaders introduced the state-of-the art fitness center to USF Health faculty, staff and students.

“USF Health is all about health and wellness,” said Joe Ford, assistant vice president for USF Health Shared Student Services. “This new fitness center is a testament to our commitment to that mission and the health and well-being of our faculty, staff and students.”

From left: Edmund Funai, MD, chief operating officer for USF Health and vice president for strategic development for the USF System; Joanne Strobbe, MsEd, senior associate vice president for administration, finance and technology, chief financial officer for USF Health, and vice dean for administration, finance and technology for USF Health Morsani College of Medicine; Donna Petersen, ScD, senior associate vice president of USF Health, dean of the USF College of Public Health and interim dean of the College of Nursing, and Joe Ford, assistant vice president for USF Health Shared Student Services, pictured with Rocky the Bull before the ribbon-cutting. 

The 12,000 square-foot fitness facility is a full-service center providing high-tech cardiovascular and strength equipment, web-enabled treadmills, locker rooms with showers, and a fitness studio dedicated to Zumba, aerobics, yoga and meditation classes. The treadmills have full-functioning screens to check email, browse the web and even listen to lectures. The Well Fitness Center is open 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

“I am excited to see such a high-quality fitness center on our side of campus,” said Mayah Knight, undergraduate student at the USF College of Nursing. “As USF Health students, we spend so much time studying, in the classroom or in clinical settings, so it’s nice to have a space dedicated to our wellness where we can go work out and decompress.”

USF leaders and students cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the USF Health Fitness Center.

The fitness center is available to all USF Health students, faculty and staff. Students can use the fitness center for free. USF Health employees, excluding other personal services (OPS) employees, will receive a $240 taxable benefit from USF Health to pay for the annual membership. To be eligible, employees must OPT-IN to the benefit and agree to the terms and additional tax deductions. For more information, click here.

“We’re thankful to USF Health for opening such a beautiful recreation center,” said Kathleen Flach, academic director for the physician assistant program at USF Health. “It’s convenient, it’s new, and it gives us the chance to get out of our offices, take a break and exercise.”

Dominique Richardson, fitness coordinator at the USF Campus Recreation demonstrates workout equipment to students and staff.

“This center is so convenient for me as it’s right across from my office,” said Chad Whistle, director of student affairs at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. “I can easily work out at the fitness center, get lunch or a smoothie across the hall at the Rising Roll, and go back to work — all in one hour.”

Rocky the Bull tests the new treadmill at the USF Health Fitness Center.

USF Health will work closely with the main campus recreation team to manage the day-to-day operations of the fitness center.

“We’re happy to work with USF Health and bring fitness opportunities to health students, faculty and staff,” said Eric Hunter, director of the USF Campus Recreation. “It was harder for USF Health community to go to the main campus recreation center and get their exercise, so this will fulfill that need.”

USF Health promotes health and wellness, and the new fitness center reflects that mission. Ford said that USF Health couldn’t have done this alone.

“It took a village to make this happen,” Ford said. “Everyone from USF and USF Health leadership, USF Campus Recreation and USF Student Government played a role. We’re also grateful to Williamson Dacar Associates for designing a beautiful space — bringing our vision to life.

Story by Vjollca Hysenlika
Photos by Frederick Coleman 

The University of South Florida continues to make Zika a research focus. That’s evident through various research projects currently in the works.

To bolster those efforts, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) recently awarded USF three grants totaling $2.45 million to conduct Zika-related research to help stop the spread of the mosquito-borne virus within Florida and beyond.

USF’s award was part of $25 million in FDOH Zika research funding announced Feb. 1 by Gov. Rick Scott to help expedite development of a vaccine to prevent Zika infection, understand and mitigate long-term impacts of the virus on children and adults and develop innovative, cost-effective Zika testing methods. USF was among the top three universities in the state to receive the most funding.

Charles J. Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine.

“While Zika is not as prevalent in the winter months, we cannot let our guard down. The threat remains real in Florida and across the country,” said Charles J. Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine. “These new grants are very appreciated and much needed in advancing our efforts to develop vaccines and treatments and to provide better screening tests during pregnancy to protect babies from potentially devastating Zika-related birth defects.”

FDOH oversaw the grant review, which awarded applicants through a competitive process based on recommendations by the Biomedical Research Advisory Council.

The Zika virus is an infectious disease that spreads from the Aedes species mosquito. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the dangerous mosquito typically lays eggs near standing water, and the virus can be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her fetus, and through sex, blood transfusions, and laboratory health care exposure. Currently, no vaccine exists to fight Zika.

As of Feb. 1, the CDC reported 4,973 travel-associated and locally-transmitted Zika cases in the United States, with 1,069 of those in the state of Florida alone.

The three state grants awarded to USF are described below:

Studying how Zika infects the fetus

Dr. Lockwood, an obstetrician specializing in high-risk pregnancies, and a group of fellow researchers in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Morsani College of Medicine, were among those to receive a share of the multimillion dollar award. He and co-principal investigator Ozlem Guzeloglu-Kayisli, PhD, assistant professor, were awarded $1.14 million to study cellular and molecular mediators of  Zika virus replication and investigate how Zika gets through the placental wall, which usually acts as a barrier to keep the developing fetus safe from viruses.

Ozlem Guzeloglu-Kayisli, PhD, assistant professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. 

“This project will examine various tissues and strains of the Zika virus to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the disease, and understand how it’s transmitted from the pregnant woman to the fetus,” Dr. Guzeloglu-Kayisli said. “Our goal is to help prevent viral transmission – and to ultimately protect pregnant women and their babies.”

Facilitating Clinical Trials for a Zika Vaccine

Thomas Casale, MD, a professor in the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, received $1.11 million to establish an integrated Zika clinical research trial network in Florida.  He will work with a team of faculty from the Morsani College of Medicine’s Division of Allergy and Immunology, Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, Department of Molecular Medicine and from the USF College of Public Health to design and study new diagnostics and treatments for Zika and other emerging infectious diseases.

Thomas Casale, MD, professor in the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. 

“This grant will allow us to bring an integrated team of experts from USF Health and the local community with a diverse level of expertise on Zika to study new diagnostics, new therapies, and develop a platform that educates students and the public about this dangerous virus,” Dr. Casale said. “We hope that this collaboration will help address this public health threat, which is clearly important not only for our state, but the entire nation and the world.”

Identifying Natural Products to Combat Zika

A third grant went to USF immunologist Michael Teng, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine. Dr. Teng received $200,000 to study rapid identification of natural products with antiviral activity against Zika. He will collaborate with Bill Baker, PhD, professor in the USF Department of Chemistry.

Michael Teng, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

“We will leverage our existing expertise in virus research to study an important emerging human pathogen, which effects the health of Floridians,” Dr. Teng said. “This also gives us an opportunity to establish an interdisciplinary collaboration with Dr. Baker to identify potential lead antiviral compounds, derived from fungal species isolated from Florida mangroves.”

For more information about Zika research at USF, visit http://www.usf.edu/zika/.

Story by Vjollca Hysenlika 
Photos by Vjollca Hysenlika & Eric Younghans

Construction is underway for the new WELL Student Center, a one-stop student services location for all USF Health students. While student fees have covered 75 percent of construction costs, urgent philanthropic support is needed to complete the current phase of construction in 2016.

The WELL (Wellness, Engagement, Leadership and Learning) Student Center fosters an interprofessional, collaborative learning environment for students in medicine, nursing, public health, pharmacy, physical therapy and the biomedical sciences.

Artist’s rendering of the WELL Student Center exterior.

The new student center will be located in the heart of the USF Health section of the main University of South Florida campus at the site of a former medical clinic. The renovated building will feature an expansive dining facility, a fitness center, a performing arts and aerobics studio, a meditation room, a lactation room for nursing mothers, multipurpose and study space, and a convenience store.

“The WELL is a great investment for USF Health students because it provides a private, quiet, central location to study, work on group projects together, or meet other students on a similar track,” said Chereka Singh, president of USF’s Undergraduate Public Health Student Association.

“Immediately as a student at USF Health I realized the need for interprofessional teams to maximize patient care.  The WELL Student Center offers aspiring health professionals an environment like nowhere else to communicate and develop together,” said USF College of Pharmacy student Matt Schneller,

For more information or make a gift, visit the WELL Student Center website today.

Rendering of the WELL’s dining facility.

Article by Davina Gould, USF Health Development

After spending a morning in courtrooms at the George Edgecomb Courthouse in downtown Tampa, USF Health faculty, administrators and students saw firsthand the similarities of the medical and legal professions.

USF Health faculty, administrators and students were invited to experience the judicial process first hand.

About two dozen people from USF Health who attended this year’s Black Robe Day, a morning-long event that partners lawyers and judges with faculty and administrators from the USF Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, and Pharmacy, and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, as well as medical students.

The event is organized by Jay Wolfson, JD, DrPH, USF Distinguished Service Professor and associate vice president for Health Law, Policy and Safety at USF Health and Senior Associate Dean Morsani College of Medicine, and Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Gregory Holder, and coordinated by Dionne Ferguson, JD, PhD, director of Strategic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness, and Laura M. Daniels, judicial assistant to Judge Holder.

The Honorable Judge Gregory Holder.

The lunch for event attendees was hosted by the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), a group of litigators that promotes issues that support the courts and provide a better understanding of the court system.

The main goal of the Black Robe Day is to give a glimpse of our legal system so USF Health students and faculty gain better perspectives of the commonalities of law and medicine. The program is also linked to the Law and Medicine Scholarly Concentration, one of several programs offered by the Scholarly Concentration Program in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

This year, the group from USF Health met with judges for part of the morning of Oct. 20 and then split into smaller groups to shadow individual judges and access many of the court cases taking place that day. Guests of the court heard details about drug possession, domestic violence, theft, and battery, among other types of cases, as they watched the proceedings.

Reflections from the students and faculty about their day in court included gratitude for the inside look at the court system and a newfound appreciation for the legal process. Some of the quotes from the morning included:

“There are similar competency and skill sets in both professions. The ability to listen, the ability to have compassion and the ability to dissect a lot of information in a short period of time. People were at odds with family and children in the courtroom, but they came together to help,”said Joe Ford, assistant vice president of the USF Health Shared Student Services.

“I teach domestic violence and human trafficking and today, seeing it from the real world, was very impressive. I love this,” said Anthonia Imudia, DNP, FNP-BC, assistant professor in the USF College of Nursing.

“We have a lot of patients with substance abuse problems so it was really good to see the follow up of that,” said Sharon Aroda, MD, assistant professor in the Morsani College of Medicine.

“It impressed me how you helped people make informed decisions. Many times they had to make tough decisions and what was best for them was laid it out very clearly,” said Douglas Holt, MD, professor of medicine and director of the Hillsborough County Health Department.

In Judge Richard Weis’ courtroom “I learned some inside baseball lawyering. We had a number of young attorneys in his courtroom and he told me afterwards how he tried to give them hints to get them back to the middle of the road when they were going off into the weeds. Because he operated his courtroom with amazing discipline and efficiency,” said William S. Quillen, PT, PhD, SCS, FACSM, professor and director of the USF School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences and associate dean for the Morsani College of Medicine.

“The disparities we see in health care mimics what you see in the courtroom. And being open to more students would be good because we could be studying these issues from a systems point of view. We need to get more people involved and passionate about this,” said Jacqueline Wiltshire, PhD, MPH, associate professor of Health Policy and Management at USF College of Public Health.

“I was struck by the co-morbidity of substance abuse with almost every story we heard today. No matter their angle or what their drug of choice was, it was amazing how much substance abuse there is and you wonder what direction the causality is. But it’s still shocking and has grim statistics,” said Sean Gregory, PhD, MBA, assistant professor of Health Policy and Management at the USF College of Public Health.

“As a health economist, it’s amazing to me the lost resources that are coming through this building. I can’t believe the challenges you all face on a day-to-day basis and it’s really nice to learn your perspective on it,” said Troy Quast, PhD, associate professor of Health Policy and Management at the USF College of Public Health.

In juvenile court “I saw just how much you judges are trying help them turn their lives around. Even though your hands are tied with that point system, you all really care about the citizens and try to help them,” said Chelsea Frost, fourth-year medical student.

“The thing that got me throughout this experience is the sheer volume of cases that there are. It was quite eye opening. When you say you’re running through 300 cases in a morning that to me blows my mind. So hats off to all of you. What you do on your end is amazing to me and I appreciate the time here,” said Amanda Davis, NP, instructor in the USF College of Nursing.

“For me it was really about solidifying the parallels between law and medicine. It’s not unlike walking through a hospital – the future hung in the balance for these people and their families. Compassion played a big part in the outcomes,” said Luis Espinosa, first-year medical student.

Judges of the Thirteenth District Court.

Judge Greg Holder and USF Health’s Jay Wolfson.

Story by Sarah Worth, photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Office of Communications.

As 2013 winds down and USF Health  moves into 2014,  we reflects on some highlights and accomplishments over the past year.

And, we look ahead in the New Year to renewing our commitment and efforts to improve life in the Tampa Bay area and around the world — through education, research, service and patient care.

The University of South Florida broke ground for its USF Health Heart Institute, a $50-million proposed facility that will combine advanced research and technology with the best cardiovascular care to benefit patients with heart disease, diabetes and stroke.  USF Health will continue working with governmental, hospital and community partners to make the institute a reality.

The USF Health Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS), the world’s largest freestanding center of its kind, passed its first year with more than 14,000 learners from all 50 states and more than 60 countries. CAMLS completed a feasibility study with Panama to build a CAMLS-like facility and is also exploring expanding its academic entrepreneurial business model to Brazil, Mexico and Lebanon.  Healthcare professionals and students aren’t the only beneficiaries of CAMLS’  leading-edge, extensive resources for simulated learning.   In December, the USF Health doctors at CAMLS teamed up with the Florida Aquarium to help diagnose an injured sea turtle, Freud.

The USF College of Nursing continued to attract international attention for its research and education to benefit veterans and service members.  Recently published research by a USF Nursing faculty team suggests accelerated resolution therapy (ART), a brief new therapy to ease symptoms of psychological trauma, may be an option for veterans who do not respond optimally to conventional therapies endorsed by the Department of Defense and VA.  The college began its fourth and largest ART study, which will recruit 200 veterans and service members to study the cost-effectiveness of the therapy and further examine how and why it works. The college also received the largest of nine federal grants to help veterans with healthcare skills earn a bachelor of science degree in nursing.

The Florida Covering Kids & Families program at the Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies, USF College of Public Health, this summer received the largest navigator grant in Florida – and second largest in the country.  The one-year $4.2-million federal grant to help eligible uninsured individual get health care through the Health Insurance Marketplace drew widespread media attention to the USF navigators and their partners statewide. National coverage included stories in the News York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker, Associated Press, TIME magazine, The Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times, and the Wall Street Journal’s MarketWatch.

The USF Health Diabetes Home for Healthy Living opened in August, ushering a new approach to diabetes care.  The new one-stop facility in the Westshore area of Tampa offers diabetes patients a relaxing, home-like environment with every aspect of care to successfully and proactively manage their chronic condition.  The medical home is the newest addition to USF’s leading research, education and clinical care initiatives making life better for those with chronic illnesses like diabetes.

USF President Judy Genshaft appointed Donna Petersen, ScD,  and Harry van Loveren, MD, interim leaders of USF Health after healthcare innovator Stephen Klasko, MD, MBA, dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and CEO of USF Health, was named to lead a prominent Philadelphia university and hospital system.   Dr. Petersen, dean of the USF College of Public Health, serves as interim CEO of USF Health, and Dr. van Loveren, chair of the Department of Neurosurgery, as interim dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, while the national search for USF Health’s next CEO and medical school dean continues.

The USF College of Pharmacy continued to advance on a fast track as it grows toward a projected complement of 400 students. The incoming College of Pharmacy Class of 2017 represented the largest class in the highly competitive school’s short history – with 107 students selected from among 800 applicants. This past summer the college — with an innovative, rigorous curriculum emphasizing a collaborative approach to patient care and research — was awarded accreditation status by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.

The Doctors of USF Health campaign introduced this spring informed patients and families across the region that the region’s only academic medical center provides access to the most advanced health care available.  The brand identity linked to USF Health’s launch of a newly designed patient care website with access to nearly 400 highly specialized healthcare professionals.

The first class of USF SELECT students, having completed their first two years of learning at the Morsani College of Medicine, moved to Allentown, PA, to begin two years of clinical education at Lehigh Valley Health Network.  The innovative program, which welcomed its charter class in Fall 2011,  gives students unique training in leadership development, intense coaching, and the scholarly tools they need to become empathetic, passionate physician leaders who will be catalysts for change.

Construction began in March on the USF Health Specialty Care Center in The Villages, setting the stage for a new era and range of health care for residents of “America’s Healthiest Hometown,” the nation’s largest community of people over 55. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held Jan. 24, 2014, for the 25,000-square-foot facility, designed as a collaborative complement to The Villages’ expanding primary care network. USF Health doctors representing several specialties will provide high-level care at the new center,

A new master’s degree program in Physician Assistant Studies, based in the Morsani College of Medicine, was approved by the USF Board of Trustees in March 2013. The first class for the interprofessional, two-year PA program will start Summer 2015, initially accepting 24 students, with plans to increase that capacity. The program is an important step forward in addressing the state’s increasing shortage of primary care practitioners.

Tampa General Hospital approved a new long-term affiliation agreement with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. The “evergreen” agreement automatically renews each year.  The strengthened partnership will help Tampa Bay’s only quaternary hospital and its only academic medical center to enhance what both institutions do best:  provide leading care for patients and teaching and training opportunities for residents and students.

The USF School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences and the University of West Florida announced a physical therapy partnership program that will offer a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree in Pensacola. The collaborative program, approved by the Florida Board of Governors in January 2013, will start in Summer 2014.  It will expand access to UWF students interested in pursuing a DPT and help meet a state-identified need for more physical therapists in a largely rural region of the state.  USF Physical Therapy also continues to lay the foundation for a new PhD program in Rehabilitation Sciences, which was approved by the USF Board of Trustees in December.

The USF College of Public Health greeted new students this fall with a record number of online offerings. Demand for the college’s online public health degree programs has exploded this year — with enrollment more than doubling since the middle of the last decade. The college’s advances in distance learning have been noted in the Guide to Online Schools, which uses data compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics to rank colleges with the best quality and most affordable online programs. USF Health is home to the nation’s first online master’s degree in health informatics and to seven online master’s degree programs in public health.

Photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Communications

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