A healthy dose of news from the Schmidt College of Medicine | | Festive Spirit at the College of Medicine | | As October comes to a close, seasonal décor and positive energy are filling the halls of the Schmidt College of Medicine. The warmth and joy of the upcoming holidays make this the perfect time to come together and celebrate across the College. | | $3M Federal Grant to Prevent Substance Use in At-Risk Youth | | Florida Atlantic University has received a $3 million, five-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to lead Rising Strong: Empowering Youth for Substance-Free Futures, a community initiative aimed at preventing substance use among more than 3,000 youth across South Florida. | The project is led by Maria Carmenza Mejia, MD, professor of population health in the Schmidt College of Medicine, in collaboration with Drs. Lea Sacca and Brian Graves, and will provide trauma-informed prevention programs, mentorship, and behavioral health support to at-risk youth. | “This grant represents the best of what we strive for at Florida Atlantic University – collaboration, impact and transformation,” said Lewis S. Nelson, MD, Dean and Chief of Health Affairs, Schmidt College of Medicine. | | Faculty and Staff Highlights | | ACS Master Surgeon Educator | | Congratulations to Lawrence Lottenberg, MD, FACS, Trauma and Acute Care Surgeon and Chairman and Interim Program Director of the Department of Surgery at the Schmidt College of Medicine, who has been inducted as an Associate Member of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Academy of Master Surgeon Educators®. | Dr. Lottenberg joins an esteemed group of 103 surgeon educators recognized for their leadership, mentorship, and contributions to advancing surgical education. Throughout his distinguished career, he has directed Level I trauma centers, mentored more than 250 surgeons in training, and continues to lead surgical education across five hospitals in Palm Beach County. | | | 2025 AMA ChangeMedEd Conference | | Marni Gleiber, MD with Mia Glickman, M4 | | Marni Gleiber, MD, from the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, presented at the AMA ChangeMedEd 2025 Conference in Chicago, highlighting innovative curricular approaches from the Science of Clinical Practice course. She collaborated with Foundations of Medicine Director, Stacy Rubin, MD, and several medical students to share insights on advancing medical education through experiential learning. | | During the conference’s poster session, held in the iconic Field Museum beneath the watchful gaze of Sue, the museum’s famous T. rex, Dr. Gleiber presented alongside Mia Glickman, M4, showcasing their team’s work and engaging with educators and learners from across the country. | | Neil Masangkay, MD, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Associate Professor of Neurology, delivered an engaging presentation during the Clerkship Director Workshop at the 2025 AUPN Annual Meeting, September 13, in Baltimore, MD. The AUPN Annual Meeting took place in conjunction with the 150th Annual Meeting of the American Neurological Association (ANA). | | Dr. Masangkay’s session explored the neurology residency matching process and outcomes. He also guided attendees through a series of relatable cases illustrating the real-world complexities faced by neurology leaders mentoring and managing clinician educators. | | Visit from Florida Secretary of Elder Affairs | | Florida Secretary of Elder Affairs, Michelle Branham visited Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine to meet with faculty and staff, tour the Simulation Center, and discuss advancing medical training, clinical care, and support for older Floridians. | | Congratulations to Kayla Cranston! | | Summer 2024 MS Biomedical Science alumna Kayla Cranston has been accepted to Lincoln Memorial University, DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine. | | | Distinguished Lecture Series | | The Graduate Programs invite you to a special talk by Master’s thesis student Joubin Jebelli on October 31, at 12:00 PM. | Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with our graduate students! | | | October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month | | October is National Medical Librarians Month | | This month, we’re spotlighting our amazing Florida Atlantic medical librarians, Michelle Knecht and Tiffany Follin, who shared what they love most about connecting students and faculty with evidence-based resources, how the field has evolved in the digital age. They also offer insider tips for smarter searching, avoiding common research pitfalls, and getting access to full-text articles with ease. | | | 💬 Here’s something fun to think about: If you had to survive a zombie apocalypse using only medical books, what 3 titles would you grab first? Michelle and Tiffany would love to hear your answer! Drop them your response at librarymed@health.fau.edu. | | The newly expanded Florida Atlantic NeuroInnovate Center is the first in the world to integrate advanced MRI and focused ultrasound technologies into a single, unified platform for both preclinical and clinical research. | | | |
Changing habits is tough. AI tools like ChatGPT now simulate motivational interviewing (MI), showing promise - but can they match MI's core and spark lasting change? FAU researchers explore the potential.
| | | FAU will help to lead this global effort to harness aesthetic experiences for brain health, as one of just two Florida universities and about 35 worldwide in the network's initial working group. | | | Sharing thoughts, laughs, and a little wisdom! | | Lessons from Gall's Law: Simple Systems Evolve into Successful Complex Ones | | In emergency medicine, the most effective interventions often seem deceptively simple. Stabilize the airway. Control the bleeding. Address the critical issue first. Behind each straightforward action lies years of refinement—protocols tested, adjusted, and improved through countless iterations. | This reflects Gall's Law: "A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked." Consider the inverse: could we have built modern airplanes without first understanding birds, kites, and the Wright Brothers' airplane? Of course not. You can't design complexity from scratch and expect it to function. Excellence in any field—from aviation to medicine—comes from taking what already works and deliberately building upon it. | The same principle applies to medical education. The students begin with focused history-taking—asking the right questions, listening carefully, recognizing patterns. Over time, they layer on physical examination skills, diagnostic interpretation, and treatment planning. Rush the process, and the foundation crumbles. | The same applies to how academic health grows. Strong partnerships begin with clarity about shared objectives—improving care, strengthening education, advancing community health. The sophisticated networks and integrated programs come later, built on foundations of iterative change, consistent collaboration, and mutual success. | Our college follows this pattern. We are strengthening our educational mission, expanding research where we've shown success, and deepening clinical partnerships that already deliver value. When implementing a new curriculum component, launching a research collaboration, or improving an operational process, resist the temptation to overcomplicate from the start. Begin with clarity and humility. Test your approach. Adjust. Then layer on sophistication when the foundation proves sound. Excellence is not something you start with; it is something you build. | | Lessons from Wednesday Addams | | October means Halloween, and what better time to channel Netflix’s Wednesday Addams? She mastered something most of us struggle with: being unapologetically herself in situations designed for conformity. | | When she declares, "I'm not sure whose twisted idea it was to put hundreds of adolescents in underfunded schools run by people whose dreams were crushed years ago... but I admire the sadism," she's identified a universal truth: most systems weren't built with you specifically in mind. | Her survival strategy? Don't waste energy pretending to be someone else. If you are pursuing unconventional research, asking questions that challenge assumptions, or seeing possibilities others miss - own that perspective. It's often where the most valuable insights emerge. | Wednesday eventually learns to work with others without losing her edge. That's the real skill: collaboration without conformity. | This Halloween, embrace your inner Wednesday. Be authentic. Be deliberate. Be effective - with a smile that says you know exactly what you are doing. | | The Role of Medicine in the Holocaust and its Contemporary Relevance: Sustaining Our Moral Compass | November 17, 2025, 1:30–2:30 PM
BC-71, Gelb Auditorium | Join us for a compelling lecture by Hedy S. Wald, PhD, Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at Brown University and Commissioner on The Lancet Commission on Medicine, Nazism, and the Holocaust. | | | November 18, 2025, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
BC-71, Schmidt College of Medicine | In honor of National Caregiver Month, Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine invites you to the Caregiver Symposium, hosted by the Dementia Care Navigation (DCN) Program. The event will feature a keynote presentation by Dr. Caryn C. Blair, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, a leader in Alzheimer’s disease research and caregiver support. Join us for an inspiring morning focused on caregiver self-care, empowerment, and community connection. | Click here to RSVP by November 10—space is limited! | | | Medical Students Research and Scholarship Day | | Save the Date for to the Medical Student Research & Scholarship Day on Friday, February 20, 2026! This annual event highlights the innovative research and scholarly activities of our medical students. We look forward to celebrating our students’ achievements with you! | | Save the Date: Alumni Reunion Weekend 2026 | | The Schmidt College of Medicine invites you to reconnect, reminisce, and celebrate with fellow MedOwls during Alumni Reunion Weekend 2026! | |
📅 May 1–2, 2026
📍 Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University
| We can’t wait to welcome you back to campus for a weekend filled with memories, connections, and celebration. More details will be shared soon—keep an eye out for an email from our Alumni Office with the RSVP link and event information. | | | Don't Forget to Get Involved! | | Join your fellow alumni who are ready to give back! | We’ll match you with opportunities that fit your schedule, interests, and expertise. From mentoring students to leading initiatives, you can find the perfect way to support the next generation of physicians. | Be a part of our new Get Involved campaign and make your impact today! | | | Your support is more than just a donation; it's an investment in the future of medical education and biomedical research. By contributing to our unrestricted funds, you give us the flexibility to explore innovative ideas, drive new discoveries, and tackle emerging challenges. Join us in making a difference—donate today! | |
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