It’s an exciting time at USF Health. Colleges across health disciplines celebrated the new fall semester, welcoming more than 1,600 new students to different programs.

In this blog post, we break down the numbers from each USF Health college, school and program including Morsani College of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Public Health, College of Pharmacy and School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences.

USF College of Nursing

The USF College of Nursing welcomed 678 students this fall, an impressive increase in undergraduate and graduate programs.

The college enrolled 395 students in the graduate programs — including 225 new students in the master’s programs, 50 students in the CRNA program, 112 students in the Doctor of Nursing Practice, eight students in the PhD program and 30 students in the pain management certificate.

The college has also enrolled 253 students in the undergraduate program, with 150 students in the RN-BS program, 82 students in the upper division sequence and 21 in the veteran to bachelor’s program (VCARE).

USF College of Nursing’s RN-BS students for Fall 2017.

USF College of Pharmacy

USF College of Pharmacy enrolled 126 students in the college’s PharmD and Masters of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology programs.

This fall, the college welcomed its seventh group of 101 students to one of the top PharmD programs in the country. The college’s masters of pharmaceutical nanotechnology enrolled 25 new students.

The new group of PharmD students, class of 2021. 

Morsani College of Medicine

Morsani College of Medicine welcomed 174 students to its prestigious MD program. Forty-eight of those students are in the SELECT program, which recruits and develops students with the intellectual perspective, empathy, creativity and passion to change patient care, the health of communities and the medical profession.

USF Health Morsani College of Medicine celebrates the new Class of 2021 at the Tampa Museum of Art.

Biomedical Sciences Graduate and Postdoctoral Programs

The MCOM’s Biomedical Sciences Graduate and Postdoctoral programs enrolled 280 students this fall.

Of the 17 matriculates in the medical science PhD program, five come from underrepresented ethnic groups in the life sciences. The average GPA is 3.49.

The program also welcomed 263 students to its various master’s degrees and concentrations, including:

• 150 in the Master of Science in Medical Sciences
• 29 in the Master of Science in Medical Sciences, Health Sciences concentration (100% online)
• 15 in the Master of Science in Medical Sciences, Aging & Neuroscience concentration
• 26 in the Master of Science in Medical Sciences, Anatomy concentration:
• 10 in the Master of Science in Medical Sciences, Women’s Health concentration
• 7 in the Master of Science in Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine concentration
• 4 in the Master of Science in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
• 2 in the Master of Science in Biotechnology
• 20 in the Master of Science in Advanced Athletic Training

Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences

The USF School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences welcomed 52 Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students to its class of 2020 this fall.

USF College of Public Health

USF College of Public Health welcomed 295 students to their undergraduate and graduate programs.

The college enrolled a record number of 31 new students into its DPH program this fall.

The college also brought in 171 students in the master’s in public health program, 14 students in the MSPH program, nine students in the master’s in health administration, 58 students in the BS program and 12 in the PhD program.

New USF COPH students attend fall 2017 orientation.

Stay tuned, more to come…

It was an unforgettable night for USF Health students at the 111^th USF Commencement Ceremony – marking the end of a chapter and the beginning of a new journey.

More than 450 students walked across the big stage on May 5 at the USF Sun Dome to receive their doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in front of their peers, professors, friends, families, USF leaders and distinguished guests.

USF Health students graduate at the 111^th USF Commencement Ceremony on May 5 at the USF Sun Dome. 

“Today, you join a community of scholars that spans the world; a community that has sought truth through knowledge,” said USF System President Judy Genshaft. “It’s a community that for centuries has chosen a relentless pursuit of possibilities. A community that treasures the value of differences and diversity of thought.”

USF System President Judy Genshaft addresses the Spring 2017 USF Health graduates.

In its third year, the USF Health Commencement brought together students from College of Pharmacy, College of Nursing, College of Public Health, Morsani College of Medicine’s Biomedical Sciences Graduate and Postdoctoral Programs and School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences. This year, USF College of Pharmacy graduated its largest class to date.

The USF Health graduates were among 5,700 students to graduate in Spring 2017 from across the USF System. The diverse group of students came from 50 states and 106 nations.

Students celebrate their milestone before walking across the big stage.

During the ceremony, President Genshaft honored outstanding students who overcame odds to successfully complete their degrees.

• Giovanna Middlebrook, a student from the USF College of Pharmacy, was recognized for her courage to overcome adversity after moving to the United States from Bolivia with her mother when she was 6 years old. When she arrived to the United States, she did not speak English, so the transition was not easy. Despite those challenges, she successfully completed the Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
• Kyle Watterson, doctoral student in the health services research program at the College of Public Health, donated bone marrow through the Be The Match Foundation to honor his late father-in-law – one of his biggest supporters. While in the PhD program, Watterson taught various physical therapy, policy and management classes. He was also the recipient of numerous student research awards from the College of Public Health and the Morsani College of Medicine.
• Jin Wei, who graduated with his PhD in medical science from Morsani College of Medicine, is thankful to USF for providing him the proper education and training to foster his career in cardiovascular research. While in the program, Wei received numerous cardiovascular research awards from USF and other research organizations.
• Jennifer Kirlangitis, a registered nurse for almost 30 years, came to USF to pursue the registered nurse to bachelor of science in nursing (RN-BS) program from College of Nursing. While raising four children and working full-time as a nurse, Kirlangitis graduated with top honors.

Excited students gear up for a memorable commencement ceremony. 

Charles J. Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, joined President Genshaft in congratulating all the graduates for their outstanding academic achievement.

“We’re incredibly proud of all our students for accomplishing this incredible milestone,” Dr. Lockwood said. “Over the course of the last few years, they’ve really learned to work together interprofessionally as a team including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists and public health experts. So, this is a valuable and unique aspect of the education they receive here at USF Health.”

Charles J. Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, honors students who graduated with top honors. 

During the event, Dr. Lockwood recognized students who consistently met the highest level of academic performance. One of them was Mary Alao, a student in the bachelor’s of science program at the College of Public Health. She received the King O’Neal award for graduating with a 4.0 GPA. She was one of 34 students in the USF System Spring 2017 graduating class to receive such recognition.

President Genshaft and Dr. Lockwood presented the USF Honorary Degree to Julio Frenk, MD, PhD, president of the University of Miami. Dr. Frenk is a well-known physician from Mexico, who has helped transform health care for many decades.

President Genshaft and Dr. Lockwood presented the USF Honorary Degree to Julio Frenk, MD, PhD, president of the University of Miami. Donna Petersen, ScD, dean of the USF College of Public Health and interim dean of the College of Nursing, assists with the ceremonial hooding.

Prior to joining University of Miami, Dr. Frenk was the dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the T&G Angelopoulos professor of Public Health and International Development, a joint appointment with the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

From 2000 to 2006, Dr. Frenk served as the Minister of Health for Mexico. While there, he pursued an ambitious agenda to reform the nation’s health system. He also introduced a program of comprehensive universal coverage, known as Seguro Popular, which expanded access to health care for more than 55 million uninsured Mexicans. He was also the founding director-general of the National Institute of Public Health in Mexico, one of the leading institutions of its kind in the developing world.

Dr. Frenk addresses the Spring 2017 graduates after receiving the USF Honorary Degree. 

“Whether you are receiving a degree from the colleges of medicine, pharmacy, nursing or public health, you have made an existential commitment to improving the human condition through your unique blend of knowledge, skills, strength and your compassionate care,” Dr. Frenk said in his address to the Spring 2017 USF Health graduates after receiving his honorary degree from USF.

As part of the USF Commencement tradition, PhD student Lecia Brown, who migrated to United States from Jamaica at 9 years old, was selected to give the student address at the ceremony. Brown completed her PhD in medical sciences with a concentration in neuroscience at the Morsani College of Medicine. During her speech, she told fellow graduates that standing up at the podium was a big honor and privilege.

Lecia Brown, PhD student in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, addresses fellow graduates.

“Graduates, you are at the top, but your journey is just beginning,” said Brown, who started LAMB Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships to children in Jamaica.  “You can transform your success into tools to enable someone else’s success. This may be your last degree, but the truth is, no matter where you are on this path, never stop dreaming and chasing your dreams.”

USF College of Pharmacy students celebrate their big day.

Story by Vjollca Hysenlika and photos by Sandra C. Roa, USF Health Communications and Marketing 

USF Health Research Day 2017 is only a few days away.

Students and faculty from all USF Health colleges, programs and disciplines are gearing up to showcase their scientific research for peers, judges and the USF community from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 24, at the USF Marshall Student Center.

The 27^th annual event features well-known microbial ecologist Jack A. Gilbert, PhD, professor of surgery in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Chicago.

Dr. Gilbert, an expert in human microbiome research, will discuss Invisible Influence: The Microbiome and Human Health, focusing on microorganisms in natural, urban environments and their relations to human ecosystems. Dr. Gilbert said he is looking forward to speaking to future USF scientists and health professionals about revolutionary collaborative research, applying next generation sequencing technologies to learn more about the microbial interactions we share with our environment.

“Medicine, the way we treat patients and the way we understand how the body works, is undergoing through a small but important revolution,” Dr. Gilbert said. “We’re starting to understand that the body is an ecosystem of interconnected processes similar to a rainforest or a backyard. In these natural spaces, plants, animals, insects and bacteria all interact together. The body is no different. So, we’re starting to treat people as a community of organisms and find ways to fine-tune that ecosystem to help them maintain good health.”

Jack A. Gilbert, PhD, an expert in human microbiome research, will be the keynote speaker at USF Health Research Day.

To view a video about Dr. Gilbert’s work, click here.

During the event, more than 10 students will give oral presentations in the USF Marshall Student Center’s Oval Theatre, and more than 340 students, faculty and staff will display research posters in the USF Marshall Student Center’s Ballroom.

Following the presentations, USF Health will host an awards ceremony where judges will announce several winners, followed by an ice cream social for everyone in attendance.

The day-long event, led by Phillip J. Marty, PhD, associate vice president for USF Health Research, brings together researchers from across all USF Health colleges, programs and disciplines, as well as guest researchers from USF programs studying the science of health.

This is one of the biggest USF research events of the year. So, stop by to look at the work of some of the brightest researchers from USF Health.

For more information on USF Health Research Day, including access to the poster abstracts, visit http://health.usf.edu/research/past-research-days.htm