PROGRAM OVERVIEW AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Background

• MEMS Program began in 1993 as a grant-funded cooperative program with Florida A&M University.

• Increase the number of trained professionals for the health professions who desire to work with underserved populations.

• A common challenge shared by the health professions is the need for a high quality, diverse work force. Currently, minorities make up about 25% of the U.S. population but only 10% work as health professionals. One of the goals of Healthy People 2010 is to increase the proportion of degrees awarded to underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. MEMS is a model program that facilitates the degree attainment and professional preparation of students from a variety of backgrounds who desire to enter health professions and to improve the health condition of undeserved populations.

• 87 students are currently in or have completed MEMS
• 68 students have completed MEMS, including 9 completing 'Advanced MEMS Projects'
• 64 (94%) have graduated (compared to 65% FSU graduation rate)
• 18 (26%) completing/completed master's degrees
• 9 (13%) completing/completed professional school (physical therapy, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry)
• 3 completing/completed the Ph.D.

• Lorenzo Amato, FSU (nursing)
• Yashica Ceasar, FSU (master's, nutrition)
• Deirdra Chester, FSU (master's, nutrition, FIU, Ph.D., nutrition)
• Evelyn Davila, FIU (masters's, public health)
• Jevetta Franklin Stanford, Kansas State (master's, urban and regional planning), UNF (doctorate, education)
• Rochelle Gordon, Nova Southeastern (master's, special education)
• Joe Green, Cleveland Chiropractic School (chiropractic)
• Nadia Groves, U. of Pennsylvania (dentistry)
• Samantha Hacker, Nova Southeastern (pharmacy)
• Darlene Hart, New York University (dentistry)
• Crystal Hightower, Mississippi State (master's, nutrition)
• Alana Hopewell, FSU (master's, food science)
• Anne-Lynn Jean-Baptist, U. of Michigan (master's, public health)
• Tunisia Marine, FSU (master's, motor learning and control)
• Susie Mathis, FSU (master's, nutrition)
• Vernet Morency, FAMU (master's, physical therapy)
• Kenya Morris, Tulane (master's, public health)
• Dykibra Montgomery, FSU (master's, nutrition)
• Erika Potter, FSU (master's, health education)
• Kevin Prophete, U. of Miami (master's, business administration)
• David Quintana, Duke (medicine)
• Diego Rouylle, Nova Southeastern (dentistry)
• Vista Suarez, FSU (master's, nutrition), Kansas State (Ph.D., food service)
• Jessica Tillman, U. of South Carolina (master's, public health)
• Breanna Williams, Southern Illinois (dietetic internship)
• Jaleena Wortham, FSU (master's, nutrition)

• 'Perception of Physical Activity and Physical Characteristics of Adult African American Women in Providence Community of Tallahassee, FL' (Sharica Bookins, Lynn Panton, mentor)
• 'HDAC Localization to the Brain and Relationship to Neuro-degeneration' (David Quintana, Charles Quimet, mentor)
• 'Regulation of Cell Integrity by Dietary Copper' (Cleveland Bryant, Cathy Levenson, mentor)
• 'Age-related Effects of Blocked and Random Practice Schedule on Learning a New Technology by Older Individuals' (Samantha Hacker, John Shea, mentor)
• 'Eating Disorder Prevention Program for Hispanic Females' (Evelyn Davila, Penny Ralston, mentor)
• 'Reducing Chronic Disease Risk Factors Associated with Food Consumption by Middle School Students and Adults' (Crystal Hightower, Jenice Rankins, mentor)
• 'Soulful Taste of Tallahassee: Characteristics and Needs of African American Owned Restaurants' (Jevetta Franklin, Penny Ralston, mentor)

• Ralston, P. (2003). Diversifying the Health Professions: A Model Program. American Journal of Health Behavior, 27(3),235-245.

For more information about this project, please contact:

Iris Young-Clark
Director of Special Programs
College of Human Sciences
Florida State University
242 Sandels Building
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1490
(850) 644-2835
iyoung@mailer.fsu.edu