Dean Littles Encourages Kids to Don White Coats

PANAMA CITY, FL - FSU Panama City campus held the 8th Annual Black History Month Celebration with a special program opened by Randy Hanna, Florida State University (FSU) Dean and CEO, to a standing-room-only crowd. He issued a challenge to the students in the room to see who could yell the loudest, and they enthusiastically responded with loud cheers as their school’s team name was called, “Dolphins, Tornadoes, Bucks, Marlins, Tigers, Rams, Bulldogs, Vikings, etc.” Then he asked who the Seminole fans are, and quite a few held up a hand and cheered. After he asked who’s not a Seminole fan, some held up a hand, so he jokingly told those students that they could get back on the bus and go back to school!

Dr. Alma Littles, Interim Dean of FSU College of Medicine (COM) and Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education and Academic Affairs, originally from Quincy, Florida, was introduced as a leader and longtime patient advocate. Dr. Littles is the former director of the family practice residency program at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Littles gave a spirited presentation. She said that much of the Panhandle is rural without adequate access to healthcare, which causes worse outcomes from diseases to be more prevalent. She was the first in a family of 12 to go to college but received a lot of encouragement along the way. As early as second grade, a teacher told her that she should be a doctor. Her mother encouraged her, although she herself did not have a high school diploma. It did seem to Dr, Littles that death from many ailments should be preventable. In college, the Dean of Academic Affairs encouraged her and also made it a point to talk to every other student there. This resulted in a high percentage of students graduating from her class. Dr. Littles told the audience to pay attention to messages of encouragement that they may receive.

Dr. Littles spoke about the importance of having a mentor, having someone who believes in you. She founded the residency program in Tallahassee and while there wisely taught residents to “Meet patients where they are.” She said, “They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

She learned a lot about her teachers when she went into independent practice and they became her patients!

She shared that, “Having fun is important, too.” “You are a human first and have to behave as one.” She advised the audience to remember that their family and friends should remain important to them and to put real life into what they do. She recommended giving back to those coming behind you, to provide service and mentorship to them. “Be a voice for those who don’t have a voice.”

Dr. Littles advised to always be prepared to take that next step. Be prepared and take the initiative to move forward when an opportunity presents itself. For example, she never intended to leave the private practice that she loved until the opportunity at FSU came along and she learned that their mission was in alignment with her professional and personal mission.

FSU has middle school programs, and many students from the Panhandle participate in programs due to SSTRIDE. (SSTRIDE is a pre-college outreach effort of the FSU College of Medicine in high school and middle school.) Students in some programs will spend a week during the Summer in Tallahassee. She said that it is important for them to learn such things as whether they can stand the sight of blood. She does encourage students to pursue a healthcare career, particularly those from impoverished communities since they are most likely to return to those communities and serve the people there.

Students in the four-year medical programs all spend the first two years in Tallahassee, then are broken into six groups of twenty (20) people and go to one of six regional campuses. Students do their residency training in a rural community since they are then likely to return to a rural community upon graduation.

Dr. Littles discussed the significance of donning the white coat at the White Coat Ceremony. She said the symbol of the white coat is important. Next is Match Day when students find out where they will go for the next three to seven years. Following this is graduation in May. Students in the Physician’s Assistant (PA) program complete it in twenty-seven (27) months and after graduation in December are ready to go to work.