Florida Alliance Scholars Named.  The inaugural class of Florida Alliance Scholars were
announced at a banquet in Tallahassee in April 2008. Front row:  Eartha Butler, public
Health master’s student, Florida A&M University (FAMU); Corliss Allen, public health
master’s student, FAMU; Joseph Negusei, exercise physiology baccalaureate graduate,
Florida State University (FSU).  Second row includes FAHPD Working Group members:
Betty Smith, Florida Department of Health; Cynthia M. Harris, Director, Institute of Public Health,
FAMU;  Penny A. Ralston,  Dean Emeritus & Director, Better Health & Life Center; Cynthia
Hughes Harris, Provost, FAMU.
 
Florida Alliance Program Launched

The Florida Alliance Scholars program provides opportunities for upper division pre-health undergraduate students and also graduate students to receive enriching scholarly experiences that will assist them in their professional goals.  The pilot program in summer 2008 focuses on a research fellowship in partnership with Celeste Hart, M.D., a Tallahassee-based endocrinologist who has an active practice with diabetes patients. Through records-based research, the students are examining the relationship between the hemoglobin A1 C test and mean blood glucose, comparing African Americans and non-Hispanic Whites.  The students selected are conducting the research in conjunction with a public health research methods course offered by the Institute of Public Health in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at FAMU.