FSU College of Medicine 2017 annual report 2017 Annual Report - FSU College of Medicine | Page 41

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PIPELINE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GROW
When the College of Medicine’s best-known pipeline
program, SSTRIDE, was brought to Collier County in
medicine residency program in Fort Myers.
“Because the great majority of these students are going to
September 2016, the plan was to induct 15 eighth-grade be first-generation college students, it’s really important for
students into its first class. When the program received more them to see people from their own community actually doing
than 90 applications, that plan changed. these things and succeeding,” Truel said.
With the support of a five-year, $500,000 commitment
from the Naples Children and Education Foundation, the
program was able to induct 55 students, 40 of whom are
Hispanic or Latino.
Those students wrapped up a busy first year in the program
in 2017.
“The applicants were so amazing that we actually ended up
As its reputation spreads, more communities across Florida
have become interested in SSTRIDE.
“Students from rural, underserved and minority
communities are more likely to return to practice or work in
their own communities, so it is very important and necessary
to have these programs to better prepare students and expose
them to post secondary education” said Thesla Berne-
starting the program in eighth, ninth and 10th grade, which Anderson, director of college and pre-college outreach at the
wasn’t supposed to happen until Year Three,” said Jodi College of Medicine.
Truel, SSTRIDE’s southern region program director.
SSTRIDE (Science Students Together Reaching
Instructional Diversity and Excellence) dates back to 1994
A private gift brought SSTRIDE to Sarasota County in
2017 (read about it on page 50).
The new students attended a mini-camp at Sarasota High
and has worked to identify underserved, high-achieving School, where they learned how to scrub in for surgery, the
students who have a genuine interest in pursuing careers basics of CPR, and how to draw blood and administer an IV.
in science, technology, engineering, math or medicine. The
Within the first few months, the students were also visited
program provides students with the education, experiential by guest speaker Brad Prechtl, CEO of Florida Cancer
activities and support they need to succeed. Specialists, and the Humane Society of Sarasota County to
“In each lesson, there’s some kind of medical approach
incorporated, whether it be a lab, activity, field trip or
guest speaker,” Truel said, noting the curriculum involves
learn about veterinary medicine, non profit organizations and
volunteer work.
“Our programs in the southern region are moving leaps
a progression of upper-level science courses, each with an and bounds. They have funding that we don’t have, so
honors designation. Included are interactive lectures, hands- their students can really take advantage of every aspect of
on labs, mentor-facilitated groups and other activities. SSTRIDE,” said Berne-Anderson. “Every aspect we said
“We do dissections in every grade level,” added Truel. “Eighth-
graders are dissecting a pig, and they think it’s amazing getting to
do this so much sooner than their friends or other students.”
During a visit to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the
Conservancy of Southwest Florida, students worked with
biologists to do a python necropsy, similar to an autopsy.
“They examined its internal organs, did the paperwork the
biologists have to do and learned how the pythons’ lungs
work, and how they eat their prey,” she said.
But one-on-one interaction with current med students and
other mentors might be where Collier County SSTRIDE
students have benefited most, according to Truel.
Some of the mentors are from Immokalee, and at least
one of them is currently in the College of Medicine’s family
should be included in the model, they do it.”