MEMS

Program Overview and Achievements

The mission of MEMS is to increase the number of trained professionals for the health professions who desire to work with underserved populations. The MEMS Program, which began in 1993 as a grant-funded cooperative program with Florida A&M University, focuses on the common challenge of needing a high quality, diverse work force. MEMS is consistent with national priorities as evidenced by Healthy People 2010, the Institute of Medicine’s Ensuring Diversity in the Health-care Workforce and the Sullivan Commission’s Missing Persons: Minorities in the Health Professions. Currently, diverse groups make up about 30% of the U.S. population but only 9% of nurses, 6% of medical doctors and 5% of dentists are from diverse backgrounds. Similar trends are noted in Florida. Using the three pillars of Professional Development, Social Support and Recognition, MEMS is a model program that facilitates 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.

MEMS Outcomes as of Spring 2008

• 132 students are currently in or have completed MEMS
• 99 students have completed MEMS, including 13 completing Advanced MEMS
• 95 (95.9%) have graduated (compared to 65% FSU graduation rate)
• 23 (24.2%) completing/completed master's degrees
• 23 (24.2%) completing/completed professional school (6 public health, 4 physical therapy, 4 medicine, 3 dentistry, 3 pharmacy, 2 chiropractic, 2 nursing)
• 4 completing/completed the Ph.D.

Graduate/Professional School Placements

Lorenzo Amato, USF (nursing)
Alvaro Bada, FSU (medicine)
Inaki Bent, Nova (D.O.)
Sharica Brookins, Morehouse (master’s, public health), Meharry (medicine)
Tunisia Marine Carter, FSU (master’s, motor learning and control)
Yashica Ceasar, FSU (master's, nutrition)
Deirdra Chester, FSU (master's, nutrition, FIU, Ph.D., nutrition)
Cerrone Cohen, Medical University of South Carolina (medicine)
Evelyn Davila, FIU (masters's, public health; Ph.D., public health)
Tej Diah, FSU (master’s, exercise science)
Rochelle Gordon, Nova Southeastern (master's, special education)
Joe Green, Cleveland Chiropractic School (chiropractic)
Kim Griffin, USF (master’s, public health)
Nadia Groves, U. of Pennsylvania (dentistry)
Samantha Hacker, Nova Southeastern (pharmacy)
Michelle Harper, FSU (medicine)
Darlene Hart, New York University (dentistry)
Crystal Hightower, Mississippi State (master's, nutrition)
Joshua Golden, A.T. Still University (master’s, public health, dental emphasis)
Alana Hopewell, FSU (master's, food and nutrition)
Navalee Hylton, FSU (master’s, food and nutrition)
Anne-Lynn Jean-Baptist, U. of Michigan (master's, public health)
Kimberly C. Johnson, St. Augustine (physical therapy)
Roselette Joseph, FAMU (public health)
Alpha Journal, Nova (master’s, health sciences)
Susie Mathis, FSU (master’s, nutrition)
Bethie Melidor, FSU (master’s, nutrition)
Vernet Morency, FAMU (master's, physical therapy)
Erika Potter Morgan, FSU (master's, health education)
Kenya Morris, Tulane (master's, public health)
Dykibra Montgomery, FSU (master's, nutrition)
Kevin Prophete, U. of Miami (master's, business administration)
David Quintana, Duke (medicine)
Calvin Randolph, George Washington University (master’s, health science, physical therapy)
Diego Rouylle, Nova Southeastern (dentistry)
Aseelah Shareef, FSU (master’s, arts administration)
Latosha Solomon, USF (master’s, physical therapy)
Michael Solomon, North Carolina Central (master's, nutrition)
Jevetta Franklin Stanford, Kansas State (master’s, urban and regional planning), UNF (Ph.D., education)
Deja Stephenson, (pharmacy)
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)
Javier Vazquez, FSU (master’s public health)