Florida State University’s College of Medicine has just announced a groundbreaking partnership with the Andrews Research & Education Foundation that promises to elevate advanced medical training and patient care throughout the region.
Details: As of August 1, FSU has taken sponsorship of two prestigious fellowship programs that were previously operated independently by the Andrews Institute:
- Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Fellowship (accepting four fellows annually)
- Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship (one fellowship position)
Both programs maintain their accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)—the gold standard in medical education accreditation.
Why This Matters: After completing medical school and residency, doctors can pursue fellowships to gain expertise in highly specialized areas.
- “This partnership reflects the strong collaborations we are building that expand educational opportunity, support world-class research and improve the health of communities across our state,” explained FSU President Richard McCullough. “We’re excited to team up with Andrews and continue growing FSU’s impact in Northwest Florida.”
The College of Medicine now sponsors 26 programs training more than 330 residents and fellows. Dr. Alma Littles, dean of the College of Medicine, stressed the strategic nature of this collaboration: “For nearly two decades, the Andrews Institute has provided unparalleled care to the residents of Northwest Florida and beyond. At Florida State, we continually seek to partner with the best-of-the-best.”
According to Ashton Hayward, president of the Andrews Research & Education Foundation, this collaboration will “foster groundbreaking work in musculoskeletal science, regenerative medicine, biomechanics and surgical innovation.”
Attracting Top Talent: In the competitive world of medical fellowships, institutional reputation matters enormously. Bill Boyer, associate dean for Graduate Medical Education at FSU’s College of Medicine, points out that fellowship applicants specifically look for university sponsorship and accreditation status.
- “People look to see if a program is university-sponsored. FSU’s GME programs are known as some of the best — and we fill every slot each year. This, coupled with the outstanding reputation of Andrews, will attract the best talent to these programs and to Northwest Florida””
For patients in Northwest Florida, this means access to care from fellows trained at the intersection of academic rigor and clinical excellence. For the medical community, it represents new opportunities for research collaboration and knowledge sharing.