Florida International University College of Medicine
Encyclopedia
The Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine is the medical school
of Florida International University
, located in Miami, Florida
in the United States
. The Wertheim College of Medicine is one of the university's 26 schools and colleges. The College of Medicine was founded by the Florida Board of Governors
on March 23, 2006 and its inaugural class of 43 new students began in the Fall of 2009, becoming the first graduating class in 2013. The College of Medicine is estimated to impact the annual economy by more than a $1 billion and create more than 8,300 jobs in South Florida. The Wertheim College of Medicine is the only public medical school in Southern Florida.
Admission to the Wertheim College of Medicine is competitive, and the college has one of the highest number of applicants in the state, greater than the University of Florida
. For Fall 2010, 3,606 students applied for 43 spots.
, Dr. Pedro José Greer
is the assistant dean of academic affairs, Dr. Barry P. Rosen, an NIH MERIT Awardee, is Associate Dean for Basic Research and Graduate Programs, and Dr. Sanford Markham was named executive associate dean of student affairs of the college. In September 2007, concerns had been raised by the University that the budget proposed by the Florida Legislature
will delay this process, and the economic benefits it will bring to the community, however the budget cuts were dropped and the College of Medicine will proceed to open on time.
On June 12, 2009, longtime FIU benefactor Herbert Wertheim
, announced that he would donate $20 million to the FIU College of Medicine, to be matched by state funds for a total donation of $40 million. As such, the name of the College of Medicine was changed to the "Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine". Funds from the donation will go to the establishment of the Dr. Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Endowments for Medical Education and Research, as well as the Dr. Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Medical Scholarship Endowment. Half of the endowment, which will be funded over the course of three years to 2012, will be set aside to support scholarships for College of Medicine students and other students pursuing advanced degrees in other scientific fields such as engineering.
On June 13, 2011, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education
granted provisional accreditation to the FIU Wertheim College of Medicine.
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
of Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
, located in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Wertheim College of Medicine is one of the university's 26 schools and colleges. The College of Medicine was founded by the Florida Board of Governors
Florida Board of Governors
The Florida Board of Governors was created in 2002 by the passage of a constitutional amendment, which went into effect in 2003. By an unprecedented vote, a 17-member board was established to serve as the statewide governing body for the State University System of Florida, which includes all...
on March 23, 2006 and its inaugural class of 43 new students began in the Fall of 2009, becoming the first graduating class in 2013. The College of Medicine is estimated to impact the annual economy by more than a $1 billion and create more than 8,300 jobs in South Florida. The Wertheim College of Medicine is the only public medical school in Southern Florida.
Admission to the Wertheim College of Medicine is competitive, and the college has one of the highest number of applicants in the state, greater than the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
. For Fall 2010, 3,606 students applied for 43 spots.
History
The College's first associate executive dean of academic affairs is Dr. Joe Leigh Simpson, a member of the National Academy of SciencesUnited States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, Dr. Pedro José Greer
Pedro José Greer
Dr. Pedro José Greer, Jr. is an American physician. He is Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs and Chair of the Department of Humanities, Health and Society at the Florida International University School of Medicine...
is the assistant dean of academic affairs, Dr. Barry P. Rosen, an NIH MERIT Awardee, is Associate Dean for Basic Research and Graduate Programs, and Dr. Sanford Markham was named executive associate dean of student affairs of the college. In September 2007, concerns had been raised by the University that the budget proposed by the Florida Legislature
Florida Legislature
The Florida State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Florida Constitution states that "The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a legislature of the State of Florida," composed of a Senate...
will delay this process, and the economic benefits it will bring to the community, however the budget cuts were dropped and the College of Medicine will proceed to open on time.
Herbert Wertheim
Dr. Herbert A. Wertheim is an inventor, scientist, educator, clinician, optometric physician,visual neurologist, entrepreneur, philanthropist and community leader...
, announced that he would donate $20 million to the FIU College of Medicine, to be matched by state funds for a total donation of $40 million. As such, the name of the College of Medicine was changed to the "Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine". Funds from the donation will go to the establishment of the Dr. Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Endowments for Medical Education and Research, as well as the Dr. Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Medical Scholarship Endowment. Half of the endowment, which will be funded over the course of three years to 2012, will be set aside to support scholarships for College of Medicine students and other students pursuing advanced degrees in other scientific fields such as engineering.
On June 13, 2011, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education
Liaison Committee on Medical Education
The Liaison Committee on Medical Education is an accrediting body for educational programs at schools of medicine in the United States and Canada. The LCME accredits only the schools that grant a doctor of medicine degree; osteopathic medical schools are accredited by the Commission on...
granted provisional accreditation to the FIU Wertheim College of Medicine.
Admissions
applications or other unique situations.The FIU College of Medicine received 3,247 applicants for 43 spots in its inaugural 2009 class, giving the College of Medicine a 3.8% admissions rate. FIU received more applicants than Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
and University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
. Only the University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
received more, with over 4,300 applicants for 40 spots in their charter class.
For Fall 2010, 3,606 students applied for admission into the College of Medicine, of which 43 were accepted. FIU receives more applicants than any other medical school
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
in Florida, and has the state's lowest admissions rate. The average undergraduate GPA was a 3.7. Students of the Class of 2014 came from Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, and Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. 84% of students were from Florida, and 54% were Miamians.
Medical School Complex
A new medical school complex is expected to be constructed in the northeast side of the main campus by the University Park Apartments. The complex will hold a new parking garage, 5 new medical school facilities along with a new molecular biology building next to the current Chemistry and Physics Building. As of July 2010, the Ambulatory Care Clinic and parking garage (Market Station) are under construction.Affiliations
The FIU College of Medicine works in affiliation with community hospitals: Baptist Health South Florida, Broward HealthBroward Health
Broward Health, formerly the North Broward Hospital District, is one of the 10 largest health systems in the U.S. Located in Broward County, Florida, Broward Health has the county’s first certified stroke center and only liver transplant program...
, Cleveland Clinic Foundation Florida, Jackson North Hospital, Memorial Health Care System (Hollywood), Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Children’s Hospital, and Mercy Hospital
Mercy Hospital (Miami)
Mercy Hospital is a 473-bed acute care U.S. hospital located in Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida. It is Miami-Dade County’s only Catholic hospital and is a recipient of the MAGNET award for nursing excellence....
. These help educate medical students and provide graduates with residency opportunities.