Jeffrey Horstmyer, M.D.

The meeting will afford an opportunity to communicate in human terms the need for educating physicians who, in many cases, will contribute directly to the South Florida community. The ever-worsening doctor shortage affects our area acutely, and the University feels an urgent responsibility to act.

Through its newly instituted Honors College pre-medical program (which complements a previously existing pre-med program in the College of Arts & Sciences), FIU has already taken a leap toward preparing bright undergraduates to succeed in medicine. The addition of a full-fledged medical school on campus will exponentially expand the University’s commitment to improving health care access and quality for local citizens.

The upcoming meeting promises to be another early step in the process of gaining approval for the medical school, and we fully expect to have to continue our lobbying efforts for several more months and, possibly, much longer. Given the importance of what FIU is trying to accomplish, no one should express surprise at the amount of time required to make it happen. A careful, well-thought-out approach benefits all parties, and all of us understand the value of working at a steady pace with the board and our Legislature to turn the medical school into a reality.

Your interest in the initiative and your willingness to engage others—friends, family, co-workers and even your health care providers—in discussions about FIU’s proposed plan can only help increase awareness. President Maidique and all of us involved with the medical school initiative welcome your support.

If you would like additional information about the planned medical school and the ways in which we are promoting its approval, please see the web site at health.fiu.edu or contact me directly at horstmyj@fiu.edu.