Medical Grant Money

Posted on December 01, 2011 by Admin
Medical Grant Money

Medical Grant Money

Sixty-four men and women are in the FAU College of Medicine’s inaugural class — and now they’re receiving $750,000 worth of opportunities.

On Nov. 1, The Quantum Foundation of West Palm Beach gave FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine the grant money to fund their graduate medical program, health center research, service partnerships and a health-care career outreach program, according to the press release by FAU.

“I think it’s a great thing,” said Juliet Meir, one of the first-year medical students. “[The money] is giving us more freedom and opportunities in the program.”

In 2004, FAU partnered up with the University of Miami to create a two year regional medical program on the Boca campus, which was lengthened to a four year program in 2005. It wasn’t until this fall that the College of Medicine could open its doors as FAU’s public medical school.

FAU President Mary Jane Saunders said, “The Quantum Foundation has provided a tremendous amount of support to FAU over the years, and we truly appreciate this contribution to our new medical school.”

The Foundation is a program based on the idea that anyone living in Palm Beach County – despite their income or background – can have the opportunity to live a long and healthy life.

“Our mission is to improve health care access, science and health education, and to enhance the health care workforce in our community,” said Quantum Foundation President Kerry Diaz. “So this grant aligns with our efforts in each of these areas.”

This isn’t the first time a FAU college has received grant money on behalf of the Foundation.

In the summer of 2006, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing received $500,000 to fund a new Ph.D program for students wanting to become nurse educators.

Then, in the winter of 2009, the College of Education received a $100,000 grant to support the Florida Institute for the Advancement of Teaching (FIAT), a program that creates and prepares teachers for Florida schools.

Earlier this semester, the College of Medicine held a ceremony for the 64 new med students. There, they received their white coats, symbolically confirming their commitment to the field of medicine.

To learn more about the new Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, go to med.fau.edu.

It’s now dealing with a lawsuit and will not be receiving thousands of dollars from the city.

Jessica Hudson filed a complaint of discrimination. She was hired as the executive director. Before she even started the job, though, the center fired her.

“The board determined that I was a lesbian based on my Facebook page,” Hudson stated in the complaint.

She claims they held an emergency meeting to discuss her sexuality, but never even approached her about it. Since all of this happened, two board members have resigned. In the complaint, Hudson states it’s in whole or in part to protest her termination.

“When it comes to violating people's rights because of their sexual preference, the city of Charleston stands firm,” Mayor Danny Jones said.

The city was ready to hand over $13,500 in grant money to the center, but that’s not the plan now.

“Once we found out this happened; because it violates our ordinances, we had to stop that money,” Jones said.

WSAZ tried contacting the Bob Burdette Center for comment, but it was closed Wednesday.

It is clear, though, that the center is fighting back. A hearing to dismiss Hudson’s lawsuit is set for Thursday.

Hudson's attorney, Ricklin Brown, said she is able to return to her old job and that if the Bob Burdette Center does give her the position back, he doesn't think she will accept it.

Brown said the lawsuit is more about setting a precedent to make sure this type of discrimination doesn't happen again.