President Johnson: Update on FAMU’s Commitment to Healthcare Professions
Dear FAMU Community and Friends,
Earlier this month, Florida State University (FSU) and Tallahassee Memorial Hospital (TMH) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to transform TMH into an academic health center. They also issued a joint letter affirming that their “current partnerships with Florida A&M University and Tallahassee State College will continue and opportunities for future expansion will be encouraged.” As president of FAMU, I am proud to reaffirm our role as an essential partner in training the healthcare professionals of the future.
At FAMU, we remain steadfast in our mission to prepare students for careers in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and allied health fields. Representation matters. The healthcare workforce of tomorrow must reflect the diversity of the communities it serves, and FAMU will continue to play a vital role in producing professionals who can reduce health disparities and deliver culturally competent care.
Our university has enjoyed a long-standing and productive relationship with TMH, one that will continue to grow during my administration. To ensure we remain at the forefront of healthcare education, I recently appointed Dr. Donald Palm, III, as the Executive Vice President for Health Sciences Enterprise and Research Innovation. His leadership will accelerate our focus on the School of Allied Health Sciences, the School of Nursing, the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health (CoPPS-IPH), and Sponsored Research. Together, these programs represent FAMU’s commitment to producing nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, healthcare administrators, and other professionals who understand and can effectively respond to the diverse needs of communities.
FAMU’s dedication to healthcare is deeply rooted in our history. Our university once operated its own hospital, founded in 1911 to serve patients with tuberculosis and expanded into a full-service facility in 1950. For decades, FAMU Hospital provided essential care and nursing education to the Black community of North Florida during segregation. When federal policies enforced desegregation in the 1960s, resources were shifted away, and the hospital closed in 1971. Even so, its legacy continues to inspire our efforts today.
Now, at a time when the nation faces a critical shortage of healthcare professionals, collaboration among Tallahassee’s higher education institutions is more important than ever. Together with FSU, TMH, and TSC, FAMU is helping build a stronger, more integrated pipeline of healthcare talent. Our shared vision emphasizes experiential learning, advanced training, and clear workforce pathways—opportunities that will both prepare our students for successful careers and strengthen the healthcare system that serves Tallahassee and beyond.
The Tallahassee City Commission will hold two public hearings on this subject on October 1 and October 22. Our FAMU leadership will be present to support this partnership and to hear feedback from our community stakeholders.
Thank you for your continued support of FAMU and our students as we advance this important mission. With your support, we will continue to expand opportunity, advance equity in healthcare, and ensure that underserved communities have access to representative, compassionate, and high-quality care.
With Rattler Pride,
Marva B. Johnson, J.D.
President
Florida A&M University
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