Skip to main content Skip to navigation
Washington State University
Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine

News

Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine incorporates nutrition, exercise physiology training

The Nutrition and Exercise Physiology program at WSU Spokane has been named as an academic department under the WSU’s Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.

The move reflects Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine’s (ESFCOM) goals to be one of the first medical schools in the nation to make scientific wellness — where critical health indicators, including DNA and lifestyle, are accessed and followed by nutritional coaching — part of its curriculum. Inclusion of the nutrition and exercise physiology (NEP) department is an important step in that direction.

“I look forward to seeing our nutrition and exercise … » More …

WSU College of Medicine appoints four new administrators

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine at Washington State University recently added a communications director and three associate deans.

Christina VerHeul, communications director, joins WSU from ReviveHealth, a Nashville-based integrated marketing agency focusing exclusively on healthcare, where she served as vice president. Prior, she led communications in the hospitality and restaurant industries with major national brands including Loews Hotels & Resorts, Hunt Brothers Pizza and Cracker Barrel. She has also worked in energy/utilities, information technology, architecture and construction. A native of Spokane, VerHeul earned her bachelor’s degree in public relations from WSU.

Dr. Larry Schecter, Dr. Kevin Murray and Dr. Farion … » More …

Scientific Wellness enhances personalized medicine training

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine is announcing today that its inaugural class will be participating in a cutting-edge Scientific Wellness program provided by Arivale.

The program reflects a partnership with Arivale, which analyzes critical health indicators — including DNA, blood and saliva, and lifestyle — to create a enhanced picture of a person’s wellness condition and potential. Then, it provides tailored coaching to create recommendations to optimize wellness.

The entire first-year class of 60 medical students, as well as select faculty and administrators, will have the unprecedented opportunity to enroll in the program. Arivale will take an integrated, … » More …

‘Sleep gene’ offers clues about why we need our zzzs

Jason Gerstner in lab

Assistant Research Professor Jason Gerstner (center) in his research lab with colleagues Kit Hayworth (left), clinical assistant professor, and Becky Taylor (right), clinical laboratory specialist.

By Eric Sorensen, WSU science writer

SPOKANE, Wash. – Washington State University researchers have seen how a particular gene is involved in the quality of sleep experienced by three different animals, including humans. The gene and its function open a new avenue for scientists exploring how sleep works and why animals need it … » More …

Rewards Help Reduce Alcohol Abuse, Study Shows

Michael McDonnell

Michael McDonell demonstrates a prize draw used in his study on treating alcohol abuse.

By Judith Van Dongen, WSU Spokane

Researchers at Washington State University have shown that offering prizes—from simple shampoo to DVD players—can be an effective, low-cost treatment for alcohol abuse, one of the leading preventable causes of death.

The treatment was studied in Seattle-area participants with serious mental illness. A surprise benefit of the treatment was that it decreased study participants’ tobacco and drug use.

Findings from … » More …

Native American scholarship reaches endowment level

A scholarship for Native American students in Washington State University’s Speech and Hearing Sciences program has reached the endowment level and will create a lasting legacy for its namesake — the late J. Richard Franks, Ph.D., a former professor and leader in the department.

Franks saw that Native Americans were vastly under-represented in the field and took action to change that. He secured U.S. Department of Education funding in the 1980s which established the foundation for WSU’s Native American professional preparation program in speech-language pathology and audiology.

Over a 25-year period, Franks was actively involved in the department’s efforts to recruit and … » More …

Preliminary accreditation received

On October 18, 2016, the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine passed a pivotal milestone. It received preliminary accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. The College can now begin to recruit its charter class of 60 students.

Accreditation marks the culmination of more than a year of work that united the College with communities across the state. Together, we have created an infrastructure for health care education and delivery that is “bold, audacious, and visionary.”

Those three words, spoken by the late Washington State University President Elson S. Floyd, capture the essence of his idea for a second public medical school in the … » More …

Creating opportunities for the charter class

Fritz and Julie (Twohy) Clarke have longstanding relationships with Washington State University and Spokane’s University District. Their connections inspired them to create a scholarship fund that supports the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine charter class.

The Clarkes’ generous donation helps underwrite the cost of medical school for incoming students. The average U.S. medical school graduate incurs debt approaching $170,000 before even beginning a career, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

By relieving student debt, the Owen F. and Julia K. Clarke, Jr. Family Endowed Scholarship in Medicine will play a critical role in supporting recruitment of the most qualified and compassionate students … » More …

WSU Medical School Granted Preliminary LCME Accreditation

spk-medicine-home1

The Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine at Washington State University today received preliminary accreditation—a major milestone that keeps the college on track to enroll its inaugural class of students in August 2017.

The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the accrediting agency for MD-granting medical schools in the United States and Canada, communicated news of the preliminary accreditation to John Tomkowiak, M.D., MOL, the founding dean of the Floyd College of Medicine, earlier today.

“This is a significant moment in Washington State University’s 126-year history,” said WSU President Kirk Schulz. “It puts us one step … » More …

WSU Tri-Cities readies itself for medical school

A view of the WSU Tri-Cities campus.

WSU Tri-Cities is growing in many ways as it prepares to become one of the clinical campuses for the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.

There is growth in the number of students who attend class on campus. There is physical growth with two new projects designed for students under construction on campus. And there is growth in the number and quality of the academic programs offered.

WSU Tri-Cities uses a polytechnic approach with a hands-on, career-focused approach. It offers 19 undergraduate and 33 graduate degrees in programs that range … » More …