UF names new College of Nursing dean

Contact: Rossana Passaniti
352-273-8569

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Anna M. McDaniel has been named dean of the University of Florida College of Nursing, effective this summer.

McDaniel serves as the associate dean for research at the Indiana University School of Nursing where she has been a faculty member since 1992. A Chancellor’s Professor in both the schools of Informatics and Nursing, McDaniel also directs the graduate nursing informatics certificate program.

“I am confident that Dr. McDaniel is poised to seize the remarkable opportunities that lie ahead for the College of Nursing especially with the crucial role that nursing plays in meeting health care needs of our state and country,” said Dr. David S. Guzick, senior vice president for health affairs and president of the UF&Shands Health System. “Her strong background as a successful administrator, prolific researcher and scholar, and committed educator will benefit not only the College of Nursing’s faculty and students but the UF health system as a whole. Dr. McDaniel has a track record of strong interdisciplinary work and a very collaborative working style, which is exactly where the future lies for the Academic Health Center at the University of Florida.”

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Study: Florida College System Produces $26.6 Billion Annual Impact on State’s Economy

Jimbo and Candi Fisher’s Kidz1stFund Fights Rare Disease with $1 Million in Donations in Only Second Year

Non-profit continues to fight for a cure for Fanconi anemia.

Tallahassee, FL – Florida State head football coach Jimbo Fisher and his wife Candi presented the second Kidz1^stFund check in only 19 months to Dr. John Wagner, M.D. and Dr. Margaret L. MacMillan, M.D. co-directors of the Fanconi Anemia Comprehensive Care Clinic at the University of Minnesota Monday evening at a reception at the TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. Kidz1stFund’s donations to date toward Fanconi anemia research total $1 million.

“FA is our opponent and we will do everything we can to fight this disease head on,” said Jimbo Fisher. “Candi and I knew from the beginning we could make a difference by helping to raise awareness and fund research. Through the generous donors of Kidz1stFund, these million dollars will make a significant difference in the lives of FA patients.” … Continue Reading

How to Protect Allergy-Prone Children on Valentine’s Day

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, little boxes of chocolate can become a big threat for many parents. Children with food allergies have to be precautious during the school day, especially on Valentine’s Day. Various candies aren’t always labeled or separated from other candy that could have potential food allergens. In addition to the children and parents being precautious, teachers and school administrators need to be educated and prepared for an allergic reaction during the school day.    … Continue Reading

Fishers Are Special Guests At Seminar On Genetic Disease

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State University Head Football Coach Jimbo Fisher and Candi Fisher, chairwoman of their nonprofit Kidz1stFund, were the special guests at a Nov. 9 seminar on “Changing the Practice of Medicine: The FA Story.”
The initials “FA” stand for Fanconi anemia, a rare, genetic blood disease that affects thousands of children each year – including the Fishers’ son Ethan. They formed Kidz1stFund to raise awareness and research dollars to fight FA. … Continue Reading

Kidz1stFund Teams Up with FSU Spirit Drum

Florida State University students drum up support for Fanconi Anemia

(Tallahassee, FL) – Kidz1stFund has teamed up once again with students from the Florida State University and the famed FSU Spirit Drum™ to drum up support for Fanconi anemia at this year’s FSU Homecoming Parade. Annually, the Spirit Drum keeps the warchant going through the streets of Tallahassee following Chief Osceola and Renegade but this year, it is more than just tomahawk chops.

The FSU Spirit Drum, a tradition that receives national acclaim as one of the most prominent and longest standing traditions, raised $1,000 for the Kidz1stFund through a dollar campaign last football season and hopes to do the same again this year. … Continue Reading

Leon Superintendent Earns Statewide Recognition for Visionary Sustainability Initiatives

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The school superintendent in Florida’s capital county has been honored statewide as the most innovative and effective “green” leader in the state for his groundbreaking ideas fostering environmental sustainability. Leon County School Superintendent Jackie Pons was named the winner in the “Leadership” category of Sustainable Florida’s Best Practice Awards program, clearly establishing him among elected officials as one of the state’s foremost visionaries.

At a ceremony in West Palm Beach, Pons was honored for a series of environment- and budget-friendly initiatives, including his idea to transition his district’s school bus fleet and other vehicles to run on compressed natural gas, a change that will save taxpayer money while protecting the environment and children’s health. … Continue Reading

Jimbo And Candi Fisher’s Kidz1stFund Celebrated Its 1st Anniversary And Continues To Thrive In Reaching Its Mission

Non-profit raises over $500,000 and starts legislative campaign in D.C. to raise awareness for Fanconi anemia.

Tallahassee, FL — On August 5th, Kidz1stFund celebrated one year of existence and achieved impressive fundraising, awareness and legislative goals in the fight against Fanconi anemia (FA).

Florida State University’s head football coach, Jimbo Fisher, and his wife, Candi Fisher, created Kidz1stFund after their youngest son, Ethan, was diagnosed with the rare blood disorder in 2011. FA is a genetic disease which causes possible birth defects, bone marrow failure, and eventually leads to cancer years earlier than the general population. … Continue Reading

UF veterinary researchers discover new virus linked to death of Australian snakes

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A University of Florida researcher and colleagues in Australia and Germany have discovered what might be a deadly new snake virus.

Dubbed the “Sunshine virus” because of its discovery in Australia’s Sunshine Coast region, the organism causes nervous system and respiratory disease and is the first of its kind to be identified. Although it is in the same overall family as other viruses that affect snakes and lizards, the Sunshine virus doesn’t fit into existing subgroups of viruses.

The discovery, described online and in the upcoming October 2012 print edition of the journal Infection, Genetics and Evolution, might help scientists better understand the biology and origin of an important group of disease-causing organisms and inform efforts to prevent future outbreaks. … Continue Reading

BOARD OF GOVERNORS ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS FOR FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—The Chair of the Florida Board of Governors’ Trustee Nominating and Development Committee, Mori Hosseini of Daytona Beach, today put forward to the full Board four of five appointments for charter members for Florida Polytechnic University’s Board of Trustees and all were approved. The fifth appointment will be made at a future date.

After interviewing 10 finalists on Wednesday in Orlando, Chair Hosseini, immediate past Chair Ava Parker, and Board of Governors Chair Dean Colson brought forward the following four nominees, which Hosseini said represented a clear consensus: … Continue Reading

SOUTHERN REGIONAL EDUCATION BOARD COMMENDS FLORIDA FOR DECADE OF PROGRESS

Tallahassee, Fla., July 12, 2012 – Florida received high praise for a decade of progress according to a report released by the Southern Regional Education Board. The “2012 Progress Report on the Challenge to Lead Goals for Education” showed that Florida outperformed other southern states in many indicators of student access and success. Florida, along with 15 other SREB states, adopted the Challenge to Lead Goals for Education ten years ago to guide state policymakers and education leaders in making decisions about education in their states. … Continue Reading

UF study shows long-term drug abuse starts with alcohol

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Alcohol — not marijuana — is the gateway drug that leads adolescents down the path toward more serious substances, a new University of Florida study shows.

The findings may not settle a decades-old debate over how drug abuse begins, but it could help educators and policymakers build more effective drug-prevention programs, said Adam Barry, an assistant professor and researcher in the College of Health and Human Performance. … Continue Reading

Medical experts warn summer poses special risks for kids with life-threatening food allergies

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Medical experts warn children with life-threatening food allergies are at special risk in summer, and parents need to be vigilant to educate summer caretakers about the threat.

With schools closing their doors in a few weeks and more than 10 million U.S. children bound for summer camps, the risk of death from anaphylaxis due to a food allergy is at a high. Anaphylaxis is a severe, whole-body reaction to an allergen and can be fatal within minutes, either through swelling that shuts off airways or through a significant drop in blood pressure. … Continue Reading

FCAT Results Reflect Transition To Higher Standards

– Raising the bar intended to prepare students better for college and careers –

TALLAHASSEE – As Florida ramps up standards and strengthens assessments in preparation for a move to a more demanding set of nationwide academic educational standards called the Common Core State Standards in 2015, the first group of statewide assessment results offer evidence of that transition.

“We are asking more from our students and teachers than we ever have, and I am proud of their hard work,” said Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson. “Florida’s higher standards help ensure students are learning what they are expected to know so that they are prepared for college, career, and life. As Florida transitions to higher standards and higher expectations, we can expect our assessment results to reflect those changes.” … Continue Reading

Florida KidCare Reaches Historic Milestone: 2 Million Enrollments

~ First Time Program Insures So Many Florida Kids ~

Tallahassee, FL – For the first time ever, more than 2 million Florida children in March were enrolled in Florida KidCare, the state’s high-quality, low-cost health insurance program for children. The program reached the historic milestone when it provided new insurance coverage for almost 12,000 children.

“That’s 2 million kids who are seeing doctors, receiving essential prescriptions, getting their teeth examined – kids who now have a better chance to become healthy, productive adults. That’s 2 million kids who wouldn’t have this opportunity for a healthier life if not for KidCare,” said Rich Robleto, executive director of Florida Healthy Kids, one of the KidCare partners. … Continue Reading

Major Motion Picture on JFK and Secret Service Planned In Time for 50th Anniversary of Assassination

Atchity Entertainment International/Ramos & Sparks Group option bestselling book

(Los Angeles, California) – As the 50th anniversary approaches in 2013 for one of the darkest, saddest days in modern American history – the assassination of President John F. Kennedy – plans have been announced for production of a major motion picture based on the New York Times bestselling book, The Kennedy Detail, written by former Secret Service agent Gerald Blaine and award-winning journalist Lisa McCubbin, with a foreword by former agent Clint Hill. … Continue Reading

FSU Head Football Coach Jimbo and Candi Fisher’s Kidz1stFund Donates $500,000 to the University Of Minnesota

The gift will support Fanconi anemia research at the University of Minnesota, a national leader pioneering better ways to treat the disorder

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL, Minn. – Florida State University head football coach Jimbo Fisher, and his wife Candi, today presented the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital with a $500,000 donation from their Kidz1stFund™. The Fisher family presented the check at half court during the University of Minnesota’s men’s basketball game versus Nebraska.  University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler, Rebecca Kill, wife of University of Minnesota head football coach, Jerry Kill, and Minnesota Vikings quarterback, and former FSU player, Christian Ponder joined the Fishers for the presentation.

“One thing our family has learned is the game of life is not so different than the game of football – we will not accept defeat,” Candi Fisher said. “We are in this to win the fight against Fanconi anemia on behalf of all the children who share this struggle with Ethan. This is just the first of millions we hope to raise to advance FA research here at the University of Minnesota.” … Continue Reading

Statement By Commissioner of Education Gerard Robinson Regarding Proposed Changes to Florida’s School Grading System

Statement By Commissioner of Education Gerard Robinson Regarding Proposed Changes to Florida’s School Grading System

“Florida has worked very hard for more than a decade to implement and support ground-breaking education reform and I am extremely proud of our successes. As we move toward a new age of education for Florida’s children, it is important to recognize our triumphs and build upon our hopes for the future of public education. … Continue Reading

Business, Education Leaders to Review Need for Extension of Half-Cent Sales Tax for Schools

TALLAHASSEE, FL – The facilities needs of Leon County Schools will come under the microscope of local business leaders, following agreement by the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce to conduct a comprehensive, independent review of the need to extend the half-cent sales tax for schools.

Chamber Chairman Bill Moor and President Sue Dick announced that Tallahassee Community College President Jim Murdaugh will chair the Capital Improvements Review Team (CIRT) process on behalf of the Chamber and the local business community. Leon County Schools Superintendent Jackie Pons asked the Chamber to review the school district’s recommendations for how the resources would be spent if the decade-old tax is extended for another 15 years, raising a projected $256.9 million for additional school improvements. … Continue Reading

Florida House Advances Bill to Reward Student Achievement

Tallahassee, Florida –  Today, the House Pre-K – 12 Appropriations Subcommittee voted to reward high achieving students by passing HB 7059 which rewards student-achievement instead of seat-time.

“I thank members of the House Pre-K – 12 Appropriations Subcommittee for their commitment to increasing accelerated learning options for Florida’s students,” said Patricia Levesque, Executive Director of the Foundation for Florida’s Future. “This bill will open the door to restructuring education around what truly matters – student learning.  Evolution from seat-time based education is the next step to bringing every student a quality education that is customized to meet their unique learning style and pace.”

Florida has dramatically improved the quality of public education during the past decade, but our work is far from finished. These initiatives move Florida further down the path of improving education for all students. The Foundation looks forward to working with members of the Florida Legislature to continue our success.