FIU Medicine launches innovative approach to academic advising

The most valuable guidance often comes from those who have walked the same path. FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine is harnessing this insight with a new approach to academic advising, pairing medical students with recent alumni as their advisors.

Academic advisors guide students through the opportunities and challenges of medical school. "Alums, having successfully navigated similar paths, can provide nuanced guidance on how to best prepare for the transition from classroom to clinic, residency applications, and early career challenges," said Dr. Gagani Athauda, assistant dean for alumni teaching and advising.

Dr. Athauda is leading efforts to ensure that participating alums receive the guidance, coaching, and training they need to serve as vital connections between students and available resources. Traditionally, faculty have filled these roles, but leadership recognized some students were hesitant to reach out or share openly. Alums fill the sweet spot of commitment and experience without participating in grading students. "If students are facing financial or mental health concerns, they might not feel comfortable approaching faculty or administration. I see academic advisors as primary care providers—they can identify concerns beyond academic guidance, offer more personalized support, and refer students to services provided by the Office of Student Affairs (OSA)," said Dr. Andres Rodriguez, assistant dean for student services.

The Alumni Advising Program, housed in the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA), complements and enhances the existing support structures and career development initiatives at the College of Medicine, offering a comprehensive and integrated approach to student support.

This new approach also opens doors for alums eager to give back to strengthen their mentoring and teaching skills. Dr. Stephanie Fernandez, an emergency medicine physician at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, graduated in 2018 and is one of the ten alums participating in the program's inaugural cohort. "I think it's important to give back to the community that helped me grow as a physician," she said. Dr. Fernandez is also actively involved with the Emergency Medicine Interest Group and serves on the Dean's Alumni Advisory Board.

Dr. Blake Brown, an internist at Memorial Healthcare Systems in Tamarac, graduated from the College of Medicine in 2020. This year, he returned as a clinical assistant professor and is looking forward to taking on this advising role. "This is an opportunity to support the next generation of physicians and to give back to FIU. It's important to improve the college from within, and alums have the dedication and the motivation to make that happen," he said.

After each academic advising session, feedback from participating alums and students will help guide the program's future development.

"So far so good! They are all curious about multiple specialties. It will be interesting to watch their interests shift as they progress. I'm excited," said Dr. Fernandez, reflecting on her first meeting with first-year mentees.

The program hopes to attract additional local alums and foster a stronger community of continuous learning and support within the College of Medicine.