FSU launches first clinical catalyst to bring together local clinicians and researchers to address health care challenges
Tallahassee, Florida – Florida State University recently held its inaugural Clinical Catalyst, a groundbreaking initiative designed to connect local clinical providers with researchers to tackle pressing challenges in health care. The event, part of the 2025 Discovery Days, brought together experts from multiple disciplines to explore evidence-based solutions and foster collaboration that could have lasting impacts on patient care.
“There’s so much opportunity in this community for collaboration,” said Vice President for Research Stacey S. Patterson. “We have all the parts. This is just the first step in bringing everyone together.” Patterson emphasized that the Clinical Catalyst is intended to be the beginning of a continuous effort to unite clinicians and academics to solve real-world health problems.
The event featured a panel discussion highlighting the value of partnerships between researchers and clinicians. Panelists included Dr. Gilbert Chandler from the Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic, Professor of Medicine Andrew Kozel, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Assistant Professor Taylor Higgins, and Associate Professor of Fine Arts Amy Huber. They discussed the unique perspectives each field brings to health care challenges and the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Following the panel, twelve regional clinicians presented two-minute snapshots of the challenges they face in their daily practice. Topics ranged widely, covering mastectomy garments, pregnancy misinformation on social media, pacemaker complications, post-surgery stroke complications, trauma referrals from rural areas, ER visits, same-day triage, team-based care, Parkinson’s disease and driving, and end-of-life care. These brief presentations sparked discussion and helped identify potential areas where research could directly improve patient outcomes.
Chandler spoke at length about his experience working with university collaborators, sharing insights into how partnerships between clinicians and researchers can lead to practical solutions. “It starts with why?” Chandler said. “Why is this occurring in such a manner? How can we do things differently? How do we need to shift in how we approach people and treat patients?” His perspective underscored the importance of asking fundamental questions to guide innovative approaches in patient care.
Attendees, including clinicians, researchers, and audience members, had the opportunity to discuss possible collaborations and brainstorm solutions to some of the most pressing health care challenges in the region. The event served as a platform for meaningful dialogue and the exchange of ideas, creating connections that could lead to tangible improvements in patient care and clinical processes.
Through FSU Health, the university is actively expanding its portfolio in health and health care. Patterson said she envisions growing the Clinical Catalyst into a recurring event that will consistently bring clinicians and researchers together. “It’s an exciting thing to bring people together and start those conversations,” she said, noting the potential for the program to evolve into a long-term engine for innovation.
To encourage actionable collaboration, Patterson announced that five awards of up to $50,000 each would be granted to FSU-clinician partnerships that develop from the event. These awards aim to provide seed funding for projects that could directly address the challenges highlighted during the Catalyst, giving teams the resources to transform ideas into measurable outcomes.
The inaugural Clinical Catalyst represents a significant step for FSU in fostering collaboration across disciplines, bridging the gap between research and clinical practice, and ultimately improving the health and well-being of the community. By bringing together diverse perspectives, the university hopes to spark innovations that can make a lasting difference in patient care, while also strengthening ties between local health providers and academic researchers.
With its focus on actionable collaboration and real-world problem solving, the Clinical Catalyst sets a new standard for how universities and health care providers can work together to address the complex challenges facing modern medicine.
