Dr. Alma Littles is named new dean of FSU College of Medicine after being interim

After serving as Florida State University’s College of Medicine interim dean for over a year, Dr. Alma Littles has been named the new permanent dean of the evolving medical school. She begins Monday.

“When I first saw the College of Medicine mission statement, it resonated with me,” Littles said in a prepared statement. “The college’s priorities and my goals as a physician mirror each other.

“Growing up in a rural and underserved community stimulated my interest in investing my talents toward helping people whose health care needs are not easily met,” she added. “The college has remained dedicated in training physicians who can help to meet those needs.”

Littles — a Quincy native — has served as the college’s interim dean since February 2023, replacing Dr. John P. Fogarty. He served as dean from 2008 until retiring in 2023.

At the same time, Littles continued her role as a senior associate dean for Medical Education and Academic Affairs for nearly 20 years.

More: Florida State University College of Medicine names Big Bend native as interim dean

Her former roles within the College of Medicine include serving as the acting and then founding chair of the Department of Family Medicine and Rural Health and as a president of the Florida Academy of Family Physicians.

Her recent appointment as dean was announced by FSU Provost Jim Clark.

“Dr. Littles has provided outstanding leadership as the interim dean, and I have heard from an impressive number of healthcare leaders across the state that they looked forward to her appointment to permanent Dean,” FSU Provost Jim Clark said in the release. “That day has arrived!”

As dean, Littles will oversee the college’s research and teaching portfolio across nine regional campuses and training sites.

Littles will also be leading the College of Medicine through some of its biggest transitions since opening in 2000, and one of the university's ambitious plans through the college is FSU Health — an initiative that aims to build a health care ecosystem in North Florida.

Through the initiative, an academic health center will be built on Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare’s campus through a partnership between FSU and the hospital that is supported by a $125 million fund.

The future facility will offer advanced medical training and translational research for FSU faculty and TMH clinicians, and it is slated to open in fall 2026.

In addition, a health care campus in Panama City Beach is another component of the FSU Health initiative to meet the rapidly increasing need for medical care in the Florida Panhandle.

“Dr. Littles is an excellent leader for this initiative,” FSU President Richard McCullough said in a prepared statement. “Her experience and vision will guide us toward achieving our goals with precision and compassion. I am pleased to welcome her as the new dean of the FSU College of Medicine.”

Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on X: @tarahjean_.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU names Dr. Alma Littles College of Medicine dean after interim role