Capital Health Plan Donation to Support FSU College of Medicine’s Bridge Program

Capital Health Plan (CHP), a Big Bend region health care provider, is investing $200,000 to support educational programs addressing Florida’s shortage of health care professionals. CHP will provide two disbursements of $100,000 each over the next 2 years to the Florida State University College of Medicine’s Bridge to Clinical Medicine Program.

Leaders from CHP and FSU’s College of Medicine celebrated the gift at a ceremonial check presentation at the FSU College of Medicine on May 13, where officials gathered to celebrate the program’s impact and future.

“For so many students, the biggest obstacle to becoming a doctor isn’t talent or dedication — it’s financial. We hope this funding helps change that,” said Dr. Lynn Jones, Chief Medical Officer at Capital Health Plan. “Alongside the FSU College of Medicine, we’re investing in students who have the heart for medicine but need additional support to reach that goal. This is about building a healthier future for our communities.”

The yearlong Bridge to Clinical Medicine Program, which culminates with a master’s degree in biomedical sciences, focuses on students from communities with limited access to care and prepares them for a medical education. These students then tend to return to their communities, where they provide access to vital health care services to residents who are too often underserved.

“We’re very proud of the success of our students,” said Anthony Speights, M.D., senior associate dean for Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences and director of Florida State’s Bridge program. “The fact that CHP has given us this vote of confidence speaks volumes and, rest assured, we will be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us. This donation will help deserving students pursue a rewarding career in health care.”

Since its inception in 2023, the Bridge Program has supported hundreds of aspiring physicians. As of 2023, more than 96% of its 227 alumni had gone on to attend medical school. Of those, 155 have matched with residency programs, 31 have pursued fellowships, and nearly 100 are practicing medicine — many of them in Florida and in primary care specialties. These outcomes demonstrate not only academic achievement but also the program’s tangible impact on health care access in underserved areas, resulting in lives changed and communities better served through the power of partnership and access to opportunity.

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Capital Health Plan, now in its 42nd year, has grown to serve over 135,000 members in the Florida Panhandle and has an extensive physician network that includes three exclusive CHP health centers that provide preventive, primary, and specialty care services. Based in Tallahassee, CHP is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information, visit www.capitalhealth.com