Charles Lockwood, Executive Vice President, USF Health, Dean, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine
Invest: met with Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, executive vice president of USF Health and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, to discuss the milestones, achievements and future strategies of the Morsani College of Medicine and its affiliated programs from the institution’s transformative growth and increasing competitiveness to its plans for addressing evolving health care needs and expanding educational opportunities.
How has the fiftieth anniversary of the Morsani College of Medicine’s inaugural graduating class influenced current initiatives and the strategic direction of the institution?
Well, it certainly marks the end of the beginning of what we’ve been striving to achieve over the past decade. This has been a period of transformative growth across all three of our core missions — education, research and patient care. Reflecting on this milestone, it’s truly a remarkable success story.
I believe the medical school’s unprecedented growth is partly a reflection of the broader growth in our Tampa Bay community and university, but also a testament to our extraordinary faculty and their incredible dedication. They’ve not only sustained this growth but have done so while maintaining exceptional levels of student satisfaction and performance. The students themselves are also key — they are driven, ambitious and contribute to the dynamic environment we’ve cultivated.
This moment is not just about looking back; it also has us excited about the future. If this trajectory continues, we could very well be a Top 25 medical school within the next decade. Ten years ago, that was more of an aspirational goal, but today, it feels entirely practical.
What are the biggest opportunities for growth in the health care sector of higher education?
Healthcare education is somewhat distinct from the broader higher education landscape. While many universities are seeing a decline in applications and admissions, health care programs — particularly at USF Health — are bucking that trend. For example, our medical school received about 5,500 applications this past year for only 120 spots and the applicants were incredibly competitive. The average MCAT score for our incoming class this year was 520, which is in the 97th percentile nationally. That’s the same as institutions like the University of Pennsylvania, a top three medical school.
What’s even more remarkable is the academic performance of our students. Their board scores are outstanding, consistently far exceeding national benchmarks. For instance, on Step 2 of the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam, our students scored an average of 257, which is well above the national average. Our residency matches are equally impressive. This past year, five students matched at the University of Pennsylvania, while others went to Harvard, Vanderbilt and other top-tier programs. About 50% of our Core program graduates stay in Florida, which is the highest retention rate of any medical school in the state.
Beyond the medical school, our other colleges — Nursing, Pharmacy and Public Health — are also thriving. Nursing is undergoing a massive expansion. Public Health recently appointed a globally renowned virologist as dean, and Pharmacy continues to grow its research footprint. The growth is happening across the board, and we’re very excited about the opportunities ahead.
You mentioned earlier that the average MCAT scores keep increasing year over year. What do you think is driving this success?
There are several factors at play here. Our facilities are a significant draw. Our downtown location, with state-of-the-art teaching infrastructure in the Morsani College of Medicine building, is very appealing to students. This generation — Gen Z in particular — values the vibrant urban environment we offer.
Our association with world-class hospitals like Tampa General and Moffitt Cancer Center provides unparalleled clinical training opportunities. Tampa General Hospital, for instance, has the busiest transplant program in the country and many very high acuity cases. Eight of the hospital’s specialties are ranked in the top 50 nationally and three more in the top 10% — all programs that are led or co-led by Morsani College of Medicine faculty physicians. (I’m especially proud that my own specialty, OB-GYN, is ranked #6.) For students and residents, this is an exceptional learning environment.
Our emphasis on research also sets us apart. Virtually all medical students at USF complete a research project, which is increasingly important for securing competitive residencies. Programs in fields like neurosurgery, orthopedics, OB-GYN and dermatology are looking for candidates with particularly strong research backgrounds. This past year saw record research funding by our faculty of over $380 million, a three-fold increase in 10 years, so the students can choose to work with many different top-notch researchers.
Tampa itself is a major attraction. The city offers an exceptional quality of life, and when you’re competing against schools in the snow-belt, Tampa’s waterfront downtown has a clear advantage. Success breeds success, and as we continue to attract top students, our reputation grows, making us even more competitive.
How is the university planning to address the evolving needs of the medical profession?
Our plans are comprehensive and touch on all aspects of our programs. To meet the challenge of declining numbers of physician scientists in the country we’re focused on expanding our MD/PhD program. These are the individuals who will lead the field in both clinical practice and research.
To meet the shortage of primary care practitioners in the state and nation, we’re also growing our primary care training programs. We’ve recently established a new family medicine residency program, with the first class starting in July. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance population health while reducing health care costs — all of which requires expansion of the primary care workforce.
Across the board, we’re adapting our curricula to align with the rapidly changing health care landscape. Whether it’s integrating new technologies like AI, expanding interdisciplinary programs, or addressing emerging public health challenges, we’re committed to staying ahead of the curve, and not just in the medical school but across all our USF Health colleges.
In Nursing, we’re doubling the size of our program and building a new facility to accommodate this growth. Pharmacy has moved downtown and is emphasizing research and innovation. Public Health is thriving under the leadership of our new dean, Dr. Sten Vermund, who came from Yale, where he served as their School of Public Health dean. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and one of the country’s foremost virologists. His expertise is helping us build stronger programs in global health and infectious disease and complement our recent recruitment of Dr. Robert Gallo and his research team. Bob is the co-discoverer of HIV and the only living person to have won two Lasker Awards, the American version of the Nobel prize.
We’ve come a long way, but we’re not slowing down. It’s exciting to think about where we’ll be in the next decade or two. Watching this institution continue to grow and succeed will be one of my greatest joys.
