USA Medical Student Receives AMASA Scholarship

Robert Levy, a rising senior medical student at the University of South Alabama, has been selected as the 2013 recipient of the Alliance of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama (AMASA) Medical Student Scholarship.

Awarded by the Medical Foundation of Alabama, the scholarship recipient is selected based on volunteer experience and philanthropic contributions.

Levy, of Birmingham, Ala., earned his undergraduate degree in biomedical sciences at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala. He then completed a year of ophthalmology research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“Research has allowed me to have a better understanding of certain aspects of medicine by being able to learn about disease processes in a more detailed approach.” said Levy.  “Through research, I also learned the importance of patience with a research project and how to deal with problems that may be present.”

The AMASA Scholarship was first established in 2012, and funded through fundraising efforts by AMASA, corporate donors and individual donors. The Medical Foundation of Alabama says that the 2013 scholarship is the first of many to be awarded over the years.

In addition to his research experience, Levy was recognized for extensive volunteerism. He has traveled to Haiti on volunteer medical trips twice, which he says gave him insight into working with available resources, even when conditions were not ideal.

According to Levy, the high levels of dust and sun exposure in Haiti could be linked to the prevalence of cataracts and pterygiums among Haitians. In addition to taking blood pressure, treating infections and referring patients to surgeons in the area, Levy noticed that most of the people didn’t own any sunglasses. He is currently working on securing affordable, polarized sunglasses to deliver to Haiti.

He attributes these volunteer experiences in Haiti for his renewed appreciation for preventative medicine.

Levy, also an Eagle Scout, encourages other students to research and volunteer if they have the opportunity. He says that he would consider his volunteer experiences just as much fun as vacationing, plus the rewarding benefits of giving back.

Medical School Graduates Participate in Honors Convocation Ceremony

The University of South Alabama held commencement ceremonies for the 2013 College of Medicine graduates on May 11, 2013, marking the 38th class to earn medical degrees from USA.

The day before, the 73 graduates participated in an honors convocation where they were “hooded” by an individual of their choice, signifying the awarding of a doctoral-level degree. During the honors convocation ceremony, students were also recognized for their academic achievements. Both ceremonies took place at the USA Mitchell Center.

Including the 2013 class, 2,336 physicians have graduated from the USA College of Medicine since its opening in 1973. Approximately one-third of the physicians practicing in the Mobile area earned their medical degree from USA or completed residency training in the USA Hospitals System.

Click here to view all photos from this year's event and here to see the award recipients.

To view local news coverage of commencement ceremonies, click the following links:
Press-Register
Press-Register photos
WKRG

Register Now: Gulf Coast Physiological Society Meeting

The University of South Alabama College of Medicine is hosting the 7th Gulf Coast Physiological Society (GCPS) Meeting from May 31-June 1, 2013.

The event, which will focus on the prospective role of the physiologist in translational medical research, will take place at the Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel in downtown Mobile.

This year's meeting will feature Dr. David Busija, professor and chair of pharmacology at Tulane University School of Medicine, as well as a panel discussion on survival skills for a career in biomedical research.

Dr. Busija earned his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas and completed his post-doctoral training at the Cardiovascular Center at the University of Iowa.

The purpose of the Gulf Coast Physiology Society Meeting is to foster collaborative interactions related to research and education, and to develop and nurture greater interest in the physiological sciences among faculty, students, and postdoctoral fellows in the Gulf Coast region. The meeting is also intended to showcase the trainees and early career investigators who conduct physiological research in the Gulf Coast Region.

Click here for more information and to register for the meeting.

May Med School Café - 'Stressed Out? When to See Your Doctor'

The May Med School Café lecture will feature Dr. Thomas Leytham, a family physician who recently joined the University of South Alabama Knollwood Physicians Group.

His lecture, titled “Stressed Out? When to See Your Doctor,” will take place May 22, 2013, at the USA Faculty Club on USA’s main campus. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m., and the presentation begins at noon.

Dr. Leytham will lecture on the importance of recognizing the negative effects stress can have on your health and how to assess when it might be time to seek medical help when confronted with stress.

Dr. Leytham grew up in Mobile and graduated from Greystone Christian School. He earned two bachelor’s degrees and his medical degree from the University of South Alabama. Dr. Leytham completed his residency in family practice at Eglin Regional USAF Hospital, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

The Med School Café lecture and lunch are provided free of charge, but reservations are required. For more information or to make reservations, call Kim Partridge at (251) 460-7770 or e-mail kepartridge@usouthal.edu.

Med School Café is a free community lecture series sponsored by the USA Physicians Group. Each month, faculty from the USA College of Medicine share their expertise on a specific medical condition, providing insight on the latest treatment available.

Books Collected During National Library Week Delivered to USA Children’s Medical Center

From left: Andrea Wright, technology librarian, USA Biomedical Library; Dr. Cindy Sheets, USA pediatrician; Shakina Jones, pediatric clinical care assistant; and Justin Robertson, associate director for public services, USA Biomedical Library

The University of South Alabama Biomedical Library recently delivered approximately 600 books collected during National Library Week to the USA Children's Medical Center as part of the Reach Out and Read program.

Reach Out and Read is a national non-profit organization that encourages early literacy and school readiness in pediatric exam rooms nationwide by giving books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading.

According to USA pediatrician Dr. Cindy Sheets, studies have shown that children who have access to books at a young age and have their family members read to them learn to love books and do much better in school. “The more books a child has, the better,” she said.

Dr. Sheets said having the child’s primary care provider give advice on family reading and providing a book at their well checkups encourages the love of reading. “It gives the message that reading is important and that their medical providers really care about their literacy and progress in school.”

The Children's Medical Center, which is the pediatric teaching clinic for the University, became a member of the Reach Out and Read initiative eight years ago.

The Reach Out and Read program begins at the 6-month checkup and continues through age 5, with a special emphasis on children growing up in economically challenged communities. The Children’s Medical Center also collects donated books to give to children at sick visits and at well visits to ages outside of the official Reach Out and Read guidelines.

May 16th DSS to Feature Dr. Richard J. Roman

The next Distinguished Scientist Seminar at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine will feature Dr. Richard J. Roman, professor and chair of pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Miss.

The lecture, titled "Role of 20-HETE in the pathogenesis of hypertension, stroke and chronic kidney disease," will take place May 16, 2013, at 4 p.m. in the Medical Sciences Building auditorium on USA’s main campus.

His research focuses on the role of the kidney in hypertension and the mechanisms underlying hypertension and diabetic nephropathy.

Dr. Roman earned his bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., and his Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of Tennessee Centers for Health Sciences in Memphis.

To learn more about Dr. Roman's research, click here.