Thursday, July 7, 2011

USA College of Medicine Hosts Inaugural Crampton Trust Lecture in Geriatric Medicine

Dr. Errol Crook (left), professor and Abraham Mitchell Chair of Internal Medicine at USA, introduces Dr. David MacRae as the Crampton Scholar in Gerontology at the Crampton Trust Lecture

Dr. Errol Crook (right) with Dr. Eugene Lammers, the Crampton Visiting Professor in Geriatric Medicine

From left: Dr. Samuel J. Strada, dean of the USA College of Medicine; Dr. Eugene Lammers, Dr. David MacRae and Dr. Errol Crook  
The University of South Alabama College of Medicine held its first grand rounds lecture of the 2011-2012 academic year on July 7, 2011, in the Richards Room at the USA Medical Center.

This week’s lecture was the inaugural Crampton Trust Lecture in Geriatric Medicine, given by Dr. Eugene Lammers, the Crampton Visiting Professor in Geriatric Medicine.

Prior to the lecture, Dr. Errol Crook, professor and Abraham Mitchell Chair of Internal Medicine at USA, introduced Dr. David MacRae as the Crampton Scholar in Gerontology. The award acknowledges Dr. MacRae, a 1983 graduate of the USA College of Medicine who is in private practice in Mobile, for his educational efforts in the care of geriatric patients and his support in providing education experiences in geriatric care for USA’s medical students and resident physicians.

According to Dr. Crook, Dr. MacRae is a longtime advocate for the care of geriatric patients in our region. “His involvement in our academic programs is a beautiful example of community partnerships supporting our educational efforts,” Dr. Crook said. “He has been actively involved in the geriatric training program for decades.”

At the event, Dr. Lammers gave a talk examining holistic care of the geriatric patient and outlined his successes as adjunct clinical professor of medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine. He also outlined the growing geriatric population in America and the shrinking finances to care for this population, as well as the shortages in trained geriatric professionals.

Dr. Lammers, who is a 1982 graduate of the USA College of Medicine, will be the medical director of the newly established Mercy Life PACE program in Mobile at Mercy Medical. The Mercy Life PACE program provides a full spectrum of health care services, from primary to acute to long-term care for elderly individuals eligible for nursing home care. This program will hopefully allow those individuals to remain at home.

According to Dr. Crook, this lecture enhances the medical education activities at USA and is made possible through the Crampton Trust.  He added that Dr. MacRae’s mentoring and support of our resident education program is also made possible through the Crampton Trust.

Students, Residents and Faculty Named to USA Chapter of Gold Humanism Honor Society

Every year, eight senior medical students, three residents and one faculty member are selected by their classmates to be named to the University of South Alabama Chapter of the Arnold P. Gold Humanism in Medicine Honor Society.

The rising senior class at USA selects those who have demonstrated excellence in clinical care, leadership, compassion and dedication to service.

Recently, the following USA students, residents and faculty were selected:

Ihab Jubran MD – assistant professor of pediatrics
Andrew C. Bright DO – surgery resident
Blaine C. Britt MD – med/peds resident
David P. Taylor Jr. MD – obstetrics/gynecology intern
Britni M. Bradshaw - student
Travis H. Harris - student
Antwan J. Hogue - student
Stephen M. Marbut - student
Cody H. Penrod - student
Dianna M. Thomas - student
Ashley M. Weil - student
Ryan S. Weldon - student

The honorees were recognized at this year's White Coat Ceremony. During the ceremony, rising third-year medical students were cloaked with their first white coats, the traditional dress of physicians for more than 100 years.

For more information on the White Coat Ceremony, click here and here.

USA College of Medicine Welcomes Dr. Haidee Custodio

Dr. Haidee Custodio was recently appointed assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine. She is a pediatric infectious disease specialist and will serve in the USA division of pediatric infectious diseases.

Dr. Custodio earned her medical degree from the University of the East in Manila, Philippines. She completed her residency training in pediatrics at the Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, N.Y., and completed her pediatric infectious disease fellowship at the University of Florida in Jacksonville, Fla.

Dr. Custodio is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, and Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Dr. Custodio is accepting new patients. For appointments, call (251) 434-3890.

Dr. Frye Retires After 17 Years of Service

The University of South Alabama Department of Surgery will be hosting a retirement reception honoring Dr. Karen Frye on July 13 from 4-6 p.m. at the USA Medical Center’s 10th floor dining room.

Dr. Frye retired March 31, 2011, after 17 years of service to the university. She was hired in 1994 as an assistant professor of surgery and was named associate professor in 2000.

“As a dedicated burn surgeon, Dr. Frye has worked tirelessly to not only provide the best care to patients, but to also involve herself in efforts to improve care,” said Dr. William Richards, professor and chair of surgery at the USA College of Medicine. “She has been a principal factor in the USA Regional Burn Center, providing care for both patients within the community and patients that are hundreds of miles away.”

Dr. Frye said she is grateful for the friendships that were created within the department. “The thing that I will miss the most is the people that I worked with,” Dr. Frye said. “They all have impacted my life throughout the years.”

Dr. Frye is currently moving to Nashville, Tenn., to teach physician assistant students at a private Christian university. “I have always loved teaching at USA,” Dr. Frye said, “and I look forward to teaching in Tennessee as well.”