July Med School Café - "Overcoming Obstacles in Fertility"

The July Med School Café lecture will feature Ruth Kennedy, C.R.N.P., clinical nurse practitioner in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, division of reproductive endocrinology and infertility, at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine.

Her lecture, titled “Overcoming Obstacles in Fertility,” will take place July 28, 2011, at the Via! Health, Fitness & Enrichment Center in Mobile. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m., and the presentation begins at noon.

During the talk, Kennedy will discuss infertility issues that relate to both men and women. According to Kennedy, about one-third of infertility cases are female-related issues, while another one-third of infertility cases show that men have a fertility issue. The final one-third of infertility cases are a combination of both male and female issues.

Kennedy will also explain the advanced reproductive technology (ART) procedures that are available at the USA Center for Women’s Health for treating infertility.

The Via! Health, Fitness & Enrichment Center is located at 1717 Dauphin St. in Mobile. To view a map, visit http://bit.ly/hZoFgl.

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

Retirement Reception Honors Dr. Karen Frye

From left to right: Angela Duffy, nurse manager at the USA Regional Burn Center, Dr. Arnold Luterman, professor of surgery; Dr. Karen Frye; and Rigg Curtis, clinical specialist at the USA Regional Burn Center

Dr. Arnold Luterman with Dr. Karen Frye at her retirement reception July 13

The University of South Alabama Department of Surgery hosted a retirement reception honoring Dr. Karen Frye on July 13 at the USA Medical Center.

Dr. Frye retired 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 been a principal factor in the USA Regional Burn Center. To read more on Dr. Frye's retirement, click here.

Register Now: 20th Annual Obstetrics & Gynecology Conference

The 20th annual Continuing Education Conference in Obstetrics and Gynecology will be held August 18-19, 2011, at the Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel at 64 South Water St. in Mobile.

Guest speakers are Glenda Dickerson, lactation services manager at Brookwood Medical Center in Birmingham, Ala.; Dr. Robert P. Heine, chief of the division of maternal-fetal medicine at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C.; and Dr. Robert Moon, chief medical officer at the Alabama Medicaid Agency in Montgomery, Ala.

Topics include "A Seamless Approach to Lactation Care," "Immunization in Pregnancy: Just Do It," and "Innovations and Updates in Medicaid."

This program will be of particular interest to obstetricians and gynecologists, family medicine physicians, APN’s, PA’s, CNM's, nursing professionals, social workers, and others interested in the health care of women and newborns.

For more information, contact Catherine P. Hanks at (251) 415-1491 or (251) 415-1571. A late registration fee of $35 will be applied after Aug. 8, 2011. To participate, click here.

Mark Your Calendars - Gulf Coast Liver Support Group Meeting

The Gulf Coast Liver Support Group, affiliated with the University of South Alabama’s Digestive Health Center, will hold its next meeting on July 21, 2011, at 6 p.m. at the Infirmary West Hospital Conference Center at 5600 Girby Road in Mobile.

The support group, which meets once every other month, provides a forum for adult patients with liver disease to learn more about their condition. The educational programs cover medical, social and nutritional topics.

Dr. Jorge Herrera, professor of internal medicine at USA, formed the support group in 1998. The Gulf Coast Liver Support Group is the only physician-led liver support group in the region and state.

Participation in the support group is free of charge. For more information, call (251) 660-5555 or click here.