Human Elf on the Shelf Visits USA Children's & Women's Hospital Two Days Before Christmas

A special guest made a visit to the University of South Alabama Children's & Women's Hospital just two days before Christmas. Local radio station 97.5 WABD brought the human Elf on the Shelf to tour the hospital. He was accompanied by Kimberly Thompson-Yates, coordinator of the Mapp Child and Family Life Program, and Beth Abston, child life specialist of the Mapp Child and Family Life Program.

“One of the major purposes of our department is to normalize our patients’ lives throughout their stay in the hospital,” said Abston.

 

“The human Elf on the Shelf brightens our patients’ spirit at such a difficult time,” Abston continued, “These children are in the hospital at Christmas time and having a piece of the North Pole visit them helps to bring some normalcy to their lives."

 

Internal Medicine Residents Participate in Toy Drive

Dr. T.J. Hundley (center), assistant professor of internal medicine, poses with residents (from left) Dr. Sobia Ozair, Dr. William Hundley, Dr. Emile Kleyn, and Dr. Christina Huang.

Internal medicine residents at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine are collecting toys as part of a Christmas toy drive being run in conjunction across the state with all internal medicine residency programs under the American College of Physicians banner.

As of Dec. 18, 2013, the residents had collected approximately 40 toys. The toy drive ends Friday.

Holiday Greetings from USA Physicians Group

Happy holidays from the University of South Alabama Physicians Group. Watch the video below for a special greeting.


USA Physicians Group Holiday Card for 2013 from USA Health System on Vimeo.

Med School Café - Expert Advice for the Community

This week, Dr. Brooks Cash, professor of internal medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and a gastroenterologist with USA Physicians Group, presented the December Med School Café lecture. The lecture, titled "Irritable Bowel Syndrome," had a total of 41 attendees.

During the talk, Dr. Cash discussed irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a functional gastrointestinal disorder. He included information on the symptoms and causes of irritable bowel syndrome as well as strategies to manage the disorder.

The next Med School Café lecture will feature Dr. Marcus Tan, assistant professor of surgery at the USA College of Medicine. The lecture, "Surgery for Cancer: Myths and Modern Approaches," will take place Jan. 24, 2014.

If you are interested in attending, email kepartridge@usouthal.edu for more details. To learn more about the lectures, click here.

Dr. Townsley is Phi Kappa Phi Scholar of the Year

Dr. Mary Townsley, professor of physiology and internal medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, was recently selected as the Phi Kappa Phi Scholar of the Year, which honors one USA professor annually.

“There are many outstanding scholars here at the University of South Alabama,” said Dr. Townsley, “and I’m honored to be recognized.” This award, given by the USA chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, honors a teaching faculty member who embodies the ideals of life-long commitment to scholarly endeavors.

Selected for her extensive research and service to USA, Dr. Townsley received her first research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study pulmonary vascular function research in 1986. Her research pursuits continue to receive funding from NIH, as well as from other public and private agencies. She has published 100 academic articles and served as a mentor to future scientists, including postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate trainees.

Dr. Townsley, an outstanding scholar, also serves as associate dean for faculty affairs in the USA College of Medicine and the director of training programs in the USA Center for Lung Biology. She is the founder of the University Women in Science, a contributor to the Girls Exploring Math and Science (GEMS) workshop for middle school girls, as well as a recruiter of individuals from minority backgrounds into health professions and research careers.

“I believe that service is an integral part of being both an academician and a professional,” said Dr. Townsley. “Fortunately for me, service has almost always returned more to me than the effort invested, in terms of satisfaction and opportunities for networking.”

Biomedical Library Hosts Retirement Receptions

Barbara Lewis (center), Evelyn Reed (right), and Bonnie Seibert (left) pose for a picture during Lewis' retirement reception Dec. 6.

The University of South Alabama Biomedical Library hosted retirement receptions honoring Barbara Lewis on Dec. 6, 2013, and Evelyn Howard Reed on Dec. 13, 2013, at the USA Faculty Club.

Lewis, a library technical assistant, and Reed, library supervisor, both retired after 36 years of dedicated service to the university.

AOA Coat Drive - Donate Today

The University of South Alabama College of Medicine’s chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society is hosting a coat drive to benefit the homeless of Mobile. Collection boxes are located in the student affairs office of the medical sciences building on USA’s main campus, the USA Medical Center lobby, and the USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital lobby.

The honor society is asking for new or gently used coats to be dropped off at collection centers before Dec. 20, 2013, in order for them to be distributed at a health fair for the homeless in January.

“This is a great opportunity to share some of our blessings with those who are less fortunate than us,” said Sarah Bragg, Alpha Omega Alpha president.

For more information on the coat drive, contact Bragg at seb907@jagmail.southalabama.edu.

USA Hospitals Host Tree Lighting Ceremonies

The University of South Alabama Medical Center and USA Children's & Women's Hospital recently hosted their annual tree lighting ceremonies.


The tree is lit during the annual "Lights of Love" tree lighting at USA Children's & Women's Hospital Dec. 10.

Ronald McDonald and Santa Clause celebrate on stage with the Holcomb family as the tree is lit during the annual "Lights of Love" tree lighting at USA Children's & Women's Hospital Dec. 10, 2013.



The "Lights of Love" tree lighting on Dec. 10, 2013, at USA Children's & Women's Hospital was co-sponsored by the hospital, Ronald McDonald House and the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute. The event featured visits from Santa Claus and Ronald McDonald, as well as performances from local choirs.

Click here to view more photos from the Lights of Love tree lighting.

 



Tabitha Welch places a dedication ornament on the tree in honor of her cousin Jonathan Taylor during the tree lighting at USA Medical Center Dec. 4, 2013.




The USA Medical Center's Dedication of Lights Ceremony, sponsored by USA Medical Center Auxiliary, took place on Dec. 4, 2013, and featured performances by members of Cottage Hill Conservatory Simply Strings and the Stone Street Baptist Church Youth Choir.

Ornaments were placed on the tree by family and friends of patients and former patients.

Click here to view more photos from the USA Medical Center's tree lighting.

Members of the Cottage Hill Conservatory Simply Strings perform during the tree lighting at USA Medical Center Dec. 4, 2013.

Researchers Examine Novel Biomarker to Measure Improvement in Bariatric Patients

From left: Drs. Jonathon Audia, Diego Alverez and Ben Hill

Several University of South Alabama faculty members collaborated in a multidisciplinary research team to put together a report titled, “Bariatric surgery rapidly improves mitochondrial respiration in morbidly obese patients,” after obtaining approval from the Institutional Review Board to conduct a clinical study on bariatric surgery patients. The study focuses on novel mechanisms by which bariatric surgery improves mitochondrial respiration in immune cells and tissues isolated from patients comparing pre- and post-surgical levels. This work was recently published in the Journal of Surgical Endoscopy.

To gauge the short-term effects of bariatric surgical intervention in a cohort of patients with excess body weight, the scientists measured standard blood chemistry metrics. In addition, patients’ skeletal muscle and blood mononuclear cell fraction were analyzed to determine mitochondrial respiration before the operation, and analyzed again 12-weeks after the procedure. Through those measurements, the researchers revealed that beneficial effects of bariatric surgery goes beyond those associated with body weight reduction and involves improvements in mitochondrial respiration and metabolic-related inflammation.

This publication is the first of a broader initiative entitled the “Study to Understand Meta-Inflammation and Obesity” (SUMO), and is comprised of Dr. Jonathon Audia, assistant professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Dr. Diego Alvarez, assistant professor in the center for lung biology at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, as well as Dr. Benjamin Hill, assistant professor of psychology at the University of South Alabama. Martha O’Hea, Anneliese Boettcher, and Rachel Hoadley are students participating in this research program.

“The long-range goals of SUMO are to explore links between obesity, mitochondrial function, meta-inflammation, and through our collaborators in the psychology department, led by Dr. Benjamin Hill, to also examine the effects of the surgery on cognitive capacity,” said Dr. Audia.

Drs. Alvarez, Audia, and Hill recognize their findings as a suggestion that increased mitochondrial respiration and reduced meta-inflammation may be critical determinants to assess early improvements in patients after bariatric surgical intervention.

The publication was made possible by funding from the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as the ongoing collaboration and support of Dr. Richards and the USA department of surgery.

To read the article published in the Journal of Surgical Endoscopy, click here.

USA Names Regional Burn Center in Honor of Dr. Arnold Luterman

Dr. Arnold Luterman (second from right), shown with his colleagues, accepts the resolution to name the burn center in his honor at the Board of Trustees’ meeting on Dec. 6, 2013.

The University of South Alabama’s Board of Trustees approved a resolution to name the USA Medical Center’s regional burn center in honor of Dr. Arnold Luterman, the Ripps-Meisler professor of surgery at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and former head of the burn center at the USA Medical Center.

Dr. Luterman recently retired from the university after more than 30 years of service. He is a nationally known burn care expert who has played a vital role in the care of burn victims in our region.

The burn center will now be known as the Arnold Luterman Regional Burn Center.

To view local news coverage of the event, click the following links:
Press-Register
Local 15

To read about Dr. Luterman's retirement and his service to the University, click here.

USA Health System Represented in 40 Under Forty

Three members of the University of South Alabama Health System family were included in Mobile Bay magazine's list of 40 Under Forty: Chris Jett, assistant hospital administrator at USA Children's & Women's Hospital; Dr. Jennifer Scalici, a gynecologic oncologist at the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute; and Dr. Amy McCoy, an alum of the USA College of Medicine.

View the full article in the December 2013 issue of Mobile Bay or click here.

Dr. Brogdon Featured in Connecting Alabama Series

Dr. Gil Brogdon, University Distinguished Professor Emeritus and former chair of the department of radiology, was recently featured in al.com's Connecting Alabama series.

Dr. Brogdon is known as the "Father of Forensic Radiology" and for coining the term "Little League Elbow."

Read the full story here.

USA Medical Center Toy Drive a Success

USA Medical Center Associate Director of Environmental Services Michael Peterson pulls a cartload of toys through the main lobby at the hospital Dec. 3, 2013. Every year hospital employees gather toys for their annual Holiday Toy Drive for the Dumas Wesley Community Center Toy Store.



USA Medical Center employees and employees of the Dumas Wesley Community Center carry toys into the center Dec. 3, 2013.

University of South Alabama Medical Center employees donated hundreds of new toys to the Dumas Wesley Toy Store on Tuesday. The toys were collected in each department of the USA Medical Center over the last several weeks in an annual tradition dating back to 2002.

To read the full story published on al.com, click here.

Dr. Mark Gillespie Among '10 Coastal Alabama Leaders You Should Know'

Dr. Mark Gillespie, professor and chair of pharmacology and a member of the Center for Lung Biology at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, was recently included in the Press-Register's list of "10 Coastal Alabama Leaders You Should Know."

To read the article in its entirety, click here.

December Med School Café - 'Irritable Bowel Syndrome'

The December Med School Café lecture will feature Dr. Brooks Cash, professor of internal medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and a gastroenterologist with USA Physicians Group. Dr. Cash is a new faculty member who previously served as the Deputy Commander for Medicine at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

His lecture, titled “Irritable Bowel Syndrome,” will take place Dec. 17, 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.

During the talk, Dr. Cash will discuss irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a functional gastrointestinal disorder. He will include information on the symptoms and causes of irritable bowel syndrome as well as strategies to manage the common disorder.

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@health.southalabama.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.


December Med School Cafe Teaser from USA Health System on Vimeo.

USA Pediatric Resident Fulfilling Lifelong Dream

University of South Alabama pediatric resident Dr. Tyler Sexton has always said that 10 percent of life is what happens to you, and 90 percent of life is how you react to it.

Click here to read his story featured on al.com.

Snapshots: 5th Annual Celebrate Hope

The University of South Alabama Mitchell Cancer Institute recently hosted its premier fundraising event, Celebrate Hope, on Nov. 21, 2013.

The funds raised benefit MCI, the only academic cancer research institute in the upper Gulf Coast and have enabled MCI to partner with NIKON to build the Nikon "Celebrate Hope" Advanced Microscopy Center.

To view more photos from the event, click here. To learn more, visit www.usahealthsystem.com/celebratehope.

Carolyn Hupp Recognized for Customer Service

Carolyn Hupp, C.R.N.P., clinical nurse practitioner in the USA division of nephrology, was recently presented an Employee Recognition Award for her outstanding customer service skills.

"Every day that passes, I see Ms. Hupp go the extra mile to help our patients - whether it is a clinic patient, dialysis patient or transplant patient. She never fails to giver her all and then some. She continually looks for ways to help our patients whether it is just making a call to see if all is well or helping get a dialysis patient taken care of because they have transportation problems. What an example of 'Making a Difference.'"

     - Excerpt taken from co-workers' nomination form

To learn more about the USA Physicians Group Customer Service Performance Recognition Program and to print a nomination form, click here.

Six USA Physicians Named ‘Top Doctors’

From left: Drs. Michael Finan, David Lewis, William Richards, Allen Perkins, Johnson Haynes Jr., and Arnold Luterman.

This year, six physicians from the University of South Alabama Physicians Group and USA Mitchell Cancer Institute appear in the Top Doctors directory issued by U.S. News and World Report. They are the only doctors in our region to receive this honor.

Drs. Michael Finan, Johnson Haynes Jr., David Lewis, Arnold Luterman, Allen Perkins, and William Richards were each listed among the top physician specialists in the United States.

Dr. Michael Finan is professor and chief of the gynecologic and oncology division at the Mitchell Cancer Institute and is a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the USA College of Medicine. He specializes in the management of cancers of the uterus, cervix, ovaries, and the lower genital tract. He is also the first gynecologist in Mobile to perform robotic surgery. Prior to joining USA, Dr. Finan served as the residency program director of gynecologoc oncology and chair of the cancer committee at Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans.

Dr. Johnson Haynes Jr. is a professor of internal medicine and director of the USA Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center. Dr. Haynes also serves as assistant dean for diversity and cultural competence at the USA College of Medicine. His interests are in the research and treatment of sickle cell disease. Dr. Haynes is a graduate of the USA College of Medicine and conducted his residency training at the USA Medical Center. Dr. Haynes completed his clinical fellowship in pulmonary medicine at USA, as well as fellowship in pulmonary vascular research at the University of Colorado in Denver.

Dr. David Lewis is a professor and chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the USA College of Medicine. He is board-certified in maternal-fetal medicine with more than 20 years of experience in academic medicine. Dr. Lewis’ clinical and research interests include maternal-fetal and perinatal medicine focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of disorders in the mother and fetus during pregnancy and childbirth, focusing largely on pre-eclampsia and hypertension. Dr. Lewis earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine. Prior to his appointment at USA, he was professor and vice chair for the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

Dr. Arnold Luterman recently retired as the Ripp-Meisler professor of surgery at the USA College of Medicine and medical director of the USA Burn Center. He is a nationally known burn care expert, and is noted for his leading-edge burn and wound treatment and research. He helped establish the USA Burn Center in 1981 and has played a vital role in the care of burn victims in our region for more than 30 years.

Dr. Allen Perkins is a professor and chair of family medicine at the USA College of Medicine. He has been a member of the USA College of Medicine faculty for 20 years. During that time, he has been involved in many educational and clinical facets of the USA Health System, including serving as director of the family medicine residency program and as medical director for the USA Family Medicine Center. His academic interests are devoted to improving care delivery to underserved populations and care of patients with chronic diseases.

Dr. William Richards serves as professor and chair of surgery at the USA College of Medicine. He directs the laparoscopic and bariatric surgery programs at USA and is also a member surgeon with the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute. Dr. Richard’s clinical interests focus on surgical treatment of achalasia, paraesophageal hernias, Barrett’s esophagus, adrenal tumors, gastroesophageal reflux disease, Type 2 diabetes and motility disorders of the gastrointestinal tract using minimally invasive surgical procedures. He has performed thousands of laparoscopic procedures since 1989 and is internationally recognized for his research and surgical expertise in these disorders.

U.S. News Top Doctors was created in collaboration with Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. It draws from their database of America’s Top Doctors, all recommended for their clinical skills by other doctors and individually vetted by a physician-led research team. Consumers can search for a Top Doctor by location, hospital affiliation, and a full range of specialties and subspecialties. The site lists nearly 30,000 peer-nominated physicians across the country.

The selection process for America’s Top Doctors is based on a rigorous research process that begins with mail and telephone surveys of board certified physicians. A comprehensive review of the training and credentials of those physicians considered for the inclusion is conducted by the Castle Connolly physician-led research team.

Sharrie Cranford Selected as Co-Editor of INTERCOM

Sharrie Cranford, director of continuing medical education (CME) at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, was recently selected as the co-editor of INTERCOM, a newsletter produced by the Society for Academic Continuing Medical Education.

The newsletter, which is published three times a year for professionals in CME, is sent to hundreds of medical institutions throughout the United States.

According to Cranford, INTERCOM provides invaluable information to not only those who provide CME, but also to the entire medical community.

Cranford said she is looking forward to assisting with a forum that will improve patient care and outcomes. “CME is underutilized by many institutions,” she said. “This publication provides an opportunity to reach the CME community to better enable us to exert our positive influence on today’s health care.”

To view past issues of INTERCOM, click here.

To learn more about the Society for Academic Continuing Medical Education, visit www.sacme.org.

A Closer Look At The Past Four Decades

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the University of South Alabama College of Medicine. As part of the celebration, the school recently published a special edition of USA Medicine magazine that includes six sections – Trailblazers, Founders, Pioneers, Builders, Innovators and Architects - describing distinct periods of development in the College of Medicine’s history.

According to Dr. Samuel J. Strada, dean of the USA College of Medicine, the medical school has been an essential part of the University during the past four decades of USA’s 50-year history.

“Many students, faculty members, departmental chairs and administrative officials have contributed during our history to a school of medicine that focuses on quality, not quantity, the value of individual growth and development that can lead to a stronger University and community,” said Dr. Strada.

To request a copy of the magazine email ptaylor@southalabama.edu. An electronic version of the magazine is available here.

Visit the medical school’s online time capsule at www.usahealthsystem.com/timecapule to share comments, memories, photos and stories.

USA Welcomes Dr. Brooks Cash

Dr. Brooks D. Cash was recently appointed professor of internal medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and will serve as a gastroenterologist with USA Physicians Group.

Prior to his appointment at USA, Dr. Cash served as the Deputy Commander for Medicine at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

From 2007 to 2008, Dr. Cash served as the Senior Medical Officer of Task Force Platinum of the Joint Task Force in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, receiving honors such as the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Expeditionary Global War on Terrorism Medal.

Dr. Cash also served as the chief of medicine at the National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and chief of the gastroenterology department and colon health initiative at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

In addition to receiving board certification in gastroenterology, Dr. Cash was the 2011 award recipient for “Outstanding CME Enduring Material” from the Alliance for Continuing Medical Education and named an Emerging Leader of Gastroenterology in 2005.

He is now accepting new patients. To make an appointment with Dr. Cash, call 660-5555. 

Holiday Toy Drive - Donate Today

The Dumas Wesley Community Center is sponsoring their annual Christmas Toy Store, and the University of South Alabama Medical Center is assisting them again this year with donations.

New, unwrapped toys will be collected in each department at the USA Medical Center for transport to the Dumas Wesley Community Center on Dec. 3, 2013.

Donated toys are sold to pre-qualified Crichton residents at greatly reduced prices. The money generated from the toy sales goes to help other distressed community members with emergency needs.

According to Anita Shirah, human resources manager at the USA Medical Center, the hospital began working with the Dumas Wesley Community Center on the Christmas Toy Store in 2002 and has made the store an annual project in providing toys, books, and accessories.

The annual Christmas Toy Store serves approximately 75 families residing in the Crichton neighborhood and Sybil Smith Family Village, Dumas Wesley’s transitional housing program.

Snapshots: USA Clincal Skills Lab Grand Opening



Dr. Mike Jacobs, professor of adult nursing at the University of South Alabama and director of the Human Simulation Program (far right), talks with Carolyn Ross, associate director of preparedness training at the USA Center for Strategic Health Innovation (far left), David Wallace, director of preparedness training at the USA Center for Strategic Health Innovation (second from left), and Dr. Debra Davis, dean of the College of Nursing during the grand opening of the Clinical Skills Lab at the USA College of Medicine Medical Sciences Building Nov. 14, 2013.



One of the cameras used to monitor clinical training encounters is seen at the Clinical Skills Lab at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine Medical Sciences Building during the grand opening Nov. 14, 2013.

The University of South Alabama recently held a grand opening for its Clinical Skills Lab on Nov. 14, 2013.

The Clinical Skills Lab, located in the Medical Sciences Building on USA’s main campus, is designed to enhance clinical training of health professions students. It gives medicine, nursing, and allied health students an opportunity to interact with standardized patients and learn clinical skills early.

The lab is a 3,300 square-foot space that includes eight fully equipped exam rooms, a waiting room, administrative office, standardized patient break room, observation room, and one large conference room with full instructional capabilities.

During the training exercise, the patient is actually an actor who presents with a set of medical concerns. Exposure to these standardized patients provides the opportunity for students to strengthen interviewing skills, communication skills and master the basics of physical assessment.  Each exam room includes audiovisual technology that enables faculty to review encounters in real time or retrospectively, in order to assess student skills and provide feedback.

There are several room naming opportunities available to prospective donors to support the standardized patient program and Clinical Skills Lab. To learn more, contact Racheal Banks at (251) 460-7481 or rbanks@southalabama.edu. For more information on the standardized patient program, contact Alison Rudd at arudd@southalabama.edu.



Acting University of South Alabama President Dr. John Smith (far left); Dr. Mike Jacobs, professor of adult nursing at USA and director of the Human Simulation Program (center); and Rebecca Graves, an instructor at the College of Nursing; look on as Joseph Farmer, assistant professor of adult nursing, shows them one of the monitoring stations during the grand opening of the Clinical Skills Lab at the USA College of Medicine Medical Sciences Building Nov. 14, 2013.



 

USA Hospitals Host Community Luncheons

The University of South Alabama Children’s & Women’s Hospital and the USA Medical Center recently held community luncheons for community leaders.

The luncheons are designed to help raise community awareness of the hospitals' missions and the positive impact on the quality of life in our region. The events provided an opportunity for guests to tour areas of the hospitals. To view more photos from both events, click here and here.


Members of the community enjoy lunch during a Community Luncheon Nov. 12, 2013, at the University of South Alabama Children's & Women's Hospital.

(pictured from left) University of South Alabama Children's & Women's  Hospital Administrator Owen Bailey, WKRG General Manager Mark Bunting and Morgan Stanley Vice President Lauren Lynn learn more about the unique care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit from NICU Nurse Tracie Wilhelm during a tour of the hospital Nov. 12, 2013.

University of South Alabama Medical Center hospital administrator Beth Anderson welcomes members of the community during an outreach luncheon at the hospital Nov. 5, 2013.

University of South Alabama Emergency Room Nurse Manager Ashley Lee (center) talks to a community outreach tour about the emergency room during a community luncheon at the University of South Alabama Medical Center Nov. 5, 2013.

USA Welcomes Dr. Brandy Merritt

Dr. Brandy Merritt was recently appointed assistant professor of pediatrics at the USA College of Medicine and serves as a pediatric critical care specialist at USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital. She is also a member of the new pediatric hospitalist division.

Prior to her appointment to USA, Dr. Merritt was a pediatric hospitalist with the University of Chicago Hospitalist Group.

Dr. Merritt is a graduate of the USA College of Medicine. She completed her pediatric residency at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga. In 2013, she completed her pediatric critical care fellowship at the University of Chicago.

She is a member of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Nov. 21 DSS to Feature Lynne Chronister

Next week’s Distinguished Scientist Seminar at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine will feature Lynne Chronister, vice president for research and economic development at USA.

The lecture, titled “Entrepreneurship within the University of South Alabama: Resources and Discussion and Q&A,” will take place Nov. 21, 2013, at 4 p.m. in the first floor auditorium of the Medical Sciences Building on USA’s main campus.

Prior to her position as assistant vice provost for research and director of sponsored programs at the University of Washington, Chronister served in several other key positions, including associate vice chancellor for research at the University of California, Davis, where she also served on the clinical faculty and as an interim director of the Technology Transfer Center, the Office of Human Research Protection and of interdisciplinary research support. From 1997-2002 she served as director of the Office of Sponsored Projects and as interim director of the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects at the University of Utah. From 1992-1997 she was director of research administration at Mississippi State University.

She has served on numerous international and national task forces, boards, and review committees and has co-edited a research administration book, Research Administration and Management. Chronister has served as a principal investigator on a number of state and federal contracts and grants and has served as a reviewer for both private and federal grant programs.

She served as associate director of sponsored programs at USA from 1988 to 1992 and earned her master’s degree in public administration from the University. She holds a bachelor of arts in psychology from the University of Vermont.

To learn more about the lecture series, click here.

USA Physicians Group Participates in Benefits Fair

The University of South Alabama human resources office hosted the 2013 Employee Benefits Fair on Nov. 7-8, 2013.

The USA Physicians Group had a booth at the fair and health care providers - including the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute and the departments of orthopaedics, bariatric surgery and cardiology - were on hand to answer health questions.

In addition, the Employee Benefits Fair allowed employees to learn more about employee benefits such as the USA Health & Dental Plan and SouthFlex.

As a reminder, for those covered by USA Health and Dental Plan insurance, co-pays are only $10 per visit with any provider in the USA Physicians Group. To make an appointment with any USA Physician, call (251) 434-3711.

Med School Café - Expert Advice for the Community

Last week, Dr. Rosina Connelly, assistant professor of pediatrics at the USA College of Medicine and a pediatrician with USA Physicians Group, presented the November Med School Café lecture, "Just What Did the Doctor Say? Tips on Communicating with Your Health Care Providers."

According to Dr. Connelly, limited health literacy skills affect more than 70 million American adults and result in poorer health outcomes. At the lecture, Dr. Connelly included tips on learning how to better communicate with health care providers and how to get the most out of a medical encounter.

The next Med School Cafe lecture will be held on Dec. 17, 2013, and will feature Dr. Brooks Cash, professor of internal medicine at USA and a gastroenterologist with USA Physicians Group. Dr. Cash is a new faculty member who previously served as the Deputy Commander for Medicine at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. At the lecture, Dr. Cash will discuss irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

If you are interested in attending, email kepartridge@usouthal.edu for more details. To learn more about the lectures, click here.

Mark Your Calendar: 'Black Physicians in the Jim Crow South'

The Mobile Medical Museum will present the second lecture in its "Exploring Medical History" series Nov. 19, 2013, at 7 p.m. in the University of South Alabama's Marx Library, Room 181.

The lecture, titled "Black Physicians in the Jim Crow South," will feature Dr. Tom Ward, chair of the history department at Springhill College.

In 2010, Dr. Ward published a novel under the same title that he has designated for the lecture. In the book, he examines the development of the African-American medical profession in the South. Illuminating the contradictions of race and class, this research provides valuable new insight into class divisions within African-American communities in the era of segregation.

All "Exploring Medical History" lectures are free to the public.

For additional information contact the Mobile Medical Museum director, Monica Tapper, at (251) 415-1109 or med_museum@yahoo.com.

'So Much for Spiders'

Fourth-year medical student Dr. J.D. Chesser poses for a portrait with a rat snake in the trauma room of the emergency room at USA Medical Center Oct. 16, 2013.

The University of South Alabama College of Medicine welcomes freshman students from across the nation with diverse backgrounds and experiences. For a fourth-year medical student, Dr. Jason Chesser’s expertise in biology and foreign languages has proved useful in multiple instances throughout his time in medical school.

Before attending medical school, Dr. Chesser obtained a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Mississippi. While completing the graduate program, he taught several lab courses and conducted research on species diversity and community evolution in the face of various forms of habitat disturbance. “When I graduated I had no intention of pursuing medicine,” said Dr. Chesser. “My intention was to get a terminal degree and teach.”

While immersed in his doctoral program’s work, Dr. Chesser noticed his interests beginning to include questions about human biology and disease. “Eventually it got to the point that when I would go to see the doctor myself, I’d spend more time addressing my curiosities than I would addressing my complaint,” said Dr. Chesser. “I accepted that the nudging of God wasn’t going to go away until I did something about it, so I started studying for the MCAT.”

During his third year as a medical student at USA, Dr. Chesser began rotations at USA Medical Center. While seeing patients in the Emergency Department with his attending physician, Dr. Chesser was approached by a classmate for his expertise.

“Not thinking myself to have any relevant ‘expertise’ I was somewhat perplexed at her request,” he said. The classmate handed over a blue solo cup with a lid on it. “I thought someone had brought in a spider or something for identification,” said Dr. Chesser. However, upon opening the cup, Dr. Chesser was “faced with two eyes, a long body, and no legs.”

“So much for spiders,” said Dr. Chesser. A patient had been bitten by a snake, and was unsure as to whether it was venomous.

“A quick glance indicated that it was a rough earth snake, and they aren’t venomous, so I poured it out in my hand and started a snake anatomy lesson,” he said. “At that point, rounds were officially suspended for a biological study.”

Dr. Chesser was surprised by how quickly the new disseminated of his encounter with the limbless reptile. One of the residents had recorded video of the impromptu anatomy lesson and it had gone viral. Dr. Chesser’s classmates from extended departments were commenting on having seen him with the snake. “Somehow or another the picture ended up in the yearbook,” he said.

The encounter described above was not the first time Dr. Chesser had identified a snake at USA Medical Center. One month prior, he was working in the Emergency Department when someone came in with a snakebite wound.

“I had gone out to pick up dinner. On the way back to where my team was I heard the words ‘snake bite’ among some of the nurses,” said Dr. Chesser. “I lost all interest in food, but knowing that my teammates would not be of a similar sentiment, I took them what they had ordered and returned.

After telling the nurses that I thought I could be of some use, we waited and were met by a 4-year-old girl, her frantic grandmother, and a gray rat snake that was hacked into about 40 pieces.”

The 4-year-old’s wound was washed and bandaged, and the grandmother calmed after realizing that the snake was not dangerous.

In addition to his scientific talents, Dr. Chesser is proficient in several languages. He began learning Greek in the eighth grade because of its undeniable influence on Western Culture. After studying the Greek language, “I took Spanish and French in high school, and I enjoyed the way they forced my brain to work,” he said.

In all, Dr. Chesser speaks nine languages: Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Old English, Middle English, Modern English, Spanish, French, and American Sign Language. “What I find fascinating about all this is that language and life evolve very similarly, and for very similar reasons,” Dr. Chesser said.

“As a result [of learning other languages], I have been able to synthesize a better personal understanding, not only of the scriptures, but given my study of language and communication as an entity unto itself, I am better able to express these ideas to other people.”

Dr. Chesser has previously done mission work in Peru to assess humanitarian needs and plans to travel with the Christian Medical Ministry of South Alabama in May 2014 on a medical mission trip to Rwanda, Africa.

Students, Faculty Present Research Projects at 7th Annual COM Research Forum

Attendees listen to a presentation during the USA College of Medicine Research Forum Nov. 1, 2013.

The seventh annual University of South Alabama College of Medicine Research Forum was held Nov. 1, 2013, at the Marx Library Auditorium and the Medical Sciences Building on USA's main campus.

The forum is an opportunity for graduate students in the Basic Medical Sciences program, postdoctoral fellows, residents, clinical fellows, and new faculty to present their research to the College of Medicine community and the scientific departments across campus.

The forum consisted of two sessions - the morning session was comprised of eight oral presentations and the afternoon session hosted poster presentations.

According to Dr. Donna Cioffi, assistant professor of biochemistry at USA, the forum consisted of 52 poster presentations largely focusing on research performed by basic medical scientists and clinicians. In addition, Dr. Cioffi said the event focuses on research performed in the College of Medicine and the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute.

“We were very excited this year to have the Research Forum co-sponsored by the Mitchell Cancer Institute,” said Dr. Cioffi. “With participation by the MCI, this year's forum was our largest yet.”

Dr. Cioffi said the research forum is a great opportunity for basic medical scientists and clinicians because it opens doors for new ideas and partnerships.

“Indeed, the environment was perfect for researchers to interact and establish new collaborations,” said Dr. Cioffi.


David Schmitt gives his presentation during the USA College of Medicine Research Forum Nov. 1, 2013.