Thursday, May 9, 2013

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.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

USA Health System Welcomes Mark Lauteren

Mark Lauteren was recently appointed chief information officer for the University of South Alabama Health System.

Lauteren, who has more than 28 years of progressive leadership experience in information services (IS), will oversee all of the IS functions for the USA Medical Center, USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital, the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute and the USA Health Services Foundation.

“We are excited to have Mark join the USA Health System,” said Stan Hammack, vice president for health systems at USA. “During his career, he has demonstrated himself as a leader in managing information services at large organizations. We look forward to working with him.”

Prior to his appointment at USA, Lauteren served as director of health information services at Allegiance Health in Jackson, Mich. While there, he drove significant improvements in IS infrastructure capabilities and efficiencies that earned Allegiance Health the 2012 Most Improved Award by the Hospitals and Health Network’s Most Wired Magazine. Lauteren built a transparent IS team that enabled the organization to improve the care provided to the community and drove process improvements across all parts of the health care system. Lauteren also led the Allegiance Health's Innovation council.

From 2004 to 2007 Lauteren served as director of technology services at Salem Hospital in Salem, Ore., where he implemented numerous infrastructure enhancements, standardized platforms and implemented operational processes that earned Salem Hospital the 2007 Most Improved Award by Hospitals and Health Network’s Most Wired Magazine.

In addition, Lauteren has also served as regional software information technology support manager at Intel; business and program development manager and site manager at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC); and manger of software configuration management and manager of systems engineering at Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp).

Lauteren earned his bachelor of science degree in computer science and his master of business administration (MBA) degree from San Diego State University.

Lauteren is an affiliate member of the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), as well as a member of the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS).

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

This year, nine senior medical students, three residents and one faculty member were selected 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:

Benjamin Estrada MD - professor of pediatrics

Nicolette Holliday MD - obstetrics/gynecology resident
William Stroud MD - obstetrics/gynecology intern
Charles Caleb Butts MD - surgery intern

Sarah E. Bragg - student
Benton M. Cason - student
Austin R. Fox - student
Alicia T. Glass - student
William A. Meriwether - student
Stephanie S. Stopka - student
James E. Towner - student
Mary N. Walker - student
Davida E. Yarbrough - student

The honorees will be recognized at this year's White Coat Ceremony on June 22 at 10 a.m. at the USA Mitchell Center. During the ceremony, rising third-year medical students will be cloaked with their first white coats, the traditional dress of physicians for more than 100 years. Click here to read about last year's White Coat Ceremony.

Exscien Wins in Alabama Launchpad Competition

Dr. Glenn Wilson (left), professor and chair of cell biology and neuroscience, with Dr. Mark Gillespie (right), professor and chair of pharmacology.
A biotech company affiliated with the University of South Alabama College of Medicine was among the three winners in the 2013 Alabama Launchpad Startup Competition.

The company, Exscien, was awarded $54,000, more than half of the $100,000 in funding awarded to the three winners.

Exscien, led by Steve and Christine Cumbie, focuses its efforts on developing a new drug to prevent and reverse acute lung injury.

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, is one of the partners in the company. The USA College of Medicine is collaborating with Exscien in an effort to rapidly develop treatments.

To read the full article featured in the Press-Register, click here. To read more about the biotech company and its affiliation with the USA College of Medicine, click here.