USA Physicians Group to Host Welcome Reception for 11 New Physicians

The University of South Alabama Physicians Group is hosting a welcome reception to honor and celebrate the physicians who have joined the practice during the past year. The event will take place on Oct. 22, 2013, from 2 - 4 p.m. at the new USA Children's & Women's Hospital Dining Room.

The following physicians will be recognized:

Dr. Donna Bennett
Obstetrics and Gynecology

Dr. Maria Roca Garcia
Pediatric Hospitalist

Dr. Leander Grimm
Colorectal Surgery

Dr. Sophia Goslings
Pediatric Hospitalist

Dr. Nicolette Holliday
Obstetrics & Gynecology

Dr. Thomas Leytham
Family Medicine, Knollwood Physicians Group

Dr. Brandy Merritt
Pediatric Hospitalist/Critical Care

Dr. Elizabeth Minto
Neurology

Dr. Ghazanfar Qureshi
Interventional Cardiology

Dr. Omar Sanchez
Pediatric Critical Care

Dr. Marcus Tan
Surgical Oncology

Light refreshments will be served, and tours of the Children's & Women's Hospital expansion will be available.

To learn more about these physicians and the entire practice group, visit www.usahealthsystem.com .

Dr. Paul Brett honored at 7th World Melioidosis Congress in Thailand

Dr. Paul Brett, associate professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, was presented with two certificates of merit in recognition of best poster presentations at the 7th World Melioidosis Congress (WMC), which was held on Sept. 18-20, 2013, in Bangkok, Thailand.

Held every three years, the conference is an international gathering of scientists and clinicians that study melioidosis, an infectious disease caused by a bacterium found in water and soil that is spread to humans and animals through direct contact with these contaminated sources.

“The most rewarding component of the WMC meeting was having the opportunity to interact with like-minded researchers and clinicians from around the world who are similarly focused on developing new diagnostics, treatments and preventative measures for melioidosis,” said Dr. Brett.

While at the Congress, Dr. Brett was invited as a guest speaker, chosen to address the assembly in a session focused on vaccines. In addition, he was an author of nine abstracts, and provided three one-minute oral poster presentations.

“The meeting reinforced for me the global impact that this important emerging infectious disease has on human health,” he said.

USA Welcomes Dr. Maria Renee Roca Garcia

Dr. Maria Renee Roca Garcia was recently appointed assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and serves as a hospitalist seeing pediatric patients at USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital.

Dr. Roca Garcia previously served as a physician in Guatemala City Private Hospital in Guatemala City, Guatemala, as well as a health educator presentation designer and interpreter for Guadalupe Center in Providence Hospital in Mobile, Ala.

Dr. Roca Garcia earned her medical degree from San Carlos de Guatemala University in Guatemala City, Guatemala. She completed a pediatrics residency at San Carlos de Guatemala University and Roosevelt Hospital in Guatemala City, Guatemala, and a health services management CME at San Carlos de Guatemala University in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

In addition, Dr. Roca Garcia completed a pediatrics internship and residency at Miami Children’s Hospital in Miami, Fla.

Dr. Roca Garcia is a member of the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the College of Surgeons and Physicians of Guatemala.

Dr. Roca Garcia is now accepting referrals. To refer a patient, call 251-415-1000.

USA Student Health Center Hosts Open House

From left: Harvey Ikner, chief of practice operations for the USA Health Services Foundation; Dr. Lynne Wright, staff physician for the USA Student Health Center and USA Urgent Care; Miss Pawla; and Becky Tate,  chief executive officer of the USA Health Services Foundation.

Back row, from left: Miss Pawla, Tina Westry, Carra Butler, Judy Freeman, Cali Watson, Dr. Gerald Liu, Teresa Dudley, Dr. Lynne Wright, Elise Nicholson, Laurie Isham, Feaunte Preyear, South Paw; Third row, from left: Beverly Kellen, Dr. Suzana Sogorovic; Second row, from left: Alexis Hughes, Lashon Turner, Valerie Heidel, Rhonda Baxter; Front row: USA Cheerleaders

The University of South Alabama Student Health Center hosted an open house on Sept. 11, 2013. The event raised awareness of the services at the Center and provided an opportunity to tour the facilities and meet the health care providers.

“This was our first open-house at the USA Student Health Center,” said Beverly Kellen, practice director for student health and family medicine at USA. “The open-house was well-received and was a truly fun time for the participants and staff involved. We hope to grow and have even more participation in the years to come.”

October Med School Café Lecture Relocated

The October Med School Café lecture on Oct. 17, 2013, has been relocated to the John Counts Room in the University of South Alabama Mitchell Center on USA’s main campus. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

The lecture, titled “Total Hip Replacement,” will feature Dr. Sudhakar Madanagopal, associate professor of orthopaedics at the USA College of Medicine and an orthopaedic surgeon with USA Physicians Group. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m., and the presentation begins at noon.

Dr. Madanagopal’s lecture will include information on total hip replacement, which involves surgically removing a diseased hip joint and replacing it with an artificial joint. Hip replacement is typically used for patients with hip joint damage from arthritis or an injury.

Parking will be available in the South lot (Old Shell Road entrance) of the USA Mitchell Center. For directions, click here.

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.

Biomedical Library Develops Inter-professional Collaboration Center

The University of South Alabama Biomedical Library recently re-purposed a computer lab into an Inter-professional Collaboration Center (ICC).

The ICC, located in Room 222 in the Biomedical Library, is designed for students, staff and/or faculty of the Colleges of Allied Health Professions, Medicine, and Nursing to collaborate on class projects, research projects, grant proposals, or other group activities.

The room contains six pods of tables and chairs, along with monitors with connection ports for laptops. There is also a projector for presentations or instructional sessions. WiFi is available in the room.

Reservation of the entire room can be made through the Biomedical Library Circulation Desk. For more information, call 460-7044.