USA Hospitals Host Holiday Celebrations

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

The "Lights of Love" tree lighting at USA Children's & Women's Hospital was co-sponsored by the Ronald McDonald House and the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute. The event featured visits from Santa Claus and Ronald McDonald, and everyone enjoyed live music, cookies and hot cocoa.

Click here to view more photos from the Lights of Love Tree Lighting.

The USA Medical Center's Dedication of Lights Ceremony was sponsored by USA Medical Center Auxiliary. Ornaments were placed on the tree by family and friends of patients and former patients.

University of South Alabama Medical Center Hospital Administrator Beth Anderson hangs an ornament on the tree during the medical center's Dedication of Lights Ceremony Dec. 3, 2014.

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

Dr. Troy Stevens Appointed Lenoir Louise Locke Chair of Physiology and Cell Biology

Dr. Troy Stevens recently was appointed the Lenoir Louise Locke Chair of Physiology and Cell Biology at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine.

“Dr. Stevens has demonstrated his leadership abilities within the USA College of Medicine by successfully leading the Center for Lung Biology,” said Dr. Samuel Strada, dean of the USA College of Medicine. “His dedication and support to the mission of the College will continue in his new role as department chair.”

Dr. Stevens, who was trained as a physiologist and cell biologist, said this new role fits very well with his background and experiences. “Physiology and Cell Biology are disciplines that represent my research focus and scientific interests,” he said.

Previously a professor of pharmacology, Dr. Stevens said he was attracted to this role because it allows him to contribute to the development of new programs that address the evolving scope of the biomedical sciences.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to expand on existing scientific programs within the College of Medicine and to bring new areas of focus to the college,” Dr. Stevens said. “We will seek to develop the scientific infrastructure for innovative work that is competitive on a national scale."

Dr. Stevens joined the faculty at USA in 1996 and became the founding director of the Center for Lung Biology in 2002. He, together with a group of collaborative faculty with expertise in the area of lung biology and pathology, has made many significant research and educational accomplishments during his career including twice renewals of an NIH funded program project PO1 grant devoted to lung endothelial biology and an interdisciplinary T32 doctoral training grant in lung biology.

Dr. Stevens is also the recipient of an NIH MERIT Award, an award reserved for only a selective few individuals whose research has been deemed by the NIH to be especially meritorious, productive, and having great potential for continued and future accomplishment.

Dr. Stevens has been an active participant in the College’s Graduate Program in Basic Medical Sciences and a significant contributor to the education of medical students and training of fellows in pulmonary and critical care medicine. He has served on numerous national and international advisory boards and committees devoted to basic and translational research, training and clinical care activities in the field of lung biology and pathophysiology of pulmonary disease.

In his new role, Dr. Stevens replaces retiring chairs Dr. Thomas Lincoln and Dr. Glenn Wilson.

Biomedical Librarians Receive Certification as Consumer Health Specialists

Christy Kent, shown above, was one of four biomedical librarians recognized by the Medical Library Association as consumer health specialists.

Christy Kent, outreach librarian; Geneva Staggs, assistant director for hospital library services; Nancy Pugh, USA Biomedical Library supervisor for the Health Information Resource Center at USA Medical Center; and Heather Hoven, USA Biomedical Library technical assistant; have all been certified by the Medical Library Association as consumer health specialists. Hoven has achieved Level I and Kent, Staggs and Pugh have all achieved Level II of the Consumer Health Information Specialization.

Kent uses information gained through this certification to better provide healthcare information to the community at health fairs, as a part of the Community Health Advocates, and by presenting and teaching at community groups such as SAIL Centers and other senior citizen groups.

The goals of the Medical Library Association's Consumer Health Information Specialization (CHIS) program is to improve health information services for patients, create partners in the delivery of consumer health information, and increase access to consumer health information courses.

Level I is for those who desire a basic familiarity with consumer health information resources; and it requires 12 hours in approved CHIS courses. Level II is for those who want additional training with consumer health information resources; and it requires 24 hours in approved CHIS courses.

The CHIS program has given these Health Information Resource Center (HIRC) personnel more confidence in providing the best health care information possible to not only physicians, but to our patients and community.

The CHIS program puts a special emphasis on providing patients access to the best resources and health information. The USA Biomedical Library has developed a consumer health information kiosk to link people to quality websites. The kiosk is located in the HIRC and is also available at: http://biomedicallibrary.southalabama.edu/health/.

Med School Café - Expert Advice for the Community

Dr. Lynn Dyess, professor of surgery at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, speaks during the October Med School Café lecture on Oct. 23, 2014.

Dr. Lynn Dyess, professor of surgery at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, and Dr. Joel Lightner, assistant professor of radiology at the USA College of Medicine, presented the October Med School Café lecture, “Breast Cancer Awareness.”

The lecture focused on the screening, detection and current controversies of breast cancer. Dr. Lightner discussed the innovative tools used to diagnosis breast cancer, and Dr. Dyess outlined the latest treatment options.

The next Med School Café lecture, "Multiple Sclerosis: A Simple Message about a Complicated Disease," will feature Dr. Elizabeth Minto, assistant professor of neurology at the USA College of Medicine. The lecture will take place Dec. 11, 2014, at the USA Faculty Club.

The Med School Café lecture and lunch are provided free of charge, but reservations are required. If you are interested in attending, call Kim Partridge at (251) 460-7770 or email kepartridge@health.southalabama.edu.

October Med School Cafe - Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment from USA Health System on Vimeo.