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| University of South Alabama internal medicine residents (from left) Dr. Keniel Pierre, first-year; Dr. Trae Mayeux, first-year; Dr. Sajjad Ahmad, second-year; and Dr. Loni Tang, second-year, walk down the hall of USA Medical Center on July 8, 2015. |
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| University of South Alabama first-year surgery residents Dr. Michael Simmons (left) and Dr. Timothy Mansour discuss a case in the SICU at the USA Medical Center on July 8, 2015. |
“Nothing has been more exciting yet more anxiety producing,” said first-year family medicine resident Dr. Laurie McCann of Knoxville, Tenn. “Orientation can be overwhelming, but the hospital staff and residency program do a great job to smooth over any questions interns have.” Dr. McCann chose to complete her residency at USA because of the “approachable and friendly family medicine program.”
Dr. Samuel McQuiston, assistant dean of graduate medical education and associate professor of radiology, said the first-year residents will focus on advancing basic skills in communication, assessment and management in various healthcare environments.
Currently there are 238 residents and fellows training within the USA Health System. Of these, 73 began their first year of training in the USA Health System on July 1, 2015. The skills learned during the first year of training vary by their chosen specialty and build on the foundation given to students during their years in medical school.
“Training with the USA Health System provides exposure to patient care across a broad spectrum of settings,” Dr. McQuiston said. Most of the residents will complete their training at USA and will go on to join practices within the Gulf Coast area.
Dr. Sandra Vasquez Diaz of Ecatepec de Morelos, Estado de Mexico, is a first-year pediatric resident and is looking forward to learning all she can in order to help children live healthy lives. Beginning her first year of residency, Dr. Diaz feels “very excited and a bit nervous.” Dr. Diaz chose to complete her residency at USA because she liked the hospital, the people she met during her interview, as well as the Mobile area.
First-year family medicine resident Dr. Ashlen Aggen of Birmingham, Ala., looks forward to becoming “a more competent and confident physician in order to better serve my patients and community.” In the future, Dr. Aggen hopes “to take down the many social and cultural barriers that keep under-served patient populations from having equal access to health.”
If you would like to learn more about USA’s residency training programs visit http://www.usahealthsystem.com/GraduateMedicalEducation.
