USA Medical Student Tapped to Lead Regional Student Organization

Will Ricks, second-year medical student at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, recently was elected chair for the Southern region of the Organization of Student Representatives (OSR) of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The regional chairs serve on the administrative board for OSR and organize the OSR regional meeting held each Spring.

“I was fortunate to be elected to the regional chair position this spring at the regional meeting. I believe being the chair will offer an opportunity for developing professional skills like leadership, communication and organization,” Ricks said. “Additionally, I think it will expand my views of medicine through interactions with medical students from across the nation.”

The regional chairs focus on region-specific issues and serve as a conduit of information from the OSR administrative board to individual OSR representatives. They also coordinate information exchange within the region, ensuring that students in the region are informed of AAMC and OSR administrative board activities.

USA Student Health Center Celebrates Accomplishment

The University of South Alabama Student Health Center recently was granted a 3-year re-accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). A luncheon was held May 21, 2015, to recognize the important milestone in the continuing growth and success of the Student Health Center and to recognize the Student Health Center team for their role in the process.

Beverly Kellen, practice director, speaks during the luncheon.

The University of South Alabama Student Health Center recently was granted a 3-year re-accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). A luncheon was held on May 21, 2015, to recognize the important milestone in the continuing growth and success of the Student Health Center and to recognize the Student Health Center team for their role in the process.

This surveyor's site visit report indicated that out of 610 standards, the USA Student Health Center met or exceeded compliance in all but four of these standards, with a perfect score on overall chapter compliance level.

“I am very proud of all my staff and everyone that had a role in this accomplishment because it is a rigorous on-site survey that not all student health centers across the country can achieve,” said Beverly Kellen, practice director. Achieving this goal distinguishes the USA Student Health Center as one of only two student health centers in the state to  maintain accreditation by AAAHC, and USA joins a select group of 188 schools accredited by AAAHC in the United States.

Click here to learn more about the re-accreditation.

Medical Alumni Association Hosts Annual Medical Alumni Weekend

The University of South Alabama Medical Alumni Association hosted the Annual Medical Alumni Weekend in Orange Beach, Ala., June 4-7, 2015.

The event is a multi-day program held every summer that brings back medical graduates to the Gulf Coast, allowing opportunities to reminisce with fellow classmates and former faculty. The classes of 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010 celebrated their reunions.

Dr. Racheal Banks, director of Health Sciences Development at USA, said approximately 50 physicians attended the event, along with their families.

During the event, Dr. Sam Strada, dean of the USA College of Medicine, offered an update on the College. Drs. Ehab Molokhia, Haley Ballard, Brooks Cash, Edward Panacek, and Sandra Parker presented continuing medical education (CME) lectures. In addition, several College of Medicine alumni presented lectures.

To learn about next year's Annual Medical Alumni Weekend, contact Racheal Banks at (251) 460-7481.

Click here to view more photos from the event.