USA Welcomes New Resident Physicians

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.

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.

The University of South Alabama recently welcomed a new class of resident physicians to the graduate medical education programs based in the USA Health System.

“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.

USA Welcomes Dr. Christopher Malozzi

Dr. Christopher Malozzi recently was appointed assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and will serve as a general cardiologist with USA Physicians Group. Prior to his appointment, Dr. Malozzi specialized in non-invasive cardiology at Southern Mississippi Heart Center in Ocean Springs, Miss.

Dr. Malozzi earned his medical degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Philadelphia, Pa. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at USA Medical Center in 2009. He served as chief resident then went on to complete his cardiovascular disease fellowship training at USA in 2013.

Dr. Malozzi is board certified in cardiovascular disease, nuclear cardiology and internal medicine. To make an appointment, call (251) 445-8242.

July Med School Café - 'Tobacco Cessation: The Need to Quit'

The July Med School Café will feature Dr. Rachel Seaman, assistant professor of internal medicine and emergency medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and an internist with USA Physicians Group.

Her lecture, titled “Tobacco Cessation: The Need to Quit,” will take place on July 22, 2015, at the USA Faculty Club, located at 6348 Old Shell Road on USA’s main campus. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. and the presentation begins at noon.

During the talk, Dr. Seaman will discuss the history of tobacco use in the United States, health hazards related to smoking and current treatment options for cessation.

Beginning Aug. 1, 2015, the University of South Alabama and USA Health System will become tobacco-free campuses. As part of this transition, the university will be offering assistance to employees and students who wish to stop using tobacco products, including smokeless and e-cigarettes, through several tobacco cessation programs.

Dr. Seaman completed her medical degree and residency at the USA College of Medicine. She is a member of the American College of Physicians, the Medical Society of Mobile County and the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society.

The Med School Café lunch and lecture 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@health.southalabama.edu.

Med School Café is a free community lecture series sponsored by the USA Physicians Group. Each month, faculty from the USA College of Medicine share their expertise on a specific medical condition, providing insight on the latest treatment available.

To learn more about USA’s smoking cessation resources visit http://www.southalabama.edu/departments/counseling/smokingcess.html or http://www.usahealthsystem.com/tobacco-free.


Seaman Med School Cafe Promo from USA Health System on Vimeo.

New Clinical Orientation Class Implemented

A new orientation class recently was implemented for the University of South Alabama Health Services Foundation (USAHSF) non-physician employees who function in a clinical capacity.
 
According to Sherryle Givens, manager of quality improvement for USAHSF the class was an improvement effort undertaken by clinical operations managers. “The orientation ensures that all staff receive the same information aimed at protecting patient and personal safety during provision of health care,” Givens said. “Quality and safety are core values to our organization, and the class helps support that.  Formalizing these classes also allows us to track completion for all employees.”

Clinical orientation classes are held on the first and third Mondays of each month.  New employees must complete the orientation within the first month of hire; clinical employees hired prior to July 1, 2015, are required to attend a session by Oct. 1, 2015.

The next orientation session will be held Monday, July 6, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Moorer Clinical Sciences Building Training Room behind USA Medical Center. Managers can register their staff by calling Elizabeth Will at (251) 471-7836 or by emailing hsf-Compliance@health.southalabama.edu.