Dr. Susana Figarola Named Chair of Radiology

Dr. Susana Figarola has been named professor and chair of the University of South Alabama department of radiology. She has served as acting chair for the department since January.

“Dr. Figarola has demonstrated excellent leadership in our department of radiology,” said Dr. Samuel J. Strada, dean of the USA College of Medicine.  “I am confident that as chair Dr. Figarola will continue to provide the vision and direction needed for our radiology department to succeed in a dynamic academic health environment.”

Since joining the faculty in 1995, Dr. Figarola has served the institution’s mission in many ways. In addition to her administrative responsibilities in radiology, she currently is the chief of pediatric radiology and the radiology residency program director. She is also has a faculty appointment in the Physician Assistant Studies program at USA.

Dr. Figarola is also active in many professional societies including the American College of Radiology, the Radiological Society of North America, the Southern Pediatric Radiology Society, the Society for Pediatric Radiology, the Southern Radiological Conference, the Association of University Radiologists and the Association of Program Directors in Radiology. In 2009, she served as president of the Southern Radiological Conference.  Currently, Dr. Figarola serves as a manuscript reviewer for the American Journal of Radiology. 

She earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and worked with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as an aerospace engineer in Huntsville, Ala., prior to starting medical school.

Dr. Figarola earned her medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Birmingham, Ala. She completed her internship at Baptist Medical Center in Birmingham and completed her radiology residency training at Memorial Medical Center in Savannah, Ga.  Following residency training, she completed a pediatric radiology fellowship at the Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, Ark.

She is certified with the American Board of Radiology and has a Certificate of Additional Qualification in Pediatric Radiology. Dr. Figarola is certified in traditional mammograms and digital mammography.

Basic Medical Sciences Graduate Program Student Receives Edwin R. Hughes Award

Mary Catherine Patton, a second-year student in the University of South Alabama Basic Medical Sciences Graduate Program, recently received the annual Edwin R. Hughes Memorial Award. Dr. Samuel Strada, dean of the USA College of Medicine, presented Patton with the award on Aug. 19, 2015.

The award is named in memory of Edwin R. Hughes, who served as director of the Basic Medical Sciences Graduate Program at the USA College of Medicine from its inception in 1978 until 1990. The award recognizes the student with the best performance in the curriculum.

Patton is completing her graduate studies under the direction of Dr. Ajay Singh, associate professor of oncologic sciences at the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute.

Patton earned her bachelor of science degree in biomedical sciences at USA.

Mark Your Calendar: Lions Club Run for Sight

The University of South Alabama Lions Club will host their 3rd annual 5K Kickoff Run for Sight on Aug. 29, 2015, at 7:30 a.m. at Langan Park in Mobile.

Participants can enter to run or walk, and a fun run will be available for families with small children. Following the race, there will be food, drinks, music and awards. Awards will be given for the top female and male overall, masters, grandmasters and senior grandmasters.

The proceeds from the event will help fund the USA Eye Research Institute, scholarships for children to attend Camp Sugar Falls and Camp Seale Harris, and a Christmas party for the Preschool Center for Deaf and Blind.

The University Lions Club was founded in 1917 and is a civic organization that supports projects focusing on diabetes and vision. It is the world’s largest service club, with 1.35 million members.

Click here to register for the race or call (251) 422-2430.

USA Welcomes Dr. Ashleigh Butts-Wilkerson

Dr. Ashleigh Butts-Wilkerson recently was appointed assistant professor of family medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and will serve as a family medicine physician with USA Physicians Group.

Dr. Butts-Wilkerson earned her medical degree from the USA College of Medicine. She completed her residency in family medicine at USA, where she served as chief resident.
Dr. Butts-Wilkerson is a member of the American Medical Association. In her spare time, she volunteers with Oak Park Church of God Youth and the Washington County Junior Livestock Association.

Dr. Butts-Wilkerson will see patients at the USA Family Medicine Clinic at 1504 Springhill Ave., Suite 1800. She also has a special interest in obstetrics and will deliver at USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital. To make an appointment with Dr. Butts-Wilkerson, call (251) 434-3475.