Wednesday, September 23, 2015

USA to Host Welcome Reception Oct. 8

Row 1, from left: Dr. Philip Almalouf, Dr. Oganes Ashikyan, Dr. William Henry Barber IV, Dr. Jeffrey Brewer, Dr. Ron Brooks. Row 2, from left: Dr. Ashleigh Butts-Wilkerson, Dr. Elias Chalhub, Dr. Abhijin Das, Dr. Suneet Dullet, Dr. James Glasser. Row 3, from left: Dr. Rashmi Gulati, Dr. Om Prakash Jha, Dr. Steven Kahn, Dr. Spencer Liles, Dr. Christopher Malozzi. Row 4, from left: Dr. Angus McBryde, Dr. Edward Panacek, Dr. Melody Petty, Dr. Maximilian Pyko, Dr. Joshua Taylor.
The University of South Alabama Health System is hosting a welcome reception for 20 new full-time clinical faculty who have recently joined the USA Physicians Group practice.

The event is open to the University community and will take place on Oct. 8, 2015, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital Cafeteria and Courtyard at 1700 Center St. in Mobile.

The following physicians will be recognized:

Dr. Philip Almalouf
Pulmonology
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine

Dr. Oganes Ashikyan
Radiology
Assistant Professor of Radiology

Dr. William Henry Barber IV
Trauma/Critical Care Surgery
Professor of Surgery

Dr. Jeffrey Brewer
Orthopaedic Surgery
Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery

Dr. Ron Brooks
Plastic Surgery
Assistant Professor of Surgery

Dr. Ashleigh Butts-Wilkerson
Family Medicine
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine

Dr. Elias Chalhub
Neurology
Professor of Neurology

Dr. Abhijin Das
Nephrology
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine

Dr. Suneet Dullet
Internist/Internal Medicine
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine

Dr. James Glasser
Pediatric Surgery
Associate Professor of Surgery

Dr. Rashmi Gulati
Neonatology
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Dr. Om Prakash Jha
Neonatology
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Dr. Steven Kahn
Trauma/Critical Care Surgery
Assistant Professor of Surgery

Dr. Spencer Liles
Surgical Oncology
Assistant Professor of Surgery

Dr. Christopher Malozzi
Cardiology
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine

Dr. Angus McBryde
Orthopaedic Surgery
Professor and Acting Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery

Dr. Edward Panacek
Emergency Medicine
Professor and Chair of Emergency Medicine

Dr. Melody Petty
Hospitalist/Pediatrics
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Dr. Maximilian Pyko
Interventional Radiology
Assistant Professor of Radiology

Dr. Joshua Taylor
Surgery
Assistant Professor of Surgery

For more information, call (251) 434-3711.

USA Welcomes Dr. Philip Almalouf

Dr. Philip Almalouf recently was appointed assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and will serve as a pulmonologist with USA Physicians Group.

Dr. Almalouf received his medical degree from the University of Damascus School of Medicine in Damascus, Syria. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich. He then completed his fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at USA.

Dr. Almalouf is board certified in critical care medicine and pulmonary medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

He is a member of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, Society of Critical Care Medicine, American College of Chest Physicians, American Thoracic Society, American College of Physicians, and the American Medical Association.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Sept. 24 DSS to Feature Dr. Lucio Miele

The next Distinguished Scientist Seminar at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine will feature Lucio Miele, M.D., Ph.D., professor and department head of the department of genetics at Louisiana State University School of Medicine.

The seminar, titled “Notch in Breast Cancer – From Bench to Bedside and Back,” will take place Sept. 24, 2015, at 4 p.m. in the first floor auditorium of the Medical Sciences Building on USA’s main campus.

Dr. Miele’s research is focused on studies of cancer stem cell-regulatory genes such as Notch, and identification of genetic circuitry mediating Notch signals in human tumors.

Dr. Miele earned his medical degree from the University of Naples and his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Naples in Naples, Italy, with dissertation work conducted at the Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin, Germany.

Click here to learn more about Dr. Miele.

Clyde G. 'Sid' Huggins Medical Student Research Awards Announced

University of South Alabama medical students Jordan Nickols (left) and  Francie O'Hea pose for a photo with the Clyde G. Huggins Medical Student Research Award. The two earned the award for their research during the USA College of Medicine Summer Research Program.
University of South Alabama medical students Jordan Nickols (far left) and Francie O'Hea (second from right) pose for a photo with Dr. Lawrence LeClaire III  (second from left), assistant professor of biochemistry and chair of the summer research program; and the students' mentors Dr. Sarah Sayner (third from left), assistant professor of physiology and cell biology; Dr. Lynn Dyess (far right), professor of surgery; and Dr. Joel Lightner (third from right), assistant professor of radiology. Nickols and O'Hea received the Clyde G. Huggins Medical Student Research Award.
The University of South Alabama College of Medicine hosted its 42nd annual Medical Student Research Day on July 31, 2015. Dr. Dan Roden, professor of medicine and pharmacology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, gave the keynote address.

The Clyde G. “Sid” Huggins Medical Student Research Awards, honoring the memory of Dr. Huggins, were presented to Jordan Nickols and Francie O'Hea. Huggins served as the first dean of students for USA’s College of Medicine.

Nickols, a second-year medical student at USA, was recognized for the best oral presentation, titled “Lipopolysacharide Induced Pulmonary Endothelial Barrier Disruption: Critical Role for Bicarbonate Stimulation of Adenylyl Cyclase Isoform 10.” Nickols was sponsored by Dr. Sarah Sayner, assistant professor of physiology and cell biology at USA.

Nickols’ project focused on elevated bicarbonate concentrations and how they can increase the effectiveness of endothelial cell disruption when the disruption is initiated by lipoproteinsaccharides (LPS). LPS is an endotoxin that is responsible for most cases of sepsis. Sepsis can lead to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), and the treatment for ARDS is mechanical ventilation that can lead to hypercapnia, a condition that occurs when a patient has an unusually high level of carbon dioxide in their blood. The treatment for hypercapnia is a sodium bicarbonate infusion. The clinical application for future research is looking at how this treatment may worsen lung injury due to its detrimental effects on pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells.

“I felt like I was able to contribute to a body of work that was meaningful and has potential for clinical application,” Nickols said.

According to Nickols, one of the most valuable elements of his research project was working with Dr. Sayner. He worked under Dr. Sayner while performing research on the same topic last summer. “I really enjoyed the work that we were doing, and wanted to come back to work with her again this summer,” Nickols said. 

Francie O'Hea, also a second-year medical student at USA, was recognized for the best poster presentation, titled “Improved Methods for Detection of High Risk Breast Cancer Populations in Women Presenting for Imaging.” O’Hea was mentored by Dr. Joel Lightner, assistant professor of radiology at USA, and Dr. Lynn Dyess, professor of surgery at USA.

O’Hea’s project examined how to accurately identify which women who present for a screening mammogram are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. Those who are identified as high risk typically merit additional surveillance or become candidates to consider for reducing their risk of developing breast cancer.

“This project was a unique experience in that I was able to review breast images with Dr. Lightner - some of which were identified to be abnormal and then later a confirmation of cancer,” O’Hea said. “I was able to participate with Dr. Dyess in the removal of the cancer. It was a really neat experience to be able to follow a patient full circle.”

The habitual interaction with professional mentors can be considered an invaluable component of the 10-week program. “Once I met with Dr. Lightner and Dr. Dyess and saw their enthusiasm, I knew that this project would be the perfect fit,” O’Hea said.

During the 10-week summer program, first- and second-year medical students participate in research projects with basic science and clinical faculty in the College of Medicine. Students present their research projects either orally or on poster at the culmination of the summer research program where they are judged by COM faculty on the presentations. Winners are given a plaque and a cash award of $100 each.