Third-Year Medical Students Host First M3 Case Report Symposium

University of South Alabama College of Medicine third-year medical student Grant Willis (far left) explains his and fellow classmate Tung Vu's (pictured at far right) research to Dr. Philip Almalouf, assistant professor of internal medicine, during the USA M3 Case Report Symposium.

The first M3 Case Report Symposium was held June 24, 2016, on the 10th floor of the University of South Alabama Medical Center. Third-year USA College of Medicine students gained scholarly experience by presenting poster presentations of interesting, rare or novel case studies to faculty, staff, residents and peers.

Rising fourth-year USA medical students Grant Willis and Parker Mullen worked together to organize the symposium and offer medical students the opportunity to conduct and present a case study. For many medical students, the symposium marked the first time presenting research.

Together, rising fourth-year USA medical students Rajesh Paladugu and Nicholas Tinker presented an unusual obstetrics and gynecology case. Their case featured a patient who suffered from an ectopic pregnancy embedded in a cesarean section scar, which is a condition that accounts for less than one percent of all ectopic pregnancies, according to Tinker.

Paladugu and Tinker both expressed enthusiasm for the symposium and the opportunities it created for them. “In order to present a case you usually have to travel to a conference,” Paladugu said. “This symposium was in our backyard, and showing our research will help make us more competitive.”

Tinker appreciated the feedback on their presentation and noted the importance of effective visual communication. “We made a few mistakes, and people came and pointed it out. We were in a stress-free environment where people helped us,” Tinker said.

The symposium was also an opportunity for students to showcase independent projects.
Under the guidance of Dr. Benjamin Estrada, professor of pediatrics and assistant dean for medical education at the USA College of Medicine, two USA medical students developed a history of present illness (HPI) template to help overcome language barriers between physicians and Hispanic patients with limited English proficiency.

Umair Savani, a rising fourth-year USA medical student, was working in a newborn nursery during his pediatrics rotation when he encountered a non-English speaking mother whom had recently given birth. The staff suspected the new mother might have an infection.

“I minored in Spanish and studied abroad, but I consider myself to have a medium-level Spanish proficiency,” Savani said. “As it turns out, the mother did have an infection, and she was treated.” However, he said he did not feel confident that his translation was completely accurate.

“Our research found that minor errors occur through mistranslation 50 percent of the time, and major errors occur 14 percent of the time,” Savani continued.

Savani realized the need to improve communication between physicians and Alabama’s growing Hispanic community. He collaborated with rising second-year USA medical student Trevor Stevens and created a HPI template. The template had Spanish questions written on the left and the identical English translation on the right side of the template. With Dr. Estrada’s help, Savani and Stevens plan to distribute the pilot template to pediatric clinics accompanied with satisfaction surveys to gauge the effectiveness of the template. Eventually, they hope to distribute to other outpatient clinics including surgery and orthopaedics.

Savani and Stevens also hope the template will allow physicians to immediately understand symptoms and reduce the opportunity for mistranslation. “We want to reduce the time physicians spend discovering a diagnosis in clinic, and give physicians more time to talk with the patient and hopefully increase patient compliance,” Savani said. Savani also said that he and Stevens are developing specific templates for other common diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, fever and urinary tract infection.

Willis and Mullen consider the symposium a “great success” and hope the symposium will generate more interest in research among medical students at the USA College of Medicine.

“Mullen and I worked on the symposium all semester and managed to put it together in just a few months,” Willis said. “Forty-five percent of the class voluntarily participated in this symposium, and we hope some of these cases may lead to additional studies and research.”

Click here to view more photos from the symposium.

Class of 2018 Medical Students Begin Clinical Rotations

The University of South Alabama College of Medicine recently held clerkship orientation for third-year medical students. Orientation week gave the students an introduction to their clinical years and included briefings on topics ranging from hospital policies to mini board exams.

This is the third class of students in the USA College of Medicine to use the re-designed curriculum. Students receive instruction in all competencies from the beginning of their educational experience. Milestones of achievement toward competency will be evaluated and documented throughout the course of the four years leading to graduation.

“I am nervous, but ready,” said third-year medical student Leith Bayazid of Birmingham, Ala. “It is almost as if I am starting medical school all over again.”

Daniel Johnson, another third-year medical student from Ellenwood, Ga., said he is most excited to apply the information he has learned the past two years. “Now, things will be more kinesthetic and feel more true to life.”

Alex Wiles of Mobile, Ala., is greatly looking forward to the increased patient interaction. “I chose the field of medicine because of the opportunity that physicians have to get to know their patients and become an integral part of so many people’s lives,” Wiles said. “I am excited to start making these relationships with the patients at USA, and to learn the skills that I will use for the rest of my life.”

Third-year medical student Ashton Todd said third year will carry more responsibility. “We will be responsible for not only keeping up with studying, but also for certain aspects of patient care,” Todd said. “I know finding a balance within these two areas will be a challenge, as well as a reward, as we continue to hone our skills as future physicians.”

Before beginning orientation, the students received their white coats at the annual White Coat Ceremony at the USA Mitchell Center.

Click here to view more photos from orientation.

USA Welcomes Dr. Marirose Trimmier

Dr. Marirose C. Trimmier 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 Family Medicine Center.

Dr. Trimmier earned her medical degree from the USA College of Medicine in 1999. She also completed her residency in family medicine at USA, where she served as co-chief resident.

After completing her residency training, Dr. Trimmier moved to Georgia for three years where she served as a physician at Toccoa Clinic and a physician consultant with Amedysis Home Health. She later moved back to the Gulf Coast to open her own practice, Gulf Shores Family Medicine, in 2007.

Dr. Trimmier is board-certified in family medicine. To make an appointment, call (251) 434-3475.

Dr. Lamar Duffy Appointed CMIO of USA Health

Dr. Lamar Duffy, an adjunct professor of family medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, recently was appointed chief medical information officer (CMIO) of USA Health.

“A CMIO represents our physicians’ needs in the information systems department and also manages workflow,” said Mark Lauteren, chief information officer of USA Health.

Dr. Duffy, who joined USA Health in 2007 as a family medicine physician, described a CMIO as “the liaison between an organization’s information systems department and its physicians and other clinicians. He says the process of converting the USA Health records from paper or partially electronic records to a completely electronic system is a “monumental task.”

“In the early stages, electronic medical record (EMR) implementation is generally an all-consuming task. We’re trying to unify medical records and work processes for two hospitals, a cancer institute and numerous outpatient venues. It’s not just a matter of technical hurdles. It’s a total re-engineering of work flow,” Dr. Duffy said. To optimize the use of the EMR system at USA Health in the future, he acknowledges the inefficiencies present in the system.

“Clinicians struggle with needless inefficiencies that are currently present in EMR systems,” Dr. Duffy continued. “The products are still in their relative infancy, and they’re improving, but there are many aspects of the program that do not work the way a provider would use it. When the front office has recorded a patient’s marital status, why isn’t that passed into the history? If the nurse records the dates of the last pap smear, shouldn’t that update when the next pap smear is due? Any time you have to enter something twice, you’re wasting time,” Dr. Duffy said.

Although Dr. Duffy understands the current limitations of EMR, he also sees the potential for EMR to dramatically improve health care and consequentially quality of life. “When we optimize the system, patients should spend less time in the waiting room while doctors and nurses should be able to get home on time. We want to leverage what should be the strengths of an EMR such as data search and retrieval, care reminders, patient access and engagement, quality improvement, wasteful expense reduction and population health management. Those goals will never end.”

“To date, EMRs have so often been workflow impediments that we have not been able to realize their potential to make our lives better. Optimal use of the EMR system should help us move to a system where we spend money on quality, safety and positive outcomes. We need to demand that our tools be consistent, intuitive and unobtrusive. I figure my best chance to live to see that day is to do some of the work myself,” Dr. Duffy said.

Dr. Duffy earned his medical degree at the USA College of Medicine and completed his residency training at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Gadsden, Ala. He is board-certified in Family and Medical Informatics and has experience in electronic medical system information. 

Dr. Scott Patterson Receives Award for Research on Electronic Cigarettes

Dr. Scott Patterson, a burn and surgical critical care fellow at the University of South Alabama, recently received an award for best poster at the 2016 American Burn Association (ABA) 48th Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nev.

Dr. Patterson was awarded best poster in the public health category for his presentation titled “E-Cigarette Explosions in the USA: A Case Report and Classification of Injuries from the Literature.” The purpose of his study was to review and classify burns caused by electronic cigarettes.

Dr. Patterson believes electronic cigarettes are growing in popularity because they are trendy, convenient, and many people mistakenly believe them to be a healthier substitute for smoking regular cigarettes. However, the potential health risks of electronic cigarettes are not well characterized and the devices are not universally regulated by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). “Health care providers should be aware of the distinct injury patterns caused by electronic cigarettes as they increase in popularity,” Dr. Patterson said.

Dr. Patterson conducted an internet search on the phrases ‘e-cigarette burns’ and ‘electronic cigarette burns’ using various search engines. Incidents occurring in the United States between Jan. 1, 2013, and Aug. 31, 2015, were included in the reports. He then created a numeric classification system to distinguish the injury patterns found on the reports.

Dr. Patterson found the injuries to occur in four distinct patterns - on the hand, face, waist or groin and in house fires caused by charging the device.“Carrying the device in your pocket has led to fires in an individual’s pocket and burns to the legs and hands,” he said. “Most people that were burned from the electronic cigarette had no idea they were at risk.”

Dr. Patterson said injuries may occur when the electronic cigarette’s lithium-ion batteries overheat and become an ignition source, resulting in fires and explosions. “This means anything with a lithium battery could cause similar injuries,” Dr. Patterson said.

“Up until the first of this month, electronic cigarettes were not regulated by the FDA,” Dr. Patterson said. The new FDA regulations on electronic cigarettes treat the device like other traditional tobacco products.

According to a recent news release by the FDA, “these actions will help the FDA prevent misleading claims by tobacco product manufacturers, evaluate the ingredients of tobacco products and how they are made, as well as communicate their potential risks.”

Dr. Patterson said he hopes the new FDA regulations will help improve the devices and educate individuals about the risks associated with electronic cigarettes.  Dr. Patterson’s manuscript is currently under review. If accepted it will represent one of the first published series of electronic cigarette injuries in medical literature.

Click here to view Dr. Patterson’s presentation abstract.

Department of Emergency Medicine Hosting Lecture

The University of South Alabama Department of Emergency Medicine is hosting a lecture featuring Dr. Peter Viccellio, vice chair of the department of emergency medicine and associate chief medical officer at State University of New York in Stony Brook, N.Y.

His lecture, titled “Hospital Flow as a Lethal Weapon,” will take place on June 23, 2016, at the USA Medical Center Second Floor Conference Center. The lecture begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by 30 minutes of open discussion and questions.

Dr. Viccellio is a national author on issues of patient flow, overcrowding, boarding and hospital efficiency.

Support for Dr. Viccellio’s presentation and visit was provided by the Dr. Richard Goldhamer Endowment.

For more information, call 470-1649.

Class of 2018 Students Cloaked with White Coats

The USA College of Medicine held its annual White Coat Ceremony for the Class of 2018 on Sunday. It was an exciting day for rising third-year medical student Thomas Lunsford (center), who also celebrated his first Father’s Day.

USA College of Medicine student Winston Crute poses for a portrait holding his white coat with his wife Taylor and their 5-month-old son Charlie.

The University of South Alabama College of Medicine held its annual White Coat Ceremony for the Class of 2018 on Sunday. During the ceremony, rising third-year medical students were cloaked with white coats, the traditional dress of physicians for more than 100 years.

The day was particularly special for rising third-year medical students who also celebrating Father's Day this past Sunday. Among them were Winston Crute and Thomas Lunsford.

Crute’s five-month-old son, Charlie, was christened hours before the White Coat Ceremony began. “It was definitely an exciting and packed day,” Crute said.

The White Coat Ceremony, according to Crute, is a representation of his hard work thus far. The white coat serves as a reminder of the importance and responsibility he takes by dedicating himself to the care of patients. “It shows I am getting closer to a goal that I have had for a long time,” he said. “Now that I have a son, it is good to know that I will be able to make a living and support him by doing something I love.”

As his third year of medical school approaches, Crute understands the challenges that come with balancing school and family obligations. He credits his wife, Taylor, for making their lives as smooth as possible. “My wife tells me very clearly what she needs from me as a dad; she is a wonderful mother and team player,” Crute said. “Medical school keeps me busy, and making the most of my off-time is very important to me.”

Sunday was an exciting day for rising third-year medical student Thomas Lunsford, who also was celebrating his first Father’s Day. Six months ago, Lunsford and his wife, Mignon, welcomed their son Gray.

Like Crute, Lunsford said it is often challenging to balance his academic life with his personal life. He credits his family for his determination and perseverance. “Gray and Mignon keep me focused,” Lunsford said. “They are the reason I am in medical school and the reason I get up and work hard every day. I know I have to show up for them.”

Lunsford refers to the White Coat Ceremony as “one of the most important days in medical school” and says he is excited to apply what he has learned during the past two years. “So far, learning has been abstract,” he said. “Now, I get to practice firsthand what I learned.”

During the ceremony, the students in unison took the Medical Student Oath, a promise to uphold the human aspects of medicine, such as sensitivity, compassion and respect for patients.

Select rising seniors from the class of 2017 as well as residents and faculty were inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society at the ceremony. Inductees are selected for practicing patient-centered medical care with integrity, compassion and altruism. Election to this organization is by vote of medical students.

Each year, the USA Medical Alumni Association sponsors this event.

Click here to view more photos.

Click here to view the article featured on al.com.

Dr. T.J. Hundley Appointed Assistant Dean for Medical Education, Student Affairs

Dr. T.J. Hundley recently was appointed assistant dean for medical education and student affairs at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine.

“Dr. Hundley is an outstanding clinical educator and mentor for our students,” said Dr. Susan LeDoux, associate dean for medical education and student affairs at USA. “He is consistently recognized with teaching awards both individually and for the Internal Medicine Clerkship, which he directs. Additionally, he has played an important leadership role in our curriculum redesign as chair of the Clerkship Directors Subcommittee of the Curriculum Committee.”

Dr. Hundley, who also serves as associate professor of internal medicine at the USA College of Medicine and associate program director for the internal medicine residency program, will be responsible for overseeing the curriculum for the third year of the undergraduate medical education program as well as assisting in curriculum development across the entire four-year program.

“I hope to continue to develop and implement innovative educational strategies in the third year of medical school. Our goal is to continue to prepare students to be successful as they move on into residency,” Dr. Hundley said. “I look forward to working with students and faculty as we continue to prepare students to be successful life-long learners and leaders in today's health care environment.”

Last month, Dr. Hundley was honored with a teaching award at the TeamUSA Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) annual celebration of success for his accomplishments with the TeamUSA QEP. Dr. Hundley participated in USA’s initial launch of the TeamUSA Quality Enhancement plan in 2012.

Dr. Hundley earned both his bachelor of science degree in biomedical sciences and his medical degree from USA. In addition, he completed residency training in internal medicine at USA, where he served as chief medical resident. Dr. Hundley joined the USA faculty in 2008 as an assistant professor of internal medicine and was later promoted to associate professor.

Dr. Hundley said he was very fortunate to have been a student and resident at USA. “The education and mentorship were excellent, and it has played a pivotal role in being where I am today,” he said. “I am excited about the opportunity to help serve the institution that has been generous to me and my family. Moving forward, I hope to help students the way faculty helped me.”

“T.J. is an outstanding faculty member and a rising star in the field of medical education," said Dr. Samuel J. Strada, dean of the USA College of Medicine. "I expect him to play a significant and greater role in our educational program in future years.”

Medical students have awarded Dr. Hundley with the Red Sash Award, which is given to those faculty members who students believe have had the most meaningful impact on their medical education. He has received numerous awards including Best Overall Clinical Educator, Best Clinical Teacher, Best Clerkship Director, Best Third-Year Clerkship, and the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award.

Dr. Hundley serves on several USA College of Medicine committees. He is a member of the Student Affairs Taskforce; faculty representative of the USACOM Medical Executive Committee; chair of the Scholarship Committee and the Clerkship Directors Committee; member of the USA College of Medicine Curriculum Committee; and member of the Graduate Medical Education Committee. He is faculty advisor for the ACP Internal Medicine Interest Group.

Dr. Hundley also is involved in regional and national committees, including the Governor’s Council of the American College of Physicians - Alabama Chapter and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), where he serves as USA’s institutional representative to the Council of Faculty and Academic Societies for the AAMC.

USA Medical Students Present at Internal Medicine Conference

From left: Brenden Ingraham, Cady Beedy, Umair Savani and Ben Nunley

Four rising fourth-year medical students at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine recently presented at the American College of Physicians (ACP) Alabama and Mississippi chapter meeting in Birmingham, Ala.

The students – Brenden Ingraham, Benjamin Nunley, Umair Savani and Cady Beedy— had the opportunity to present a case report in the form of a poster presentation to members of the ACP.

“It was a great experience,” Ingraham said. He chose the topic “Coronary Vasospasm Following Anesthesia Induction in a Patient without Coronary Atherosclerotic Disease” because he found the case interesting and unusual. His poster discussed recognition of coronary vasospasm, risk factors and management of cardiac arrest in a patient with coronary spasm.

Dr. T.J Hundley, assistant dean for medical education and student affairs and associate professor of internal medicine at the USA College of Medicine, worked with Ingraham on his poster presentation. Ingraham said Dr. Hundley’s guidance made him feel infinitely more comfortable to prepare presentations in the future. “Dr. Hundley helped me with the flow of the case, condensing the information and laying out the poster to have the greatest visual impact,” he said. “Our conversations throughout the process were extremely informative, and I was really happy with the finished poster.”

The experience helped Ingraham to see the importance of participating in and presenting research while in medical school. “The lectures were quite informative, and it was reassuring to see that the knowledge I have obtained at the USA College of Medicine is more than sufficient for what is being taught at continuing medical education lectures geared toward practicing physicians,” Ingraham said.

Together, Nunley and Savani won the poster competition. Their topic, “A case of Bilateral CN VII Palsy: Where have you been hiking,” explained a unique case about a patient diagnosed with Lyme disease. “I chose this case because the patient had an interesting and unusual presentation for his disease,” Nunley said.

“This case taught me that diseases do not always present in the classic form and may not follow the course described in medical textbooks,” Nunley added. “It also highlighted how important a detailed history and physical exam can be.”

Savani said learning how to dive into medical literature and apply it to patients is very rewarding. “However, when you get an opportunity to contribute to the medical community, it is a privilege because you get to share extremely valuable information,” Savani said. “It also shows us different avenues we can be involved in academically as we continue further in our training.”

Dr. Hundley and Dr. Elizabeth Minto, assistant professor of neurology at the USA College of Medicine and a neurologist with USA Physicians Group, assisted Savani and Nunley with their case. USA medical student, Sean Carter, was also involved in making the poster but was unable to attend the conference. “Dr. Minto gave us invaluable advice on the clinical aspect of the patient’s course and led to the decision to treat the patient for Lyme disease,” Savani said.

Beedy, another USA medical student, presented “A Complex Case of Cryptococcal Meningoencephalitis.” The case examined a HIV-negative patient with cryptococcal meningitis. Beedy said the case is rare because the patient did not have HIV or any other apparent cause of immunodeficiency, but somehow he developed this opportunistic infection usually seen in patients with HIV.  

Beedy believes it is important to discuss and investigate rare cases because oftentimes rare cases are the norm. “We learn the textbook presentation of disease while in medical school, but very rarely does disease present that exact way,” Beedy said. “Investigating this case, developing a presentation and talking about it with other physicians really pushed me outside of what we are used to doing as medical students.”

USA Pediatric Cardiology Clinic Receives Echocardiography Accreditation by the IAC

The staff at the University of South Alabama Pediatric Cardiology Clinic, Spring Hill Avenue Campus, pictured from left: Katina Matthews, billing insurance clerk; Lisa Dyer, clinical nurse; Sheri Fisher, ultrasonographer; Dr. Lynn Batten, director of the division of pediatric cardiology; and Lauren Crawford, medical assistant.

The University of South Alabama Pediatric Cardiology Clinic is the first in Alabama to be granted a three-year term of accreditation in echocardiography in the areas of both fetal and pediatric transthoracic echocardiography by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC).

Echocardiography is a noninvasive ultrasound study commonly used to evaluate heart structure and function. Each year, more than 35,000 babies in the United States are born with congenital heart defects making it the most common type of birth defect. Congenital heart defects cause more deaths during the first year of life than any other birth defect.

“Dr. Batten and her team work tirelessly to deliver the highest quality of cardiovascular care for children. Their accreditation for pediatric and fetal echocardiography is a recognition of their excellence and expertise,” said Dr. David Gremse, professor and chair of pediatrics at USA.

Patients can rely on the IAC accreditation as an indication the USA Pediatric Cardiology Clinic has undergone a thorough review of its operational and technical components by a panel of experts and is in compliance with national standards through a comprehensive application process. The skill of the sonographer, the type of equipment used, the knowledge of the interpreting physician and quality assurance measures are all critical to quality patient testing.

Med School Cafe - Expert Advice for the Community

Dr. Thomas Leytham, a family medicine physician at University Physicians Group, presented the May Med School Cafe lecture titled “Stressed Out? When to See Your Doctor.”

During the talk, Dr. Leytham discussed the importance of recognizing the negative effects stress can have on your health and how to assess when it might be time to seek medical help when confronted with stress.

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. 

Watch the video below to view the lecture in its entirety.

"Stressed Out? When to See Your Doctor" from USA Health on Vimeo.

The next Med School Café lecture will feature Dr. Kevin Green, associate professor of internal medicine at the USA College of Medicine and an infectious disease specialist with USA Physicians Group.

His lecture, titled “Mosquito Borne Illnesses: What You Need To Know,” will be held on June 22, 2016, at the USA Faculty Club on USA’s main campus. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m., and the presentation begins at noon.

The Med School Café lecture and lunch 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.

USA, Greek Community Dedicate Hippocrates Park

Dr. Hercules Panayiotou, center, leads physicians in the Hippocratic Oath during a dedication ceremony for Hippocrates Park on Saturday, June 11, 2016, at the University of South Alabama.

The University of South Alabama and Mobile’s Greek community organization dedicated Hippocrates Park June 11, 2016, at the USA College of Medicine.

The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) and USA collaborated to create the park. Representatives of AHEPA spoke at the ceremony, as well as USA President Dr. Tony Waldrop and Dr. Samuel Strada, dean of the USA College of Medicine.

“This wonderful statue and these attractive surroundings serve as a living link to Hippocrates, considered the father of western medicine, and the traditional principles expressed in the Hippocratic Oath,” said Dr. Samuel J. Strada, dean of the College of Medicine. “The tradition at the USA College of Medicine and at most medical schools is for students to recite this ancient oath during graduation ceremonies, thereby promising to uphold its professional and ethical tenets during their interactions with patients and their families.”

The specially commissioned Hippocrates statue is a donated gift from the Mobile 310 chapter of AHEPA and the focal point of the park between the USA Medical Sciences Building and Health Sciences Building. Donors are recognized with an inscription in various formats throughout the park.

Click here to view more photos from the dedication ceremony.

Class of 2018 Medical Students to Receive White Coats June 19

The University of South Alabama College of Medicine will host its annual White Coat Ceremony at the USA Mitchell Center on June 19, 2016, at 2 p.m. During the ceremony, rising third-year medical students in the Class of 2018 will be cloaked with their first white coats, the traditional dress of physicians for more than 100 years.

The keynote speaker will be Dr. Edward Panacek, professor and chair of emergency medicine at the USA College of Medicine.

For students, the White Coat ceremony serves as a reminder of the importance and responsibility they take by dedicating themselves to the care of patients. During the ceremony, the students take the Medical Student Oath, a promise to uphold the human aspects of medicine including sensitivity, compassion and respect for patients.

Select rising seniors from the class of 2017 as well as residents and faculty also will be inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society at the ceremony. Inductees are selected for practicing patient-centered medical care with integrity, compassion and altruism. Election to this organization is by vote of medical students.

Each year, the USA Medical Alumni Association sponsors this event. Click here to read about last year's White Coat Ceremony.

June Med School Café – Mosquito-Borne Illnesses: What You Need To Know

The June Med School Café lecture will feature Dr. Kevin Green, an associate professor of internal medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and an infectious disease specialist with USA Physicians Group.

His lecture, titled “Mosquito Borne Illnesses: What You Need To Know,” will be held on June 22, 2016, at the USA Faculty Club on USA’s main campus. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m., and the presentation begins at noon.

Recently, the Zika virus has received international attention. Those infected may show a variety of symptoms or none at all, but in pregnant women, the Zika virus has been linked to a variety of birth defects.

Dr. Green will lecture about the Zika virus as well as other mosquito-borne illnesses. He will discuss the history and symptoms of the viruses and explain how residents along the Gulf Coast can protect themselves from infection.

Dr. Green earned his medical degree and completed his residency training at USA. He completed his fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center Children's Hospital in Nashville, Tenn.

The Med School Café lecture and lunch 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.

Dr Green Med School Cafe Promo from USA Health on Vimeo.

First M3 Case Report Symposium Set For June 24

Third-year medical students at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine will host the first annual M3 Case Report Symposium on June 24, 2016, at 3 p.m. The symposium will take place on the 10th floor of USA Medical Center and all faculty, staff, residents and students are invited to attend.

The purpose of the symposium is to give third-year medical students the opportunity to present a novel, rare or meaningful case report to faculty, residents and peers in the form of a poster presentation, thereby gaining scholarly experience useful for development as a physician-in-training.

Throughout their third year, medical students interact with patients as a member of the health care team. Some of the patients encountered will have a lasting impact on students and potentially affect career and specialty choices as future physicians. “During the symposium, we will discuss the lessons learned from these patient experiences," said Grant Willis, a third-year medical student at the USA College of Medicine and co-creator of the symposium.

“The symposium will increase the amount of documented research experiences USA College of Medicine graduates perform," added Parker Mullen, another third-year medical student and co-creator of the symposium. "This keeps the USA College of Medicine in line with national standards and prepares medical to discuss unique clinical experiences in residency interviews.”

“We are excited to see the event come to fruition and hope it will be a worthwhile endeavor for participants, spectators and future USA College of Medicine students,” Willis said.

For additional information contact Parker Mullen at prm1321@jagmail.southalabama.edu or Grant Willis at rgw1221@jagmail.southalabama.edu.

Alumni Reunite for Weekend

Brandi Trammell (COM '02) with her son Eli at the USA Medical Alumni Association's Medical Alumni Weekend.

Dr. Kit Outlaw (COM '92) speaks at the USA Medical Alumni Association's Medical Alumni Weekend.

The University of South Alabama Medical Alumni Association hosted its annual Medical Alumni Weekend June 3-5, 2016, at Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, Ala. Fifty-five registered alumni attended the reunion.

The event is a multi-day class reunion held every summer that reunites USA medical graduates on the Gulf Coast. It offers Continuing Medical Education (CME) accredited courses and an alumni dinner sponsored by the association.

Several USA alumni presented lectures during the weekend. They included a presentation on developing physician leadership through mentorship by Dr. Janyce Sanford (COM '86), chief of emergency medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and a team lecture on medical clinics in the sugar plantations and prisons of the Dominican Republic by Dr. Tom Miller (COM '81), state health officer for Alabama, and Dr. Bob Chagrasulis (COM '81), general surgeon of Franklin Health.

During the annual meeting and luncheon of the Medical Alumni Association Board of Directors, Dr. Samuel Strada, dean of the USA College of Medicine, was recognized. He will be retiring later this year after 33 years of service.

The classes of 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011 were honored at this year’s event. The Class of 1976 is the inaugural class of the USA College of Medicine and was presented a gift for celebrating its 40th class reunion. Dr. Kit Outlaw was also recognized for his service as president of the USA Medical Alumni Association from 2014 to 2016.

Click here to view more photos from the event.

Pediatrics Hosting Grand Rounds June 16, 17

Dr. Patricia Treadwell, professor of pediatrics and dermatology at Indiana University School of Medicine, will present two lectures for June’s pediatric grand rounds.

The first lecture, “Atopic Dermatitis,” will take place June 16, 2016, at 8 a.m. On June 17, Dr. Treadwell will present a second lecture, "Acne Update," at 8 a.m. Both lectures will be held in the Atlantis Room in the CWEB-2 building behind USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital.

Dr. Treadwell will review recently discovered genetic associations with atopic dermatitis and also discuss current atopic dermatitis guidelines. During her second talk, she will discuss pathogenesis of acne, side effects of acne medications, and various treatment options available with a focus on efficacy for abnormal keratinization.

The event is open to faculty, staff and students at USA. Light breakfast, coffee and beverages will be provided. For additional information, contact Katie Catlin at kncatlin@health.southalabama.edu.

Dr. Spencer Liles Earns Board Certification in Complex General Surgical Oncology

Dr. J. Spencer Liles, assistant professor of surgery at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and a surgical oncologist with the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute, recently earned a board certification in complex general surgical oncology.

USA Health is one of few institutions in the nation that have two or more board-certified surgical oncologists. “There are only 100 board-certified surgical oncologists in the country and two are here at USA,” Dr. Liles said.  “This essentially means that USA is one of less than 10 places in the country with two surgeons that have demonstrated the knowledge base and skillset to be certified experts in the field of surgical oncology.”

Dr. Marcus Tan, assistant professor of surgery at the USA College of Medicine and a surgical oncologist with the USA Mitchell Center Institute, earned a board certification in surgical oncology in 2015.

Dr. Liles said surgical oncologists have been trained for decades, but there was hesitancy to allow formal board certification until two years ago. Prior to this, surgical oncologists were “specialty-trained” but not “board-certified.”

“Surgical oncology board certification is a fairly new entity,” Dr. Liles said. “The American Board of Surgery (ABS) is responsible for certification of all general surgeons and subspecialty surgeons as a means of ensuring that they are sufficiently trained to provide appropriate care.”

The process of earning a board certification in complex general surgical oncology includes the completion of medical school, a surgical residency training with achievement of board certification in general surgery and the completion of an accredited fellowship in surgical oncology. The final steps of the board certification process include successfully passing the written surgical oncology qualifying exam and the oral surgical oncologist certifying exam.

Dr. Liles joined USA in 2015. His clinical interests include general surgical oncology, breast, endocrine, pathology and gastrointestinal malignancies.

Dr. Liles earned his medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham. From 2005 to 2013, he completed his general surgical residency training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, during which time he completed a three-year National Institutes of Health T23 basic science research fellowship. In July 2015, he completed his complex general surgical oncology fellowship training at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Liles is also board certified with the American Board of Surgery and is a member of the American Medical Association, American College of Surgeons, National Medical Association and Society of Surgical Oncology.

Surgical oncology is a branch of surgery that mainly deals with the removal of tumors, usually cancerous. Established to assess qualifications for the treatment of complex cases—typically seen in cancer centers and specialized institutions – the American Board of Surgery approved this certification in an effort to help improve the care of cancer patients with complex cases requiring intensive, multidisciplinary treatment.

To make an appointment with Dr. Liles or to make a referral, call (251) 445-8405.

Dr. Trimm Named President of APPD

Dr. R. Franklin Trimm, professor and vice chair of pediatrics at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and a pediatrician with USA Physicians Group, was named president of the Association of Pediatric Program Directors (APPD).

Dr. Trimm served in the organization for 25 years before his appointment as president and describes it as “a professional development organization for individuals involved with residency graduate education programs.” APPD assists pediatric programs across the nation by leading the advancement of education to ensure the health and well-being of children. It includes approximately 800 fellowships and more than 200 pediatric programs in the United States.

“It’s been a professional home. It’s a reminder why we do what we do,” said Dr. Trimm, who has directed the pediatric residency training program at USA almost 23 years. He credits APPD for its extensive networking opportunities and for fostering leadership skills in graduate medical education professionals. He personally helped shape the organization’s approach to leadership training when APPD selected him to manage a team tasked with designing a leadership training curriculum for residency program directors. He also assisted with evaluating the effectiveness of other trainers.

As president, Dr. Trimm plans to continue shaping the organization with his vision for the future. In addition to serving as chair of the board of directors and spokesperson for APPD, he is directly responsible for fulfilling the organization’s strategic plan. “One of four points in our strategic plan is to prepare pediatricians to work within a new health care system. We want to lead the way to define the future of pediatricians,” he said.

Dr. Trimm will continue developing APPD’s role as a professional home where networking and leadership skills create new opportunities. He describes the USA College of Medicine as a medium-sized organization and residency program. “Typically, leadership comes from larger institutions. As the USA College of Medicine continues to gain national recognition, it will continue to gain recognition as an institution able to serve that leadership role.”

Dr. Trimm earned his medical degree and completed his residency training at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine in Loma Linda, Calif. He specializes in developmental-behavior pediatrics. Click here for more information about Dr. Trimm.

Hippocrates Park Dedication Set for June 11

The University of South Alabama and Mobile’s Greek community organization will dedicate Hippocrates Park June 11, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. at the USA College of Medicine.

The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) and USA collaborated to create the park. Representatives of AHEPA will speak, as well as USA President Dr. Tony Waldrop and Dr. Samuel Strada, dean of the USA College of Medicine.

The specially commissioned Hippocrates statue is a donated gift from the Mobile 310 chapter of AHEPA and the focal point of the park between the USA Medical Sciences Building and Health Sciences Building.

Donors will be recognized with an inscription in various formats throughout the park. Click here to read about Hippocrates Park’s groundbreaking ceremony.

USA Surgery Clinic Recognized for Customer Service

The University of South Alabama Physicians Group hosted a celebration for the clinic scoring the highest for courtesy and respect on patient satisfaction surveys. The surgery clinic, located in the Mastin Professional Building, was recognized for having the highest score of 96 percent for the first three months of 2016.

The patient satisfaction survey includes questions concerning ease of appointment, courtesy of staff, waiting time to see the physician, respect shown and privacy needs met. Responses for courtesy, respect and meeting patients’ privacy needs are mathematically averaged to determine scores.

University Physicians Group at USA Commons has the second highest score with a score of 95.5 percent. Other clinics such as family medicine, neurology and plastic surgery also scored in the 90th percentile.

“Excellence in both customer service and health care quality are important factors patients consider when making health care choices,” said Sherryle Givens, manager of quality improvement for USA Physicians Group. “Our attitudes, tones of voice and mannerisms all demonstrate our appreciation for the opportunity to care for patients.”

Givens said the purpose of the awards is to provide a ‘thank you’ to those who work hard to let our customers know they are valued. The winning clinic recently was awarded an ice cream party.

To qualify for the customer service award, the clinic must receive at least 50 patient satisfaction surveys for the quarter. Quarter two began April 1 and will end June 30. For USA Physician Group clinics interested in improving their customer service skills, training sessions are available. To learn more, contact the Office of Compliance at 471-7836.

USA Gastroenterology Welcomes Tanya Rowell

Tanya Rowell recently joined the University of South Alabama department of internal medicine as a nurse practitioner in the division of gastroenterology.

Rowell previously worked at Cardiology Associates in Mobile as a clinical staff nurse and clinical research coordinator from 1998 to 2015.

She earned her bachelor of science in nursing from University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and her master’s of science in nursing from Troy University in Troy, Ala.

Rowell is currently seeing patients at USA Gastroenterology located at University Commons, 75 S. University Blvd. in Mobile. To make an appointment, call (251) 660-5555.

Former USA Researcher Joins Harrison School of Pharmacy

Dr. Timothy Moore, former assistant professor at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, recently joined Auburn University's Harrison School of Pharmacy as head of the department of drug discovery and development.

Dr. Moore previously worked at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) as a medical officer and chief of the Lung Biology and Disease Branch of the Division of Lung Diseases. Prior to working at the NIH, Dr. Moore served as an assistant professor at the USA College of Medicine where he held positions in both the department of internal medicine and the department of pharmacology.

Dr. Moore earned his bachelor of science degree in zoology from Auburn University. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in basic medical science as well as a medical degree at USA, where he also completed postdoctoral work in both pharmacology and physiology. He later conducted vascular research and served as a clinical resident in anesthesiology and critical care at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions.