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.