Med School Café – Expert Advice for the Community

Dr. Charles B. Rodning, professor of surgery at the USA College of Medicine, presented the April Med School Café lecture titled “Medicine in Art.”

During the talk, he discussed the validity of integrating the scientific, humanistic, and artistic domains of intellectual endeavor into the patient-physician relationship to achieve patient healing.

Dr. Rodning earned his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in Rochester, N.Y., and a Ph.D. in anatomy from the University of Minnesota Health Sciences Center in Minneapolis. He also completed his residency training in general surgery at the University of Minnesota.

He served as a Commander in the United States Navy Medical Corps and was assigned to United States Naval Regional Medical Center in Okinawa, Japan. He is also past president of the Medical Society of Mobile County and of the Alabama Chapter of the American College of Surgeons.

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

Med School Medicine In Art from USA Health on Vimeo.

Dr. William Broughton Presents at Southern Sleep Society Meeting

Dr. William Broughton, left, and Dr. Carlos Schenck present at the 40th annual Southern Sleep Society meeting in Hilton Head, S.C.

Dr. William Broughton, professor of internal medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and a pulmonologist board-certified in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine with USA Physicians Group, recently presented "Sleepwalking Through the Ages: Medicine, Art, Law and Culture,” at the 40th annual Southern Sleep Society meeting in Hilton Head, S.C.

The annual Southern Sleep Society meeting is the oldest regional sleep conference in the country, offering updates on the latest technological advances in sleep medicine and clinical research.

Dr. Broughton said sleep medicine is a very narrow field. “Having answers and reassurance for patients about obscure sleep-related questions is gratifying,” he said. “It is fulfilling to see patients of over 20 years in remarkably good health and still benefiting greatly from treatment.”

Dr. Broughton spoke as part of a mini-symposium on sleepwalking with Dr. Carlos Schenck, professor of psychiatry at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and researcher at the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center in Minneapolis.

Dr. Broughton said he often presents at the annual meeting, as he has been involved with the Southern Sleep Society for more than 10 years. He is past-president of the organization, which marked its 40th meeting this year.

While president, Dr. Broughton concentrated on bringing presentations to the Southern Sleep Society from experts outside the rigid sleep medicine area including the subject of anthropology, the socio-literary aspects of sleep and other topics.

Dr. Broughton said he was introduced to sleep medicine through the late Dr. John Bass, one of the founding faculty members of the USA College of Medicine and one of Alabama’s most prolific medical educators. He went on to study sleep medicine through a long course at Stanford University in Stanford, Calif.

To learn more about Southern Sleep Society, visit www.southernsleepsociety.org.

USA Health Participates in National Walk at Lunch Day

A group of employees walk along the walking path in front of the University of South Alabama Medical Center during National Walk at Lunch Day on April 18, 2018.

USA Health employees joined businesses, schools and other organizations throughout the state by participating in National Walk at Lunch Day on April 18.

“I walk every day for my health, and it’s great to be doing it with my coworkers,” said Centilla Agee, a phlebotomist at USA Medical Center.

Dorothy Baldwin, food service coordinator for USA Health, believes in practicing what she preaches about health. “In our dietary program, we promote good health through diet to patients and employees. Therefore, it’s important for us as employees to be in good health,” she said.

To learn more about the Employee Wellness Initiatives Committee and National Walk at Lunch Day, visit the committee's website at www.southalabama.edu/departments/wellnessinitiatives.

USA COM Opens New Multipurpose Room

The University of South Alabama College of Medicine Dean’s Office recently opened a new multipurpose room to be used for study space, meetings and conferences.

Located on the third floor of the Medical Sciences Building, the multipurpose room features new audio-visual equipment, glass writing boards, charging stations and WebEx capabilities.

According to Dr. Mary Townsley, senior associate dean of the USA College of Medicine, the new room supports our mission to educate, discover and serve. “This multipurpose room will likely utilize each of the mission’s domains,” she said. “Given the audiovisual capabilities, white boards and mobility of the tables, the room can be set for up to 12 small groups for educational sessions. Alternatively, the room can be set in rows for seminars or conferences focused on research. The room can also be used for virtual meetings, linking College of Medicine faculty, staff or students with external agencies or review groups.”

Dr. Townsley said prior to this renovation, the building did not have a medium-sized meeting space. “The Liaison Committee on Medical Education mandates that we provide sufficient quiet study for students,” she said. “Previously, that space was limited to the large auditoriums and some study rooms in the biomedical library. This addition expands our capacity significantly.”

Students and faculty who have fob access to the Medical Sciences Building have 24-7 access to the multipurpose room, as it is keyed on the fob system. The room can also be reserved for educational sessions or meetings related to education by contacting Kimberlee Rish at krish@southalabama.edu. Any other event can be scheduled by contacting Marcina Lang at marcinalang@southalabama.edu.

Autism Matters Conference Set for May 4

The Autism Society of Alabama, in partnership with the University of South Alabama Regional Autism Network, will host the third annual Autism Matters Conference on Friday, May 4, 2018, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Goodwill Easter Seals Mitchell Auditorium in Mobile.

This program is designed as an interdisciplinary conference for parents, caregivers and service providers. The conference is open to all interested in increasing knowledge, addressing outreach and improving outcomes in adults with autism. Certificates of attendance will be provided for training programs.

Conference speakers include Dr. Angela Barber, assistant professor and chair of communicative disorders at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Dr. Justin Schwartz, assistant professor of developmental and behavioral pediatrics and director developmental and behavioral pediatric resident rotation at University of Alabama at Birmingham in Birmingham, Ala.; and Max and Utopia Cassady, board-certified attorneys with expertise in Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security disability and special needs trusts.

The USA Regional Autism Network (RAN), which serves Mobile, Baldwin, Washington, Clarke, Monroe, Conecuh and Escambia Counties, joined the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Auburn University to make up the Alabama Regional Autism Network. The network was created to empower those who have autism spectrum disorders, as well as their families and care providers.

Advanced conference registration is requested. For more information and to register, click here.