Thursday, October 21, 2021

Meet a Med Student: Cayla Van Alstine

Cayla Van Alstine

Age: 24

Class of: 2023

Hometown: Enterprise, Ala.

Undergrad/grad institution: Florida State University

Degrees earned: Bachelor of Science in biological science 

Interests, hobbies: I love to be outdoors hiking, rock climbing, backpacking, camping, biking, you name it!

Something unique about me: I lived in a van and drove across the country to Alaska… twice!

Three of my favorite things: My pup Obi (of course), the view after hiking to the top of a mountain and overcoming fear of failure.

What I enjoy most about being a student at the USA College of Medicine: Learning to do what I love from experts who love what they do!



Faculty Spotlight: Jon Audia, Ph.D.

Jon Audia, Ph.D.

Academic title: Professor of microbiology and immunology

When did you join the USA College of Medicine faculty? I completed my Ph.D. in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology here at USA in 2002, and I joined the faculty in January of 2003. It has been an excellent experience and a great place to establish a research program.

What does your position in the USA COM entail? Our primary mission is education and healthcare transformation through teaching and research. I am truly lucky to be able to work alongside a great group of graduate students, medical students, staff and faculty.

What is your favorite or most rewarding part of your position? The best part of my position at the USA COM is interacting with students and colleagues, and getting to learn something new every day. 

What research initiatives are you involved in? We are currently working to understand how serious illnesses such as pneumonia and sepsis can lead to long-term problems for patients once they have resolved the infection. There are many lingering health issues that patients have to deal with during recovery that adversely affect their overall quality of life. These problems represent a serious burden, not only to the patient, but also to the healthcare infrastructure as a whole.

Do you have any advice for medical and graduate students? Work hard, ask questions, and understand that you are, ultimately, here to learn.

What are your hobbies/interests outside of work? I enjoy spending time at the beach with my lovely wife, Donna, and my daughter, Madelyn; cooking; and playing music.



Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Construction begins on ambulatory surgery center in Baldwin County

Louis Mapp speaks at the ground-breaking event for the Mapp Family Campus in Baldwin County. The campus is named in honor of him and wife, Melinda Mapp, who donated the nearly eight acres of land on which the campus will be built. 
Focused on meeting the healthcare needs of the upper Gulf Coast region, USA Health this week formally broke ground on the Mapp Family Campus in Baldwin County. Located at the southeast corner of state highways 181 and 104 in Fairhope, the campus will be home to an ambulatory surgery center and a physician office building.

“Collaborating with community physicians, providers from USA Health will bring their specialized expertise to meet the healthcare needs of the people in the region,” said Owen Bailey, M.H.A., FACHE, chief executive officer of USA Health. “As the only academic healthcare system in the region, USA Health continues to expand relationships with community providers and other partners, as we strive to provide increased access to the care that people need and deserve.”

Approximately 50 percent of the population of Baldwin County lives within 15 miles of the Mapp Family Campus.

“The Mapp Family Campus will be another important location for educating and training the next generation of healthcare providers,” said John Marymont, M.D., M.B.A., dean of the USA College of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs. “Having this additional site will help USA Health try to alleviate some of the healthcare provider shortages we are facing.”

Errol Crook, M.D., professor and chair of internal medicine,
addresses attendees of the ground-breaking ceremony.
The campus will be home to a three-story, 50,000-square-foot physician office building, staffed with primary and specialty care providers to better meet the healthcare needs of the people in the region. Specialties will include neurology, cardiology and surgical specialties, pediatric and adult gastroenterology and urology. The building also will house a full array of imaging technology, including X-ray, ultrasound, mammography, CT and MRI.

USA Health physicians and other providers will incorporate health and wellness strategies for their patients along with traditional medicine. A demonstration kitchen and community room will be included in the facility. Caregivers and coaches will provide opportunities to engage patients in movement, relaxation and healthy-eating classes, with the goal of helping people lead longer, better lives.

Within the 25,000-square-foot ambulatory surgery center, surgeons from USA Health and the community will utilize some of the most technologically advanced surgical equipment, including a Mako robotic arm to assist in total joint replacements. Surgical specialists in pediatrics, orthopaedics, urology, general surgery, gastroenterology, ear, nose and throat, and more will care for patients at the new ambulatory surgery center. This ASC is anticipated to eliminate the need for people to leave Baldwin County for surgery, keeping them closer to their homes and loved ones.

Louis and Melinda Mapp donated the nearly eight acres of land that the campus will sit on, and the University of South Alabama named the campus in their honor. The Mapps are long-time supporters of USA Health, as well as volunteers at University Hospital and Children’s & Women’s Hospital.

“I have seen first-hand the impact that academic medicine can have on people,” Louis Mapp said. “We are honored to be a part of bringing that level of care to this part of our region.”

Designed to create a peaceful environment, the Mapp Family Campus will have multiple water features, walking paths, and outdoor educational and gathering areas. Plans also call for the campus to contain an indoor educational component, which can be utilized for providing patients with nutritional and prevention strategies related to wellness.

View more photos from the ground-breaking event on Flickr

Apply now: Clinical and Translational Science Training Program

Registration is open for the Clinical and Translational Science Training Program (CTSTP). Attending and resident physicians, clinical and basic science faculty, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers are invited to apply.

CTSTP is a six-month certificate program that provides training in clinical and translational research, including approximately 50 hours of didactic instruction as well as interactive experiences. Course content represents the following modules: clinical trials, epidemiology, biostatistics, ethics, clinical genetics research, behavioral research, outcomes research, and dissemination of results.

Sessions are presented by experienced clinical and translational researchers or individuals with special expertise in areas such as grants and contracts and regulatory issues from across the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) Partner Network.

The online course runs from January to June 2022. Sessions are scheduled for Wednesdays from 8 to 10 a.m. via Zoom.

Apply for the program here. Applications are due Monday, Nov. 15.

Learn more about the Center for Clinical and Translational Science Training Program. If you have questions, contact Jean Lambert at jeanl@uab.edu.


Monday, October 18, 2021

Employees honored at USA Health Game Day 2021

USA Health Game Day returned Oct. 14 when the South Alabama Jaguars defeated the Georgia Southern Eagles 41-14 at the nationally televised game at Hancock Whitney Stadium. 

Representatives from USA Health and the USA College of
Medicine line up before taking the field for a special
presentation honoring employees.
In appreciation for everything they do, particularly during the past 18 months, USA Health and USA College of Medicine employees who registered for the event received two free tickets to the game and vouchers to the concession stands.

Owen Bailey, M.H.A., FACHE, chief executive officer of USA Health and senior associate vice president for medical affairs, served as a guest conductor for the Jaguar Marching Band, whistling in the band to start the pregame performance and then conducting the band at halftime for the fight song.

The following employees represented USA Health and the USA College of Medicine during a special on-field presentation: Phillip Almalouf, M.D., Mastin Internal Medicine - Pulmonology, College of Medicine; Jillian Bowers, Center for Healthy Communities, Community Health; Ernest Ezell, University Hospital, Security; Kimberly Hale, Pandemic Response Team; Emily Kelley, Pharm.D., Children's & Women's Hospital, Pharmacy; Janel Lowman, Mitchell Cancer Institute, Community Outreach; Robert Schwan, University Hospital, Emergency Department; Latasha Sims, Children's & Women's Hospital, Environmental Services; Frank Smith, Children's & Women's Hospital, Security; and Theresa Yarbrough, M.D., Mobile Diagnostic Center - University Commons. 

Check out highlights from USA Health Game Day 2021 in the YouTube video, and view more photos from the event on Flickr.