Summer Medical Student Research Day set for July 22

Brant M. Wagener, M.D., Ph.D.

The Whiddon College of Medicine will host the 49th annual Summer Medical Research Day on Friday, July 22, in the Medical Sciences Building on the campus of the University of South Alabama.

Oral presentations will begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by a keynote address. The event will conclude with poster presentations from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This year’s keynote address will be presented by Brant M. Wagener, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine. Wagener is director of clinical research, director of the Strategic Training in Anesthesia Research Program and site director of the FAER Summer Research Program. He serves in the Division of Critical Care Medicine, the Division of Molecular and Translational Biomedicine, and the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine.

The Summer Research Program is a 10-week program that allows medical students to develop an appreciation of how research is needed to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Accepted entering students or rising second-year students at the Whiddon College of Medicine are eligible to participate. The summer experience includes hands-on research related to basic science and/or clinical medicine, a seminar program that focuses on various scientific and clinical topics, and student presentations.

Meet a Med Student: Kahlea Haladwala

Kahlea Haladwala

Age: 23

Class of: 2025

Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama

Undergrad institution: Auburn University

Degrees earned: Bachelor of Science in biomedical sciences, Bachelor of Arts in Spanish

Interests, hobbies: I picked up running when I started medical school, and love to run around campus. I also love to play tennis and hang out with friends. Reading a book on the beach is my happy place.

Something unique about me: I am bilingual in English and Spanish.

Three of my favorite things: Coffee, Taco Mama and my cat, Theodore

What I enjoy most about being a student at the Whiddon College of Medicine: The community here at South is amazing. All of the students are so kind and collaborative. It really feels like we are all a family. It is so refreshing and encouraging to learn in such a supportive environment, where everyone wants you to succeed. Professors are so intentional here, and I feel like I have already learned so much just within my first year alone. It is an experience that I think is very unique to South Alabama, and I am excited for the next three years!

Medical student presents cardio-oncology research at national conference

Saad Awan, left, poses with his father G. Mustafa
Awan, M.D., associate professor of internal medicine,
at the Class of 2024's White Coat Ceremony in June.

Saad Awan, a third-year medical student at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine, recently presented his research in a virtual format at the American College of Cardiology meeting. His study assessed the risk factors for cardiovascular disease in triple-negative breast cancer patients.

Cardiovascular disease is responsible for increased morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer that often requires potentially cardiotoxic chemotherapy. Thus, this population is at increased risk of damage to the heart muscle and worse outcomes compared with other breast cancer patients.

The retrospective study reviewed data from 121 triple-negative breast cancer patients at USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute. Data suggest that younger, Black women with TNBC are more likely to have hypertension and obesity. This identifies a subset of patients that are at higher risk of cardiotoxicity from chemotherapy, Awan said. 

“This study highlights the need for more in-depth assessments of health and racial disparities in cancer patients to improve outcomes as well as reduce cardiovascular disease risk,” Awan said.

Awan completed his research under Christopher Malozzi, D.O., associate professor of internal medicine at the Whiddon College of Medicine and a cardiologist with USA Health.

“I had a great experience working with Dr. Malozzi,” he said. “As a mentor, he made my life easy by clearly laying expectations, being efficient with communication, and guiding me with purpose in every part of the process.”

Read the full study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: CardioOncology. 

Gastroenterologist, alumna joins internal medicine faculty

After completing a fellowship in June, M. Caitlin Marshall, M.D., joined the Digestive Health Center in July as a gastroenterologist and the faculty of the USA Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine as an assistant professor of internal medicine.

With more than six years of experience, Marshall provides specialty care to patients seeking treatment for a variety of gastrointestinal conditions including GERD, irritable bowel disease, lactose intolerance, acid reflux disease, chronic constipation and Barrett's esophagus. 

The mother of two boys, Marshall is married to Michael Marshall, M.D., a psychiatrist with USA Health. She grew up in Mobile and graduated from the USA Whiddon College of Medicine. She completed a residency and fellowship at USA Health. Her hobbies include running, kayaking and reading.

Marshall said she was drawn to a career at an academic health system, in part, because of the interdisciplinary team approach to patient care.

She is accepting new patients. To make an appointment, call 251-660-5555.

Graduate medical education programs receive initial accreditation, reaccreditation

Siva Parcha, M.D., second from right, assistant professor of internal medicine, rounds at University Hospital with a team of internal medicine residents, from left, Seema Mir, M.D., Samar Abohamad, M.D., and Andrew Dep, M.D.

It has been a successful spring for the graduate medical education programs at USA Health and the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama.

The overall institution and many of the fellowship and residency training programs have received renewals from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Other programs have been reviewed, and the review committees for them will meet in the future to make final determinations.

Emergency medicine residents gather outside the Fanny
Meisler Trauma Center. The residency program was
established in 2019. 

“Every year, the institutional program and each of the individual programs undergo an online renewal process,” said Judy Blair-Elortegui, M.D., associate dean for graduate medical education at the Whiddon College of Medicine. “We submit information related to program performance, any major changes in the program, and information related to compliance with the ACGME requirements.” Then periodically, the ACGME conducts a site visit to provide a more in-depth review of the program or sponsoring institution. Since COVID, these site visits have been conducted virtually.

Additionally, faculty and residents complete an annual survey. The responses from the residents are weighed heavily in the reaccreditation process. 

Along with the institutional program renewal, the programs for family medicine, sports medicine, internal medicine, cardiology, gastroenterology, pulmonary critical care, medical oncology, neurology, clinical neurophysiology, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopaedic surgery, pathology, psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, general surgery, surgery critical care, and combined internal medicine-pediatrics all received continued accreditation.

New programs have formal site visits approximately two years following their establishment. USA Health’s sports medicine fellowship for family medicine and the emergency medicine residency program fit into that category this year. Both received their initial accreditations. The addiction medicine fellowship for psychiatry underwent its site review in May and is awaiting its committee’s report. The gynecologic oncology program is still in its initial accreditation period.

“Having this many new programs is a marker of the growth we have experienced at USA Health,” Blair-Elortegui said. “I believe that our programs' demonstration of meeting/exceeding the accreditation standards of the ACGME reflects the high quality of medical education provided to our resident and fellow physicians. It’s evident the expansion of our academic health system in recent years has provided new learning opportunities and resources for our trainees, enhancing their educational experience.”