Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Medical students present urology research at state conference

Fourth-year medical student Kimberly
Waggener won first place for her poster.
Medical students at the Whiddon College of Medicine presented their urology-related research at the Alabama Urology Network’s inaugural conference, held Oct. 6-8 at The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores. 

Fourth-year medical student Kimberly Waggener won first place for her poster, “Nucala: A New Treatment for Eosinophilic Ureteritis.” 

“This case presentation highlighted the possible novel usage of Nucala (mepolizumab) in the treatment of eosinophilic ureteritis, an incredibly rare condition without a standard approach in management,” Waggener said. “In a patient with debilitating symptoms, this medication alleviated symptoms and improved her quality of life, and even showed histological improvement of the affected ureter.” 

Bethaney Jackson, a third-year medical student, won second place for her poster, “Juxtaglomerular Cell Tumor: A Rare Presentation of a Surgically Curable Cause of Secondary Hypertension in the Pediatric Population.” 

Jackson’s presentation focused on a rare juxtaglomerular cell tumor that has only 150 reported cases in medical literature.  

“The tumor was found in the patient’s kidney, and it produced a substance called renin, which caused the patient to experience symptoms such as 99th percentile hypertension, palpitations and shortness of breath,” she said. “All of the patient’s symptoms resolved following the surgical removal of the tumor in a procedure called a partial nephrectomy.” 

Kelly Blacksher, a second-year medical student,
presented at the conference.
Naden Kreitz, a third-year medical student, and Kelly Blacksher, a second-year medical student, also presented posters. 

Christopher Keel, D.O., FACS, associate professor and interim chair of urology at the Whiddon College of Medicine, gave a talk titled “Prostate Cancer: Beyond Basic Screening.” 

USA Health urologist Lorie Fleck, M.D., associate professor of urology and obstetrics and gynecology, serves as the Alabama Urology Network state advocacy representative and meeting organizer.