Brain Awareness Week set for March 14-18

The Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine will host the first Brain Awareness Week March 14-18, at the Exploreum Science Center in downtown Mobile. The week is a global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research.  

Activities will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day and include hands-on and interactive demonstrations. Participants will learn about brain and eye anatomy, the importance of wearing a helmet, types of cells in the brain, exercise and the brain, and more. 

Brain Awareness Week activities are included with general admission to the Exploreum Science Center. Plan your visit to the Exploreum, located at 65 Government Street. 

Learn more about Brain Awareness Week at brainawareness.org. 

Students collect thousands of menstrual products for those in need

Third-year medical students Jessie Moore, Kaylee Hart and Taylor Coe led an effort to collect thousands of menstrual products and distribute them to women's shelters in the community.

Members of the OB-GYN and Jags Against Trafficking student interest groups at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine collected thousands of menstrual products for underserved women in the community. 

During the period product drive, Jan. 30 to Feb. 13, third-year medical students Jessie Moore, Taylor Coe and Kaylee Hart teamed together to reach out to local community partners for assistance in raising funds and awareness. Period product poverty is a global issue in which 1 in 4 women in the U.S. struggle to obtain menstrual products.

Donations totaled about 3,500 pads and liners, 2,000 tampons, 3,500 sanitary wipes, 500 pairs of underwear/diapers, 50 menstrual cups and more. The students distributed the products to three women’s shelters in the Mobile area that support women who are experiencing homelessness or escaping domestic violence or human trafficking.

“The response from our community was incredible, and it was very encouraging to see how many people were eager to be involved in the drive and learn more about women’s health,” Coe said. “The past few weeks have really highlighted the prevalence of period poverty in our city, and we are hopeful that this event will continue to uplift and inspire our community to spread awareness.”

The students also led a workshop on menstruation, menopause, preventative health and mental health at McKemie Place, an emergency shelter for homeless women. Women at the shelter learned about the health topics and shared their personal stories.

“Being able to help educate and discuss women’s health with the women at McKemie Place was such a rewarding experience,” Hart said. “Not only did we teach them, but they taught us how we, as future physicians, can be better about having open conversations about feminine hygiene and all of the other important aspects of women’s health.”

Moore said the group was amazed by the community’s generosity during the drive. “The overwhelming support for this drive was more than we could have imagined, and just saying ‘thank you’ is an understatement,” she said. “Spending time with the women of McKemie Place was eye-opening. We learned far more from them than they did from us, and I’m very grateful for this experience.”

The students thanked all donors, community partners and colleagues, especially these:

Mobile OB-GYN
Mobile Bay OB-GYN Center
Azalea City Physicians for Women
Eastern Shore Anesthesia
USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital
USA Health Strada Patient Care Center
USA Health University Hospital
Mobile Storm Volleyball Club (Team Storm National 16 Black)
Costco Wholesale
Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine

Meet the Bands of Doc Rock

Join us Thursday, March 23, at the Soul Kitchen in downtown Mobile for the second annual Doc Rock, a “battle of the bands” event that supports research and critical clinical needs at USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute, Children’s & Women’s Hospital and University Hospital. At least one member of each band has an affiliation with USA Health or the Whiddon College of Medicine. 

Meet the bands that will perform at this year's Doc Rock:

Bearhead
Supporting the USA Health Anesthesia Department
The name of the band “honors a mythological figure believed to lift up downtrodden spirits through interpretative and transcendental artistic performances.” Bearhead is inspired by performers such as Allman Brothers Band, Tom Petty, Led Zeppelin and Hank Williams.

By the Way
Supporting the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute
Band members from previous groups united to form By the Way, which performs popular, high-energy rock songs from the ’90s and other decades.

Dr. John and the Burning Sensations
Supporting the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute
After winning last year, the members of Dr. John and the Burning Sensations hope for a back-to-back judge’s choice award at this year’s Doc Rock.

Mobile Second Line Society
Supporting the H. Pete Jones Neuroscience Research Endowment
Inspired by the sounds of Mardi Gras, Mobile Second Line Society is a brass band that plays hard-driving funk and rock.

The Shotcallers
Supporting the USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital Cardiopulmonary Department
Inspired most by Stevie Ray Vaughn, Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer and Eric Clapton, the Shotcallers is a cover band that selects a “good mix of music that folks of any age can hear and enjoy and at some point in the show be able to sing along.”

Vote for your favorite band and buy tickets at www.usahealthsystem.com/doc-rock.

Fundraisers to benefit USA Student-Run Free Clinic

The USA Student-Run Free Clinic is hosting two fundraising opportunities. All proceeds will go toward clinic operations and patient care.

Krispy Kreme Fundraiser
When: Feb. 27 – March 13
What: Krispy Kreme Donuts, $15 a dozen with 50% of the profits going toward SRFC.
How: Simply buy online, visit your local store, and redeem using your code. Treat yourself or your friends and family at grouprai.se/krispykreme8812ma.

T-shirt Fundraiser
When: March 1-15
What: Comfort Colors Tee, $22
How: Fill out the form to place your order.