Pathology resident wins at tri-state conference

Pathology resident Muhammad Tahir, M.D., M.S.,

presented at the Tri-State Pathology Conference. 

Muhammad Tahir, M.D., M.S., a second-year pathology resident at USA Health, took first place for his poster presentation at the 2023 Tri-State Pathology Conference held April 29-30 in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The conference was hosted by the Alabama Association of Pathologists and brought together pathologists from Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Tahir presented “Cranial Juvenile Psammomatoid Ossifying Fibroma: A Rare Entity.” The attending neuropathologist on the case was Osama Elkadi, M.D., director of the pathology residency program and assistant professor of pathology at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine. 

The case described an 11-year-old male who presented with a cranial mass. Juvenile ossifying fibroma (JOF) is a rare, benign tumor of the craniofacial bones that is most prevalent in children and young adults. It is considered a fibro-osseous neoplasm because it is characterized by an overgrowth of bone. The sinonasal, orbital and jaw bones are the most frequent sites involved. 

Tahir said he chose to present this case at the conference because cranial JOF is an exceedingly rare presentation of the disease. In this case, the treatment of choice was radical surgical excision with negative margins. Due to potential for aggressive behavior, long-term regular follow-up was recommended.

“As a resident physician who has been actively engaged in the field of pathology for several years, I can confidently say that this conference surpassed all expectations, thanks in no small part to the outstanding participation and remarkable poster presentations,” Tahir said. “I wholeheartedly recommend attending the Tri-State Pathology Conference to any professional in the field, as it offers an unparalleled platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and personal growth.”

Tahir has published more than 12 unique case reports. His current research focuses on studying the effects of amygdalin on triple-negative breast cancer and melanoma, and the effect of nicotine on prostate cancer angiogenesis.

He earned his medical degree from Taishan Medical University in Shandong, China. Prior to starting his residency training with USA Health, he earned a master’s degree in molecular pathology from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

Five medical students named to Foreign Languages Honor Society

Benjamin Estrada, M.D., professor and vice chair of pediatrics and assistant dean for medical education, with four of the honor society inductees, from left: Aimee Knott, Jelani Bender, Megan Rasmussen and Matthew Westerfield.

The ability for a physician to clearly communicate with a patient – and vice versa – is vital to the successful treatment of most health conditions. So when the barrier of a foreign language can be lifted, people are often able to better understand instructions, show up for needed follow-ups and feel more confident about specific plans of actions developed by their provider.

“There’s a huge need for bilingual doctors and nurses,” said Zoya Khan, Ph.D., associate professor of modern and classical languages at the University of South Alabama. “If (patients) can see that you speak their language, it’s a way of earning their trust. That’s so important.”  

Khan, who also serves as director of the Graduate Certificate in Spanish for Healthcare Professionals, welcomed five Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine Students into USA’s Foreign Languages Honor Society, Phi Sigma Iota, in late April. Recognized for their excellent performance in the Graduate Certificate in Spanish program, the students inducted into the society are Aimee Knott, Jelani Bender, Megan Rasmussen, Matthew Westerfield and Hanna Bobinger. 

Besides developing closer physician-patient relationships, mastering a foreign language will also prepare doctors-in-training for life and work in a global community.

“It allows them to better communicate with healthcare professionals across the world,” Khan said. “That includes how to understand the intricacies of healthcare delivery, the needs and problems in different parts of the world and how we are all interconnected.”

The COVID-19 global healthcare crisis is a recent example of the need to be able to communicate with those who don’t always share a common language or customs. “Pandemics do not have borders and they impact all of us,” Khan said. “The knowledge of another language can help doctors be ready to deal with new situations and new realities – including viruses and other contagions.”

In 2012, the local chapter of the honor society was established at USA with an inaugural class of 16 students from French, German, Russian and Spanish languages. Today the Chi Omega chapter of Phi Sigma Iota has 40 members who take the lead in promoting foreign languages and cultures on campus and in the Mobile area through activities including foreign languages poetry slams, a lecture series, and essay contests in foreign languages for high school students.   

“It’s not just enough to know Spanish or another language,” Khan said. “You have to know how to reach people.” She hopes involvement with the honor society will provide the needed skills for college students to do just that. 

USA Student-Run Free Clinic receives donation from local medical society alliance

Medical student Karam Maatouk takes a patient’s blood pressure at the Student-Run Free Clinic.

While the University of South Alabama Student-Run Free Clinic (USA SRFC) offers healthcare support at no charge to underserved people in the Mobile community, the experience it provides to students at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine and other healthcare disciplines is invaluable.  

But that can’t happen without the students, volunteers, and community donations the clinic counts on. 

“We are 95% dependent on donations from community organizations and businesses,” said Chandler Hinson, M.B.A., a second-year medical student who serves as USA SRFC president.  

From left, Angelique Holmes, pharmacy student, and
Stephanie Rudolf, D.P.N., faculty advisor and an
assistant professor of nursing, accept the donation from
Cherish Posey, co-president of the Alliance to the Medical
Society of Mobile for 2022-2023.

The Alliance to the Medical Society of Mobile identified the clinic as furthering its mission to help improve the health and quality of life in the community, and it, along with Rapahope, was one of two local organizations it chose to support this past year. 

Thanks to the alliance, the USA SRFC received $6,000 to provide much-needed care.  

“In the fall, we applied for a 'Stock the Clinic Closet' grant through the Alliance to the Medical Association of Alabama (AMASA),” said Cherish Posey, alliance co-president for 2022-2023. “They awarded us with a $2,000 health initiatives grant, and we presented that check on site at the clinic in the fall.” 

The AMASA provides grant opportunities at the county level to support local projects. Various events and fundraisers helped bring in the additional $4,000, which was given to the clinic at the alliance’s annual spring luncheon.  

“The clinic is doing amazing things in our community,” Posey said, “and I feel honored that we were able to give back.”  

The USA SRFC is a student-led initiative that provides free medical checkups and healthcare services to the most vulnerable populations in the greater Mobile community. Students in medical school or studying pharmacy, audiology, nursing or occupational therapy gain experience in numerous clinical and interpersonal skills, such as communication, empathy and cultural sensitivity.  

“We provide a unique service to these individuals – health education sessions,” Hinson said. “Before every clinic, we offer a one-hour session to discuss important health topics and answer patient questions.” 

The USA SRFC offers a wide range of services, including:  

• Monitoring and maintenance: hypertension, pre-diabetes, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, anxiety, depression
• Screenings: hearing and balance, vision, pulmonary function tests, skin cancer, fecal occult, urinary disorders, depression, and anxiety
• Health education: diet and exercise, smoking cessation, diabetes, hypertension, mental health, health literacy, alcohol and recreational drugs, medicine management and more

According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, higher health literacy can result in the increased use of preventive healthcare, such as annual screenings and vaccinations; fewer unnecessary emergency room visits; a reduction of preventable hospital stays; better management of chronic conditions, such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure; and improved health outcomes.  

“Our clinic offers an opportunity to healthcare students to gain skills and experiences in providing direct patient care,” Hinson said. “It is clear from our student volunteers that they want to help and provide for the community, so the student-run free clinic provides that opportunity.” 

The clinic also allows students to practice their skills in a safe and supportive environment, he said, preparing them before they start working on their clerkships. 

The alliance is open to physicians and their spouses, and there is no charge for medical students, residents or their spouses to become members. For more information about joining the alliance, email alliancemedicalmobile@gmail.com. 

Donations to the USA SRFC can be made via PayPal at paypal.me/usasrfc, or a tax-deductible donation at giving.southalabama.edu. Select “Choose Fund,” then click “Other” and type in “University of South Alabama Student-Run Free Clinic.” 

For more information about volunteering at the clinic, contact Hinson at srfc@southalabama.edu.

Join us for Medical Alumni Reunion Weekend June 8-10

Alumni Reunion Weekend, set for June 8-10, is the cornerstone event for the Medical Alumni Association. 

Spend the weekend reconnecting with friends and classmates, participating in lectures, exploring the campus, and celebrating the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine 50th Anniversary. 

The reunion will take place at the Grand Hotel Resort & Spa in Point Clear, Alabama. A block of rooms is being held for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights offering our attendees a discounted group rate. Please reference “USA Medical Affairs” when making room reservations over the phone at 1-855-999-0490. Alternatively, you may use this special link to reserve your room online. The reservation cut-off for these discounted rates is Friday, May 12, at 5 p.m.

Register for the reunion.

View the schedule and details about the weekend.

Faculty present at the Southern Neurosurgical Society annual meeting

Two USA Health neurosurgeons, Richard Menger, M.D., M.P.A., and Jai Thakur, M.D., both assistant professors of neurosurgery at the Whiddon College of Medicine, were recently invited to present at the 73rd Southern Neurosurgical Society Annual Meeting.  

Menger, chief of complex spine surgery at USA Health and director of the USA Health Spine Institute, presented his published research regarding complications in certain pediatric patients following S2-alar-iliac fusion to the pelvis. The research concluded that fixating the spine to the pelvis resulted in significant correction to the spinal deformity without impacting the ability to walk. This was the first paper investigating the impact of this specific technique in children who could walk without assistance.  

Thakur, director of minimally invasive cranial and skull-base neurosurgery at USA Health, presented his research on the importance of transcranial endoscopy during skull-base surgeries to reduce blind spots. This was a novel reflection of his research which makes the visualization of blind spots in skull base surgery possible by using intraoperative angled endoscopy.  

“Discussing the new innovations to skull-base surgery is a great opportunity to not only raise awareness about this approach, but also promote it for its safety, reducing complications and re-operations.” Thakur said.  

Learn more about the Southern Neurosurgical Society.

Resident and Fellow Academic Expo set for May 24

The 2023 Resident and Fellow Academic Exposition will take place on Wednesday, May 24, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. in the Atlantis Room at USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital.

This is an opportunity for residents and fellows to display their scholarly activities from research projects, quality improvement projects, patient safety, education and advocacy projects, as well as case reports.

This year’s expo will feature a poster presentation competition and an oral presentation competition. Faculty, staff, residents, fellows and family are invited to attend.

The winners will receive cash prizes.

To learn more information about the exposition, visit: https://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/com/gme/exposition.html.

For questions, contact Amari Armour at aarmour@health.southalabama.edu.