Whiddon College of Medicine grieves passing of first chair of pharmacology

Thomas Glenn Sr., Ph.D., the first chair of the Department of Pharmacology at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine, passed away unexpectedly last month in Mesa, Arizona. He was 82.

Glenn established a reputation as an active, published researcher with a passion for educating young physicians. He was also a founding member of the Shock Society, which is dedicated to improving the care of victims of trauma, shock and sepsis through research, collaboration and education. 

Samuel J. Strada, Ph.D., dean emeritus of the College of Medicine, said Glenn was among the founders whose “pioneer” spirit set the medical school on a course that remains in place 50 years later.

“As founding chair of the department of pharmacology, he laid a foundation of excellence in medical education and biomedical research within the College of Medicine,” Strada said. “He hired the initial faculty members, some of whom went on to have stellar academic careers in their fields of research.”

In his leadership role, Glenn also helped establish the Ph.D. program in basic medical sciences – the first doctorate program outside of medicine within the University of South Alabama – in September 1978.

The foundation Glenn built helped Strada take it in a more specialized direction.

“When I assumed the chairmanship of the department in 1983, my goals were to retain the strong emphasis on the educational program in medicine and basic medical sciences,” Strada said, “but also move the department in a direction more toward cellular and molecular models of research.”

The Basic Medical Sciences Graduate Program encourages innovation, an interdisciplinary approach and tailored mentorship to help students build cutting-edge skills and critical thinking essential to advancing medical breakthroughs.

Born in Detroit and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Glenn earned a bachelor’s degree from Rockhurst College, and a master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. 

He began his career in academia, but later transitioned to the pharmaceutical industry. He held senior leadership roles for several multinational pharmaceutical companies before retiring to Foley, Alabama.

Glenn devoted his time to the community, serving as president of the local chapter of the American Heart Association and chairman of the Diocesan Board of Education. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus and St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church.

A funeral will be held on June 1, 2023, at 3 p.m. at St. Margaret of Scotland Church in Foley, with visitation beginning one hour prior to the service. 

Residents and fellows present at annual academic exposition

Presenters discuss their posters at the 2023 Resident and Fellow Academic Exposition.  

USA Health residents and fellows competed at the 2023 Resident and Fellow Academic Exposition on Wednesday, May 24, in the Atlantis Room at Children's & Women's Hospital. The expo is an opportunity for residents and fellows to display and share their research with the USA Health community.

At the annual expo, hosted by the Office of Graduate Medical Education, participants presented clinical vignettes, research projects, quality improvement projects, and patient safety, education and advocacy projects. Cash prizes of $300 were awarded to the winners in the three poster categories and the oral presentation category.

Winning projects by category included:

Oral Presentation

Jesse Trent, M.D., a third-year resident in orthopaedic surgery, won for “Orthopedics Directed Splint Training for Emergency and General Practitioners.”

Clinical and Translational Research

Nessa Tantivit, M.D., a third-year resident in pediatrics, won for “Impact of Patients’ Weight on Hospital Course Among Children with COVID-19.”

Quality Improvement or Patient Safety

Elizabeth Jones, M.D., a third-year resident in family medicine, won for “Increasing Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) Use in Adolescents.”

Clinical Vignettes

Kushboo Golani, M.D., a third-year resident in pediatrics, won for “Acute Flaccid Myelitis Diagnosed After Intravenous Immunoglobin (IVIG): A Diagnostic Dilemma.”

View more photos from the event on Flickr. 

Meet a Med Student: Kelly Blacksher

Kelly Blacksher 

Age: 22

Class: 2026

Hometown: Mobile

Undergraduate education: B.S. in biomedical sciences, pre-medicine with a minor in counseling from Auburn University 

What do you enjoy most about being a medical student at the Whiddon College of Medicine?
I enjoy the atmosphere created by both the students and faculty that encourages me not only to be a great student, but also to pursue the goals I have for myself while in medical school and beyond. The staff and students at USA COM are truly special.

Are you involved in any research, organizations or other initiatives at the College of Medicine?
Dermatology Interest Group (treasurer), Student-Run Free Clinic volunteer subcommittee, Urology Interest Group 

What are your interests and hobbies?
I love all things Mardi Gras, Foosackly's and Auburn! 

What is something unique about you?
I have a twin sister who is a NICU nurse in Montgomery, Alabama. 

Sehgal earns national citation for critical care medicine contributions

For his contributions to critical care medicine, Mukul Sehgal, M.D., M.B.A., an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Whiddon College of Medicine, was recently honored with a Presidential Citation from the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the largest professional group of adult and pediatric critical care physicians in the United States. 

The society established the Presidential Citation Award in 1995 to honor SCCM members who have made outstanding contributions to the organization. 

“We are proud of the care provided daily by Dr. Sehgal to some of the region’s most critically ill and injured children,” said David Gremse, M.D., chair, and professor of the Department of Pediatrics at USA. “It’s very gratifying to see others recognize the positive impact he has made in our academic health system and beyond.”     

Sehgal is also a pediatric intensivist at Children’s & Women’s Hospital, where his duties include teaching the next generation of healthcare providers. He is motivated, he said, by the ability to help young patients have improved outcomes and to assist doctors-in-training on how to best care for children.  

Before moving to the Mobile area in 2019, Sehgal completed a pediatric critical care fellowship at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, Florida. He is board certified in pediatrics by the American Academy of Pediatrics. From 2013 to 2016, he was a resident at St. Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. 

During residency, Sehgal earned what is known as a mini Master of Business Administration in strategic healthcare management from Rutgers Business School. In 2012, he was awarded a medical degree from Seth GS Medical College in Mumbai, India. Most recently, in 2022, he earned a Master of Business Administration in healthcare management from the University of South Alabama.