Research participants needed for study on menopause in the workplace

Tracy Y. Roth, M.D., right, associate professor of obstetrics

and gynecology, is one of the collaborators on the study.

With a goal of better supporting more than a billion members of the workforce, researchers in Berlin and Mobile are joining forces to understand how menopause may impact women in the workplace through a new survey.

“Our hope is that this research can provide insight into how to better equip managers to understand the impact that menopause has on their employees,” said Alana Bell, Ph.D., an instructor at the Mitchell College of Business at the University of South Alabama. “These insights have the potential to influence policies and procedures for organizations in America and around the world.”

Menopausal symptoms, which can range from moderate to severe, may have a lasting impact on a woman’s career trajectory, and, in many cases, lead women to reduce working hours or to leave their jobs prematurely. That is significant for many reasons, including the fact that women make up almost half of the workforce in the United States. Research from Statista found that about 74.09 million women were employed in the U.S. in 2022, compared with 74.48 million men. Globally, estimates from Statista show that more than a billion women work outside the home.

The project is a collaboration among colleagues at the University of South Alabama and the Berlin School of Economics and Law. Collaborators include Tracy Y. Roth, M.D., an OB-GYN at USA Health and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Whiddon College of Medicine, and Bell; along with Andrea Rumler, Ph.D., a professor at the Berlin School of Economics and Law, and her colleague Julia Memmert.

How you can help

Those best suited to take the survey, said Bell, are women who are entering menopause, those who have completed menopause and those who think they may be going through it.

Take the online survey.

Understanding menopause

The onset of menopause is typically described as a point in time 12 months after a woman's last menstrual cycle, according to the National Institute on Aging, noting that the years leading up to that point — when women may have changes in their monthly cycles, hot flashes or other symptoms — are called the menopausal transition or perimenopause.

For many women, the menopausal transition often begins between ages 45 and 55. It typically lasts seven years but can be 14 years, research indicates. The menopausal transition affects each woman uniquely and in numerous ways. The body begins to use energy differently, fat cells change, and women may gain weight more easily. Woman can also experience changes in their bone or heart health, body shape and composition.

Why more research is needed

Aside from the topic of maternity leave, women's health in the workplace has received little attention, the researchers noted. Unfortunately, most women suffer from at least one menopausal symptom during their lifetime, such as hot flashes, night sweats that cause sleep disturbances, trouble concentrating, anxiety, or mood swings.

“Few studies have analyzed the needs and expectations of menopausal women for effective workplace health management,” the survey’s authors said. “Data from the United Kingdom suggest that many women experience negative effects from menopausal symptoms and do not know how to seek support in their workplaces or remain silent due to the fear of being stigmatized.”

Objectives of the study include obtaining a broad picture of the level of noticing individual symptoms in the work context and a possible corresponding need for assistance. In addition to the physical effects of menopause, the study also aims to shed light on psychological factors, such as workplace stigma and emotional well-being.

“We are trying to see if going through this experience impacts how comfortable (or uncomfortable) women are at work,” Bell said, “and how it may impact job performance so we can potentially influence policies and other decisions that can better support women at work.”

Meet a Med Student: Jonathan Swint

Jonathan Swint

Age: 27

Class: 2025

Hometown: Grand Bay, Alabama

Undergraduate education: B.S. in biology, University of Alabama 

What do you enjoy most about being a medical student at the Whiddon College of Medicine?
I enjoy the emphasis and importance that is placed on primary care exposure and training here. It makes me feel like I'm building a good foundation of skills to draw on as I progress in my medical education.  

Are you involved in any research, organizations or other initiatives at the Whiddon College of Medicine?
I am the secretary for my class, and I am involved heavily with Dwell Mobile, where I help with after-school programming for kids of families that have recently immigrated to the U.S. 

What are your interests and hobbies?
I play soccer as much as I can in an adult recreation league here in Mobile, and I love kayaking, going to the beach, and spending time outdoors as much as possible. 

What is something unique about you?
I once went on a hike in Italy in a city called Prato, where I jumped off of a waterfall while some local Italian kids cheered me on. 

Scammell retires from the Whiddon College of Medicine

Jonathan Scammell, Ph.D., longtime faculty member and administrator, officially retires from the Whiddon College of Medicine.

After 37 years of service as an educator, researcher and administrator, Jonathan Scammell, Ph.D., will retire from the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the end of September. 

“Dr. Scammell has devoted his career to teaching, research and leadership at the University of South Alabama,” said John Marymont, M.D., M.B.A., dean of the Whiddon College of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs. “We are grateful for his decades of service to our medical and graduate students, and the relationships he has formed with colleagues who have had the privilege of working with him in various capacities. We wish him all the best in retirement.”

Scammell joined the faculty in 1986 as an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology. He rose through the academic ranks to become a professor of pharmacology and serve as professor and chair of the Department of Comparative Medicine. In 2011, he was appointed assistant dean for admissions at the Whiddon College of Medicine. 

“This has been a great place to start and, indeed, end a career in science and medicine,” Scammell said. “We have dedicated faculty, research technicians, administrative support, and wonderful students who are motivating to be around. I have been asked how I will spend my retirement. Among other activities, a few colleagues are permitting my continued participation in educational activities, so in actuality I will be able to prolong some of my most favorite pursuits at USA.”

Kelly Roveda, M.D., associate dean for student affairs, has known Scammell since he taught her as a medical student in the late 1980s. Scammell went on to publish with her when she was a member of the pathology faculty and later worked with her as part of the medical school’s administration.  

“For me, Dr. Scammell embodies the qualities of a true educator, mentor, coach and friend. As a new faculty member starting my career in pathology, Dr. Scammell took me under his wing providing me the opportunity to work with him on a project that he knew would lead to a publication, gently pushing me to completion while I was balancing work and family,” Roveda said. “When I returned to the Whiddon College of Medicine in 2012, he was the first to give me the opportunity to resume teaching medical students – something that had always been so important to me.” 

Roveda added, “While I know it is time for a changing of the guard, I cannot imagine the COM without Dr. Scammell’s presence.”

Scammell’s post-retirement involvement includes remaining a member of the Admissions Committee, “which is a great relief to all of us in the Admissions Office,” said Deborah Fetherland, director of admissions. “There are always new things that come up with admissions – there are questions – and he's been a wonderful resource for answers.” 

Fetherland said Scammell has always been supportive of change in the realm of admissions. “When COVID struck, he allowed us to develop an online interview process that would reflect our in-person experience as much as possible,” she said. “He may have had some doubts, but he trusted that we were up to the task. And it has worked very well.”

Over the years, Scammell has taught and advised countless medical and graduate students. A testament to Scammell’s impact on their education, senior medical students have honored him 22 times with the Red Sash Award.

“I tell applicants to our medical school how gratifying it is when we watch our students open their envelopes on Match Day, ready to move on to their chosen career paths,” he said. “I am particularly proud of my Ph.D. students who graduated to great post-docs and beyond. Every one of them published their dissertation work, two became department chairs, while three others became assistant or associate deans at their respective institutions.”

Scammell earned a Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in pharmacology at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. As principal investigator or co-investigator, he has received millions of dollars in grant support from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the American Heart Association for his research contributions. Among his scholarly achievements, he has authored more than 80 scientific publications and 50 abstracts.

He is excited for the future of the Whiddon College of Medicine, notably the brand-new building that will provide state-of-the-art educational and research facilities for students and faculty alike. He said he would like to see an increase in the number of basic science faculty as well as the medical school class, “but carefully at a rate that we maintain the sense of family that the medical school is renowned for.”

Reflecting on his legacy at the University of South Alabama, Scammell referenced the dedication of his late wife, Cindy Sheets, M.D., a beloved pediatrician who served in various roles at USA Health and the Whiddon College of Medicine. “I had the privilege of living with someone who for 44 years committed herself to the welfare of her patients regardless of day of the week or time of the day,” he said. “I would like to be recognized as a colleague who embraced the interests of our students, colleagues, and the institution as much as my own.” 

Roveda said she was fortunate to know both Scammell and Sheets outside of work, as their children attended McGill-Toolen Catholic High School together. “Their kindness as a couple could not be matched,” she said.

Fetherland said it will be hard to say goodbye to Scammell, who has encouraged and supported her personally and professionally over the years. “One thing I will really miss is saying something to him that catches him totally off guard and makes him laugh,” she said. “That always makes my day!”

Menger named vice chair for the Department of Neurosurgery

Richard Menger, M.D., M.P.A., interacts with a pediatric patient in the neurosurgery clinic.

Richard Menger, M.D., M.P.A., associate professor of neurosurgery at the Whiddon College of Medicine, recently was named vice chair for the Department of Neurosurgery.

“It is such an honor to be named vice chair,” Menger said. “This opportunity allows me to assist Dr. Anthony Martino in growing the academic neurosurgery program in south Alabama.”

As vice chair, Menger wants to test and integrate new strategic and tactical initiatives.

Richard Menger, M.D., M.P.A.

“Dr. Menger has been an excellent addition to our department,” said Anthony Martino, M.D., chair of the Department of Neurosurgery and a neurosurgeon at USA Health. “He has been recognized nationally for his work in spinal surgery and on the economic concerns in neurosurgery and medicine. He is recognized locally for his complex surgeries and his efforts with the Early Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) project. I look forward to working closely with him moving the department to greater accomplishments.”

Menger also serves as a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy Reserve, the chief of complex spine surgery at USA Health, and director of the USA Health Spine Institute, a program he initiated to change the culture around the delivery of spine care. His clinical focus is on complex spinal reconstructions for scoliosis and spinal deformities in children and adults.

He is an honors graduate of Cornell University, and he completed medical school with honors at Georgetown University School of Medicine where he received the Barbara Bregman, Ph.D., award as the top graduate in neuroscience. To further his research mission, he earned a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Menger has published more than 50 peer-reviewed scientific papers and presented more than 80 abstracts at national and international meetings. The editor of an academic neurosurgery textbook, his research has been cited more than 500 times in the medical community. He has received grants and numerous awards for his research and was recognized by the North American Spine Society as a “20 under 40” Spine Surgeon in the United States.

He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), the Council of State Neurological Societies, the North American Spine Society (NASS), and a candidate member of the Scoliosis Research Society.

He was selected for the NASS Spinal Deformity Committee and the AANS/CNS Joint Guidelines Committee responsible for reviewing/creating the guidelines used by other neurosurgeons.