Faculty Development to host November events

The Office of Faculty Development is hosting two upcoming events:

Thursday, Nov. 2
Noon on Zoom
Jennifer Croker, Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, will introduce the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) Partner Network comprising 11 academic research institutions across Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. This innovative partnership provides the foundation for addressing health disparities and diseases that disproportionately affect our region through collaborative research, training and community engagement efforts. 
Register here.

Friday, Nov. 3
Noon on Zoom
Kim Crawford Meeks, B.C.C., spiritual care manager at USA Health, will speak about gratitude. As we move into the holiday season, learn how gratitude can play a role in your health and simple ways to add its practice to your daily life.
Register here. 

MCI welcomes USA students for National Chemistry Week

Students learned about the healing power of chemistry at the Mitchell Cancer Institute. 

Chemistry students from the University of South Alabama had the opportunity to hear from researchers at the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute as part of the American Chemical Society’s National Chemistry Week. 

Celebrated Oct. 15-21, the week focused on “The Healing Power of Chemistry.” Chemistry plays a crucial role in formulating the medicines we take when we get sick, developing the vaccinations we roll our sleeves up for, and testing the blood samples that we provide at our doctors’ offices. According to ACS, this year’s theme recognizes the tremendous advances made by medical professionals and scientists with inspiration from ancient peoples’ habits, from plants and animals in the wild, and from our own bodies’ mechanisms to prevent, fight, heal and restore us to health.

Marie Migaud, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology at the Whiddon College of Medicine, spearheaded the visit to the MCI. The undergraduate chemistry students were accompanied by Larry Yet, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry at USA. 

Researchers Joel Andrews, Ph.D.; Luxenne Belfleur, Ph.D.; Jennifer Clark, Ph.D.; Kevin Lee, Ph.D.; and graduate students Trey Deason and Marlo Thompson shared their research experience and expertise with the students. 

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. 

Tobacco Exposed: Join the Conversation

Melody Petty, M.D.

Brian Persing, M.D.

USA Health providers and faculty at the Whiddon College of Medicine will lead a talk about tobacco on Wednesday, Nov. 8, from 6 to 7 p.m. in Auditorium 1012 of the USA Health Sciences Building. 

Speakers include Melody Petty, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics at the Whiddon College of Medicine, associate chief medical officer for pediatrics at USA Health, and the E-Cigarette Champion of the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; and Brian Persing, M.D., the Arlene and Mayer Mitchell Chair of Medical Oncology at the Mitchell Cancer Institute. 

The event is sponsored by the Biomedical Sciences Society, the Mitchell Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society.