Alumna joins Eastern Shore practice and OB-GYN faculty

Allison Casey Calhoun, M.D.

With a passion for helping women and new mothers, Allison Casey Calhoun, M.D., recently joined USA Health Eastern Shore OB-GYN & Pediatrics.

A board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist, Calhoun grew up watching her father, whom she described as a small-town community pharmacist, advocate on behalf of his patients.

“He always wanted what was best for them, even if it hurt him on the business end,” Calhoun recalled. “I always admired that and knew I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare to be like him and help people.”

Calhoun said she loves her chosen career: “I get to help women every day with their health and be an advocate for them in every stage of life. I may see them as teenagers, through their first pregnancy, and then help them navigate the world of menopause.”

Certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, she was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society in 2015. Calhoun earned a degree in medicine from the Whiddon College of Medicine and served as an OB-GYN resident at USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital.

Calhoun is also an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Whiddon College of Medicine, where she is helping to educate the next generation of healthcare providers.

“The advice I would give to anyone wanting to pursue a career in healthcare is to go into it for the right reasons,” she said. “Make sure you love it. It isn’t always easy, but it can be so rewarding knowing you are making a difference in someone’s life.”

Calhoun is accepting new patients at USA Health locations in Spanish Fort and Mobile. To make an appointment, call 251-415-1496.

Medical students give poster presentations on OB-GYN topics at national conference

Candice Holliday, J.D., M.D., and Nicolette Holliday, M.D., accompany the group of medical students at the Central Association of Obstetricians & Gynecologists annual meeting.

A group of third- and fourth-year medical students from the Whiddon College of Medicine presented research and case studies during the 91st Annual Meeting of the Central Association of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (CAOG) held earlier this month in Indianapolis. 

Nicolette Holliday, M.D., an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, said the presentations by students were well received.  

“Several others at the conference commented on the complexity of patients that we care for here on the Gulf Coast,” she said. 

The meeting focused on original research and was supplemented with updates on other trending topics in women’s healthcare.  

The eight students and their poster presentations were: 

• Alicia Agard: “Sigmoid and Cecal Volvulus following Cesarean Twin Delivery” 
• Claire Chastain: “Postpartum Intracranial Thrombus and Hemorrhages: Case Report and Literature Review” 
• Shriya Meesala: “Management of Grade IV Astrocytoma Diagnosed during Pregnancy” 
• Madison Poiroux: “Stage IV Malignant Pheochromocytoma and Pregnancy” 
• AK Porter: “Tuberous Sclerosis Presenting with Psychiatric Symptoms in Pregnancy: A Case Report” 
• Regan Shaw: “Melanosis of the Vagina: A Case Report and Literature Review” 
• Anna Shunnarah: “Balancing Fertility and Treatment of Endometrial Carcinoma in a Young Patient with PCOS” 
• Leila Yang: “Case Report: Diagnosis and Management of a Suspected Rare Form of Fetal Encephalocele” 

The mission of the Central Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is to promote optimal healthcare of women by providing high quality continuing medical education and a forum for advancing and discussing scientific research in obstetrics, gynecology, and women’s healthcare. Its nearly 500 members represent both academic and community leaders in obstetrics and gynecology. CAOG is one of the founding organizations of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in 1951.  

Register now: Healthcare Leadership Certificate

Registration is open for the 2025 Healthcare Leadership Certificate Program at the University of South Alabama. 

The program is a partnership between the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine, the Mitchell College of Business and USA Health, integrating the study of medicine and the leadership, managerial and financial disciplines of business. 

It is designed to equip professionals with the essential skills and knowledge to excel in today’s dynamic healthcare environment. This comprehensive program covers critical areas such as leadership, effective communication, human resources management, financial acumen, and the principles of viability and sustainability in healthcare organizations.

Modules are scheduled approximately every six weeks and will be held in person on Fridays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m. Participants should expect to spend about 1 to 1.5 hours reading between modules to prepare effectively.

Leading in Medicine Now
Jan. 24-25, 2025
Christina Wassenaar, Ph.D., Mitchell College of Business

Connecting the Dots: Communicating Across Healthcare
March 7-8, 2025
Jeanne Maes, Ph.D.; Alvin Williams, Ph.D.; Jennifer Zoghby, Ph.D.; Jay Hunt, MBA, Mitchell College of Business

Managing People and Partners for Success
April 25-26, 2025
Andrea Rosler, MHA, MBA, USA Health

Dollars and Sense of Healthcare
May 30-31, 2025
Benny Stover, MBA, USA Health

Viability and Sustainability of Healthcare Operations
July 11-12, 2025
Shannon Scaturro, MSHA, MSN; Mike Chang, M.D.; Bill Grete, J.D., USA Health

Getting There from Here
Aug. 22-23, 2025
William Gillis, Ph.D.; Jessica Franks, J.D., Mitchell College of Business

Know Thyself
Oct. 3-4, 2025
Binata Mukherjee, M.D., MBA, Mitchell College of Business, Whiddon College of Medicine

Register now. Learn more about the Healthcare Leadership Certificate. 

USA Health skull base team makes notable contributions at 33rd North American Skull Base Society Meeting

Representing the Whiddon College of Medicine and USA

Health at the meeting were, from left, Garrett Dyess;

Danner Butler; Ursula Hummel, PA-C; and Adnan

Shahid, MBBS.

Representing the Whiddon College of Medicine and USA Health, medical students, faculty and other providers from the Department of Neurosurgery made significant contributions at a recent meeting of the North American Skull Base Society (NASBS) in Atlanta.

The NASBS is the most prestigious skull base society in the United States and gathers academic research contributions from all over the world. The theme for the 33rd annual meeting was “The Skull Base is Flat.”

“These collaborative efforts involved a diverse team of neurosurgery fellows, medical students, physician assistants, and attending physicians, reflecting the wide-ranging impact and dedication of individuals at various stages of their medical careers,” said Jai Deep Thakur, M.D., assistant professor of neurosurgery. “These achievements highlight the commitment of the Whiddon College of Medicine and USA Health to advancing neurosurgical education and research through teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration.”

At the conference, Adnan Shahid, MBBS, a minimally invasive cranial and skull base neurosurgery fellow at USA Health, led a podium presentation on the “Endoscopic-Assisted Supraorbital Approach for Removal of Tuberculum Sella Meningioma: Technical Nuances in Keyhole Surgery.” The presentation was based on techniques Thakur, a neurosurgeon and director of minimally invasive cranial and skull base neurosurgery at USA Health, had utilized and fostered in his practice. Shahid went on to publish this technique in Surgical Neurology International journal.

In addition, Shahid took a lead on publishing Thakur’s experience of using eyebrow craniotomy in skull base and brain tumor surgeries. To date, no other papers have described the use of trans-ciliary eyebrow craniotomy in managing complex brain tumors and skull base pathologies in a neurosurgeon's early career, Thakur said. The seminal findings of the paper, published in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons, were reduced length of stay, significantly low complications and readmissions, and substantially low usage of typical narcotics.

Garrett Dyess, a first-year medical student at the Whiddon College of Medicine, presented a poster at the NASBS meeting and published a manuscript titled, “Careers in Skull Base and Open Cerebrovascular Surgery: Factors Associated with Academic Job Placement” in the Journal of Neurological Surgery Skull Base. The study emphasized the role of early mentorship in guiding neurosurgery residents toward academic careers, particularly in the field of skull base surgery.

“Very early in his career, Garrett has shown commitment to advancing the field of neurosurgery. He continues to flourish and expand his academic pursuits to include skull base, neuro-oncology and complex spine along with a focus on publishing papers on neurosurgery education,” Thakur said.

Danner Butler, a-fourth year medical student at the Whiddon College of Medicine and aspiring neurosurgeon, was an integral part of the research. Among others, Butler led the project “Analysis of Medical Malpractice Indemnity Payments and Litigation Verdicts in Skull Base Neurosurgical Practice: A 20-Year Nationwide Study.” This unique study discussed factors that influence decision-making in various medico-legal litigations at a national level. Butler also presented “The Role of Keyhole Supraorbital Craniotomies in Skull Base and Brain Tumor Surgeries” at grand rounds presentations at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Virginia during his away rotations in neurosurgery.

From left, Ursula Hummel, PA-C; Danner Butler;

Garrett Dyess; and Jai Deep Thakur, M.D. 

Ursula Hummel, PA-C, a physician assistant in the neurosurgery department at USA Health, was one of the very few advanced-practice providers at the NASBS meeting contributing to academic skull base neurosurgery. In addition to contributing to the aforementioned research, she is leading a study highlighting “The Value of Advanced Practice Providers in Fostering the Development of Elective Early Academic Skull Base Practice without Residents/Fellows in a Tertiary Academic Center.” 

“Ursula continues to evolve as a 'triple threat' in the APP world, where she has demonstrated her commitment in clinical work, teaching and contribution to academic neurosurgery,” Thakur said.

Additionally, Thakur was invited to moderate a video session on endoscopic skull base and reconstruction along with a peer from the University of California, Irvine.

Surgical Neurology International: “Endoscope-assisted supraorbital approach for excision of tuberculum sella meningioma: Technical nuances” 

Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons: “Supraorbital keyhole approaches in the first 3 years of practice: Outcomes and lessons learned” 

Journal of Neurological Surgery Skull Base: “Careers in Skull Base and Open Cerebrovascular Surgery: Factors Associated with Academic Job Placement”

Ph.D. candidate wins first place at 3MT competition with dementia research presentation

Evan-Angelo Butlig, second from left, won top awards at the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. His fellow lab members Nairuti Bhatt, Samantha Chaney and Allison Bauman showed their support.

In just 180 seconds, Evan-Angelo Butlig, a third-year Ph.D. candidate in the Basic Medical Sciences Graduate Program, effectively explained his research on dementia to a wide-ranging audience. His compelling talk took top awards at the 2024 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, hosted by the University of South Alabama Graduate School on Oct. 9. 

Butlig, who conducts research in the lab of Amy R. Nelson, Ph.D., an associate professor of physiology and cell biology at the Whiddon College of Medicine, won both the first-place prize of $2,000 and the People’s Choice Award, worth an additional $1,000, for his research presentation titled “Breathing New Life into Dementia Research: How Pneumonia Could Spark a Dementia Crisis.”

In his presentation, Butlig explained a potential answer to a critical question: Why are pneumonia patients at a higher risk of developing dementia? His research delves into the role of a protein called tau, which normally stabilizes cells in the lungs and brain. However, in pneumonia patients, these tau proteins can enter the bloodstream and reach the brain, where they target the hippocampus — a region crucial for memory and learning.

Using advanced techniques, Butlig grew human brain organoids, mini versions of the human brain, to study the effects of tau proteins on neuronal activity. His findings revealed that tau from pneumonia patients caused neurons in these organoids to become hyperactive and exhibit a hypersynchronous pattern, offering groundbreaking insights into the connection between pneumonia and dementia.

“I think the research I’m doing is so important because there are relatively few groups studying how infection leads to cognitive dysfunction, especially in a preclinical human model,” he said. “Dementia really is a devastating disease that is becoming more and more prevalent, so the more we know about the risks of developing dementia, the more we’re able to prevent it.” 

This achievement not only highlights Butlig’s communication skills but also underscores the real-world impact of his work, inspired by his own grandfather’s battle with dementia following pneumonia. 

“It was a challenge to present my research in under three minutes to a broad audience, as I’m used to explaining my findings to experts in my field,” he said. “Public speaking has always been one of my biggest obstacles, so to have won a competition where the goal is to share my research in a way that the general public can understand reassures me that my practice and dedication pays off.” 

“It also means a lot to me that so many of my friends showed up to support me. It definitely made me feel more at ease when standing in front of a big audience,” he added. 

As one of the top two competitors, Butlig was invited to present at the University of South Alabama Research and Technology Showcase later this month. His first-place win also qualifies him to represent the University of South Alabama at the regional Conference of Southern Graduate Schools (CSGS) 3MT competition in Dallas, Texas, in March 2025.