Medical student presents radiology research at international conference

Brandon Schonour presents at the RSNA

annual meeting.

Brandon Schonour, a third-year medical student at the Whiddon College of Medicine, recently gave an oral presentation on his research at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting in Chicago, the world’s largest radiology conference.  

Over the last year and a half, Schonour has worked with research mentor Jae Ho Sohn, M.D., an assistant professor and diagnostic radiologist at the University of California San Francisco. The project aims to identify technical or clinical factors that could predict anatomic image quality degradation in 0.55T lung MRI.  

“This work is significant because understanding the causes of image quality degradation at this field strength – such as specific respiration patterns – could inform future research into interventions like breathing maneuvers that patients could perform during scanning to prevent such degradation,” Schonour said. “The ultimate long-term goal is to advance low-field scanning to the point where the generated image quality is consistently reliable, enabling its use in everyday clinical practice for lung imaging.” 

Schonour said presenting at the conference gave him the opportunity to sharpen his public speaking skills, learn about the latest radiological innovations that are in the works, network with academics in radiology from all across the world, and open the door for potential future collaborations.  

“It emphasized the importance of research in shaping the future of radiology and reinforced my commitment to driving innovation in patient care through imaging,” he said. “The feedback and discussions that arose from my presentation have further fueled my enthusiasm for pursuing a career that combines clinical practice with research and technology.” 

The RSNA is a nonprofit organization that represents professionals spanning the full breadth of radiologic subspecialties in more than 150 countries around the world. Its annual meeting is the world’s leading radiology forum, offering a robust research and education program, access to the latest medical imaging technologies, and an array of opportunities for professional engagement and career advancement. 

Sternberg inducted as president of the Medical Society of Mobile County

Michael L. Sternberg, M.D.

Michael L. Sternberg, M.D., professor of emergency medicine, was inducted earlier this month as the president of the Medical Society of Mobile County. In this prestigious position, Sternberg will lead more than 1,000 physicians in an organization that provides representation to the state’s medical association and advocates for a number of public service programs.  

“I consider it a great honor to represent the medical community in this 183-year-old organization, the first medical society founded in the state of Alabama,” he said in his acceptance speech at the Country Club of Mobile. 

Sternberg has been involved in multiple previous local and state leadership positions. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Mobile Medical Museum, the Board of Censors of the medical society, and is the immediate past chairman of the Board of Directors of the Mobile County Health Department. 

Sternberg has been on the Council of Continuing Medical Education and is a multi-year delegate and counselor to the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, as well as a board member and past president of the Alabama Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians. 

As one of the longest serving emergency medicine student clerkship directors in the country, Sternberg is passionate about education. He has earned more than 30 teaching awards, including the Best Clinical Attending three times, Academic Teacher of the Year, and Clinical Instructor of the Year from the Whiddon College of Medicine, the Emergency Medicine Residency Program, and the Department of Physician Assistant Studies.

Sternberg said he is proud of the efforts taken by the medical society to support medical education, the Rapahope Children’s Retreat Foundation, the Medical Alliance of Mobile County, the Mobile County Health Department, and the Mobile Medical Museum. 

“As part of USA Health and the University of South Alabama, the Flagship of the Gulf Coast, I encourage greater membership and participation in this organization,” he said. “The benefits of membership including physician networking opportunities, social events, state representation, and service to our profession and community are well worth it.” 

The purpose of the Medical Society of Mobile County, founded in 1841, is to promote and develop the science of medicine, to conserve and protect the public health, and to promote the betterment of the medical profession. 

Internal medicine journal club revamped for better learning experience

Haris Manan, M.D., Sakteesh Veerabadhran Gurunathan, M.D., and Chris Bui, M.D., lead discussions at a recent journal club meeting.

Medical journal clubs have been a staple of medical education for quite some time, but recently Sakteesh Veerabadhran Gurunathan, M.D., a hospitalist at USA Health and assistant professor of internal medicine at the Whiddon College of Medicine, revamped the one for internal medicine residents.   

“I envisioned a more interactive format, emphasizing group discussion rather than a traditional lecture-based approach,” he said. “My goal was to ensure every resident actively participates and feels comfortable critically appraising research articles.”  

Sessions feature a faculty moderator and two to three residents who present a chosen paper of interest from medical journals. During the journal club meeting, the moderator facilitates the discussion and assists residents with formulating clinical questions or locating additional resources, if needed.  

All attendees are expected to review the articles in advance to facilitate a thoughtful discussion.  

“In today's era of prolific research publication, it's crucial for residents to develop the critical appraisal skills necessary to determine the clinical relevance and applicability of new findings in their practice," Gurunathan said. “I believe that journal clubs provide an invaluable platform for cultivating these skills, especially considering the demanding nature of residency training and the limited free time available to residents.”  

During the journal club meeting, faculty and resident attendees will provide a thorough critique of the resident’s presentation, assessing the scientific validity of the data and evaluating the robustness of the study's conclusions. Additionally, they will discuss the implications of the findings for clinical practice, considering both individual and departmental impacts. This collaborative discussion aims to enhance the understanding and application of evidence-based practices in patient care.  

“I am extremely encouraged by the enthusiasm and positive feedback I have received from the residents thus far,” Gurunathan said. “I sincerely hope we can continue to foster this valuable learning experience.”  

Haris Manan, M.D., and Chris Bui, M.D., both second-year residents who led a recent discussion, were quick to see the benefits.   

“Presenting at journal club has helped me sharpen my critical appraisal skills and deepen my understanding of current evidence-based practices,” Manan said. “It helps me stay in touch with new research and current management guidelines.”  

Bui agreed: “Journal club is important because it helps us stay up to date with the latest advancements in medicine in order to provide the best care for our patients.”