USA Health cardiology fellow selected for prestigious skills course

Cardiology fellows from around the United States participated in the skills course.

Celestine Odigwe, M.D., was selected as one of 20 cardiology fellows from around the country to participate in the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Educator: Fundamental Skills course in Washington, D.C. 

The prestigious class provides fellows-in-training the opportunity to enhance their presentation skills in teaching materials through practice and feedback. The course also helps cardiology fellows seeking to attain accreditation. The selection process was highly competitive with selection committee members basing their choices on professional accomplishments and impact on education.  

Celestine Odigwe, M.D.

Odigwe is in the second year of his cardiology fellowship with USA Health and the Whiddon College of Medicine. He said he is seeking to develop his educational curriculum and his delivery as an educator. 

“As a cardiology fellow, I recognize the critical role that effective communication and education play to members of the care team and patients,” Odigwe said. “By refining my teaching skills, I aim to ensure that we continue to deliver quality education in [an] engaging and exciting way while making use of available cutting-edge technology.” 

The course was also a great way to network with peers who share a passion for medicine and learn from the most experienced professionals, he said. Networking is crucial in this field because it allows for professional development by providing opportunities for collaboration in research and clinical practice. The course allowed for insightful conversations with a diverse group of professionals, which helps establish a new perspective on patient care and education.  

“I was honored and excited to be selected from such a distinguished group of candidates,” Odigwe said. “It was both a recognition of my efforts thus far and an opportunity to grow in areas that are essential to my career goals.” 

The American College of Cardiology, the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team and its 56,000 members, is dedicated to transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health. The organization provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions.   

Student interest groups participate in USA Walk Against Eating Disorders

With the aim of raising awareness of eating disorders and recovery opportunities on campus, the University of South Alabama held the second annual Walk Against Eating Disorders on Feb. 15. 

“The number of college students struggling with eating disorders has been steadily increasing with studies indicating that up to 20% of students experience disordered eating behaviors at some point during their academic journey,” said John Friend, Ph.D., director of the University Counseling and Wellness Center. “At the University of South Alabama, that would be an estimated 2,800 students struggling with disordered eating. This event is dedicated to helping our students live a life of freedom.”

The event included an appearance by President Jo Bonner, who handed out eating disorder awareness buttons, SouthPaw, Miss Pawla, and Miss University of South Alabama. Participants walked a lap around the intramural fields in solidarity of fighting eating disorders. The event also hosted a scale smash and other activities and giveaways.

Additionally, two Whiddon College of Medicine student interest groups hosted tables at the event to provide support and increase awareness of eating disorders. 

The Family Medicine Interest Group hosted

a table at the event.

“It’s exciting to see our medical students have a presence at the USA Walk Against Eating Disorders,” said Becky Smith, Ph.D., health and wellness counselor at the Whiddon College of Medicine. “What a great opportunity for our future physicians to engage with the university community and spread awareness of eating disorders and how they can help those struggling.” 

The Family Medicine Interest Group, hosted by Amber Mathus, Priscilla Agyemang, and Veronica Sanders, provided snacks and a basket where participants could answer anonymously, “What do you wish doctors knew about eating disorders?”

The Culinary Arts and Lifestyle Medicine (CALM) interest group, hosted by Rachael Motamed and H. Lien Inman, taught participants how to make origami cranes. The crane represents resilience, healing, and strength. As participants folded their paper into cranes, they engaged in dialogue of the importance of awareness of healthy eating habits and reminding individuals of their resilience and strength in overcoming eating disorders. 

The Culinary Arts and Lifestyle

Medicine interest group taught 

participants to make paper cranes.

“I think CALM representation at this event is crucial as this connection bridges the gap between food, health, and recovery,” Motamed said. “Our group promotes a balanced, non-restrictive mindset to nutrition, encouraging a positive relationship with food, and our intentional emphasis on nourishment over restriction fosters a sustainable, healing-centered mindset that promotes both physical and mental well-being. As a future physician, I want to endorse the concept that food is not the enemy but a source of joy, connection, and empowerment in recovery.”

Conversations surrounding eating disorders are extremely important in the medical field, especially with the presence of implicit weight bias. “Lifestyle medicine has the goal of encouraging healthy eating and exercise,” Inman said, “but it is vital to be mindful that unhealthy diet culture is pervasive and damaging. As physicians we need to be intentional about our language and lifestyle coaching to encourage patients to live healthy lives both physically and mentally.”

Medical students present at SMA Physicians-in-Training Leadership Conference

From left, Benjamin Loftis, Mary Faragalla, Kelly Blacksher, Aimee Knott, Christian Cooper, Megan Rasmussen, and Charles Ogles presented oral and poster presentations at the conference.

Seven second- and third-year medical students from the Whiddon College of Medicine presented research and interesting cases at the Southern Medical Association Physicians-in-Training Leadership Conference, held Feb. 7-9 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. 

The conference provides opportunities for medical students and residents to present their research through abstract competitions for cash awards, participate in hands-on workshops and interactive activities designed for interprofessional learning, and network with colleagues from other medical schools and residency programs.

Benjamin Loftis, a third-year medical student, serves on the conference committee and was instrumental in getting fellow students involved. He took second place for his oral presentation and won $1,000. Oral presentations were followed by a Q&A session, allowing for valuable discussion and engagement. 

“I believe this conference is one of the best opportunities for students to refine their presentation skills and build meaningful connections with peers from other institutions,” Loftis said. “USA had a strong presence, with many students presenting their work.”

Third-year medical student Aimee Knott took second place for her poster presentation and also won $1,000. Her poster detailed a pediatric case about a rare genetic abnormality, a 6p chromosomal duplication. She discussed some of the barriers to diagnosis and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in the coordination of complex care. 

“It was a case that was easy to get excited about, though it was my first conference presentation, and I have more than a little public speaking anxiety,” Knott said. “But this conference turned out to be the best place for me to work on it, as I was surrounded by support from current friends, new friends, and really wonderful people who helped build my confidence. It was an awesome experience, and I really look forward to future conferences and opportunities to meet new people and grow as a physician alongside my peers.”

Students presented the following presentations: 

• Kelly Blacksher – “Unspoken pain: Navigating self-injurious behavior in a non-verbal patient with MELAS” 
• Christian Cooper – “Assessing patient ability to accurately determine costs of spine surgery and imaging: An evaluation of the 2021 Hospital Price Transparency Final Rule in Alabama” 
• Mary Fargalla – “Improving diabetes screening rate at MCHD Family Health Semmes Clinic”  
• Aimee Knott – “A case report of an emerging phenotype associated with 6p chromosomal duplication” 
• Benjamin Loftis – “A rare presentation of epiphyseal stippling in a neonate with a likely pathogenic CASR mutation” 
• Charles Ogles – “Assessing price transparency features of Alabama hospitals: A cross-sectional policy evaluation” 
• Megan Rasmussen – “The effect of cadmium exposure on microsatellite instability (MSI) and gene expression in HEK293 cells” 

Mary Faragalla, a third-year medical student, said, “My key takeaway from the experience was recognizing the value of research by exploring diverse projects and their unique focuses, engaging with students from other institutions, and taking pride in representing USA at the conference.” 

Third-year medical student Kelly Blacksher reflected, “I got the opportunity to present my research, better my public speaking skills, and ultimately have a blast cheering on my classmates.” 

Physicians and students engage in Honest Conversations

Students, faculty and staff attend the Honest Conversations panel discussion at the Whiddon College of Medicine.

The Wellness Council and Gold Humanism Honor Society hosted the third annual Honest Conversations panel discussion on Feb. 17. The event served as an opportunity to openly discuss the difficulties that medical professionals face. 

“The heart behind Honest Conversations is simply that: having an honest conversation about mental health, burnout, and the challenges physicians experience,” said Becky Smith, Ph.D., health and wellness counselor at the Whiddon College of Medicine. “These topics are often uncomfortable and difficult to talk about, yet so important to discuss. This event creates a safe space and opportunity for a panel of physicians that the students admire, respect, and idolize to come and share their own personal experiences of navigating these issues.”

Panelists for the event were Melissa Goslawski, M.D., assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology; Brandy Merritt, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics; Maryann Mbaka, M.D., assistant professor of surgery; and Lorie Fleck, M.D., associate professor of urology.

Students were able to pre-submit questions, and the moderator helped facilitate those questions during the discussion. Students were also invited to ask questions throughout the event. 

“This is our third year hosting this event, and we always have excellent physician panelists that are vulnerable and share real-life experiences and advice in navigating mental health, burnout, and the ups and downs of medicine,” Smith said.

Medical student selected for esteemed Otolaryngology Future Scholars Program

LouAnn Crosby

Second-year medical student LouAnn Crosby has been selected for the highly competitive Otolaryngology Future Scholars Program at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

As one of only five medical student-scholars nationwide, Crosby will participate in the immersive program May 19-23, gaining early exposure to the field of otolaryngology through clinical observation, research engagement, and professional development.

Crosby’s passion for otolaryngology is deeply personal. “As someone born hard-of-hearing, I've experienced firsthand how ENT care can impact lives,” she shared. “This opportunity at the University of Minnesota represents not just recognition of past work, but a path forward to help me reach my goals and contribute to a field that has personally impacted me. I look forward to joining my fellow scholars this May and bringing together my academic dedication and personal experiences.”

The Otolaryngology Future Scholars Program is designed to introduce first- and second-year medical students to the specialty, particularly those from institutions without an otolaryngology residency program. The program provides scholars with hands-on experience in the operating room and clinic, exposure to ongoing otolaryngology research, and mentorship on residency applications and interview skills. 

In addition to professional training, scholars will take part in community-building social events, offering insight into life at the University of Minnesota and fostering connections with faculty, residents and fellow students.

Crosby’s selection highlights the excellence, ambition and leadership of Whiddon College of Medicine students, who consistently stand out academically, professionally, and in competitive specialties. Her achievement reflects the strength of the institution’s medical education, which prepares future physicians to excel in clinical practice, research and leadership.