Whiddon COM faculty, alumni recognized at MASA annual session

The Medical Association of the State of Alabama (MASA) recognized alumni and faculty of the Whiddon College of Medicine at a special awards presentation during its annual session, recently held in Orange Beach.

Steven P. Furr, M.D.

Steven P. Furr, M.D., an alumnus and trustee of the University of South Alabama and a 1981 graduate of the Whiddon College of Medicine, received the William Jeff Terry Award, presented to a physician member of MASA in recognition of a medical career that has encompassed not only high ethical and professional standards but also outstanding leadership and advocacy. The award honors the memory of Terry, a former MASA president and chairman of Alabama's American Medical Association delegation at the time of his death in 2015. 

Furr is an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the Whiddon College of Medicine and was a recipient of the 50 People of Influence Award during the college’s 50th anniversary. 

Jennifer Young Pierce, M.D., MPH

Gynecologic oncologist Jennifer Young Pierce, M.D., MPH, received the Howard L. Holley Award, presented to an Alabama physician who has made a significant contribution to the understanding and appreciation of medicine through non-technical published or broadcast works. The award is named for the late author of “A History of Medicine in Alabama.”

Recognized for her work as host of The Cancering Show podcast, Pierce is a professor of interdisciplinary clinical oncology, director of the Division of Cancer Control and Prevention at the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute, and director of the Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program. 

Project Inspire, represented by its founders Antwan Hogue, M.D., and Ashley Williams Hogue, M.D., received the William Henry Sanders Award, presented to an outstanding person engaged in full-time public health work who has served above and beyond the call of duty. Created in 1966, the award honors Sanders, who served as Alabama's state health officer from 1896 to 1917.

Project Inspire is USA Health’s multi-week, hospital-based injury prevention program, which combines trauma center exposure, mentorship and career development. Hogue is a senior hospitalist, medical director of the Johnson Haynes Jr., M.D., Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, and an assistant professor of internal medicine. Williams Hogue is a trauma surgeon at University Hospital, director of the USA Center for Healthy Communities, and an assistant professor of surgery. 

“Receiving the William Henry Sanders Award for our work with Project Inspire is a reminder of how important each of our role is in making safer communities and a brighter future for our children,” said Hogue, who is also an alumnus of the Whiddon College of Medicine. “It not only makes me reflect on the lives that have been lost or impacted due to gun violence, but also gives me hope that our mission is not in vain as we focus on the lives we fight to protect.”

USA Health represented at national cardiology session

From left, USA Health cardiology fellows Celestine Odigwe, M.D., Sanchitha Honganur, M.D., Mohammad As Sayiadeh, M.D., Alexis Parks, M.D., and Brent Ruiz, M.D.

Five USA Health cardiology fellows and a second-year internal medicine resident recently attended the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2025 Scientific Session in Chicago. 

Brent Ruiz, M.D., Celestine Odigwe, M.D., Alexis Parks, M.D., Sanchitha Honganur, M.D., and Mohammad As Sayiadeh, M.D., all cardiology fellows, and internal medicine resident Usama Oguz, M.D., had the opportunity to present their original research and share some of their compelling clinical cases.  

“It was an amazing experience getting to present our research and engage with thought leaders in the field of cardiology,” Odigwe said. 

Usama Oguz, M.D., internal medicine resident

As reigning champions, Odigwe and Ruiz also represented the Alabama ACC chapter in the FIT Jeopardy competition, where they demonstrated impressive clinical knowledge and teamwork on a national stage. As the winning Alabama chapter team, USA Health sent two fellows in training (FIT) to compete at the national level.   

“Representing Alabama in FIT Jeopardy competition was a highlight,” Ruiz said. “It was challenging, fun, and a great way to bond with fellow fellows-in-training.” 

The conference serves as a platform for sharing groundbreaking research and an invaluable experience for professional growth. Opportunities there range from learning from cutting-edge clinical trial data to connecting with colleagues and mentors from across the country and around the world. 

“This conference not only gave us a stage to present our work,” Parks said, “but also exposed us to the latest clinical advancements that will shape the future of cardiology.” 

The American College of Cardiology, the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, and its more than 60,000 members worldwide, are 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. It is devoted to optimizing cardiovascular care and outcomes through science, knowledge and innovation.   

EDGE for Success focuses on professional development and personal branding

From left, Kaiesha Ford, Christopher Savell, Frank Lucas, Ed.D., Kathy Harden and Arrin Hines led the EDGE for Success session.

This week’s EDGE for Success session focused on personal branding, networking, and professional development — elements essential not just for individual growth, but for strengthening and elevating the Whiddon College of Medicine as a whole.

Led by Frank Lucas, Ed.D., director of student records and engagement, Office of Student Affairs, and EDGE Ambassador, the session encouraged participants to think critically about how they present themselves as professionals and how that presence supports the college’s mission. The session emphasized that refining resumes, CVs, and personal brands is not about seeking opportunities elsewhere, but it is about preparing to lead, serve, and contribute more fully within the Whiddon COM and across the broader academic and professional community.

Lucas was joined by Christopher Savell, medical informatics computer systems analyst II, Center for Strategic Health Innovation; Kathy Harden, secretary, Office of Faculty Affairs and Faculty Development; and Arrin Hines, immigration manager, Office of Immigration. This group created a meaningful space for reflection, growth and connection, reinforcing that our professional identities are a direct extension of our commitment to the college.

Participants explored the distinctions between resumes and CVs, learning how these tools serve as a record of impact and readiness for opportunities such as annual reviews, internal promotions, committee service, and leadership roles. These are tools of institutional engagement, helping ensure the contributions of Whiddon COM staff are visible, valued and aligned with the college’s pursuit of excellence.

A particularly impactful part of the session was led by guest speaker Kaiesha Ford, information technology professional and author, who shared her personal reflections on recovering from perfectionism and quieting the inner critic. Her message served as a powerful reminder that leadership is not about being flawless — it’s about embracing growth, showing up authentically, and leading with confidence. Her insights encouraged participants to see their value more clearly and to approach their work with self-compassion and purpose.

Reflecting on the session, Lucas shared, “Our professional growth isn’t just about personal success — it’s about elevating the entire College through the way we show up, serve, and lead. When we invest in refining our skills and clarifying our value, we’re not just building resumes; we’re building a stronger, more connected institution.”

Throughout the session, participants reflected on personal branding as owning their narrative, ensuring it highlights the strengths and values they contribute daily. Networking was framed as relationship-building, grounded in curiosity and a commitment to advancing the college’s mission. The session closed with a clear takeaway: professional development is not a path out, but a step deeper into leadership and service, embracing the role of ambassador to help move the Whiddon College of Medicine forward with dedication and purpose.

Sessums joins orthopaedic surgery faculty

Price Sessums, M.D.

USA Health has expanded its orthopaedic and sports medicine practices with the addition of Price Sessums, M.D., a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine physician. 

He will provide orthopaedic surgical care with a focus on sports medicine; arthroscopic surgery of the knee, shoulder, and hip; and shoulder arthroplasty. He will see patients at USA Health Sports Medicine on the Providence Hospital campus.

USA Health is the official provider of sports medicine services to the South Alabama Jaguars, many Mobile County public high schools, the Mobile Ballet and St. Luke’s Episcopal School. Sessums served as head team physician at Chickasaw High School in 2023 and Faith Academy in 2024.

“I bring with me the relationships developed with players, parents, athletic trainers and coaches from around the Mobile high school and college sports landscape,” he said. “I have had diverse orthopaedic training opportunities throughout the country covering sports ranging from Little League to Division I collegiate athletes.”

Sessums holds a faculty appointment as an assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at the Whiddon College of Medicine. “I look forward to working with, teaching and training orthopaedic surgery residents at USA Health,” he said.

A native of Brookhaven, Mississippi, Sessums earned his medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson. He completed residency training in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Florida / Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and a fellowship in orthopaedic sports medicine at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

He is an author of several publications and has presented orthopaedic-related research at regional and national conferences.

Sessums describes the field of orthopaedics – and specifically, sports medicine – as ever changing. “Keeping up with the latest surgical techniques and orthopaedic literature will continue to guide my practice both now and into the future,” he said.

Students present research and case reports at state conference

Jada Ashford presented a poster on pediatric gun violence at the conference.

The Whiddon College of Medicine was well represented at the Medical Association of the State of Alabama (MASA) annual session, held April 11-13 in Orange Beach.

Poster presentation winners included, back row, Kaitlyn

Riggins, second from left, and Jacob Holston, center.

A number of medical students presented their research and interesting case studies at the meeting, and two students took home awards for their poster presentations. The students collaborated on the projects with fellow medical students, Ph.D. students, resident physicians, and clinical and basic sciences faculty. 

First-year medical student Jacob Holston won first place for his summer research project on lung injury during pneumonia. He said it was an honor to represent the University of South Alabama and share their work at the conference. 

“Contributing to the understanding of a condition with such a high mortality rate was both humbling and rewarding. Winning first place in the poster presentations made the experience even more special,” Holston said. “I’m incredibly grateful for the mentorship and guidance of Dr. Ji Young Lee and Dr. Reece Stevens throughout this project.”

Kaitlyn Riggins, also a first-year medical student, took second place for her presentation on misinformation about birth control on TikTok. 

“In my generation, social media is a big part of how we interact with each other and how we consume information — especially health-related information,” Riggins said. “Being able to share my work on this topic was such a meaningful experience, and winning second place felt like a huge accomplishment. It reminded me that I can use my passion for communication to help improve the way information is shared and understood in healthcare, especially on social media platforms.”

Among the participants were Jada Ashford,

Brandon Schonour, Madison Hogans, Megan

Rasmussen, and Isabella Dinelli.

Third-year medical student Brandon Schonour presented a unique case report on varicella zoster virus pneumonia. He said the conference was an incredible opportunity to share his work with physicians and fellow medical students from across the state. 

“I was especially grateful for the chance to practice and strengthen my oral presentation skills in a professional setting,” Schonour said. “I also gained valuable insights from the diverse research being presented and appreciated learning more about ongoing efforts to advance patient care in Alabama. Presenting at the conference reinforced the importance of clinical curiosity and collaboration, and I’m thankful to have contributed to the dialogue."

Jada Ashford, a rising third-year medical student, presented a poster on a five-year analysis of pediatric gun violence trends along the Alabama and Mississippi Gulf Coast, using trauma registry data to explore demographic patterns, mechanisms of injury, and opportunities for prevention.

“Presenting at MASA was not only an academic milestone but also a deeply meaningful experience. I had the chance to speak with physicians across multiple specialties — trauma surgeons, pediatricians, family medicine doctors — each offering unique insights into how this public health crisis intersects with their clinical work,” Ashford said. “Those conversations reminded me how vital multidisciplinary collaboration is when addressing complex issues like firearm injury prevention.”

“I’m grateful to have shared this space with such an inspiring group of classmates and mentors!” she added.

Medical students, residents, basic medical sciences graduate students, and faculty from the University of South Alabama presented or contributed to the following abstracts at the conference: 

“Improving Cancer Outcomes through Personalized Care Planning and Symptom Management”
Presenting Author: Rachel Cotter (M2)
Additional Authors: Jennifer Young Pierce, M.D., MPH.; Chelsea McGowen, M.S.

“Substance Abuse and Fulminant Withdrawal in a Pregnant Patient with Severe Pulmonary Hypertension”
Presenting Author: Ryan Ford (M3)
Additional Authors: Brian Gelpi, M.D.; Melinda Goslawski, M.D.

“Varicella Zoster Virus Pneumonia”
Presenting Author: Brandon Schonour (M3)

“Pacemaker lead perforation and the various presentations”
Presenting Author: Jeremie Bourget, D.O. (PGY3)

“Faulty Footing: A Rare Case of Talar Insufficiency Fracture”
Presenting Author: Isabella Dinelli (M3)

“Navigating Perioperative Pediatric Challenges with Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome and Unexpected Polysubstance Exposure”
Presenting Author: Noel Godang (M2)

“Survival of Growth-Restricted Newborns at the Lower Limits of Viability”
Presenting Author: Priscilla Agyemang (M1)

“The Impact of the SmartBX System on Prostate Cancer Detection” 
Presenting Author: Hridhay Sheth (M2)
Additional Authors: Christopher Keel, D.O.; Charu Shastri, M.D. (PGY2); Christian Manganti, M.D. (PGY1)

“Carbonic Anhydrase IX Increases Lung Permeability but Does Not Affect Bacterial Clearance During Pneumonia”
Presenting Author: Jacob Holston (M1)
Additional Author: Reece Stevens, Ph.D. 

“Evaluating the Role of Discipline-Specific Liaisons and Board Membership in Enhancing Interdisciplinary Participation at a Student-Run Free Clinic”
Presenting Author: Megan Rasmussen (M3)
Additional Authors: Isabella Dinelli (M3); Qays Aljabi (M3); Thomas Robinson (M3)

“Trends of Pediatric Gun Violence Along the Alabama and Mississippi Gulf Coast: A 5-Year Retrospective Analysis”
Presenting Author: Jada Ashford (M3)
Additional Authors: Benjamin E. Cockrell (M4); Ali A. Albalakhi (M2); Caleb Butts, M.D.; Jon Simmons, M.D.; Yann-Leei Lee, M.D.; Maryann Mbaka, M.D.

“Permitless Carry Laws and Firearms-Related Injuries at a Level I Trauma Center”
Presenting Author: Jay Herrin (M2)
Additional Authors: Lee Givens (M2); Chase Jordan (M2); Maryann Mbaka, M.D.; Yann-Leei Lee, M.D.; Steven Miller, M.D.; Thomas Capassi, M.D.; Christopher Kinnard, M.D.; Andrew Bright, D.O.; Ashley Williams, M.D.; Nathan Polite, D.O.; Jon Simmons, M.D.

“Patient and Pathogen Diversity in Urinary Tract Infections” 
Presenting Authors: Maddison Hill (M1)
Additional Authors: Sicily Hardy (Ph.D. student); Ryan Walde, M.D. (PGY4)

“Research Productivity of Successfully-Matched Ophthalmology Applicants from Medical Schools With and Without an Ophthalmology Home Program”
Presenting Author: Sridhar Karne (M3)
Additional Authors: Qays Aljab (M3); Mariam Omar (M2); Ali Albalakhi (M2); George Chen (M2); Harris Bolus (M3)

“The Prevalence and Effect of Misinformation About Birth Control on TikTok”
Presenting Author: Kaitlyn Riggins (M1)
Additional Author: Jung Hwa Choi, Ph.D.

“Time to Revascularization and Clinical Outcomes in Acute Limb Ischemia”
Presenting Author: Jensen Hammons (M2)

“Implementing Health-Equity Checklists in OB/GYN Outpatient Care”
Presenting Author: Brianna Gilner (M2)
Additional Author: Candice Holliday, J.D., M.D.

“Characterizing the Success of the Difficult Catheter Insertion Protocol”
Presenting Author: Abby Castillo (M2)
Additional Author: Christian Manganti, M.D. (PGY1)

“Antibiotic Impregnated Calcium Sulphate Beads in Spine Surgery: An Analysis of 61 Consecutive Patients”
Presenting Author: Charles Ogles (M2)
Additional Authors: Richard Menger M.D.; Garrett Dyess (M1); Ryan Mumford (M2); Adnan Shahid, M.D. (PGY8); Maxon Bassett (M3); Danner Butler (M4)

“Post-Intubation Hypotension in Isolated Traumatic Brain Injury”
Presenting Author: Chase Jordan (M2)
Additional Authors: Jay Herrin (M2); Lee Givens (M2); Yann-Leei Larry Lee M.D.; Steven Miller M.D.; Thomas Capasso, M.D.; Maryann Mbaka, M.D.; Christopher Kinnard, M.D.; Andrew C. Bright, D.O.; Ashley Williams, M.D.; Nathan Polite, D.O.; Jon Simmons, M.D.

“The Impact of Psychosocial Factors on Ovarian Cancer Patient Outcomes” 
Presenting Author: Victoria Pitruzzello (M2)

“Genomic Landscapes and Prognostic Signatures in Endometrial Cancer”
Presenting Author: Joseph Tucker (M2)
Additional Authors: Victoria Pitruzzello (M2)

“Barriers and Enablers to Integrating Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) in a Primary Care Student-Run Free Clinic”
Presenting Author: Isabella Dinelli (M3)
Additional Authors: Thomas Robinson (M3); Roger Smith (M2); Rogan Sullivan, MPH (M2), Christopher Musselwhite, M.D.

“Analyzing Follow-Up Rates and Visit Patterns Among Patients at a Student-Run Free Clinic”
Presenting Author: Thomas Robinson (M3)
Additional Authors: Isabella Dinelli (M3); Rogan Sullivan, MPH (M2); Roger Smith (M2); Allen Perkins, M.S. (M3)

“Resistance Exercise Elicits Sex-Specific Improvements in Cognition But Not Brain Blood Flow”
Presenting Author: Christian Cooper (M2)
Additional Authors: Genevieve B. Batman; Nicholas R. Cooper; Miranda K. Traylor; Kyndall V. Ransom; Benjamin D. Hill, Ph.D.

“Tube Thoracostomy Output and Likelihood of Complications After Removal”
Presenting Author: Lee Givens (M2)
Additional Authors: C. Caleb Butts, M.D.; Chase Jordan (M2); Jay Herrin (M2)

“ChatGPT-4 Omni Performance in USMLE Disciplines and Clinical Skills: Comparative Analysis”
Additional Authors: Danner Butler (M4); Garrett Dyess (M1)

Medical Alumni Association fuels future leaders in medicine

Medical students grab some coffee at the MAA-sponsored event.

Romsel Ang, M.D., left, hosted the event

with the MAA.

On April 8, the USA Medical Alumni Association (MAA) and Romsel Ang, M.D., ’01, an MAA board member and internal medicine physician with USA Health, hosted a complimentary coffee and treat bar for M.D. and Ph.D. students at the Whiddon College of Medicine. 

More than 80 students stopped by to grab a morning treat and recharge during a busy week. 

"Events like these are one of the many ways the MAA supports the next generation of physicians and medical researchers," said Haley Chancey, assistant director of medical alumni relations. "Thank you to everyone who joined us!"