At the symposium, rising fourth-year medical students present posters outlining interesting, rare or novel case studies observed during their third-year rotations. The event also is an opportunity for students to present independent projects.
The case reports are judged based on originality, strength of conclusions, quality of references, overall appearance, organization and topic.
For more information about the symposium, contact Olivia Grace Brookins at ogb2221@jagmail.southalabama.edu.
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| Harris Bolus presents a poster at the meeting. |
Bolus’ research investigated Jordan Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder affecting RNA proteins called phosphatases. People with this syndrome experience symptoms such as epilepsy, developmental delays, and are often on the autism spectrum. Currently, little is known about phosphatases and their function.
Bolus worked with Richard E. Honkanen, Ph.D., professor and chair of biochemistry and molecular biology, to learn about bioinformatics. Bioinformatics focuses on biological data analysis and statistics. Honkanen’s work incorporates biostats and computer science.
They used CRISPR-based technology to make models of the syndrome and create datasets to understand the models. The technology allows them to modify specific DNA sequences, ensuring greater accuracy in the datasets.
“It was such an honor to present at this meeting because it was an opportunity to meet physicians and medical students from all over the country,” Bolus said. “I was able to catch up with a few friends who happened to be there, make new ones, and talk to faculty from multiple residency programs. I also got valuable feedback on my presentation, thoughts on my project, advocacy opportunities and career advice.”
The meeting included interactive educational sessions that proved enjoyable for Bolus. “It also added a layer of excitement to my decision to go into internal medicine,” he said. “Conferences like this are just another aspect of internal medicine that I'm looking forward to in my career.”
The American College of Physicians is a prestigious organization that recognizes specialists from the internal medicine field and strives to improve patient care. In the future, Bolus plans to apply for internal medicine residencies and is considering a specialty in hematology/oncology.
“My undergraduate lab left me with a love for genetics and cell biology, as well as a taste of how important biostatistics could be in those fields,” said Bolus. “Programming was one of the hobbies I picked up in my gap years, and coming into medical school I was excited to find ways to apply it to open problems in medical research.”
Bolus was able to attend thanks to funding from the Whiddon College of Medicine and the Office of Student Affairs. He encourages fellow medical students to take these opportunities to attend national meetings. “If it’s intimidating to go to a national meeting where you don’t know anyone, keep in mind that medical associations often have local chapters with their own smaller meetings,” he said. “If you go to these, you are highly likely to see familiar faces at the national counterpart.”
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| Administration and staff celebrate the end of a successful year at the Whiddon College of Medicine. |
A highlight of the event was a prize drawing made possible by supporters from the community: Dew Drop Inn, Bop's Frozen Custard, Cammie's Old Dutch Ice Cream Shoppe, Flowers by James, Geiger, Knot Just Pretzels, Maple Street Biscuit Company, Foosackly's, Dana & Friends Pet Grooming, Fleet Feet, Taco Mama, Bienville Souvenir & Gifts, The Blind Butcher Shoppe, Rich's Car Wash, Dodge's Southern Style, Scrubs by Zoghby's, Stokley Garden Express Midtown, University of South Alabama Foundation, South Alabama Softball, Jag Gals, USA Health, and USA Health Dermatology.
Your membership helps strengthen alumni connections and student engagement across the Whiddon College of Medicine. As a thank you, lifetime members receive a discount on Reunion Weekend registration each year.
Learn more or join now: connect.southalabama.edu/page/maamemberships.
Questions about your current status? Contact medalum@southalabama.edu.
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| Medical students Destyni Newson, MPH, and Grace Sekaya present a poster at the conference. |
Casey Daniel, Ph.D., MPH, director of epidemiology and public health, and associate professor of family medicine; Alyssa Lee, MPH, research assistant; and medical students Grace Sekaya and Destyni Newson, MPH, who are part of the Primary Care Pathway program, represented USA Health at the landmark event. The conference brought together healthcare professionals from across the country to share knowledge and collaborate on advancing efforts in human papillomavirus (HPV) prevention and education.
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| Alyssa Lee, MPH, and Casey Daniel, Ph.D., MPH |
The presentation highlighted the importance of HPV vaccination in underserved communities and sought to better understand how parental knowledge, attitudes, and intentions influence vaccination rates.
HPV is a significant public health concern, as it is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. More than 13 million new infections occur each year, and approximately 36,000 cancer cases are attributed to HPV annually across multiple types, including cervical, oropharyngeal, anal, penile, vulvar and vaginal cancers.
The HPV vaccine, which is recommended for individuals ages 9 through 26, offers a safe and effective means of preventing HPV infection and subsequent cancer development. Adults up to age 45 may also receive the vaccine in consultation with their healthcare provider. By increasing HPV vaccination rates, healthcare professionals aim to reduce the incidence of these preventable cancers and improve overall public health.
The National HPV Conference seeks to foster networking, resource sharing, and cross-collaboration among healthcare providers and researchers. The conference featured 430 attendees, 136 educational sessions, and 135 speakers.
To learn more about MCI’s cancer control and prevention initiatives, visit usamci.com. For more information on the National HPV Conference, visit nhpvc.org.
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| Richard Menger, M.D., MPA, presents at the conference. |
The event was hosted by the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS), of which Menger is an active fellow. IMAST brings together top spine surgeons, researchers, and healthcare professionals from around the world to discuss the latest advancements in spine surgery.
In his presentation, “Use of a Novel Screw Fusion Implant for Pelvic Fixation: Results from a Prospective Multicenter Trial,” Menger shared findings from a collaborative study focused on reducing complications in spine surgery, particularly at the lumbosacral junction — the complex area where the spine connects to the pelvis. This region is notoriously difficult to treat and has a high risk of failure in long-term spinal fusion surgeries. The novel screw fusion implant evaluated in the trial has shown the potential to improve fixation strength and durability, leading to better outcomes for patients.
“When we treat spine issues near the pelvis, we're often working with patients who have faced multiple surgeries, chronic pain, or complex conditions,” said Menger. “This research is a step toward improving their recovery and reducing complications. I am deeply grateful for all the co-collaborators in the study and for our research staff here at USA who actually made this possible.”
The IMAST 2025 conference showcased the latest in spine technologies and treatments. Leading experts explored how artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other cutting-edge tools can help improve patient outcomes. The event also highlighted minimally invasive techniques, motion-preserving surgery, and new strategies to avoid complications in spine surgery, particularly for both adult and adolescent spinal deformities.
IMAST is one of the most influential conferences in the field, attracting a diverse group of professionals — including spine surgeons, nurses, physician assistants, and biomedical engineers — all united by their commitment to advancing spine care.
Menger’s participation in IMAST underscores USA Health's dedication to being at the forefront of innovative, patient-centered care. His involvement in the SRS highlights the ongoing collaboration between experts working to develop safer, more effective techniques in complex spine surgery.
To learn more about IMAST or SRS, visit srs.org.
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| WiM-EM aims to encourage leadership among women in emergency medicine. |
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WiM-EM met at TopGolf last September to establish the group's name and vision. |
WiM-EM’s inaugural year featured two successful events: a kickoff gathering last September at TopGolf, where members established the group’s name and vision, and an April 2025 luncheon at Slurp Society that included a thoughtful discussion on microaggressions and professional development planning. These events have laid the groundwork for ongoing quarterly meetings and future initiatives, including hosting a lecture on leadership open to all residents and faculty.
According to Molins, the group’s vision for 2025-2026 includes expanding mentorship, building interdepartmental collaborations, increasing medical student engagement, and exploring creative avenues such as a book club. She said WiM-EM recognizes both the challenges and opportunities in this space and is committed to building a culture of support, respect and growth.
The MERC program provides educators with essential knowledge to understand, evaluate, and participate in medical education research, becoming both informed consumers of research literature and valuable research collaborators.
David Williams, Ph.D., MPA, assistant dean for institutional and academic success at the Whiddon College of Medicine, said, “The MERC program gave me practical tools to connect educational research skills with the expanding scope of scholarship at the Whiddon COM — helping us study and improve teaching, learning, and assessment across the medical education continuum.”
Workshop Schedule
Aug. 14, 2025: Searching and Evaluating Literature
Develop strategies for effectively navigating and evaluating medical education literature.
Sept. 11, 2025: Formulating Research Questions
Create FINER research questions (feasible, interesting, novel, ethical, relevant) and appropriate research designs.
Oct. 9, 2025: Introduction to Qualitative Data
Gain skills for conducting focus groups, interviews, and collecting observational data.
Nov. 13, 2025: Questionnaire Design/Survey Research
Create effective surveys with well-constructed questions and appropriate response formats.
December 2025: No session
Jan. 8, 2026: Measuring Educational Outcomes
Master reliability and validity concepts in educational measurement.
Feb. 12, 2026: Data Management
Learn to collect, organize, and clean data while effectively communicating with statisticians.
March 12, 2026: Program Evaluation
Develop systematic evaluation plans for educational programs.
April 9, 2026: Scholarly Writing
Analyze components of successful scholarly publications and improve writing skills.
May 14, 2026: Symposium
The program concludes with a symposium at which participants can showcase their learning and research interests.
This program is ideal for:
To express interest, contact Amanda Arnold at akarnold@southalabama.edu.