USA Health welcomes Bradley as new chief of geriatrics

Jerry Bradley, M.D., Ed.D., M.Div.

By Milena Mata

USA Health recently broadened its geriatric, hospice and palliative care with the addition of Jerry Bradley, M.D., Ed.D., M.Div., a hospitalist who specializes in elder and end-of-life treatment. He will serve as chief of the geriatrics division in the Department of Internal Medicine.  

“I enjoy connecting with families while helping them through challenging moments in their lives,” Bradley said. “Whether it is a new diagnosis of dementia or confronting end-of-life care transitions, this specialty provides an opportunity to practice impactful medicine in a meaningful and fulfilling way.”  

Prior to joining USA Health, Bradley completed a fellowship in geriatric, hospice, and palliative medicine at the University of Miami/Jackson Health System.

He earned his medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He later completed his residency at the University of Louisville-Owensboro in Owensboro, Kentucky, where he specialized in family medicine.  

During his career, Bradley also served in the U.S. Navy as a medical officer for seven years until 2020.  

An advocate for mental health, Bradley earned a Doctor of Education degree in community care and counseling with a focus in traumatology from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. He wrote a dissertation on the impact of a program on improving mental health screening and prevention in outpatient military health clinics. He has received several awards for clinical process improvement programs.  

As an assistant professor of internal medicine and family medicine at the Whiddon College of Medicine, Bradley is proud to join the region’s only academic health system. “Working in academic medicine allows me to improve the quality of care for my patients through innovative system design and research,” he said.  

While deeply passionate about medicine, Bradley also has an expansive educational background in engineering, theology and business. A lifelong learner, he has earned advanced degrees in healthcare systems engineering and theological studies and is working on two more in business administration and science.

Additionally, Bradley earned a Master of Divinity from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia, making him an ordained minister, and a Master of Healthcare Systems Engineering from John Hopkins University in Baltimore. He is currently pursuing a second doctorate degree at Liberty University Rawlings School of Divinity. He says all the fields of study interconnect to help him improve patient care. 

“Each of these degrees helps me serve my patients better and improve the quality of care,” Bradley said. “The training was one of the reasons why I have been able to develop and build programs for quality improvement initiatives.” 

Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Bradley is a member of the American Academy of Family Practice and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.  

He will see patients at University Hospital and the Stanton Road Clinic. To make an appointment, call 251-471-7207. 

Smith promoted to director of health and wellness at Whiddon COM

Becky Smith, Ph.D.

When Becky Smith, Ph.D., joined the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine in early 2021 as its first full-time health and wellness counselor, students were still navigating the uncertainty and strain of the pandemic. In just a few years, she has helped strengthen and expand wellness initiatives across the college — work that has now led to her promotion as director of health and wellness.

For Smith, wellness is more than a program; it’s an essential part of medical education.

“I firmly believe you cannot give what you do not have,” she said. “What you learn and practice now will become your disciplines in the future. Equipping our students to foster their own wellness is critical to helping them find greater life satisfaction, success, and enjoyment in their work, both now as physicians in training and later as full providers in the community.”

Medical school is inherently rigorous and demanding, Smith said, and without a foundation in wellness, students can easily become overwhelmed. By teaching them how to balance the pressures of training with personal needs and life stressors, she hopes to prepare future physicians to thrive not only in their careers but also in their personal lives.

As she steps into her new role, Smith is expanding initiatives that emphasize wellness as a collective effort across the college. 

“One initiative is shifting the focus of wellness being one office to a shared responsibility at the Whiddon COM and the important contributions of our interdisciplinary team,” she said. “We already have so many faculty and staff supporting and encouraging the wellness programming in place. I hope to highlight those contributions and increase opportunities for more collaboration.”

This year, the M1 and M2 Lunch & Learn curriculum grew to include sessions led by faculty such as LoRen Modisa, Ed.D., MPA, and Tiquera Hall, Ph.D., MPA, from the Office of Health Advancement, who spoke on professional identity formation, and Peyton McElroy, Ph.D., from the Division of Medical Education, who shared on the humanities and medicine.

Collaboration has also extended into the M3 Rx for Resilience curriculum, in which McElroy facilitated a neurology session on the ethics of wellness, and Modisa led a psychiatry session on fostering healthy team dynamics. “I hope to continue inviting key faculty into this curriculum to model to our students that wellness is a shared goal and how different members of the Whiddon COM team contribute and support their wellness,” Smith said.

Laventrice Ridgeway, Ed.D., associate dean of student affairs at the Whiddon COM, said Smith is well-versed in the nuances of counseling medical students, having worked directly in a medical program since 2019. “This experience lends to her vision for mental health and wellness at the Whiddon COM and her ability to expand our programming in a meaningful way,” he said. “Given her significant contributions to not only wellness efforts but the Whiddon COM as a whole, Dr. Smith's leadership is undeniable and will continue bringing distinction with her new title.”

The Whiddon COM wellness program has earned attention beyond campus, with other medical schools reaching out to learn from its approach. For Smith, this is both gratifying and motivating.

“We have a unique, innovative, and robust wellness program that we are continually improving and expanding,” she said. “I am proud of the program that I have been able to build and collaborate with my colleagues at the Whiddon COM and be leaders in the field.”

Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Georgia and a Master of Education in clinical mental health counseling from Auburn University. She went on to earn her Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision from Ohio University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor by the Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling and a National Certified Counselor by the National Board for Certified Counselors. 

Graduate students recognized for top academic performance

Christopher Davies, Ph.D., center, presents the Edwin R.

Hughes Memorial Award to Angela Russ, left, and

Sicily Hardy.

Sicily Hardy and Angela Russ, both second-year students in the Basic Medical Sciences Graduate Program at the Whiddon College of Medicine, were named the recipients of the Edwin R. Hughes Memorial Award for the 2024-2025 academic year. The annual award, presented at the beginning of each fall semester, recognizes the students with the best academic performance in the program’s core curriculum. 

Christopher Davies, Ph.D., associate dean for research at the Whiddon College of Medicine, presented Hardy and Russ with the award and plaque at the meet and greet for new students on Aug. 15. 

Hardy, who earned her bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences at the University of South Alabama, decided to continue her education at South after working in the lab of Allyson Shea, Ph.D., assistant professor of microbiology and immunology.

“The environment and valuable mentorship made me feel this was the right place to continue my academic and professional growth,” Hardy said. “At South I've had so many incredible mentors, and I felt it would be a mistake to leave when I could continue building on that foundation here.”

She described her first year in the program as challenging and rewarding. “The coursework was rigorous, but I learned more than just the material for exams. I became a better critical thinker and learned to approach problems from different perspectives by the end of the year,” she said. “I always felt supported by staff and professors.”

Hardy is in the graduate program’s Infectious Disease and Host Defense track under Shea’s mentorship. Her research focuses on how riboside pyridones influence host-pathogen interactions and contribute to infection susceptibility. 

Receiving the award, she said, was especially meaningful. “It was validating to have my hard work recognized, especially given the challenging coursework and the many hours of studying last year.”

Russ, who earned her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from USA, joined the Biomedical Engineering and Bioinformatics track of the graduate program. She is working under the mentorship of Mark Gillespie, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology, with research centered on DNA base damage and modifications.

“South has a great environment for collaboration and supportive faculty that help students develop the skills they need for whatever career path they want to pursue,” Russ said.

Coming from a background outside of the biomedical sciences, Russ said she had to put in extra hours to fill in the gaps. “It was a great feeling to be in a program I was passionate about, though, and to know that everything I was studying would help me build a foundation in this field,” she said.

Russ said she is honored and proud to receive the award. “After putting in so much work to adapt to a new field,” she said, “it feels great to come out the other side and to know that it all worked out.”

The award is named in memory of Edwin R. Hughes, M.D., who served as director of the Basic Medical Sciences Graduate Program at the College of Medicine from its inception in 1978 until 1990.

USA Health Game Day shirts available to order

Get ready for USA Health Game Day 2025! The annual employee appreciation event is set for Tuesday, Oct. 14, when the South Alabama Jaguars take on the Arkansas State Red Wolves. The game will kick off at 6:30 p.m. at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the USA campus.  

USA Health employees and volunteers, and Whiddon College of Medicine employees and students are each eligible to receive two free tickets to the football game. Registrants will also receive two wristbands to attend the tailgate event, catered by Sonny's BBQ, which begins at 4:30 p.m.  

T-shirts are now available to order online through Promotional Designs: promo-designs.com/product/game-day-long-sleeve-shirt. The shirt features USA Health’s updated core values statement: “Our TEAMS deliver SAFE, RELIABLE, PATIENT-CENTERED care patients can TRUST.”   

The deadline to order T-shirts is Tuesday, Sept. 16. They will be available for pickup at the location selected beginning Oct. 2. A very limited number of shirts will be available for cash purchase at hospital gift shops.  

More information on USA Health Game Day registration and tailgate event to come. Go Jags! 

Grelet receives prestigious $1.8 million MERIT Award from NIH

The Grelet lab team, from left, Andrew Parton, undergraduate biology student; Shila Gilbert, lab technician and manager; Simon Grelet, Ph.D., assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology; Lizzy Davis, biomedical sciences graduate student; and Greg Hoover, lab technician.

By Carol McPhail

Simon Grelet, Ph.D., an assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the Whiddon College of Medicine, has received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award of $1.8 million for five years. The prestigious R37 grant is designed to provide long-term funding support to investigators whose research competence and productivity are distinctly superior and who are highly likely to continue to perform in an outstanding manner. 

Grelet’s award will support his research efforts to understand the contribution of the nervous system in promoting cancer progression, with a focus on the role of the nerve-cancer transfer of mitochondria in promoting cancer metastasis. He and his team will work to identify the key mediators involved in the transfers and assess the impact of inhibiting this process on cancer progression. 

“Our project investigates how cancer-infiltrating nerves transfer their mitochondria to breast cancer cells, leading to increased metabolism of cancer cells, signaling changes, and dissemination of cancer cells to distal sites,” said Grelet, who conducts research at the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute. “We aim to uncover the underlying mechanisms and consequences of inhibiting these transfers to aid the future development of novel approaches that inhibit cancer metastasis.” 

Richard E. Honkanen, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Whiddon College of Medicine, called the award “a tremendous honor.” 

Honkanen pointed out that researchers cannot apply for MERIT awards directly. Rather, an investigator must first submit an R01 grant application, and the NIH program staff and the National Advisory Board must jointly conclude that the researcher has demonstrated competence and productivity at a level distinctly superior to others, he said. 

“To put this into perspective, securing an R01 grant from the National Cancer Institute at the NIH already requires ranking in the top 10% of all applications nationwide. Having that grant further recognized as distinctly superior places Dr. Grelet among the very best cancer researchers in the entire country,” Honkanen said. “This recognition is not only a profound honor for Dr. Grelet, but also for the department, the college, the Mitchell Cancer Institute and the University of South Alabama.” 

Grelet’s research into how cancer cells exploit their microenvironment, especially nearby nerve cells, to grow and spread was published this summer in the scientific journal Nature. 

In that study, his team used innovative models to investigate how breast cancer cells interact with nerve cells and how that interaction contributes to cancer aggressiveness and metastasis. The researchers identified the metabolic dependencies on nerves through bioinformatic screenings, and further developed synthetic biology approaches, combined with flow cytometry and custom-coded tools to quantify the transfer of mitochondria between neurons and cancer cells in vivo. They found that mitochondria transferred from neurons helped cancer cells acquire metabolic plasticity, which enabled them to form distant metastases. 

“Following closely from the recent publication of his paper in Nature, the NIH MERIT award is another fitting recognition of Dr. Grelet’s remarkable achievements to date,” said Christopher Davies, Ph.D., associate dean for research at the Whiddon College of Medicine. “This highly prestigious award, made only to a select group of investigators nationally, is a clear demonstration of the high regard in which Dr. Grelet is already held by his peers in cancer research and a reflection of their confidence that he is poised to transform our understanding of cancer aggressivity and metastasis.” 

Grelet established the Cancer Innervation and Neurobiology Laboratory at the Mitchell Cancer Institute in 2021 and is one of six investigators at the Whiddon College of Medicine who hold NIH MERIT Awards since the award’s creation by the NIH in 1986. 

Read more about Grelet’s work. 

Register now for GO Run: Sign up to run, walk or volunteer

The 18th Annual GO Run 5K Race and 1-Mile Fun Run will be held on Saturday, Sept. 27, at the SGA Pavilion, located directly across from Hancock Whitney Stadium. The 5K starts at 8 a.m., and the Fun Run starts at 9 a.m. 

Proceeds from the GO Run support revolutionary gynecologic cancer research happening at the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute. Early detection, prevention, and treatment advancements are continuing thanks in part to the long-standing community support that GO Run receives.

Register to run, walk or volunteer: usahealthsystem.com/gorun

Rx for Success: Clerkship Edition prepares students for the next step

Third-year medical students participate in a workshop designed to help them transition to clinical clerkships.

On Friday, June 27, the Whiddon College of Medicine launched its first-ever Rx for Success: Clerkship Edition, a one-day workshop designed to equip rising third-year medical students with the tools, strategies, and confidence needed to thrive in their clinical clerkships. Fifty-five M3 students took part in the inaugural program, which, like its predecessor Rx for Success for incoming M1s, was entirely voluntary. The strong turnout reflected students’ eagerness to prepare for one of the most pivotal transitions in medical training.

The program was a collaborative effort of the Division of Medical Education, the Whiddon COM Simulation Program, the Office of Student Affairs, and the Office of Accreditation and Planning’s Academic Success Team. Together, these groups designed a day that blended evidence-based learning strategies with practical skill-building and peer teaching. 

“This program was intentionally developed using research and data on medical student success,” said David Williams, Ph.D., MPA, assistant dean for institutional and academic success. “We know that transition points in medical school can be especially challenging, so creating programming that eases these moments and equips students to thrive is central to our mission.”

A standout feature of the day was the involvement of 14 M4 student volunteers, who guided their M3 peers through discussions, skill stations, and reflection exercises. Their insights and encouragement helped bridge the gap between pre-clinical and clinical training. Sessions included Learning Science & Self-Management in Clinical Settings, Interpreting Feedback, and a lunch and learn that highlighted resources available during the third year. Students explored ways to balance time, apply proven learning strategies, and make the most of faculty and peer feedback in clinical environments.

The afternoon centered on hands-on learning in the Whiddon COM Simulation Lab. Students practiced head-to-toe physical exams with standardized patients and sharpened essential clinical skills such as knot tying, suturing, and sterile technique. “The simulation lab experience gave students the chance to practice, make mistakes, and learn in a safe environment before stepping into real clinical settings,” said Laura Boatright, M.D., assistant dean for medical education and director of clinical skills. “That hands-on readiness is invaluable.” A Pre-Rounding by Specialty session added further preparation by offering clerkship-specific insights from both faculty and upper-level students.

The day concluded with reflection, as students revisited questions they had posed to themselves at the start of the program, tying their new skills and insights into their longitudinal learning plans. “Supporting students through transitions is a responsibility I take seriously as both a teacher and a clerkship director,” noted Anna Foust, M.D., associate professor of internal medicine and pediatrics, and internal medicine clerkship director. “Because I work across multiple phases of the curriculum, I see how important it is to build continuity. Programs like this one create a smoother path for our students and strengthen their readiness for clinical learning.”

Wellness was also emphasized throughout the day. Becky Smith, Ph.D., director of COM health and wellness, reminded students of the importance of caring for themselves as they step into the demanding environment of clinical training. “Clerkships can be both exciting and stressful, and it is essential for students to have strategies to protect their well-being,” Smith said. “Being proactive about wellness not only helps students manage the challenges of medical school but also models the balance and resilience they will need as future physicians.”

The inaugural Rx for Success: Clerkship Edition underscores the Whiddon College of Medicine’s commitment to preparing students for every stage of their training, Williams said, and is planned to be offered again next year.