Medical student presents research at trauma surgery annual meeting

Medical student Keegan Musaalo presents research on the financial impact of firearm-related injuries.

Keegan Musaalo, a third-year medical student at the Whiddon College of Medicine, presented research earlier this month at the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) annual meeting in Boston. 

The presentation, titled “The Financial Impact of Firearm-Related Injuries: A One-Year Single-Institution Cost Analysis,” examined the financial impact of firearm-related injuries on both patients and the hospital system.  

“None of us needs to read any of the current literature to understand that victims of gun violence suffer severe physical, mental and emotional wounds,” Musaalo said. “But I had never considered the financial burden they might bear after being treated for such an injury.” 

Musaalo said individuals most at risk of sustaining firearm-related injuries are often negatively affected by several social determinants of health, including low socioeconomic status. “Likewise, the financial burden of healthcare has an incredible socioeconomic impact, especially on victims who are uninsured, contributing to a vicious cycle,” he said. “I was motivated to work on this project to highlight the reality and unfairness of this cycle and advocate for these patients and for additional support for level 1 trauma centers that also bear significant financial burden in saving lives every day.” 

Musaalo expressed his gratitude to USA Health trauma surgeons Jon Simmons, M.D., and Ashley Williams Hogue, M.D., for their mentorship and to presentation co-author Carlysle Salter, a fellow third-year medical student at the Whiddon College of Medicine. 

The AAST is the premier academic trauma surgery organization in the United States and has approximately 2,100 members from 130 countries. The group's annual meeting attracts about 750 physicians and scientists whose primary interest lies in the investigation and the treatment of various forms of trauma and the application of surgical critical care. 

USA Research & Technology Showcase set for Oct. 21

The 2025 USA Research & Technology Showcase will be held Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 4 p.m. at the MacQueen Alumni Center, highlighting research and innovation at the University of South Alabama. A reception with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and networking will follow from 5 to 6:30 p.m. 

Robin Hayes, chairman and chief executive officer of Airbus in North America, will serve as the guest speaker.

The program will also recognize four University of South Alabama faculty members for their outstanding research, each introduced with a brief 2.5-minute video. Among this year’s honorees are Glen Borchert, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology, and Aishwarya Prakash, Ph.D., associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, both from the Whiddon College of Medicine.

Attendance is anticipated to range from 80 to 200 guests, including members of the business community, legislative representatives, and USA faculty and staff.

RSVP on the event registration form, or email techshowcase@southalabama.edu.

Medical student presents at national emergency medicine conference

Caroline Molins, M.D., Carlysle Salter, and

Carmen Martinez, M.D.

Carlysle Salter, a third-year medical student at the Whiddon College of Medicine, represented the college as a medical student delegate at the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Scientific Assembly, held in September in Salt Lake City, Utah.

While at ACEP, Salter presented a medical education research project conducted with faculty mentors from the Department of Emergency Medicine, Caroline Molins, M.D., and Carmen J. Martinez Martinez, M.D. Their presentation highlighted an innovative educational intervention designed to teach emergency medicine residents how to perform pericardiocentesis, a life-saving procedure to remove fluid that accumulates in the sac surrounding the heart. The training method integrates spaced repetition, simulation, and a cost-effective, high-fidelity model to strengthen procedural competency.

“We got great feedback on how innovative the pericardiocentesis model we created was, and it was a joy to share it with other residency programs to use in simulation to improve the education of emergency medicine residents,” Salter said.

ACEP is one of the premier gatherings in emergency medicine, offering medical students the opportunity to connect with mentors, network with residency program directors, and explore career pathways within the specialty. For emergency physicians, the conference provides a chance to learn new approaches, envision the future of the field, and share knowledge with colleagues.

Salter expressed her gratitude to the Whiddon College of Medicine and the Department of Emergency Medicine for supporting medical student research and to Drs. Molins and Martinez for their mentorship.