Register now for upcoming Crucial Conversations training

Clear communication and effective conflict resolution are vital to our collective success. Unresolved conflicts and miscommunication can undermine productivity and create tension within the workplace.

To help address these challenges, the Office of Faculty Affairs and Faculty Development is offering an opportunity for select participants to attend Crucial Conversations training. This dynamic course will equip participants with the skills needed to navigate high-stakes discussions with confidence and clarity. Whether it's addressing sensitive issues, resolving conflicts, or providing constructive feedback, Crucial Conversations training empowers individuals to communicate persuasively while maintaining positive relationships.

Participants will gain:

• Enhanced communication: Techniques to express viewpoints clearly and respectfully.
• Effective conflict resolution: Tools to turn disagreements into productive dialogue.
• Stronger workplace relationships: Strategies to build trust and foster understanding.
• Improved team performance: Insights to help create a collaborative environment that drives success.

Two training sessions are available this spring:

Session 1

• Thursday, Feb. 5 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and Friday, Feb. 6 (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
• Both days required to complete training
• Location: Goodwill Easter Seals Gulf Coast Administration Building, 2440 Gordon Smith Dr, Mobile, AL 36617
• Registration: https://forms.gle/mtwvpJAmGf1nkYcd9

Session 2

• Thursday, April 30 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
• One-day session
• Location: Student Center (on campus)
• Registration: https://forms.gle/f2qDrKQxoppjedju7

Contact Amanda Arnold at 251-460-6823 or akarnold@southalabama.edu with any questions. 

Discovery 2030 meeting to explore future of research at USA

The USA Office of Research and Economic Development invites USA Health employees and Whiddon College of Medicine faculty and staff to participate in the Discovery 2030 USA Health/Whiddon College of Medicine Meeting, set for 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, at the University Hospital Conference Center. 

Allen Parrish, Ph.D., vice president of research and economic development at USA, will lead a collaborative discussion focused on shaping the future of research at the University of South Alabama. This 90-minute session will provide an opportunity to share insights and perspectives on strengthening academic–healthcare collaborations and identifying ways to better support clinical participation in research.

Your voice is essential as we work to ensure Discovery 2030 reflects the diverse strengths and priorities of our academic and clinical communities.

Fill out the form to register for the meeting and submit questions in advance. 

Walk with a Doc to focus on brain health

Robert Israel, M.D.

Join USA Health internal medicine physician Robert Israel, M.D., for Walk with a Doc at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10, at the USA Student Rec Center. 

The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin with a short presentation, “Talking about Brain Health,” followed by a healthy walk based on each participant’s ability.

The next Walk with a Doc is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 21. For more information, visit the Walk with a Doc webpage.

USA Health welcomes orthopaedic spine surgeon

 Asra Toobaie, M.D., M.Sc.

By Carol McPhail

USA Health has expanded its orthopaedic and spine surgery services with the addition of Asra Toobaie, M.D., M.Sc., an orthopaedic spine surgeon who will work with both orthopaedic surgery and neurosurgery teams at the region’s only academic health system.

Toobaie brings advanced expertise in adult spinal deformity correction, minimally invasive spine surgery, image-guided navigation techniques, custom-made implants, and AI-based surgical planning. She will perform spinal trauma surgery at USA Health University Hospital and elective spine surgery at USA Health Providence Hospital.

Toobaie, an assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at the Whiddon College of Medicine, said she was drawn to anatomy and the technical precision of orthopaedic surgery early in her training. “I found spine surgery particularly compelling because no two cases are ever the same,” she said. “Each patient presents unique challenges and opportunities to learn.”

Toobaie graduated from the McGill University School of Medicine in Montreal, Quebec, where she served as president of the McGill University Medical Students for Haiti in 2017. In this role, she was the lead organizer for a surgical skills program for Haitian medical students.

She completed a residency in orthopaedic surgery and a fellowship in combined orthopaedic and neurosurgical adult spine surgery at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. From 2021 to 2023, she served as a resident representative to the Canadian Orthopedic Association Global Surgery (COAGS) program, furthering the development and implementation of the global surgery curriculum at Western University’s orthopaedic surgery residency program.

She went on to complete a complex adult spine surgery fellowship at the University of California in San Francisco.

Toobaie said her international training and experience have given her a broad perspective and a deep understanding of both orthopaedic and neurosurgical approaches to spinal care. She points to trust and accessibility as the cornerstones of effective care. “Patients can always count on my commitment to help them understand and overcome their spine-related challenges with compassion, skill, and the latest surgical advancements,” she said.

Toobaie has contributed to research published in several scientific journals and has given podium presentations at international meetings.

To make an appointment with USA Health Spine Institute, call 251-665-8290. 

Pediatric pulmonologist joins Children's & Women's Hospital

Saroj Choudhary, M.D.

By Milena Mata

Fellowship-trained pediatric pulmonologist Saroj Choudhary, M.D., recently joined the medical staff at USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital and is accepting new patients at the Strada Patient Care Center.  

“As a pediatric pulmonologist, I was drawn to this field by a deep desire to help children with respiratory conditions live full, active, and healthy lives without feeling limited by their diagnoses,” Choudhary said.  

Choudhary said she is grateful to care for children with respiratory diseases and provide them with the necessary support. Continued advances in pediatric medicine have greatly improved survival rates for children with pulmonary complications.  

“Seeing these children thrive despite their challenges is the most fulfilling part of my job,” Choudhary said. “Being part of their care journey as they grow and overcome obstacles is both a privilege and a driving force in my work.”  

She most recently worked as a pediatric pulmonologist at Ochsner Hospital for Children in Jefferson, Louisiana, where she performed outpatient care and provided consultations in the emergency department.  

Choudhary earned her medical degree at Sawai Man Singh Medical College in Jaipur, India. During her studies, she scored in the top 10% of her class for four consecutive years. Choudhary completed her residency at the Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in New York City. Then, she completed a fellowship in pediatric pulmonology at Langone Hospital in Long Island, New York. Her scholarly activity has focused on the early detection of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-related metabolic syndrome (CRMS) in infants.  

In addition to her clinical activities, Choudhary is also an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Whiddon College of Medicine. The pulmonologist said her passion for teaching helped her decide to join USA Health, USA’s academic health system.  

“I find great meaning in teaching and mentoring medical students and residents and contributing to the education of the next generation of physicians,” she said.  

Choudhary is board certified in pediatrics and has been an active member of the American Academy of Pediatrics since 2017. “I want families to know that I am deeply committed to partnering with them – helping each child breathe easier, grow stronger, and achieve their fullest potential,” Choudhary said. 

Obstetrics and Gynecology welcomes new menopause specialist

Judith J. Williams, M.D.

By Casandra Andrews

To better meet the expanding healthcare needs of women, USA Health recently added Judith J. Williams, M.D., a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist and Menopause Society certified provider, to its healthcare team.  

Williams brings more than 20 years of experience providing comprehensive obstetric and gynecologic care, including deliveries and gynecologic surgeries, across multiple hospital systems. She specializes in women’s care with a focus on menopause. As part of her academic health system role, she will be an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine  

“Menopause care requires time, experience, and nuance,” said Williams. “After decades in general OB-GYN practice, I wanted the space to focus on a part of women's health that has been overlooked for too long — and to do it in a way that respects both the science and the individual woman."  

She is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, as well as a member of The Menopause Society with advanced certification as a Menopause Society certified provider.

“Dr. Williams brings a depth of clinical experience and a patient-centered approach that will greatly benefit the patients we serve,” said Mary “Mimi” Munn, M.D., professor and chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at USA Health. “Her expertise in comprehensive women’s health and menopause care, combined with her background in teaching and leadership, will continue to strengthen our ability to support patients through every stage of life.”  

Williams earned her medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine and completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency at the University of Tennessee, both in Memphis. Her career includes more than two decades in private practice in Memphis, along with administrative leadership roles within the Baptist Memorial Healthcare system, where she contributed to quality initiatives and patient care improvements.  

She will see patients at the newest location of the Center for Women’s Health West Mobile, 6304 USA Health Blvd., Suite D, in Mobile. To make an appointment, call 215-415-1496.    

Faculty, alumnus named to Mobile Bay Magazine’s new 40 Under 40 class

Ayesha Munir, M.D. Photo by Chad Riley.

Ayesha Munir, M.D., an assistant professor of interdisciplinary clinical oncology, and Tanner McGill, M.D., a 2020 graduate of the Whiddon College of Medicine, are among the honorees in Mobile Bay Magazine's 2026 class of 40 Under 40. 

Each year, the magazine highlights 40 residents under the age of 40 who demonstrate leadership, professional excellence, and a commitment to the Mobile Bay area. Winners are selected from the business and professional community, the arts, medicine, education, community involvement, and more.  

Munir, who is also a medical oncologist and hematologist at the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute, provides compassionate, comprehensive cancer care while advancing breast cancer research. She earned her medical degree from Aga Khan University in Pakistan, completed her residency at Albany Medical Center in New York, and her fellowship at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., where she served as chief clinical fellow.  

Since joining the Mitchell Cancer Institute in 2023, Munir has expanded the institute’s research portfolio and helped streamline care for breast cancer patients. She also serves as principal investigator for multiple clinical trials focused on improving treatment and survivorship outcomes, while also presenting nationally, publishing peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and engaging the community through events such as the annual Think Pink Tea for breast cancer awareness.

Tanner McGill, M.D. Photo by Chad Riley.

McGill is an emergency medicine physician at Baldwin Emergency Physicians. He serves the Mobile Bay region across five emergency departments: Mobile Infirmary, Thomas Hospital and North Baldwin Infirmary as well as the freestanding emergency departments in Saraland and Malbis.

A Mobile native, McGill received his bachelor's degree from Birmingham Southern College. After earning his medical degree from the Whiddon College of Medicine in 2020, he completed a residency in emergency medicine at the University of Florida’s Shands Hospital, where he became known for his thorough, level-headed decision-making skills in high-stress situations. In his free time, he enjoys mentoring young athletes. 

Learn more about Mobile Bay's 40 Under 40. 

Grelet awarded GENEWIZ Pioneer Grant

Simon Grelet, Ph.D.

Simon Grelet, Ph.D., a cancer researcher at the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute and an assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the Whiddon College of Medicine, has been named a recipient of the GENEWIZ Pioneer Grant.

GENEWIZ, an Azenta Life Sciences company, is a leading global provider of genomics services. Its Fall Fast Grants program offers rapid funding to academic researchers across the United States to support innovative scientific research and accelerate genomic discoveries.

Grelet will use the $5,000 award to advance the development of MitoTRACER animal genetic models. His research team employs advanced in vivo and in vitro models, along with the MitoTRACER genetic system they designed, to trace the fate of cancer cells that acquire neuronal mitochondria. Their findings indicate that these cells are more likely to successfully form distant metastases.

“I believe these models have strong potential to transform our understanding of human physiology and metabolic homeostasis,” Grelet said.

GENEWIZ supports researchers worldwide by providing high-quality data and constructs for next-generation sequencing, gene synthesis, and Sanger sequencing.