USA Physicians Group Welcomes Dr. Donna Bennett

Dr. Donna C. Bennett was recently appointed assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine.

Prior to her appointment to USA, Dr. Bennett was in private practice at Monroeville Medical Center in Monroeville, Ala.

Dr. Bennett previously practiced with Prime Care of Pensacola in Pensacola, Fla., and White Wilson Medical Center in Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.

In addition, Dr. Bennett has also served as medical director at Woman’s Wellness Center in Conway, S.C. From 2007-2010, Dr. Bennett operated a solo practice named BellaDonna OB/GYN & Associates in Spring Hill, Fla.

Dr. Bennett earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Montclair State College in Upper Montclair, N.J. She earned her medical degree from Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center in Piscataway, N.J., and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, N.J.

Dr. Bennett is a member of the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology.

She is now accepting new patients. To make an appointment with Dr. Bennett, call (251) 415-1496.

Dr. Steve Cordina Gives Hope to 8-month-old Carley Staehling

Jessica Franklin was six weeks pregnant when an ultrasound revealed that she was expecting not one, but two babies. Jessica, along with the twins’ father Zach Staehling, began the preparations that all expecting parents go through - times two.

Amid the joy of preparing for the arrival of their twins, the Biloxi, Miss. couple received news that completely turned their world upside down. At 34 weeks, near the end of Jessica’s pregnancy, an ultrasound revealed that one of the babies had a serious malformation in her brain.

“They found a little spot on the ultrasound, and I was sent for further evaluation,” said Franklin. “One week later the diagnosis was made, and I had an emergency C-section at Children’s and Women’s in Mobile.”

On Oct. 10, 2012, at 35 weeks, Carley and Chloe Staehling were delivered at the University of South Alabama Children’s and Women’s Hospital. Carley, as detected in the ultrasound, was born with a vein of Galen arterial malformation in her brain that doctors warned, if left untreated, could lead to multiple organ failure, severe developmental disabilities, seizures or even death.

Five months later, at USA Medical Center, Dr. Steve Cordina, an interventional neurologist with USA Physicians Group, performed the first of what would be three corrective procedures in which he embolized the blood vessels feeding the malformation in Carley’s brain.

During these months, Carley’s parents say they were grateful for the variety of unique medical resources available in an academic medical center. Along with Dr. Cordina, USA High-Risk OBGYN Dr. Robert Stauffer, Pediatric Neurosurgeon Dr. Anthony Martino and Pediatric Neurologist Dr. Paul Maertens all collaborated in Carley’s treatment.

“This diagnosis is typically devastating for the baby,” explained Dr. Cordina, who is also assistant professor of neurology at the USA College of Medicine. “The malformation in Carley was taking a lot of blood. Even after her procedures in February and May, the malformation was still active.”

“After reading more about her condition, we were absolutely terrified,” said Staehling. “But from the start, Dr. Cordina was confident that he could help Carley with the new procedure. We saw his confidence, which made Jessica and I feel more secure as parents.”

During Carley’s most recent procedure this month, at the USA Medical Center, Dr. Cordina and his team were able to successfully stop the blood flow from six blood vessels feeding into the malformation.

“The post-surgery MRI showed that the blood flow to the site had significantly decreased and that the malformation had clotted off which is essentially a cure,” said Dr. Cordina.  “Carley should continue to develop completely normally, just like her twin sister.”

“Words just can’t describe how we felt,” said Staehling. “That was the best moment of my life. We can never thank Dr. Cordina enough for what he has done for our family.”

The surgery performed by Dr. Cordina at USA is unprecedented in the Gulf Coast region. An intervention of this type and magnitude is typically only performed at large specialty centers.

Crediting the successful interventional procedure, Carley’s parents say that with each passing day, Carley has become more of herself and has hit her developmental milestones along with her twin sister, Chloe.

“Carley’s our little smiler,” said a grateful Staehling. “Throughout this whole thing, she has been smiling and laughing and has been as playful as can be.”

After nine strenuous months, Jessica and Zach say they are now simply just “thanking God and thanking Dr. Cordina” for their healthy, smiling little girl that they are proudly calling their “miracle baby.” 

Class of 2015 Medical Students Begin Clinical Rotations July 1



Third-year medical students, including JaneMarie Freeman (center), learn how to tie surgical knots at last week's orientation.

The University of South Alabama College of Medicine recently held clerkship orientation for third-year medical students. Orientation week served as the introduction to the students’ clinical years and included briefings on topics ranging from hospital security to mini board exams.

After two years of studying medicine through lectures and books, the students will make the transition from classroom to clinical to gain practical patient experience, a practice that changed with the introduction of a new curriculum in 2012.

Beginning with the class of 2016, students who enter the USA College of Medicine receive instruction in all competencies from the beginning of their educational experience.  Milestones of achievement toward competency will be assessed and documented throughout the four-year continuum leading to graduation.

The class of 2015 is the last class to matriculate through the College of Medicine with training segmented into basic science and clinical years.

“Over these first two years of medical school, we have built a solid foundation of medical knowledge,” said third-year USA medical student JaneMarie Freeman, of Huntsville, Ala. “These next two years in the clinics will focus on honing the skills that we need to actually implement that knowledge.”

“While it is an exciting time, it also gives us a very real sense of responsibility and a whole new set of expectations,” said Freeman. “We are halfway to becoming doctors, and we have so much to learn.”

Despite the nerves associated with starting clinical patient care for the first time, the third-year medical students agree that this milestone is one they have anticipated for years.

USA medical student Frank Bumpus, who attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham for his undergraduate degree, earned a law degree from the University of Alabama before applying to medical school at USA.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I first started law school, but it didn’t take long to figure out that my passion was medicine,” said Bumpus. “I graduated from law school and practiced family law in Birmingham for a couple years before coming to medical school.”

Bumpus, whose first clinical rotation is in surgery, is looking forward to interacting with patients, which is the reason he chose to study medicine. “Over the past two years, we’ve learned a broad survey of the underlying theories of medicine, but I’m very happy about actually taking that knowledge into the clinics,” he said.

Audrey Paulzak, a third-year USA medical student also starting in surgery, says that even though she and her classmates are leaving the classroom environment, they realize they will be learning even more in the next two years.

“We are moving from a very rigid study environment to an environment where literally anyone in the building has a lesson from which we can learn,” she explained.  “We will learn about surgery, physical exam techniques and medicine dosage from doctors, but we will also learn from our patients.”

Paulzak says that even with all of the “book knowledge” the students have accumulated over the past two years, the guidance of the doctors, nurses and medical support staff is crucial to their clinical experience.

“Third year is an amazing opportunity to foster my clinical skills and to learn from the titans in their field,” said Paulzak. “I can't believe the day has finally arrived.”

To view more photos from orientation, click here.

Med School Café - Expert Advice for the Community

This week, Dr. William Richards, professor and chair of surgery at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and a bariatric surgeon with USA Physicians Group, presented the June Med School Café lecture, "Surgical Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes."

Dr. Richards, who specializes in laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery, outlined the latest procedures available for treating obesity and Type 2 diabetes. During the talk he also provided important information on various diseases associated with obesity, including diabetes, heart disease and hypertension.

The next Med School Café lecture will feature Dr. Sudhakar Madanagopal, associate professor of orthopaedics at the USA College of Medicine. The lecture will take place July 25, 2013, at the USA Faculty Club.

If you are interested in attending, email kepartridge@usouthal.edu for more details. To learn more about the lectures, click here.

Dr. Ronald Franks Selected as President-Elect of MASA

University of South Alabama Vice President for Health Sciences Dr. Ronald Franks was recently installed as the Medical Association of the State of Alabama’s president-elect.

Dr. Franks, a board certified psychiatrist and professor of psychiatry, joined USA in July 2007 as vice president for health sciences, a new division of the University consisting of the College of Allied Health Professions, the College of Medicine and the College of Nursing. In addition, the physician practice plan reports to Dr. Franks.

Prior to USA, Dr. Franks served as the vice president for health affairs and as a professor of psychiatry and behavior sciences at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn. from 2006-07, after having served as the dean of medicine and vice president for health affairs at East Tennessee State from 1997- 2006.

Prior to his time at East Tennessee State University, Dr. Franks served as dean of University of Minnesota - Duluth School of Medicine from 1988-97.

Two other USA College of Medicine individuals were elected to leadership positions in MASA. Clint Moore, D.O., was elected resident representative, and Julie Tan was elected medical student representative.

The Medical Association of the State of Alabama is the professional association for some 7,000 physicians of all specialties throughout Alabama. MASA exists to serve, lead and unite physicians in promoting the highest quality of health care for the people of Alabama through advocacy, information and education.