Register now: EDGE for Success professional development series

From left, Marcina Lang, MPA; Amanda Arnold, M.S.; Frank Lucas, MLA; Alani Rodgers, M.Ed.; and Melisa Pierce, Ed.D., MPA, will lead the EDGE for Success program.

Leadership isn’t about a title — it’s about growth, impact, and developing the skills to bring out the best in yourself and others.

The Whiddon College of Medicine will host EDGE for Success: Empowering Development, Growth, and Excellence, a six-week professional development series designed to help staff build leadership skills, enhance communication, and gain hands-on experience in collaboration and facilitation.

“Professional growth doesn’t just happen — it’s an intentional process,” said Melisa Pierce, Ed.D., MPA, director of quality improvement in the Office of Accreditation and Planning. “EDGE for Success provides structured support, mentorship, and hands-on learning opportunities that empower staff at all levels to develop their skills and confidence. If you've ever thought, ‘I want to grow, but I don’t know where to start,’ this program is your starting point.” 

The program is a collaboration between several departments and will be led by Marcina Lang, MPA, senior manager of COM support services; Amanda Arnold, M.S., RDN, LD, education and training specialist in the Office of Faculty Affairs and Faculty Development; Frank Lucas, MLA, senior associate registrar at the Whiddon COM; Alani Rogers, M.Ed., assistant director in the Office of Research Education and Training; and Melisa Pierce, Ed.D., MPA. These leaders will guide participants through engaging discussions, practical skill-building, and structured mentorship to support their professional growth.

Sessions will take place in person at the Whiddon College of Medicine, beginning with orientation on Feb. 25, followed by the six-week series starting March 25. Each one-hour interactive session will help participants build and refine their own professional development plans, ensuring continuous growth throughout the program.

“Professional development is essential for both personal growth and workplace success. It enhances employees’ skills, boosts their confidence, and keeps them engaged in their careers,” Lang said. “Investing in professional development leads to a more motivated, knowledgeable, and adaptable workforce, ultimately benefiting both individuals and the college of medicine as a whole.”

Program highlights:

• Develop a personalized professional development plan
• Engage in interactive discussions and small-group exercises
• Be paired with a mentor for coaching and feedback
• Gain hands-on experience researching, presenting, and facilitating discussions
• Measure growth through pre- and post-program assessments

EDGE for Success is open to all staff, regardless of formal leadership roles. Spots are limited. To register for EDGE, complete the Google Form.

Medical students, physicians connect at career mixer

Medical students chat with physicians in various specialties at the MAA Student Career Mixer.

The USA Medical Alumni Association hosted the 2025 Student Career Mixer on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at the Strada Patient Care Center, bringing together more than 40 Whiddon College of Medicine students and 31 physicians representing 23 unique specialties.

This annual event offers students a valuable opportunity to connect with medical alumni and area physicians, explore different career paths, and build meaningful professional relationships.

“Thank you to all our medical student and physician attendees who made this event a success,” said Hayley Chancey, assistant director of medical alumni relations. 

If you are interested in representing a specialty at the next mixer, email medalum@southalabama.edu.

GHHS announces Solidarity Week activities

The University of South Alabama chapter of the Arnold P. Gold Humanism in Medicine Honor Society (GHHS) will celebrate Solidarity Week for Compassionate Patient Care, a national initiative designed to remind students and healthcare employees of the importance of compassion in medicine.

Activities planned for the week:

Together Tuesday, Feb. 11:
Our goal is to engage with patients and their support systems by distributing beads, stickers, refreshments, and snacks, fostering a sense of encouragement and community. We plan to visit all the patient floors and waiting areas. 

9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Children's & Women's Hospital – Meet in the student lounge before going throughout the hospital.

1 p.m. at University Hospital – Meet outside Karen Braswell's office before heading through the hospital.

Thankful Thursday, Feb. 13:

This day is dedicated to showing appreciation for hospital staff by handing out beads, stickers, and small gifts.

8 a.m. at University Hospital – Meet outside Karen Braswell's office before going throughout the hospital.

Learn more about Solidarity Week.

Medical students collecting clothes for Penelope’s Closet

Often, when someone escapes an abusive relationship and finds refuge at a shelter, they only have the clothes on their back and the shoes on their feet.  

To help provide necessities for those who find themselves in such situations, students from the Whiddon College of Medicine in the Jags Against Trafficking group are collecting clothing and footwear for children, women and men to donate to Penelope’s Closet, a local thrift store that funds Penelope House in Mobile. 

Penelope House helps victims of partner violence gain social and economic independence through shelter, counseling, advocacy, and referral to community resources and agencies in Mobile, Washington, Choctaw and Clarke counties in Alabama. The shelter can provide refuge for victims and their children when their lives are in imminent danger.  

Students Tara Hicks and AK Porter, members of Jags Against Trafficking group, are leading the clothing drive that runs through Monday, March 3.  

Drop-off bins are located in: 

• The medical student lounge at the Whiddon College of Medicine 
• The first student room at Mastin on the campus of University Hospital 
• The OB student workroom in CWEB on the Children’s & Women’s Hospital campus 
• Office 1006 in CWEB  

For more information, contact Tara Hicks at tlh1523@jagmail.southalabama.edu or AK Porter at akp2121@jagmail.southalabama.edu.

Whiddon COM kicks off spring semester with staff retreat: 'Turning Disagreements into Dialogue'

Whiddon College of Medicine staff members participated in a retreat focused on navigating difficult conversations. 

The Whiddon College of Medicine Office of Student Affairs, led by Associate Dean Kelly Roveda, M.D., and Assistant Dean Laventrice Ridgeway, Ed.D., started the new year with an engaging and insightful staff retreat focused on enhancing communication and collaboration. The retreat provided a dynamic learning experience for the team, featuring a special presentation on “Turning Disagreements into Dialogue,” a primer on Crucial Conversations. 

Crucial Conversations presenters Tiqueria Hall, Ph.D., MPA, education and training program manager in the Office of Health Advancement, and Marcina Lang, MPA, senior manager of COM support services, guided the staff through a two-hour interactive session designed to equip them with essential skills for navigating difficult conversations. The workshop emphasized strategies to transform disagreements into constructive dialogue, fostering a more open and effective communication environment within the Student Affairs department.

The retreat, held on a Friday morning, set a positive tone for the year ahead by encouraging staff members to engage in meaningful discussions through situational topics relevant to their daily interactions. By applying the basic tools discussed, the team explored ways to address conflicts with clarity, respect, and mutual understanding.

The Whiddon COM Student Affairs staff expressed their enthusiasm for the retreat's success, highlighting the importance of continuous professional development in strengthening teamwork and enhancing student support services. 

For those interested in a staff retreat focused on “Turning Disagreements into Dialogue: A Crucial Conversations Primer,” contact Amanda Arnold, education and training specialist in the Office of Faculty Affairs and Faculty Development, at akarnold@southalabama.edu. 

For any other staff retreat questions, contact Marcina Lang at marcinalang@southalabama.edu.