A study on perceptions about academic medicine coach training at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine has been selected for publication and deemed Best in Class by the Association of Academic Medical Colleges Group on Faculty Affairs (GFA).
The study, titled “A lifelong journey: A phenomenological exploration of faculty perceptions about coach training at an academic medical center,” evaluates the impact on faculty and staff as they undergo training to become coaches to medical students.
“Studies typically evaluate the impact on coachees and program outcomes,” wrote the author, Binata Mukherjee, M.D., MBA, assistant dean for faculty and professional development at the Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama. “Limited information is available about educating faculty to integrate the role of coaching.”
Data were collected through surveying 20 faculty members who had completed 34 hours of training in the Academic Medicine Coach Training Program. Mukherjee established the program at the Whiddon College of Medicine in 2021.
The study found that in the process of training to be a coach, faculty members not only recognized the benefits of coaching for learners but also realized individual personal benefits.
“The training evoked self-awareness and opportunities for personal growth,” Mukherjee said. “The newly trained coaches expressed the beginning of an internal transformation to embody being a coach and demonstrated willingness to influence personal and professional development of learners and colleagues.”
The paper will be included in the Group on Faculty Affairs’ repository of Faculty Affairs & Faculty Development research and scholarship. It was selected for Best in Class in the category “Developing the Next Generation of Leaders.”
Mukherjee also recently earned the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). The achievement represents the culmination of extensive training and practice in professional coaching techniques.
The Academic Medicine Coach Training Program trains about 20 volunteers each year to coach medical students as they progress through their education at the Whiddon College of Medicine.
Richard Menger, M.D., MPA, chief of complex spine surgery and vice chair for the department of neurosurgery, has been selected for the Scoliosis Research Society’s (SRS) Leadership, Education and Development (L.E.A.D.) cohort. This highly competitive program aims to develop the next generation of leaders within the spine surgery field and represents a significant achievement for Menger and the USA Health Spine Institute.
“It's an honor to be selected and to represent our health system,” said Menger, an associate professor of neurosurgery at the Whiddon College of Medicine. “I look forward to learning from leaders across the world and bringing those lessons back to the University of South Alabama and USA Health as we continue the push as a high accountability organization."
The SRS L.E.A.D. program, established in 2023, is an exclusive year-long initiative designed to enhance leadership, communication, and team-building skills among SRS members. Participants are selected based on their outstanding credentials and contribution to the society. Menger’s nomination recognizes his distinguished work in spinal reconstruction and his dedication to advancing the field of complex spine surgery.
The program offers a curriculum that includes both virtual and live sessions, focusing on topics critical to leadership in the medical field. These include coaching, leading research teams, fostering diversity, communication within teams, owning leadership, and personal marketing techniques. Trainees will also gain a deeper understanding of leadership within the SRS, setting them on the path to becoming influential figures in spinal deformity research and treatment.
Menger, who became an Active Fellow in the SRS, brings extensive experience to the program. His involvement in the L.E.A.D. program is not only a personal achievement but also a testament to USA Health’s dedication to advancing medical education and leadership. The lessons learned from this elite group will contribute to the continued growth of the institute’s spine surgery program, ensuring that patients receive the highest standard of care.
“There must be something in the water with our class,” Yulong Stokes remarked. “I feel like we have an abnormally high number of marriages!”
Indeed, the Whiddon College of Medicine Class of 2025 – a class of 68 medical students – includes six couples who are engaged or married.
Virginia Farley, too, noticed the trend in her class: “Who knew the Whiddon College of Medicine is also a matchmaker!”
The couples went through the National Resident Matching Program with the goal of staying together with their partners during residency training – a process referred to as “couples match.”
On Match Day, March 21, the Class of 2025 convened at the USA Mitchell Center to discover their fates. This year, 46% of the class matched at programs in Alabama, including 18 students who matched at USA Health hospitals.
These are a few of their stories.
Andrew Stokes and Yulong (Huang) Stokes
Andrew and Yulong Stokes
Yulong, originally from Fuzhou, China, always had an inclination toward medicine, but the years of schooling ahead seemed daunting. She found her way back to her first passion while working as a scribe in Providence Hospital’s emergency department. She went on to graduate from the University of South Alabama with degrees in biomedical sciences and philosophy.
Andrew, from Mobile, initially pursued engineering but, after taking an EMT course, he became interested in practicing medicine and patient care. His curiosity led him to earn degrees in emergency medical services and biology from USA.
The two met early in their academic careers at South – in a general chemistry class their freshman year. They formed a strong friendship through studying together and their involvement in campus ministry, eventually growing into a relationship in October 2020.
When Andrew took a Chinese class, “I frequently asked for her help — definitely not just an excuse to spend more time with her,” he quipped.
Andrew worked as a paramedic while preparing for medical school. Yulong’s early acceptance into the Whiddon College of Medicine made Andrew’s decision to attend the same medical school a no-brainer. Before their Step 1 exam, Andrew proposed to Yulong, and they tied the knot in December 2023, during winter break of their third year.
“Soon after, I had the incredible opportunity to visit China, where I met her extended family — an experience I will always cherish,” he said.
Yulong said matching as a couple “has made our options paradoxically both more limited and more expansive. As challenging as this process has been, I am elated that we are going through this together. Overall, I feel pretty stoked (no pun intended) to find out where we end up.”
The Stokes learned they will stay in the Mobile area. He matched in family medicine at South Baldwin Regional Medical Center, and she matched in neurology at USA Health.
William Smith and Virginia Farley
Will Smith and Virginia Farley
For Daphne resident Will, aspirations of pursuing medicine began at just 11 years old, when a career interest test in middle school revealed physician as his top result. After shadowing doctors throughout high school and college, his passion only deepened. He earned a degree in chemistry at the University of Alabama.
Virginia, on the other hand, found her calling later. During her undergraduate studies at Sewanee: The University of the South, she volunteered at free clinics in rural areas of the Cumberland Plateau. There, the Birmingham native realized the profound shortage of primary care providers in underserved communities and decided to become part of the solution.
As a medical student at the Whiddon College of Medicine, she has participated in the Primary Care Pathway, which enhances the educational experience by preparing students to serve populations in rural and underserved areas.
Will and Virginia’s connection began on the second day of M1 orientation when they sat next to each other in the auditorium. Will, eager to break the ice, shared his love for making French press coffee, only to nervously choke on his water. Despite the awkward start, they quickly bonded, joining study groups in which their friends marveled at how well they clicked. By the end of their first semester, they were inseparable.
In July 2024, amid the stress of preparing for Step 2, Will proposed to Virginia, offering a welcome break from studying to celebrate. They look forward to their wedding on May 17, 2025.
“We are forever thankful to the Whiddon COM for bringing us together,” Virginia said.
The couple matched at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, where he will train in internal medicine, and she will train in family medicine.
Nicholas Friend and Mary Claire Carlton
Nick Friend and Mary Claire Carlton
Nick, a Mobile native, knew from an early age that medicine was his calling. Fascinated by science and human anatomy, he made it his goal to become a physician. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in genetics.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Mary Claire, originally from Letohatchee, Alabama, grew up with aspirations of becoming a fashion designer – and with a fear of blood. But after some personal and family experiences with medicine in high school, her passion for healthcare was sparked. She earned a degree in microbiology from Auburn University.
Both chose the Whiddon College of Medicine for medical school, valuing the opportunity to stay close to their families in Alabama. They quickly found a community who made the journey even more rewarding.
“We have loved being here – particularly because our class is full of the most wonderful friends in the world – and would absolutely choose it again,” Mary Claire said.
In their first year of medical school, they started out as friends through sports like tennis and intramural volleyball. Nick asked Mary Claire out “at least five times” before his persistence eventually paid off. After serenading Mary Claire at a karaoke night, she finally agreed to go out with him. By their third year, they were engaged and married, and now they are expecting a baby in April.
The pair reflected on the challenges of the couples match and how the process would have been insurmountable without the guidance of their advisors at USA.
“Between the couples match, an incoming tiny human, and our two very energetic dogs, we have given up on being nervous and are just choosing to take each day as it comes,” Mary Claire said.
After opening their envelopes together on stage, they announced they will stay at USA Health, where he matched in internal medicine, and she matched in general surgery.
Sidney Bailey and Addison (Barchie) Bailey
Sidney and Addison Bailey
During his junior year of high school in Monroeville, Sidney took a health science class that allowed him to shadow healthcare providers at the local hospital, clinics and nursing homes. Seeing the impact these caregivers had on the community inspired him to pursue medicine. He went on to earn a degree in biomedical sciences from Auburn University.
Addison of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, always knew medicine was her calling, inspired by her father’s career as a physician. She found her niche in family medicine, drawn to the relationships she could build with patients and their families. She graduated from the University of South Alabama with a degree in biology.
Their paths led them both to the Whiddon College of Medicine, where they met on the first day of M1 orientation.
“Our last names were already side by side alphabetically, so we ended up being anatomy lab partners,” Addison said. “We started studying together and our relationship just continued to blossom.”
By the end of their first year, they were engaged in Juneau, Alaska, and by the end of their second year, they celebrated with a beautiful wedding in Pensacola, Florida. Most recently, at the end of their third year, they welcomed their son, Bryson, “just in time to help us study for Step 2 CK,” Addison said.
Although the couples match process was overwhelming at times, they used some of their in-person interviews as opportunities for family road trips. Now, they are filled with excitement for the next chapter of their careers.
“We have been through a lot of major life events during our time in medical school,” Addison said, “and, although it has been quite challenging at times, we would not change it for the world.”
The family will be staying in the Mobile area, as he matched in diagnostic radiology at USA Health, and she matched in family medicine at South Baldwin Regional Medical Center.
Alexander Lund and Hope (Harris) Lund
Hope and Alexander Lund
Growing up in Dothan, Alabama, Alexander was immersed in medicine from a young age, as both of his parents were physicians. He never imagined a career outside of healthcare and graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in biology.
Hope, originally from Opelika, Alabama, had her heart set on becoming a pediatrician since she was 8 years old. She earned a degree in biomedical sciences from Auburn University.
Their paths converged at the Whiddon College of Medicine. Alexander felt an immediate connection with the school during his interview, appreciating the smaller class size and the charm of the city. Hope had heard about the Whiddon COM through pre-med meetings at Auburn University and was drawn to it for its close-knit community, which was only confirmed during her interview day.
At the start of their M1 year, they sat at the same small group table but weren’t particularly close. That all changed when they started crossing paths at social events, realizing they enjoyed each other’s company. From there, their relationship grew. They dressed up as Beauty and the Beast for the class Halloween party, followed by their first official date at Red or White.
“We went from dating to engaged to married over the next two and a half years of medical school,” Hope said. “We have enjoyed being on this adventure together – studying hard, conquering exams, applying to residency, making memories with friends, and traveling on our breaks.”
As Match Day approached, they were filled with both nervousness and excitement, knowing their journey together is just beginning.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to match as a couple given that we do not see ourselves continuing this journey apart,” Hope said. “Overall, we are excited because of the adventure that lies ahead.”
The couple will be moving to Gainesville, Florida, where they both matched at the University of Florida – he in internal medicine and she in pediatrics.
Robert Israel, M.D., teaches a class of medical students in the kitchen.
By Michelle Ryan-Day
The USA Health Integrative Health and Wellness Program is making a significant impact on lives, one plate at a time—and it’s starting to gain attention statewide and even nationwide.
Earlier this week, Alabama Public Radio (APR), a network of public radio stations based in Tuscaloosa, aired a feature on the program’s work. The segment highlighted the experiences of medical students gaining essential nutrition education and high school students learning to create healthy snacks in USA Health’s teaching kitchens.
Under the expert guidance of program director Robert Israel, M.D., FACP, an internal medicine physician at USA Health, and Ben Schrubbe, M.D., a family medicine physician in Baldwin County, the hands-on cooking classes are giving participants the skills they need to make healthier choices.
“Cori Yonge, a great friend and reporter for National Public Radio, asked to spend time with us in the kitchen with classes both of med students and a class from LeFlore High School,” Israel said. “Her questions were insightful and revealing, and we learned from them. We were also very lucky to be able to connect her with our good friends at the Teaching Kitchen Collaborative who were able to relate what we are doing locally to what is happening globally.”
Since joining the Teaching Kitchen Collaborative in 2021, a nationwide network of interactive culinary teaching facilities, USA Health has provided life-changing experiences to a diverse range of participants. From high school athletes, teenagers, and young children and their parents to community members, USA employees, and medical students, the program is teaching everyone how to prepare meals and snacks that are as delicious as they are healthy.
Israel credited the existence of such a program to the leadership at USA Health and the University of South Alabama and their vision of a healthier Gulf Coast community.
“Their ongoing and steadfast support is the reason this program exists, and this story should really be seen as the ability to see something valuable where nothing existed before,” he said. “We have really felt a building momentum around our message and a deep yearning for a healthier nutritional foundation, and that is gratifying for us. We hope to use this as a springboard to even better things in the next year or so.”
The program shines a light on two critical nutrition-related issues. First, it advocates for expanding medical school curricula to include nutrition education, as diet-related diseases contribute significantly to healthcare costs and mortality. Second, it emphasizes the importance of hands-on cooking experiences that focus on reducing highly processed foods and incorporating more plant-based, nutrient-dense options into everyday diets.
Through these practical cooking classes, participants gain the skills to make lasting dietary changes and reduce their risk of chronic health issues.
The Integrative Health and Wellness Program has two teaching kitchens – at University Commons in Mobile and Mapp Family Campus in Fairhope, but a third will be built at the new medical school under construction at USA.
Schrubbe, who echoed gratitude for APR’s coverage to a wider audience, recognized another benefit the teaching kitchens provide.
“The concept of ‘Food is Medicine’ allows our patient population to be directly involved in improving their health and the health of their families,” he said. “I have noticed that our classes not only provide important nutritional information and culinary skills, but also have the added benefit of building community.”
APR offers programming in classical, folk, jazz and nostalgic music programs, as well as local news and news and feature programs from National Public Radio, Public Radio International and American Public Media networks.
All healthcare providers – including medical students and residents – involved in treating critically injured patients are invited to register and attend the 14th Gulf Coast Trauma Symposium, scheduled for March 26-28 at the Golden Nugget Biloxi Hotel & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.
The first two days of the symposium will feature nationally and regionally recognized speakers discussing the management of patients across the care continuum, including pre-hospital care, for injured patients. The third day will feature pre-hospital courses, including an ABLS (Advanced Burn Life Support), TEAM (Trauma Evaluation and Management) and Ultrasound training.
Nicole A. Stassen, M.D., a professor of surgery and pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center, will give the William A.L. Mitchell Endowment Lectureship, titled “The Pebble in the Pond: The Ripple Effect of our Profession on our Lives.”
Stassen also serves as the director of both the University of Rochester Surgical Critical Care Fellowship program and the Kessler Family Burn Trauma Intensive Care Unit. She is the medical director of the Kessler Trauma Center Trauma Survivors Network.
Bryan A. Cotton, M.D., MPH, will present the John Emory Campbell Lectureship, titled “Greater Than the Sum of its Parts: The Use of Whole Blood in the Resuscitation of Hemorrhage.” Cotton is the John B. Holmes Professor in the Clinical Sciences at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. He is also director of the Surgical Critical Care Fellowship program and co-director of the Shock-Trauma ICU at Memorial Hermann Hospital.
The Trauma Symposium is a great opportunity to collaborate with healthcare providers, community leaders and other stakeholders regarding trauma-informed care, violence prevention, and disaster preparedness and management.
The event is hosted by the Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery at USA Health University Hospital in conjunction with the Alabama Gulf EMS System. Last year more than 250 healthcare providers attended the symposium.
To receive a discount on registration, medical students may register using the code Student2025. Residents may use the code Resident2025.
