USA Health expands pediatric cardiology division with addition of Millette

Theodore Millette II, M.D.

By Casandra Andrews 

To meet the expanding healthcare needs of children on the Gulf Coast, Theodore Millette II, M.D., recently joined USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital.

Millette, a pediatric cardiologist, joins a team of medical specialists who focus on diagnosing, treating and managing heart conditions in children at USA Health Pediatrics. He will provide comprehensive care for infants, children, and adolescents with a wide range of heart issues, including congenital heart defects and infections of the heart.

“While I love pediatrics and find pediatric cardiology to be fascinating and very personally rewarding, I think the most important part of what I do is building trust and relationships with the children and the families I serve,” Millette said. “Knowing what to do clinically is only part of the task doctors are entrusted with. The best care is provided only through the combination of medical knowledge, compassion for the concerns of the patient and their family, honest communication, and time spent educating and empowering them to best care for themselves or their loved one.”

Milette earned his medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson, Mississippi. After a pediatrics residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, he moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, for a pediatric cardiology fellowship at the University of Virginia.

During those three years, he discovered a passion for fetal cardiology, cardiac CT and MRI, and exercise cardiology. Those interests led to an additional year of fellowship training at the University of Virginia and Boston Children’s Hospital.

As part of an academic health system, Millette will help train the next general of healthcare providers as an assistant professor of pediatrics in the Whiddon College of Medicine.

“I look forward to working with the outstanding group of physicians to serve the children of southern Alabama and to contribute to the education of USA Health’s pediatric residents and the young doctors of the Whiddon College of Medicine.”

Millette is accepting new patients at the Strada Patient Care Center. To make an appointment, call 251-410-5437.

Five surgeons return ‘home’ to the department where they trained

By Carol McPhail

After completing fellowships in Missouri, Mississippi and Florida, five surgeons recently returned to the Whiddon College of Medicine and USA Health, where they spent five years training as residents.

All cite the unique and supportive environment in the Department of Surgery as a major factor in their decision to come back as attendings.

“The sense of community throughout the entire system – specifically within the Department of Surgery and especially the residency program – feels like home to me,” said Mark Ward Jr., M.D., who served as an administrative chief resident at USA Health before leaving for a fellowship in advanced GI minimally invasive surgery and bariatrics in Tampa. “Reconnecting with former attendings and co-residents has been both fun and fulfilling. It’s the kind of environment where I want to build a long-term career.”

Along with Ward, other recently returning surgeons include William Ricks, M.D.; Parker Mullen, M.D.; Johnson Hardy III, M.D.; and Crawford Cox, M.D.

USA’s five-year general surgery residency program — the oldest in the state of Alabama — accepts five categorical residents each year. The program promotes its individualized training and first-time passing rates on written board exams, but its leaders are also proud of the family atmosphere they have worked so hard to foster.

“It’s a healthy sign of a flourishing department if you can recruit the best of your own trainees,” said Lee Grimm Jr., M.D., residency program director since 2018. “They know what your program is like from the inside, and they have a very informed long-term view of the department, and yet they still want to come back.”

Ricks, who is from Huntsville, and Mullen, of Jasper, graduated from the Whiddon COM together in 2017 before matching in general surgery at USA Health and serving as administrative chief residents during their final year of training in 2021-2022. Each left to pursue three-year fellowships — Ricks in cardiothoracic surgery in Florida and Mullen in thoracic surgery in Mississippi — before rejoining the department as attendings.

Ricks said returning to USA Health and Mobile feels like coming home. “USA Health played an important role in my training, and I’m grateful for the chance to give back and be part of this team again,” he said.

Hardy, an Auburn native and 2018 Whiddon COM graduate, finished his surgery residency at USA Health in 2023, a year behind Ricks and Mullen. During his training, Hardy was active in outdoor wellness experiences and participated in the Christian Medical Ministry of South Alabama. He went on to a two-year fellowship in vascular surgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson before returning to USA Health and the Department of Surgery.

Ward, a Biloxi native, earned his medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine before matching in surgery at USA Health in the same cohort as Cox, a Birmingham native who graduated from the Whiddon COM in 2019.

Cox said his training under William Richards, M.D., chair of surgery, piqued his interest in bariatrics, so he went on to complete a minimally invasive surgery and bariatric fellowship at the University of Missouri. After finishing one-year fellowships, Ward and Cox recently returned as attendings.

“It has been my goal to return to Mobile and USA Health on both a professional and personal level,” said Cox, whose wife is from the area. “I also wanted to return to the academic health system where I trained to provide care to the population as well as provide mentorship and teaching to residents similar to what I experienced.”

In addition to Grimm, other leaders of the general surgery residency program include associate directors J. Harrison Howard, M.D., a surgical oncologist, and Maryann Mbaka, M.D., MBA, a trauma surgeon. 

USA leaders, USA Health physician join global meditation event in Mobile

Jai Thakur, M.D., speaks with Eric Loomis, Ph.D., and Joél Billingsly, Ph.D., at the meditation event.  

This spring, a global meditation event featuring world-renowned geopolitical humanitarian and spiritual leader “Gurudev” Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was held in Mobile.  

During the event, Jai Thakur, M.D., chief of minimally invasive cranial and skull base neurosurgery, and an associate professor at the Whiddon College of Medicine, presented a talk on his personal journey and the role of mindfulness activities. Thakur discussed the vital integration of evidence-based meditation practices in healthcare professions for the benefit of providers and patients.  

Previously, he presented his research at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons meeting on the role of focused-attention meditation practices in neurosurgical patients.  

Jai Thakur, M.D., discusses focused attention

and evidence-based breathing techniques.

Led by Gurudev, information presented during the meeting included diverse spiritual and mental well-being knowledge. The event culminated in a collective mindfulness session for all attendees. 

“Mobile was lucky to host Gurudev for the meditation event promoting mental hygiene and stress reduction in our community/university campus, that also provided avenues for combating PTSD in veterans via project Welcome Home Troops,” Thakur said. “His commitment in fostering peace and stress-free communities across 180 countries and creating evidence-based focused attention and breathing techniques, is deeply inspirational.”  

The event was attended by numerous local leaders, including Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, Mobile County Commissioner Connie Hudson, and former Mobile Mayor Mike Dow. The University of South Alabama, and its division USA Health, were represented by Thakur and Eric J. Loomis, Ph.D., and Joél Billingsley, Ph.D.

“Having a leading figure in contemporary meditation such as Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar provide instruction was a great opportunity for the Mobile community to gain further experience with techniques that have significant and demonstrated mental and physical benefits,” said Loomis, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at USA.  

Billingsley, an associate professor in instructional design and development and administrator of Youth Leadership Mobile, also participated. “It was wonderful to meet Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and learn more about the Art of Living,” she said. “We are so grateful to have this event in Mobile for our community to experience.” 

Gurudev’s work has evolved into a global mission of service and education, impacting more than 800 million people in 180 countries. Learn more about his service. 

Bruder honored for significant contributions to cardiovascular research

Thiago Bruder, Ph.D., focuses his research on the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease.

By Lindsay Hughes

Thiago Bruder, Ph.D., an assistant professor of physiology and cell biology at the Whiddon College of Medicine, recently received the Harry Goldblatt Award for New Investigators from the American Heart Association (AHA). The prestigious award, sponsored by the Council on Hypertension, recognizes an early-career independent investigator who has significantly contributed to the understanding of the causes of hypertension and related cardiovascular disease. 

“The award is deeply important for my career, as it provides national and international recognition of the research we are conducting on vascular biology and blood pressure regulation,” Bruder said. “It not only acknowledges the impact of our current findings but also positions our lab as a contributor to shaping the future of hypertension research.” 

“On a personal level,” Bruder added, “being honored early in my independent career enhances visibility within the cardiovascular community, strengthens opportunities for collaboration, and supports the competitiveness of future funding applications. Most importantly, it reinforces my commitment to mentoring the next generation of scientists, giving me the opportunity to inspire trainees in the same way I was once inspired by the pioneers of this field.”

Thiago Bruder, Ph.D., presents at the

AHA Hypertension Scientific Sessions.

Bruder also had the opportunity to present a lecture during the AHA’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions, held in Baltimore in early September. In his lecture, he shared how he began his career in a cardiovascular pharmacology and physiology research lab and expressed gratitude to the mentors who have guided him since his undergraduate studies in Brazil. He then presented some of his lab’s published and unpublished findings on endothelial biology and blood pressure regulation.

“This lecture was a truly unique opportunity,” Bruder said, “as many of the leading cardiovascular scientists I have long admired — and whose manuscripts I studied as a graduate student — were in the audience.” 

The award is named after Harry Goldblatt, M.D., a pathologist who established the first experimental model of hypertension in 1934. This model laid the foundation for much of today’s research in blood pressure regulation. “To be honored in his name is truly priceless,” Bruder said.

Troy Stevens, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology at the Whiddon College of Medicine and director of the USA Center for Lung Biology, was among those who nominated Bruder for the award.

In addition to Stevens, nominators were Bruder’s postdoctoral mentor Eric Belin de Chantemele, D.Sc., Regents Professor at Augusta University; and Rhian Touyz, MBBCh, Ph.D., executive director and chief scientific officer of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, Canada.

“I am deeply grateful to be named the 2025 Harry Goldblatt Award recipient and especially thankful to my lab members — both current and former trainees — whose dedication, creativity, and hard work have been essential to this recognition.”

Bruder, who is a Fellow of the American Heart Association, joined the Whiddon College of Medicine faculty in 2024. His lab is dedicated to investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease, as well as discovering both therapeutic and non-therapeutic approaches to mitigate its effects. 

He earned a Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of São Paulo in Brazil. He completed postdoctoral research in physiology at Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia. 

Hospitalist Van Court joins internal medicine faculty

Blake Van Court, M.D.

By Milena Mata

USA Health recently welcomed Blake Van Court, M.D., a board-certified hospitalist who treats patients at University Hospital. 

As a native of south Louisiana, Van Court said he is excited to return to the Gulf Coast.  

“I chose hospital medicine because it is the perfect union of human physiology and patient-centered care,” Van Court said. “The best part of being a hospitalist is being able to take care of your local community during their most vulnerable times and knowing that you're making a difference in the lives of people around you.”

Van Court will also serve as an assistant professor of internal medicine at the Whiddon College of Medicine. He has collaborated on numerous research publications and is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. 

“Academic medicine allows me to give back to the newest generation of future physicians,” he said. 

Van Court said the ever-evolving nature of medicine pushes him to stay updated on new technologies and advances in medicine, which in turn helps his trainees become great physicians. “To see your trainees grow into excellent physicians is the most satisfying reward a teacher can have,” he said.  

Van Court earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. He completed residency training in internal medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.