Students, Faculty Present Research Projects at 5th Annual COM Research Forum

Terrance Platt (left), a graduate student in the Department of Pharmacology and Center for Lung Biology, presents his poster presentation to Dr. Brian Fouty, associate professor of internal medicine at USA.

Presenter Jamie Hill (center), a graduate student in the Department of Pharmacology and Center for Lung Biology, presents her poster during the fifth annual College of Medicine research forum.

The University of South Alabama College of Medicine's 5th annual Research Forum was held Dec. 9, 2011, at USA's main library.

The forum consisted of two sessions -- the morning session was comprised of nine oral presentations and the afternoon session hosted 37 poster presentations. Graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and clinical fellows were encouraged to present their work.

According to Dr. Donna Cioffi, assistant professor of biochemistry at USA, the goal of the research forum is to foster new ideas and collaborations. "Research projects were presented by members of the College of Medicine to colleagues and students at USA and visiting institutions," she said. "We hope that through this forum, perspective students will become interested in USA for graduate work."

In addition, Dr. Cioffi said the forum helps to achieve a strong integration between the basic medical science departments and the clinical departments. "It is important for them to communicate in order to integrate education both in a research and bedside clinical fashion and thus work toward our common goal of improving human health."

To learn more about participating in the annual COM Research Forum, contact Dr. Cioffi at dlcioffi@usouthal.edu or Dr. Jody Brewer at jbrewer@jaguar1.usouthal.edu.