Holiday Greetings from USA Physicians Group

Happy holidays from the University of South Alabama Physicians Group. Watch the video below or click here for a special greeting.


USA Physicians Group Holiday Card for 2012 from USA Health System on Vimeo.

Retirement Reception Honors Jan Sauls

The University of South Alabama Department of Pharmacology hosted a retirement reception honoring Jan Sauls (above left), on Dec. 19, 2012, at the USA Faculty Club. Sauls, a secretary in the pharmacology department, retired after 30 years of service to the university.

Click here to view more photos from the reception.

Students, Faculty Present Research Projects at 6th Annual COM Research Forum

Leslie Hargett (right), a graduate student in the pharmacology department and Center for Lung Biology, presents her work to Nicole Housley, a technician in the pharmacology department, at the USA College of Medicine Research Forum.

In addition to poster presentations, researchers also made oral presentations during forum.

The sixth annual University of South Alabama College of Medicine Research Forum was held Dec. 13, 2012, at the Medical Sciences Building on USA's main campus.

The forum is an opportunity for graduate students in the Basic Medical Sciences program, postdoctoral fellows, residents, clinical fellows, and new faculty to present their research to the College of Medicine community.

The forum consisted of two sessions - the morning session was comprised of eight oral presentations and the afternoon session hosted poster presentations.

According to Dr. Donna Cioffi, assistant professor of biochemistry at USA, the forum consisted of 40 poster presentations largely focusing on research performed by basic medical scientists and clinicians. In addition, Dr. Cioffi said this year's event included presentations from the USA Biomedical Library and the Flow Cytometry Core.

Dr. Cioffi said the research forum is a great opportunity for basic medical scientists and clinicians because it opens doors for new ideas and collaborations.

"This year's Research Forum was a great success, and we are already looking forward to next year's event," she said.

Click here to view more photos from the Research Forum.

Watch the video below to learn more from Dr. Cioffi about the event.

Med School Café - Expert Advice for the Community

This week, Dr. Ehab Molokhia, associate professor of family medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, presented the December Med School Café lecture.

In his lecture, "The Patient Centered Medical Home," Dr. Molokhia discussed the role of the primary care physician in coordinating health care. During the talk he included information on patient centered medical homes, a team-based model of care led by a personal physician who provides continuous and coordinated care throughout a patient's lifetime to maximize health outcomes.

In addition, he discussed the role of primary care in the health care system and the added value of having a primary care physician.

To learn more about the Med School Café lectures, click here.

USA College of Medicine Hosts Crampton Trust Lecture in Geriatric Medicine

Dr. Errol Crook (left), professor and Abraham Mitchell Chair of Internal Medicine at USA, with Dr. Anthony Galanos (right), the Crampton Visiting Professor in Geriatric Medicine.

The USA internal medicine departmental grand rounds on Dec. 13, 2012, featured USA College of Medicine alum Dr. Anthony N. Galanos.

Dr. Galanos' lecture, “Hazards of Hospitalization in the Elderly,” marked the second annual Crampton Trust Lecture in Geriatric Medicine.

Dr. Galanos, who serves as professor of medicine at Duke University, is a geriatrician and palliative care expert who focuses most of his efforts on inpatient palliative care and care of the elderly.

At the event, Dr. Galanos, who serves as the Crampton Visiting Professor in Geriatric Medicine, gave a talk regarding the hazards of hospitalization in the elderly, as well as information on the costs of readmissions and transitions of care, both to the patient and to the institutions.

Dr. Galanos earned his medical degree from the USA College of Medicine in 1986. He completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. In addition, he completed a geriatric medicine fellowship at Duke University Medical Center and Durham Veterans Administration Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and was a post doctoral fellow at the Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, also at Duke University.

According to Dr. Errol Crook, professor and Abraham Mitchell Chair of Internal Medicine at USA, the Crampton Trust lecture enhances the medical education activities at USA and is made possible through the Crampton Trust.

To view more photos from the lecture, click here.

To read about last year’s inaugural Crampton Trust Lecture in Geriatric Medicine, click here.

USA Medical Center Participates in Holiday Toy Drive

USA Medical Center employees drop off toys collected for the Dumas Wesley Community Center's Toy Store. From left to right: Anita Shirah, human resources manager; Stephanie Williams, human resources specialist; and Ashley Sewell, supply technician.

 

The University of South Alabama Medical Center recently assisted the Dumas Wesley Community Center this year with donations for the Community Center's Christmas Toy Store.

Toys were collected within departments at the USA Medical Center for transport to the Dumas Wesley Community Center.

Donated toys are sold to pre-qualified Crichton residents at greatly reduced prices. The money generated from the toy sales goes to help other distressed community members with emergency needs.

According to Anita Shirah, human resources manager at the USA Medical Center, the hospital began working with the Dumas Wesley Community Center on the Christmas Toy Store in 2002 and has made the store an annual project in providing toys, books, and accessories.

The annual Christmas Toy Store serves approximately 75 families residing in the Crichton neighborhood and Sybil Smith Family Village, Dumas Wesley’s transitional housing program.

Students Donate Books to USA Children’s Medical Center through Reach Out and Read Program

USA pediatrician Dr. Cindy Sheets with class representatives from St. Paul's Episcopal School

The University of South Alabama Children’s Medical Center recently received approximately 100 books collected by kindergarten students at St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Mobile as part of the Reach Out and Read program.

Reach Out and Read is a nonprofit organization that promotes early literacy and school readiness in pediatric physician offices nationwide by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud.

According to USA pediatrician Dr. Cindy Sheets, half of the books donated to the USA Children's Medical Center have already been distributed to children visiting the clinic.

“We love to give books at our clinic because the children and parents are so delighted to receive them,” Dr. Sheets said. “We are greatly appreciative of the generosity of the children of St. Paul’s for their donation.”

The Children's Medical Center, which is the pediatric teaching clinic for the University, has been a Reach Out and Read site for 8 years.

The Reach Out and Read program begins at the 6-month checkup and continues through age 5, with a special emphasis on children growing up in economically challenged communities. According to Dr. Sheets, physicians at the Children’s Medical Center also buy books or obtain donated books to give to children at sick visits and at well visits to ages outside of the official Reach Out and Read guidelines.

December Med School Café - 'The Patient Centered Medical Home'

The December Med School Café lecture will feature Dr. Ehab Molokhia, associate professor of family medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine.

His lecture, titled “The Patient Centered Medical Home,” will take place Dec.18, 2012, at the USA Faculty Club on USA’s main campus. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m., and the presentation begins at noon.

Dr. Molokhia will lecture on the role of the primary care physician in coordinating health care. During the talk he will include information on patient centered medical homes, a team-based model of care led by a personal physician who provides continuous and coordinated care throughout a patient's lifetime to maximize health outcomes.

In addition, Dr. Molokhia will discuss the role of primary care in the health care system and the added value of having a primary care physician.

The Med School Café lecture and lunch are provided free of charge, but reservations are required. For more information or to make reservations, please call Kim Partridge at (251) 460-7770 or e-mail kepartridge@usouthal.edu.

Med School Café is a free community lecture series sponsored by the USA Physicians Group. Each month, faculty from the USA College of Medicine share their expertise on a specific medical condition, providing insight on the latest treatment available.

USA Hospitals Host Tree Lighting Ceremonies

Starla Chapman visits with Santa Claus during the USA Children's & Women's Lights of Love Tree Lighting Ceremony

The University of South Alabama Medical Center and USA Children's & Women's Hospital recently hosted their annual tree lighting ceremonies.

The "Lights of Love" tree lighting at USA Children's & Women's Hospital was co-sponsored by the Ronald McDonald House and the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute. The event also featured visits from Santa Claus and Ronald McDonald, as well as performances from the USA Chorale, the Spanish Fort Community Kids Choir and the Baker's Dozen from Baker High School.

 

Click here to view more photos from the Lights of Love Tree Lighting.

The USA Medical Center's Dedication of Lights Ceremony, sponsored by USA Medical Center Auxiliary, featured performances by Mount Hebron Church Ministries Youth Choir. In addition, ornaments were placed on the tree by family and friends of patients and former patients.

 

Click here to view more photos from the USA Medical Center's tree lighting.

Med School Café - Expert Advice for the Community

Last week, Dr. Karen Fagan, associate professor of internal medicine and pharmacology and chief of the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine, and Dr. Ivan McMurtry, professor of pharmacology and internal medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, presented the November Med School Café lecture.

The lecture, titled “Pulmonary Hypertension: The Other BP,” had a total of 39 attendees. During the talk Drs. Fagan and McMurtry focused on the pathway of research to the clinical setting. To illustrate this concept, they highlighted the translational research – or scientific research that involves the translation of science conducted in a lab to bedside clinical practice – that takes place at USA.

The next Med School Café lecture will feature Dr. Ehab Molokhia, associate professor of family medicine at the USA College of Medicine. The event will take place Dec. 18, 2012, at the USA Faculty Club on USA's main campus.

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

USA Awarded NIH Grant To Address Health Disparities

Dr. Errol Crook (pictured above), Abraham Mitchell professor and chair of internal medicine at the USA College of Medicine, speaks at a press conference announcing the grant on Dec. 4, 2012.

From left to right: Dr. Samuel Strada, Dr. Kenneth Hudson, Dr. William Gerthoffer, Dr. Clara Massey, Dr. Hattie Myles, Dr. Martha Arrieta, Dr. Roma Hanks and Dr. Errol Crook.




The University of South Alabama Center for Healthy Communities has been awarded a five-year $7.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to help reduce and eliminate health disparities in Mobile and surrounding communities.

This marks the third renewal of the USA Center of Excellence for health disparities grant that began in 2004. The funding will support community programs that address health disparities and research to better understand factors that contribute to health disparities.

“This grant allows us to continue to build on the progress we have made in addressing the health disparities in Mobile and surrounding communities,” said Dr. Errol Crook, Abraham Mitchell professor and chair of internal medicine at the USA College of Medicine.

According to Dr. Crook, who leads the project, the USA Center for Healthy Communities will continue to collaborate with community groups, health care leaders, and USA faculty. The project aims to craft effective, culturally sensitive, community-based interventions for minority and underserved groups through three main components- community engagement, medical research, and better understanding of how people engage the health care system.

“The grant is an example of how our medical school improves the health of our community in novel ways outside the traditional model of healthcare,” said Dr. Samuel J. Strada, dean of the USA College of Medicine. “This project represents the university’s ability to bring NIH grant funding to Mobile and to collaborate with local agencies in developing solutions based on local needs.”

The community engagement component of the grant will enhance workforce development by supporting a pipeline for health care professionals and further development of a group of community health advocates. The research component includes studies evaluating novel biomarkers for cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of death across the United States, and examining the relationship between labor markets and health, as well as an assessment of the public’s perception of their health and knowledge of health issues.

Dr. Roma Hanks, community outreach core co-director, oversees the community health advocate program. This program recruits members of the community to promote healthy behavior and awareness of healthy lifestyles. According to Dr. Hanks, who also serves as chair of sociology and anthropology at USA, their efforts are done in partnership with the community and focus on health issues of importance to them such as physical activity, obesity, and healthy eating.

“This outreach is unique because it allows us to reach more people with important messages that typically only occur in a traditional clinical setting,” said Dr. Crook. “Our health care advocates are able to effectively reach large numbers of people in the community.”

Another important aspect of the grant is its pipeline programs that motivate children and young adults from health-disparate neighborhoods. Led by Dr. Hattie Myles, assistant dean of student affairs and education enrichment, youth from health disparate neighborhoods enter an intense program to strengthen their academic skills, and that encourages them to consider careers in health care and pursue a college degree. According to Dr. Myles, who also serves as community outreach core co-director, teens also have the opportunity to shadow health professionals in this program.

Additionally, the program supports an intergenerational approach to improve health where senior citizens interact with youth for mutual benefit. “For instance, in one activity the youth will teach seniors technology and how to access health-related information, while the seniors in turn serve as life mentors for them,” said Dr. Crook.

The grant also supports novel translational research led by Dr. William Gerthoffer, professor and chair of the USA department of biochemistry, and Dr. Clara Massey, chief of the USA division of cardiology. Their research examines novel proteins that may be early predictors of cardiovascular disease. “Having earlier markers of heart disease, before symptoms occur, is important in reducing the health disparities seen in cardiovascular disease,” said Dr. Crook.

The second research project is led by Dr. Kenneth Hudson, associate professor of sociology at USA. Through this grant, Dr. Hudson will examine the relationship between labor, labor markets and health. Detailed job history and health utilization data from households in the poorest neighborhoods of Mobile will be collected. Dr. Hudson is interested in better understanding the correlation between the type of job one has and that person’s relationship with the health care community.

Dr. Martha Arrieta, director of research at the USA Center for Healthy Communities is leading the third research project. Her project assesses the public’s perception and knowledge of health issues by using a novel survey method. Using members of the communities to be studied in her research team, Dr. Arrieta will identify neighborhood sites where it is best to gather information and will test methods to gather related data. Results from this study will provide novel methods by which the Center and its partners may conduct future assessment of community health and health needs. In addition, the research apprenticeship model used in this study will provide unique skills to the community members that will hopefully enhance their employment opportunities.

This Week's DSS - Dr. David Lefer

The next Distinguished Scientist Seminar at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine will be presented by Dr. David J. Lefer, professor of cardiothoracic surgery and surgery at Emory University School of Medicine.

The lecture, titled “Hydrogen Sulfide and Cardiovascular Disease,” will take place Dec. 6, 2012, at 4 p.m. in the Medical Sciences Building auditorium.

Dr. Lefer also serves as director of the Cardiothoracic Research Laboratory, Carlyle Fraser Heart Center at Emory University Hospital Midtown. His research interests include myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, congestive heart failure, hepatic ischemic-reperfusion injury, cardiovascular actions of nitrite and nitric oxide, and coronary vascular biology.

Dr. Lefer has a B.S. degree in biology from the University of Richmond, and a Ph.D. degree in physiology-pharmacology from Wake Forest University. He did a postdoctoral fellowship in molecular cardiology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

In 2012, Dr. Lefer received the American Physiological Society Robert M. Berne Award Lecture, and in 2011, he received the ASPET CV Section Benedict R. Lucchesi Award Lecture in Cardiac Pharmacology. He is an editorial board member of Circulation Research and Cardiovascular Drug Review. In addition, he holds memberships in various organizations including the American Physiological Society, the American Heart Association, and the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.

For more information on Dr. Lefer’s research, click here.

Snapshots: Sandy Worley Dedication Ceremony

Family members, friends, and co-workers attend the dedication ceremony honoring Sandy Worley. Pictured above from left to right are Jeff Worley, Sarah Worley, Penny Cook, and Joe Worley.

The University of South Alabama College of Medicine held a dedication ceremony to honor Sandy Worley, a secretary in the physiology department who passed away in 2011.

The dedication took place Nov. 27, 2012, at the east side of the Medical Sciences Building, where benches and trees were placed in memory of Worley.

More photos from the dedication are shown below. To read more about the event, click here.

If you would like to make a donation to the Sandy Worley Memorial Fund, contact Racheal Banks at (251) 460-7481. You can also mail your donation to USA Health Sciences Development, 650 Clinic Drive, Mobile, AL, 36688.

USA College of Medicine Graduate Featured on National Television Show

University of South Alabama College of Medicine graduate Dr. Edward Panacek (COM '81), was recently featured in the television show “Untold Stories of the ER,” a documentary/drama television series in which emergency medicine physicians tell about their most bizarre and puzzling cases.

All the cases are based on actual events, and they typically involve extraordinary cases and life-threatening injuries or conditions.

Dr. Panacek, an emergency medicine physician at University of California Davis Health System in Sacramento, Calif., said that he has been working with the show’s producers for a few years.

“When they were starting up the show, a friend of mine recommended me because he knew I had a lot of interesting and unusual stories,” he said. “I ended up doing two episodes for seasons two through four, and now they have contacted me again.”

Dr. Panacek also said he has worked with the show extensively as a technical advisor to help answer questions about appropriate drug doses, names, and pronunciations for the show’s script writers. He explained that often the doctors portray themselves and tell their stories with help from actors who re-enact scenes. Dr. Panacek said that for the first few episodes producers had an actor play him, but in recent shows he has been in front of the camera himself.

Dr. Panacek said the show’s producers have already contacted him for more stories, and they are getting ready for another season. “I’ve been able to give them some new ideas, and now that I am used to seeing myself on there I kind of enjoy the process,” he said. “I also have a better sense of what they are looking for as far as the entertainment side of it.”

Dr. Panacek explained that he has quickly gravitated toward emergency medicine because he likes the fast pace and atmosphere in the ER. He is board certified in internal and critical care medicine, as well as emergency medicine. He has also been named a “Hero of Emergency Medicine” by the American College of Emergency Physicians and served as the residency program director at UC Davis Health System for a decade.

He said he still visits USA from time to time, and he has a deep appreciation for the educational foundation he received at the USA College of Medicine.

“I have extremely fond memories of USA," he said. "I received an outstanding clinical practice education there with a lot of one-on-one attention from the faculty. You don’t get that at larger schools, and I really enjoyed my experiences there.”

Dr. Panacek will be featured in the ER Holiday Special “Santa Baby,” which premieres December 1st on TLC, and again on Discovery Fit & Health on December 15th. He will also be featured on TLC January 9th for the episode “Delusional Bride.”

Eran and N.Q. Adams Neurology Scholarship: Now Accepting Proposals

The University of South Alabama College of Medicine is now accepting proposals for the Eran and N.Q. Adams Endowed Scholarship in Neurology. The scholarship was established to support, in the early stages of their careers, young physicians engaged in neurology who wish to gain a better understanding of dysautonomia.

Award Mechanism
USA invites third and fourth year medical students to submit applications for a scholarship that includes a unique research and/or learning opportunity. The candidate will concentrate on recognizing symptoms, providing accurate diagnosis, and providing the most currently recognized best treatment methods for patients with dysautonomia.

The successful candidate will be involved in a highly stimulating neurologic project designed to address their proposal, and will receive a tuition award of $7,500.  Proposals are due December 15, 2012 and awardees will be announced by February 4, 2013.

Prospective applicants should contact Nicole Laden at nicolesheehan@usouthal.edu for additional information.

Criteria Of Eligibility
1. USA 3rd or 4th year medical student
2. Student must declare an interest in entering neurology as a career
3.  A brief essay about their future career plans (1 page max)
4. The student should prepare a brief proposal (no more than 2 pages) for a learning experience or research project in dysautonomia. The student may consult with neurology faculty to help him/her select an appropriate project
5. Applications will be judged on the basis of scholastic performance in neuroscience and neurology recommendations and project proposal.
6. The student should solicit two letters of recommendation from neuroscience and/or neurology faculty
7. The award will favor students who intend to train and stay in the Mobile or Gulf region

Submit Applications To:
Adams Scholarship Committee • USA Dept. of Neurology • 2451 Fillingim Street • Suite 10-F • Mobile, AL  36617

To learn more about the Eran and N.Q. Adams Endowed Scholarship, and to view last year’s recipient, click here.

This Week's DSS - Dr. Steven Segal

The next Distinguished Scientist Seminar at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine will feature Dr. Steven Segal, the Margaret Proctor Mulligan Professor in Medical Research in the department of medical pharmacology and physiology at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo.

The lecture, titled "Neuromodulation of Intercellular Signaling Along Vascular Resitance Networks," will take place Nov. 29, 2012, at 4 p.m. in the Medical Sciences Building auditorium on USA's main campus.

Dr. Segal’s primary area of research interests include blood flow control, cardiovascular regulation, cell-cell signaling, exercise and microcirculation.

Dr. Segal received both a B.A. and M.A. degree in physical education and exercise physiology from the University of California at Berkley, and a Ph.D. in physiology and education from the University of Michigan. He earned a postdoctoral National Research Service Award (microcirculation) from the University of Virginia.

For more information on Dr. Segal's research, click here.

Turkey Trivia

This morning National Geographic made a post on their website about Thanksgiving Myths and Facts.  To read, follow the link below.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/11/121120-thanksgiving-2012-dinner-recipes-pilgrims-day-parade-history-facts/

Happy Thanksgiving!

USA Research Seeks To Better Understand Rickettsia prowazekii

Research led by Dr. David O. Wood (left) seeks to find a vaccine for epidemic typhus.  Dr. Wood, who came to USA in 1979,  is pictured with post-doctoral fellow Dr. Aimee Tucker.

Dr. David Wood, professor and chair of microbiology at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, was awarded a renewal grant in its 27th year by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the research surrounding a vaccine for epidemic typhus, one of the most deadly diseases affecting humans. He credits much of his success to his mentor Dr. Herbert Winkler, who introduced him to the research surrounding the bacteria responsible for epidemic typhus, Rickettsia prowazekii, when he arrived at USA in 1979.

“My early discussions with Dr. Winkler revealed that very little in the way of genetic analysis had been done in the rickettsial field, and as a true mentor, he encouraged me to pursue my interests in the area,” Dr. Wood said. “I became very excited about understanding how the rickettsiae exploit host cells and how I could address the challenges that the intracellular lifestyle places on genetic analysis.”

Dr. Wood said that his interaction with Dr. Winkler inspired him to submit his first rickettsial NIH grant proposal, but early critiques were very unfavorable. Although he was very enthusiastic about the project, NIH decided not to fund him the initial year.

“As a young tenure-track assistant professor, I did not want to go to my mentors and let them know that they hired someone who received such rejections,” he said of the NIH decision. “I was extremely fortunate to have Dr. Winkler as a mentor and Dr. Joseph Coggin as a chair who continued to strongly support and encourage me despite the initial setback.”

According to Dr. Wood, this setback only fueled his motivation and led to his collaboration with Dr. Winkler on cloning and expressing the first rickettsial gene. This led to the submission of a second proposal that was funded, and has continued to be consecutively funded for nearly three decades. Dr. Wood also is only one of five at USA to be awarded a MERIT (Method to Extend Research in Time) award, which is among the most selective grants awarded by NIH.

Dr. Wood explained that rickettsiae are associated with vectors such as lice or ticks, and they can transmit the rickettsiae to humans. He is very interested in the unusual biology of the rickettsiae because they only grow in the cytosol, or the liquid component is inside host cells. Instead of being enclosed within a vacuole, which normally isolate materials that might be harmful to the cell, the organisms can escape into the cytosol where they grow until the number of rickettsiae becomes so great that the cell bursts, releasing hundreds of infectious bacteria. The primary focus of his team’s work revolves around understanding how the agent is able to behave this way and identifying new targets for antimicrobial agents or developing vaccines that could potentially help people become immune to epidemic typhus.

 “Our ultimate goal is to gain a better understanding of this novel infectious disease agent and develop a good vaccine,” he said. “Coming up with a vaccine for epidemic typhus could save many lives,” he added.

The research initiated by Dr. Herbert Winkler more than 30 years ago has helped to establish a Select Agent Program centered on Rickettsia. This motivated others, like Dr. Wood and his colleagues, to obtain NIH funds for the construction of a new research lab. The 25,800-square-foot Laboratory of Infectious Diseases building (LID) will be located in the USA Technology and Research Park on the north side of USA’s campus. It will replace the current Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory building, and will more than double the current Biosafety Level 3 research capability at USA.

Two Members of USA’s Lions Club Recognized for Service

Lion Tommie Carlisle and Lion Judy Burnham

University of South Alabama employees and University Lions Club members Tommie Carlisle and Judy Burnham recently received the Melvin Jones Fellowship award, one of the highest honors a Lions Club member can receive. The Melvin Jones Fellowship is named for Melvin Jones, the founder of the Lions Clubs International.

Judy Burnham, director of the USA Biomedical Library, also serves as the treasurer of the University Lions Club. She says after serving the organization for almost 10 years, she is honored and humbled that the University Lions Club named her as a Melvin Jones Fellow recipient.

“Anytime you participate in an outreach or service effort like the University Lions Club, it changes your perspective,” she said. “The University Lions has given me an opportunity to give back to the community, and we are able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of many people.”

According to Burnham, the University Lions Club sponsors several projects in the area including a Christmas Party at the Alabama Preschool for the Sensory Impaired, camp scholarships for children with diabetes at Camp Seale Harris and Camp Sugar Falls, USA Eye Research Institute, and Habitat for Humanity.  They also collect eyeglasses that are then recycled for people who cannot afford glasses, and they maintain over a half a mile of shrubbery in the medians of University Boulevard in conjunction with the Keep Mobile Beautiful organization.

“Before becoming a Lion, I had never thought of the impact having diabetes has on a child, not only medically, but also socially and psychologically,” said Burnham. “Supporting projects such as scholarships for Camp Sugar Falls can help to ease that burden for a child.”

Tommie Carlisle, who is president of the University Lions Club and has been a member for almost 15 years, said he believes humans are obligated to help one another, and with the help of like minded club members the impact of sharing this idea is much greater.

“I am happy to be a part of the organization and to be recognized, but I do not solely deserve this recognition because I feel there is so much more to be done to strengthen our organization,” he said. “It is a team effort--I’m the guy that gets the trophy for being a valuable player, but I could not have done it without the people around me, and I would like to share this award with everyone in the University Lions Club.”

Carlisle, coordinator for health services operations at USA Health Services Foundation, said he hopes the club’s work will ultimately benefit the entire world by working to decrease visual impairment and hearing impairments, and his club lives by the organization’s motto “we serve.”

“One of the biggest programs we are involved in is sending children to camp in the summer,” he said. “The kids have the opportunity to fish, camp and have fun. They learn from one another and realize that they are not alone.”

Carlisle said one of his favorite club events is the annual Christmas party with the Alabama Preschool for the Sensory Impaired. “If you could only see the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive a gift from Santa and sing Christmas songs,” he said. “This is something we’ve been doing for almost 15 years, and it is so rewarding to see our efforts lead to so much happiness and results in a joyful experience for these children.”

The University Lion’s Club currently has 17 members, but they are eager to accept anyone who wants to help serve the community. The University Lions Club meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at noon in the Virginia Harr Conference Room in the Medical Sciences Building on USA’s campus.  The only criterion needed to join the club is the desire to serve others in the community.

“The University Lions Club welcomes new members,” said Burnham. “We have some exciting plans for 2013 and invite others to join us.”

The Lions Club is the world's largest service club organization with 46,000 clubs and 1.35 million members, and their main concerns are diabetes and eye research. For more information about the University Lions Club, visit http://e-clubhouse.org/sites/mobileuniversity/.

Sandy Worley Memorial Dedication

The University of South Alabama College of Medicine will hold a dedication ceremony to honor Sandy Worley, a secretary in the physiology department who passed away in 2011.

The dedication will take place Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, at 3:30 p.m. on the east side of the Medical Sciences Building, where benches and trees have been placed in memory of Worley. During her 29 years with the University, she worked closely with medical and graduate students in the College of Medicine.

According to Penny Cook, both long-time friend and colleague, the benches were selected because Worley loved the outdoors and enjoyed reading. "We hope this spot will provide a nearby place for people to stop and appreciate some of the things she enjoyed," Cook said.  "The cherry blossom trees selected as landscape represent the many years she lived in Washington, D.C."

Worley participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life for many years and was also a strong supporter of the American Heart Association's Gumbo Cook-offs and the American Heart Association's Heart Runs.

For more information on the dedication, email Penny Cook at pcook@usouthal.edu.

USA Department of Family Medicine Receives Funding to Improve Primary Care Delivery

Dr. Carol Motley, associate professor of family medicine at the USA College of Medicine, directed a grant that seeks to improve the understanding of primary care among students during their first two years of medical school.

In Alabama, our state's health care delivery system is challenged with a shortage of primary physicians. Since the inception of the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, the USA department of family medicine has made significant progress in addressing this shortage through its training program.

Recently, the department was awarded several grants to support this effort.

Dr. Allen Perkins, professor and chair of the department of family medicine, said that the USA College of Medicine received funding to improve primary care in two different arenas that will help to make medical students and residents better family doctors. The college’s family practice and community medicine unit has been awarded almost $400,000 from both the Alabama Family Practice Rural Health Board and the Health Resources and Services Administration to improve primary care delivery by making curriculum changes in the department’s medical school and residency programs.

The changes are intended to increase the number of students pursuing family medicine and will aid in the transformation of the practice in preparation for new expectations of health care delivery.

“With better health care delivery, people in our region will live longer and be healthier,” said Dr. Perkins. “The role of the family physician is an important part of health care, focusing on prevention and organizing appropriate care when needed.”

The two grants that support activities in the medical school total $239,613 and seek to improve the understanding of primary care among students during their first two years of medical school. Directed by Dr. Carol Motley, associate professor of family medicine at the USA College of Medicine, the first grant creates specific cases that identify and highlight primary care as a means of improving care for different patients in the new curriculum. The second segment develops a new curriculum in early patient care, where the students have the opportunity to go into remote primary care offices and learn how to deliver care in a geographically underserved setting.

“We want the students to learn how to deliver care in underserved areas so when they graduate from medical school they have a working understanding of health care in this setting,” said Dr. Perkins.

Both changes in curriculum are meant to address the shortage of primary care physicians and create an environment where family medicine is a sought-after specialty. Dr. Perkins said this represents a window of opportunity to put in place early contact for first and second-year medical students with primary care clinical experiences to initiate innovative strategies and models of teaching.

Directed by Dr. Perkins, the third grant totals $151,537 and will allow the residency program to be more focused on delivering care differently by redesigning the entire practice to deliver care with a patient-centered focus. With the United States facing a historic shift in health care and the introduction of the Affordable Care Act, there will be increased emphasis on the quality of care tied directly to outcomes rather than services alone.

Dr. Perkins said there are several variations of health care delivery in the United States, and those areas of the country with more primary care physicians have lower costs and improved patient outcomes.

“Medicine in the United States has become fragmented and inefficient, and studies have identified that this accounts for 20 percent of health care costs,” said Dr. Perkins. “The good news is that the Affordable Care Act will further emphasize the important role of primary care, which will help reduce waste and inefficiencies.”

Dr. Perkins said more care is not necessarily better care, and more and more patients appreciate the practice of evidence-based care.

According to Dr. Perkins, these grants will help prepare the family physician to provide the best care possible amid changes in our health care delivery system.

USA Biomedical Librarian Approved For Membership in Academy of Health Information Professionals

Trey Lemley, associate librarian at the University of South Alabama Biomedical Library, was recently approved for membership in the Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP) at the Distinguished Member level.

AHIP is the Medical Library Association’s peer-reviewed professional development and career recognition credentialing program. The academy promotes lifelong learning and exemplary professional performance by recognizing achievements in continuing education, teaching, publishing and research.

The Distinguished Member level is the highest of the five levels of AHIP and requires significant professional accomplishment in the last five years, along with a relevant graduate degree and at least 10 years of professional experience in the health information field.

According to Judy Burnham, director of the USA Biomedical Library, all biomedical librarians at USA are members of AHIP – with four members at the Distinguished level, two at the Senior level, and two at the Member level.

Lemley said he has been a member of AHIP since 2010. “For me,” he said, “AHIP is a means to increase my effectiveness as an information professional and to demonstrate my commitment to the field of medical librarianship.”

November Med School Café - 'Pulmonary Hypertension: The Other BP'

The November Med School Café lecture will feature Dr. Karen Fagan, associate professor of internal medicine and pharmacology and chief of the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine, and Dr. Ivan McMurtry, professor of pharmacology and internal medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine.

Their lecture, titled “Pulmonary Hypertension: The Other BP,” will take place Nov. 29, 2012, at the USA Faculty Club on USA’s main campus. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m., and the presentation begins at noon.

Dr. Fagan is a physician scientist with a special interest in pulmonary hypertension, a disorder of the lungs in which the pressure in the pulmonary artery – the blood vessel that leads from the heart to the lungs – rises above normal levels and may become life threatening.

Dr. McMurtry is a basic researcher who has been studying pulmonary hypertension for many years. His discoveries have led to the development of many treatments currently used in the care of pulmonary hypertension patients.

Dr. Ivan McMurtry

Drs. Fagan and McMurtry’s talk will focus on the pathway of research to the clinical setting. To illustrate this concept, they will highlight the translational research – or scientific research that involves the translation of science conducted in a lab to bedside clinical practice – that takes place at USA.

The Med School Café lecture and lunch are provided free of charge, but reservations are required. For more information or to make reservations, please call Kim Partridge at (251) 460-7770 or e-mail kepartridge@usouthal.edu.

Med School Café is a free community lecture series sponsored by the USA Physicians Group. Each month, faculty from the USA College of Medicine share their expertise on a specific medical condition, providing insight on the latest treatment available.

Veterans Day 2012: Honoring Our Heroes



Dr. Sidney Brevard (pictured above), associate professor of surgery at the USA College of Medicine, recently spoke at a Veterans Day ceremony at St. Paul's Episcopal School in Mobile. Dr. Brevard retired after 26 years as an Air Force Colonel. 

Veterans Day was this past Sunday - a day we pay tribute to all our veterans living and deceased who gave a part of their life to preserve our country’s freedom.

Many veterans are also our co-workers and friends. One of our very own veterans is Dr. Sidney Brevard, associate professor of surgery at the USA College of Medicine, who retired after 26 years as an Air Force colonel.

Dr. Brevard said he decided to join the military as a means of paying for school, but decided to stay because his experiences were extremely rewarding. “For me it was very positive,” he said. “I enjoyed being part of a team on patriotic missions, and that was what made the weeks and months we spent far away from home worthwhile.”

Dr. Brevard, who spoke at a Veterans Day ceremony at St. Paul’s Episcopal School this week, has been deployed multiple times to different countries throughout his career. He has served in various deployments in the Middle East, as well as countries in Africa and Asia. He said it was a challenge being away from his family. “It was tough, but my wife has also served in the Air Force, and she knew part of the relationship was going to be time apart,” he said.

Dr. Brevard said his experience in the military has helped him develop into the surgeon he is today. “I do exactly the same thing now that I was doing in the military,” he said. “I was a trauma surgeon in the field and performed surgery on U.S. and NATO personnel in combat, and now I do the same for citizens of the Gulf Coast that need my help.”

“Veterans Day is about respecting the people that came before us who suffered a much harsher war than we ever have and giving them the respect they deserve for the sacrifices they’ve made for all of us,” Dr. Brevard added.

Mel Leggett (left) and Tommie Carlisle (right)

Another veteran now with the USA Health System is Tommie Carlisle, coordinator for health services operations, who retired after 21 years as an Army master sergeant. “I felt obligated as an American to serve and give back to our country,” he said. “I have a long-standing family history of military, and I felt a calling because this is the greatest country in the world.”

Carlisle said the Army afforded him many opportunities, like training and funding to get a civilian education. “I enjoyed being trained in the field I am in today, and the Army helped me get a couple of degrees and additional training to go with it.”

Carlisle did an array of jobs in the Army. He was a combat medic before he went to school for physical therapy. After that he moved to a managerial field in the department of orthopaedics and surgery, where he gained experience with personnel and finance. He also spent time as an Army recruiter. “I helped a lot of people enhance their own lives as a recruiter, and I was nominated as recruiter of the year because I was able to put in more soldiers than any other in the history of the Army,” he said. “That was something I was very proud of.”

According to Carlisle, Veterans Day is a time that Americans should embrace veterans who go above and beyond to ensure our country’s freedom.

“Americans should stand up and salute the sacrifice that so many men and women have made in the past,” he said. “We as Americans should be grateful that they were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to defend America to the end, because freedom isn’t free. Somewhere along the line someone has paid the price.”

Another of our veterans is Mel Leggett, practice director of internal medicine and neurology at the University of South Alabama, who retired as a colonel after 26 years serving the United States Army.

Leggett said one of the reasons he began his journey at age 19 with an Army ROTC scholarship was because of how he was raised. “My father was a retired Navy officer, so it seemed like an exciting and very interesting career,” he said. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army at age 22.

Leggett was deployed to Korea in 1978, and he said his experience in the Army translated directly to being a health care administrator. “That’s what my job was in the Army,” said Leggett. “It was always interesting, and I was able to live a lot of places and see the world.”

In his eyes, Veterans Day is a day of reflection. “It is a day that Americans should reflect on what it takes to be free,” he said.


Dr. Clare Carney

Dr. Clare Carney, a resident physician at USA and a captain in the Army National Guard, has served for three years, and she is very proud of her accomplishments so far.

“I always thought about joining the service because my father and brother were in the military,” she said. “I really liked the guard because they are involved in national relief projects here at home.”

Dr. Carney said that the guard helped her pay for her student loans and assisted her funding for medical training. She is in the medical field in the guard as well, and provides health care for local soldiers. “It is a different perspective on the Army side, but the whole experience has been wonderful and exciting,” she said.

Dr. Gil Brogdon Honored by Alabama Academy of Radiology

The Alabama Academy of Radiology recently awarded its highest honor, the Silver Medal, to Dr. Gil Brogdon (left), University Distinguished Professor Emeritus and former chair of the department of radiology.

Dr. Mark LeQuire (right), president of the Alabama Academy of Radiology, presented the award during the academy's annual meeting Oct. 26-27, 2012, in Huntsville, Ala.

The award was presented to Dr. Brogdon in recognition of his career accomplishments and services to radiological and medical organizations.

The Alabama Academy of Radiology is the state chapter of the American College of Radiology. Dr. Brogdon began an 18 month term as president of the American College of Radiology in 1978, the year he joined the USA College of Medicine faculty.

USA Physicians Group Participates in Employee Benefits Fair

Kim Partridge (above center), USA Patient Navigator, and Tommie Carlisle (above right), coordinator for Health Services operations, represent USA Physicians Group at the Employee Benefits Fair.

Joy Glenn (left), EKG Technologist with the USA Physicians Group, checks an employee's blood pressure. USA Cardiology also handed out heart healthy information at the event.

The University of South Alabama Physicians Group recently participated in USA's 8th annual Employee Benefits Fair hosted by Human Resources.

At the event, the departments of cardiology, bariatric surgery, neurology, and physical therapy were all on hand to answer health questions and provide guidance. The USA Mitchell Cancer Institute and the USA College of Nursing's Our Neighborhood Healthcare Clinic also participated in the event.

In addition, the Employee Benefits Fair allowed employees to learn more about employee benefits such as the USA Health & Dental Plan and SouthFlex.

As a reminder, for those covered by USA Health and Dental Plan insurance, co-pays are only $10 per visit with any provider in the USA Physicians Group. To make an appointment with any USA Physician, call (251) 434-3711.

USA Biomedical Library Recognized at Medical Library Association Meeting

Clista Clanton, assistant librarian at the USA Biomedical Library, shown at 15 Place. Clanton works to promote health literacy at the shelter.

The University of South Alabama Biomedical Library recently received the 2012 Distinguished Library Award from the Consortium of Southern Biomedical Libraries (CONBLS) at the Southern Chapter of the Medical Library Association’s (SC/MLA) meeting in Baltimore.

The Distinguished Library Award was given for the USA Biomedical Library’s involvement with Our Neighborhood Healthcare Clinic, a nurse-managed clinic that provides health and wellness services to patients by collaborating with different community agencies.

Wellness clinics have been established in two community agencies serving traditionally underserved populations: 15 Place, a day shelter for homeless people, and the Dumas Wesley Community Center, an urban community center with programs for senior citizens and formerly homeless women and their children.

According to Judy Burnham, director of the USA Biomedical Library, the library’s project involved promoting clearer communication between health professionals and patients at the two clinics.

Clista Clanton, assistant librarian at the USA Biomedical Library, received funding for the project in 2010 through an Outreach Award from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine/Southeastern Atlantic Region.

“Working with health care professionals and students, Clista works to promote health literacy and evidence-based practice at both sites,” Burnham said. “She purchased netbooks and printers for each location in order to provide consumer health information and education at the point of care, to promote health literacy and evidence-based practice, and to track patient data.”

Additionally, Clanton teaches quarterly computer literacy classes for the new residents of the Sybil Smith Family Village, a residency program for formerly homeless women and their children that is part of the Dumas Wesley Community Center.

Andrea Wright, another librarian from the USA Biomedical Library, volunteers weekly in the computer lab at the Sybil Smith Family Village to keep the software up-to-date and the computers running. She also assists the residents with research, social networking and online job applications.

In addition to receiving the Distinguished Library Award, the USA Biomedical Library presented four posters at the meeting. One poster – A Bibliometric Analysis Comparing International Collaboration Rates Over Two Decades: 1991-2010 – won the 1st Place Research Poster Award. The researchers involved in this project were physical therapy students, co-supervised by Burnham.

Also at the event, Geneva Staggs, senior librarian at the USA Biomedical Library, was presented with the association’s Hospital Librarian of the Year award, established to recognize a hospital librarian who exemplifies excellence, promotes leadership, and pursues continued high levels of achievement in the field of library science.

To read more about the award presented to Staggs, click here.

This Week's DSS - Dr. Sebastien Bonnet

The next Distinguished Scientist Seminar at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine will feature Dr. Sebastien Bonnet, associate professor of medicine and Canadian Research Chair in vascular biology at Laval University in Quebec. Dr. Bonnet also serves as director of CRIUCPQ, the pulmonary hypertension research group in Quebec.

The lecture, titled “The Molecular Origin of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension,” will be held Nov. 8, 2012, at 4 p.m. in the Medical Sciences Building auditorium on USA’s main campus.

Dr. Bonnet’s research primarily focuses on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and coronary disease.

The accomplishments of Dr. Bonnet led to the discovery of mechanisms that cause pulmonary arterial hypertension, a fatal disease that mainly strikes young adults. His team also discovered two substances likely to treat this disease effectively.

Dr. Bonnet earned a doctorate in vascular physiopathology in France and a post doctorate in vascular biology in Alberta.

He has received numerous awards, including the 2011 Fellow of the American Heart Association, Best Canadian Research in Hypertension (CHC), the Paul Mann Award in Translational Research (University of Alberta), the Muster Fraser Award (CIHR award), and the Cournand and Comroe Award (AHA).

In addition, he has authored papers regarding pulmonary hypertension research for several journals, including Circulation, Journal of Experimental Medicine, Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, Journal of Steroids and Hormonal Science, and Journal of Molecular Medicine.

For more information on Dr. Bonnet’s research, click here.

USA Children's & Women's Hospital Patients Celebrate Halloween

Pediatric patients at the University of South Alabama Children's & Women's Hospital went trick or treating throughout the hospital on Halloween this past Wednesday. The children also served as judges of the hospital staff costume contest.

The staff costume winners are as follows:

Funniest: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Peds
Scariest: Frankenstein: Bill Hussong - FM
Best Group: Pirates - QM/Education
Most Original: The Cat in the Hat and all the Things - Cardio
Best Overall: Park Statues - Volunteer Services.

Click here to view all photos from the event.

To view local coverage of the event, click the following links:

Press-Register
Press-Register Photo Gallery
Local 15