A Closer Look At The Past Four Decades

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the University of South Alabama College of Medicine. As part of the celebration, the school recently published a special edition of USA Medicine magazine that includes six sections – Trailblazers, Founders, Pioneers, Builders, Innovators and Architects - describing distinct periods of development in the College of Medicine’s history.

According to Dr. Samuel J. Strada, dean of the USA College of Medicine, the medical school has been an essential part of the University during the past four decades of USA’s 50-year history.

“Many students, faculty members, departmental chairs and administrative officials have contributed during our history to a school of medicine that focuses on quality, not quantity, the value of individual growth and development that can lead to a stronger University and community,” said Dr. Strada.

To request a copy of the magazine email ptaylor@southalabama.edu. An electronic version of the magazine is available here.

Visit the medical school’s online time capsule at www.usahealthsystem.com/timecapule to share comments, memories, photos and stories.

USA Welcomes Dr. Brooks Cash

Dr. Brooks D. Cash was recently appointed professor of internal medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and will serve as a gastroenterologist with USA Physicians Group.

Prior to his appointment at USA, Dr. Cash served as the Deputy Commander for Medicine at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

From 2007 to 2008, Dr. Cash served as the Senior Medical Officer of Task Force Platinum of the Joint Task Force in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, receiving honors such as the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Expeditionary Global War on Terrorism Medal.

Dr. Cash also served as the chief of medicine at the National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and chief of the gastroenterology department and colon health initiative at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

In addition to receiving board certification in gastroenterology, Dr. Cash was the 2011 award recipient for “Outstanding CME Enduring Material” from the Alliance for Continuing Medical Education and named an Emerging Leader of Gastroenterology in 2005.

He is now accepting new patients. To make an appointment with Dr. Cash, call 660-5555. 

Holiday Toy Drive - Donate Today

The Dumas Wesley Community Center is sponsoring their annual Christmas Toy Store, and the University of South Alabama Medical Center is assisting them again this year with donations.

New, unwrapped toys will be collected in each department at the USA Medical Center for transport to the Dumas Wesley Community Center on Dec. 3, 2013.

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.

Snapshots: USA Clincal Skills Lab Grand Opening



Dr. Mike Jacobs, professor of adult nursing at the University of South Alabama and director of the Human Simulation Program (far right), talks with Carolyn Ross, associate director of preparedness training at the USA Center for Strategic Health Innovation (far left), David Wallace, director of preparedness training at the USA Center for Strategic Health Innovation (second from left), and Dr. Debra Davis, dean of the College of Nursing during the grand opening of the Clinical Skills Lab at the USA College of Medicine Medical Sciences Building Nov. 14, 2013.



One of the cameras used to monitor clinical training encounters is seen at the Clinical Skills Lab at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine Medical Sciences Building during the grand opening Nov. 14, 2013.

The University of South Alabama recently held a grand opening for its Clinical Skills Lab on Nov. 14, 2013.

The Clinical Skills Lab, located in the Medical Sciences Building on USA’s main campus, is designed to enhance clinical training of health professions students. It gives medicine, nursing, and allied health students an opportunity to interact with standardized patients and learn clinical skills early.

The lab is a 3,300 square-foot space that includes eight fully equipped exam rooms, a waiting room, administrative office, standardized patient break room, observation room, and one large conference room with full instructional capabilities.

During the training exercise, the patient is actually an actor who presents with a set of medical concerns. Exposure to these standardized patients provides the opportunity for students to strengthen interviewing skills, communication skills and master the basics of physical assessment.  Each exam room includes audiovisual technology that enables faculty to review encounters in real time or retrospectively, in order to assess student skills and provide feedback.

There are several room naming opportunities available to prospective donors to support the standardized patient program and Clinical Skills Lab. To learn more, contact Racheal Banks at (251) 460-7481 or rbanks@southalabama.edu. For more information on the standardized patient program, contact Alison Rudd at arudd@southalabama.edu.



Acting University of South Alabama President Dr. John Smith (far left); Dr. Mike Jacobs, professor of adult nursing at USA and director of the Human Simulation Program (center); and Rebecca Graves, an instructor at the College of Nursing; look on as Joseph Farmer, assistant professor of adult nursing, shows them one of the monitoring stations during the grand opening of the Clinical Skills Lab at the USA College of Medicine Medical Sciences Building Nov. 14, 2013.



 

USA Hospitals Host Community Luncheons

The University of South Alabama Children’s & Women’s Hospital and the USA Medical Center recently held community luncheons for community leaders.

The luncheons are designed to help raise community awareness of the hospitals' missions and the positive impact on the quality of life in our region. The events provided an opportunity for guests to tour areas of the hospitals. To view more photos from both events, click here and here.


Members of the community enjoy lunch during a Community Luncheon Nov. 12, 2013, at the University of South Alabama Children's & Women's Hospital.

(pictured from left) University of South Alabama Children's & Women's  Hospital Administrator Owen Bailey, WKRG General Manager Mark Bunting and Morgan Stanley Vice President Lauren Lynn learn more about the unique care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit from NICU Nurse Tracie Wilhelm during a tour of the hospital Nov. 12, 2013.

University of South Alabama Medical Center hospital administrator Beth Anderson welcomes members of the community during an outreach luncheon at the hospital Nov. 5, 2013.

University of South Alabama Emergency Room Nurse Manager Ashley Lee (center) talks to a community outreach tour about the emergency room during a community luncheon at the University of South Alabama Medical Center Nov. 5, 2013.