Retirement Reception Honors Rynn Toifel

The University of South Alabama recently hosted a retirement reception honoring Rynn Toifel, secretary in the USA Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The reception was held on May 28, 2014, at USA Children's & Women's Hospital.

Toifel is retiring after more than 30 years of service to the University and the USA Physicians Group.

Toifel came to USA in 1976, working in the radiation safety office at the USA College of Medicine. She then moved to the radiology department at USA Medical Center, eventually becoming secretary to the department chair. From there, she served as a secretary in the orthopaedics department. In 1992, Toifel began working in the obstetrics and gynecology department, where she served until her retirement.

"Rynn is an individual that sincerely cares about all of her coworkers and would do anything that was asked of her," said Danny Rickert, practice director for the USA Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. "She always put that extra effort into being not just a coworker, but also a friend to everyone in the department. She will be missed, but we wish her well in her retirement." 

USA Health System Recognized for Successful eMarketing

The University of South Alabama Health System received an eHealth Excellence Award during the MEDSEEK Client Congress in Nevada earlier this month. The award was accepted by Bernell Dorrough, web marketing coordinator for the health system, and Daniela Werner, web marketing specialist. Dorrough and Werner gave a presentation at the conference about USA’s success using digital marketing to promote its bariatric surgery program.

The award recognized USA’s use of search engine optimization and online marketing to increase its website traffic and brand awareness. It was one of several eHealth awards given to various health systems across the nation for reaching significant milestones in their digital marketing strategies.

“University of South Alabama Health System has successfully executed SEO and eMarketing campaigns to increase site traffic and service awareness, specifically for weight loss,” said Shaun Priest, MEDSEEK’s senior vice president for strategic accounts and business development. “USA Health System is successfully increasing consumer awareness about bariatric surgery’s effectiveness as a weight loss tool to improve health and longevity of life.”

During their presentation at the conference, Dorrough and Werner explained how USA used online marketing to double its number of bariatric surgery procedures in two years by reaching out to more potential patients using ads on Google and Facebook. The talk included an overview of the procedures offered at USA, background on why USA switched from print to digital marketing, a description of the campaign, and “pro tips” for health care marketing teams looking to launch similar campaigns.

USA Health System uses MEDSEEK’s Convert Community software to manage content on its website, www.usahealthsystem.com. The software allows team members from each of USA’s hospitals, clinics and academic departments to maintain informative and patient-friendly webpages about their part of the health system.

Crawfish Boil Benefits Burn Center

Donan, FRSTeam and Servpro of Southwest Mobile held Crawfish Because We Care on May 22 at Moe’s Original Bar B Que in Mobile. The proceeds from Crawfish Because We Care benefit the Arnold Luterman Regional Burn Center at USA Medical Center.

The even featured fresh food, live entertainment and door prizes.

Click here to view more photos from the event. To learn more about USA Medical Center, visit facebook.com/usamedicalcenter.

Med School Café - Expert Advice for the Community

Last week, Dr. Anne-Marie Kaulfers, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and a pediatric endocrinologist with USA Physicians Group, presented the May Med School Cafe lecture.

The lecture, titled “Your Brain is What You Feed It: Effects of Nutrition on the Brain,” had a total of 64 attendees.

During the talk, Dr. Kaulfers discussed nutrition and how what you eat can affect how you think. She also included information on the hormones that are involved in food addiction, as well as foods that are good for your brain.

Watch the video below to view the lecture in its entirety.

May Med School Cafe - The Brain is What You Feed It: Effects of Nutrition on the Brain from USA Health System on Vimeo.

Medical Students Present at AAMC National Meeting

USA medical students Griffin Collins (left) and Pat O'Brien (right), shown with Dr. Darrell G. Kirch, president and CEO of the Associaton of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). 

Two students at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine recently gave poster presentations at the Association of American Medical College’s (AAMC) Organization of Student Representatives National Meeting in San Diego. The meeting was a gathering of students, faculty, administrators and residency program directors from medical schools across the nation.

Pat O’Brien presented "The Ideal Week: A Student Centered Approach to Curriculum Layout," and Griffin Collins presented “Interprofessional Medical Education at a Student-Run Wellness Clinic.” Both posters were selected from a pool of abstract submissions nationwide.

O’Brien’s presentation summarized efforts that second-year medical students at USA undertook to optimize the way lectures and active learning activities were arranged within each organ-based module.

“The proposed solution followed a progression where new material is presented early in a given week, with the end of the week focusing on independent and active learning activities that foster concept integration and preparation for assessments and examinations,” O’Brien said. “The novelty of our approach was that we accounted for not only the hours spent on campus and the out-of-class hours required to adequately prepare for on campus activities, but also the hours required to maintain our health, well being, and extra-curricular obligations.”

O’Brien said he was proud to be able to bring a concept devised by his classmates to a national forum. “I expected to spend most of the session speaking with other representatives at the meeting, but was pleasantly surprised to find that most of my discussion was with educators and administrators of other schools, as well as representatives of the AAMC,” he said. “I was truly taken aback at the interest that was expressed by members of that level of medical education.”

Collins’ presentation focused on the recently developed student-run clinic that is a collaboration between the students and faculty of the College of Medicine, Nursing, Arts & Sciences, and several departments in the College of Allied Health. The clinic is based at the 15 Place Homeless Day Shelter and runs the first and third Saturdays of each month.

“We counsel the patients on a wide range of health conditions from metabolic conditions such as diabetes to mental health conditions like depression,” Collins said. “It provides us an opportunity to be engaged in the community, develop empathy for disadvantaged patients, and to see the value of the differing perspectives offered by students from other disciplines.”

“I was excited to show off what we were doing here in Mobile at the conference,” Collins added. “On top of that, we got to hear from other influential students and faculty members about how they have dealt with the challenges and opportunities of contemporary medical education.”

Books Collected During National Library Week Delivered to USA Children’s Medical Center

USA Biomedical Librarian Andrea Wright (center) poses for a photo with Pediatrics Clinical Care Assistant Shakina Jones (left) and USA pediatrician Dr. Cindy Sheets, along with the books collected for the University of South Alabama Children's Medical Center during National Library Week.

The University of South Alabama Biomedical Library recently delivered more than 370 books collected during National Library Week to the USA Children's Medical Center as part of the Reach Out and Read program.

Reach Out and Read is a national non-profit organization that encourages early literacy and school readiness in pediatric exam rooms nationwide by giving books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading.

USA pediatrician Dr. Cindy Sheets said having the child's primary care provider give advice on family reading and providing a book at their well checkups encourages the love of reading. "It gives the message that reading is important and that their medical providers really care about their literacy and progress in school," she said. "The more books a child has, the better."

The Children's Medical Center, which is the pediatric teaching clinic for the University, became a member of the Reach Out and Read initiative eight years ago.

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. The Children's Medical Center also collects donated books to give to children at sick visits and at well visits to ages outside of the official Reach Out and Read guidelines.

Biomedical Engineering, Lung Biology Graduate Students Win Awards for Presentations

Several students in the biomedical engineering and lung biology graduate programs at the University of South Alabama attended and participated in the 30th Annual Southern Biomedical Engineering Conference, which was held in Gulfport, Miss., from April 10-13.

According to Dr. Thomas Rich, associate professor of pharmacology and lung biology and director of the basic medical sciences graduate program at the USA College of Medicine, there were 75 presentations at the conference. Of the 11 presentations made by USA students, Peter Favreau won first place, and April Scruggs won the second place oral presentation award.

“Favreau was the first student in USA’s biomedical engineering track of the basic medical sciences doctoral program,” said Dr. Rich. His project seeks to develop and implement a novel hyperspectral imaging system for detection of cancer. Hyperspectral imaging technologies were first developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the United States Department of Defense for remote sensing/satellite imaging.

“Any opportunity to communicate my research and gather insight from other scientists is of the utmost importance for my scientific career, Favreau said. “Conferences like this offer an environment to interact with other scientists and determine research progress outside my own project.”

“Peter has been instrumental in the development and implementation of a novel hyperspectral imaging approach -- excitation scan-based hyperspectral imaging -- that provides significantly higher signal-to-noise ratios than traditional imaging approaches,” said Dr. Rich. “He has also demonstrated that this approach is suitable for real-time imaging and is currently examining the practicality of excitation scan-based hyperspectral imaging for the early detection of lung cancer.”

Scruggs, who won second place, is a second-year student who is also in both the biomedical engineering and lung biology tracks. Her project studies a novel signaling system involving microparticles -- which are sub-micron vesicles that are shed from a variety of cell types including the cells that line blood vessels, called endothelial cells.

It is hopeful that combining state-of-the-art imaging approaches and mathematical modeling will allow us to discover the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which microparticles alter systemic responses to disease. “This conference was a great opportunity to share what I'm doing with my research and to get feedback on my presentation skills,” she said.

“I think that I speak for mentors as well as myself in saying that we are pleased when students take advantage of the opportunities presented to them,” said Dr. Rich. “Students who take advantage of these opportunities are well-positioned to develop successful careers, and that is our goal for all students in the basic medical sciences program.”

Dr. Burns Presents Frazer/Leigh Memorial Lecture

Dr. Burns presents his first lecture, "Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery" on May 8, 2014, at the USA Faculty Club. 

Dr. Burns presents his second lecture, "Surgical Education," on May 9, 2014, at USA Medical Center.

Dr. R. Phillip Burns, professor and chair of the department of surgery at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Chattanooga, Tenn., recently gave two lectures at the University of South Alabama.

Both talks were made possible through the Dr. Emmett B. Frazer and Dr. Milton M. Leigh Endowments at the USA department of surgery.

Click here to learn more about Dr. Burns.

This annual memorial lecture, funded by community surgeons and the USA Department of Surgery, is given to honor the legacy of Dr. Emmett B. Frazer and Dr. Milton M. Leigh as leaders in clinical service and graduate surgical education in the Mobile community.

Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society Features Art of USA Physician's Son

The art work of Benjamin Joseph Estrada (age 9), was recently featured on the cover of the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (JPIDS). Benjamin is the son of Dr. Benjamin Estrada, professor of pediatrics at the University of South Alabama Health System.

Benjamin was inspired to draw "Chickenpox" after receiving his annual influenza immunization. After a discussion with his father about why it was important to be immunized, he became interested in learning more about vaccines and the diseases that they help to prevent. He learned about the causes and effects of varicella and decided to illustrate them to raise awareness about the prevention of infection.

This issue of JPIDS features manuscripts discussing influenza, pneumococcal, meningococcal, and rotavirus vaccines as well as an outbreak of pertussis. To view the issue in its entirety, click here.

COM Training Program Begins Third Cycle of Funding from National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute

Dr. Townsley

The University of South Alabama College of Medicine’s T32 Training Program in “Cell Signaling and Lung Pathobiology” recently began its third 5-year cycle of funding (2014-2019) from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The program supports predoctoral trainees enrolled in the interdisciplinary Basic Medical Sciences Ph.D. program and medical students engaged in research training at the USA College of Medicine.

“This is a great turning point for our training program, as a successful review after 10 years is critically dependent upon training outcomes,” said Dr. Mary Townsley, professor of physiology at the USA College of Medicine. “We have an excellent training infrastructure and excellent outcomes.”

Dr. Stevens

The current program, according to Dr. Townsley, has two components. One component provides support (stipends, travel and other training related expenses such as health insurance) for six predoctoral students per year in the lung biology track of the Basic Medical Sciences Ph.D. program. The second component provides 8-10-week stipends and training-related expenses for four medical students per year who are engaged in summer research or research honors.

T32 faculty, affiliated with the USA Center for Lung Biology, provide expertise and research training on pulmonary hypertension/smooth muscle, lung endothelial cell inflammation/infection and acute lung injury, mitochondria/oxidant stress, and lung ion channels/transport.

Dr. Troy Stevens, professor of pharmacology at the USA College of Medicine, serves as the co-director of the program’s third cycle.

For more information on the program, contact Dr. Townsley at mtownsley@southalabama.edu.

May Med School Café - 'Your Brain is What You Feed It: Effects of Nutrition on the Brain'

The May Med School Café lecture will feature Dr. Anne-Marie Kaulfers, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and a pediatric endocrinologist with USA Physicians Group.

Her lecture, titled “Your Brain is What You Feed It: Effects of Nutrition on the Brain,” will take place May 20, 2014, 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.

During the talk, Dr. Kaulfers will discuss nutrition and how what you eat can affect how you think. “A current hot topic is that insulin is a major brain-signaling protein,” she said. “So if you eat too much sugar, it could actually slow down your brain signals and cause poor brain functioning.”

Dr. Kaulfers will also include information on the hormones that are involved in food addiction, as well as foods that are good for your brain.

The Med School Café lecture and lunch are provided free of charge, but reservations are required. For more information or to make reservations, call Kim Partridge at (251) 460-7770 or e-mail kepartridge@health.southalabama.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.
Dr Kaulfers MSC Teaser from USA Health System on Vimeo.

Medical School Graduates Participate in Honors Convocation Ceremony

The University of South Alabama held commencement ceremonies for the 2014 College of Medicine graduates on May 10, 2014, marking the 39th class to earn medical degrees from USA.

The day before, the 63 graduates participated in an honors convocation where they were “hooded” by an individual of their choice, signifying the awarding of a doctoral-level degree. During the honors convocation ceremony, students were also recognized for their academic achievements. Both ceremonies took place at the USA Mitchell Center.

Including the 2014 class, 2,472 physicians have graduated from the USA College of Medicine since its opening in 1973. Approximately one-third of the physicians practicing in the Mobile area earned their medical degree from USA or completed residency training in the USA Hospitals System.

Click here to view all photos from this year's event and here to see the award recipients.

USA Medical Students Make a Difference in Rwanda

The Christian Medical Ministry of South Alabama (CMMSA) returned March 12 from a medical mission trip to Rwanda, Africa. The group, including 11 University of South Alabama medical students and six physicians, spent a month working at Kibogora Hospital in Eastern Rwanda. The hospital is roughly a 230-bed self-supported facility that has two operating rooms and wards for internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology.

The physicians on the trip included Dr. Carl Albertson, retired private orthopaedic surgeon; Dr. Jon Simmons, USA general surgeon; Dr. Richard Whitehurst, USA neonatologist; Dr. Alana Schilthuis, USA internal medicine chief resident; Dr. Gwen DeLeon, USA surgery resident; and Dr. Jeremy Drake, USA surgery resident.

While in Rwanda, medical students were able to directly help patients in the area and receive hands-on experience. “We were able to perform about 35 operative procedures each week,” said Dr. Simmons, who has previously traveled to Cameroon, Ghana and Rwanda on medical missions.

For fourth-year USA medical student Stephanie Stopka, her most rewarding experience stemmed from a frightened and timid 7-year-old boy who came to the emergency department with a septic hip. He was unable to walk and upon examination, was even more ill than they thought. “As I began taking over his care, I learned more than I expected,” said Stopka, “and I think he did too.”

Stopka said she had to examine her patient while encouraging him and his mother -- who never left his side -- to smile and laugh.

“I went from dreading our daily visit – because I didn't want to scare him – to being excited to check up on him as he began to trust me,” she said. “I continually gained his mother's trust and appreciation as she saw my concern and the time I'd spend with him.”

Days after visiting with her young patient, Stopka was in one of the surgical wards when she saw a boy walking down the aisle with a walker. “I didn't know of a boy on this ward who was using a walker,” she said. “When I looked more closely, it was my friend! Yesterday he was bedridden on oxygen in the intensive care unit and now he was walking and putting weight on his hip we had treated,” she said.

It was at that moment Stopka realized she was making a difference. “Despite all of the frustrations of language barriers, cultural differences and fears of safety, the entire trip became worth it at that exact moment. I was doing what God had called me into medicine for – to help patients.”

Dr. Simmons said each student and resident on the trip was influenced in a positive way, which he believes will translate to a more compassionate and caring physician in the future.

“A simple gesture of kindness – such as holding the hand of a child or praying with a mother – can be encouraging and inspire hope in otherwise dire circumstances,” he said. “These types of interactions are perfect examples of the power and influence of a compassionate physician, which is exactly the type of physician that we are trying to produce at USA.”

Faculty and Students to be Honored at Annual Honors Convocation

Each spring, the University of South Alabama College of Medicine recognizes students for their academic achievements at the annual Honors Convocation.

This year's College of Medicine Honors Convocation for the Class of 2014 will be held May 9, 2014, at 7 p.m. at the USA Mitchell Center.

Doctoral hoods, along with the student honors, will be awarded to the medical students at Honors Convocation. Faculty will be honored by the students as well. The seniors selected those members of the faculty who had the most meaningful impact on their medical education, and for their positive influence, the faculty selected will wear a red sash over their academic regalia

Office of Diversity and Cultural Competence Host Pre-Med Advisors Conference

From left: Dr. Samuel Strada, dean of the USA College of Medicine; Dr. Karen Mitchell, senior director of admissions testing services at AAMC; Dr. Geoffrey Young, senior director of student affairs and student programs at AAMC; Chante' Hendrix, diversity coordinator at USA; Dr. Johnson Haynes Jr., professor of internal medicine at USA; and Dr. Ronald Franks, vice president for health sciences at USA.

The University of South Alabama College of Medicine's Office of Diversity and Cultural Competence hosted its first Pre-Med Advisors Conference on April 11, 2014. The inaugural event was held in partnership with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

The conference theme, "Navigating a Successful Pathway to Medical School," reflects the university's commitment to strengthening communication, outreach, and access to the USA College of Medicine by way of colleges and universities across the state and region.

Conference highlights included an update on the new format of the 2015 Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) given by Dr. Karen J. Mitchell, senior director of admissions testing services at AAMC; and an update on the Holistic Review Project by Dr. Geoffrey H. Young, senior director of student affairs and student programs at AAMC. Conference participants engaged in dialog with USA College of Medicine faculty and staff on the changing trends in medical education ranging from team based learning to admission requirements, and funding a medical education.

Tours of the College of Medicine Clinical Skills Lab and the Health Sciences Simulation Lab were provided, and a medical student panel was assembled to allow pre-med advisors to gain insight from a student’s perspective on the journey and transition from undergraduate to medical school.

Med School Café - Expert Advice for the Community

Last week, Dr. Clara Massey, professor of internal medicine and director of the division of cardiology at the University of South Alabama, presented the April Med School Café lecture. The lecture, titled "Advancing Cardiovascular Care in Women with Breast Cancer," had a total of 32 attendees.

Dr. Massey gave an update from the American College of Cardiology’s 8th Annual Heart of Women’s Health Symposium that took place in January.

Watch the video below or click here to view the lecture in its entirety.

The next Med School Café lecture will feature Dr. Anne-Marie Kaulfers, assistant professor of pediatrics at the USA College of Medicine and a pediatric endocrinologist with USA Physicians Group. The lecture will take place May 20, 2014.

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

Advancing Cardiovascular Care for Women with Breast Cancer from USA Health System on Vimeo.

Dr. Hattie Myles Appointed to Alabama A&M University Board of Trustees

In March, Alabama Governor Dr. Robert Bentley appointed Dr. Hattie Myles to the Board of Trustees for Alabama Agriculture and Mechanical University in Normal, Ala.

Dr. Myles joined the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in 1992 and currently serves as assistant dean for student affairs and educational enrichment at the USA College of Medicine.  A champion of higher education, she has worked for the past 34 years at various university administrative posts to inspire students and reduce educational disparities - especially those for underrepresented and disadvantaged students.

“I was the first in my family to go to college,” said Dr. Myles, who grew up in rural Mississippi.  “With the encouragement and support of my family, higher education transformed my life.”

According to Dr. Myles, she’s enthusiastic about being part of the leadership at Alabama A&M.  “As I have at each step in my career, I look forward to using my passion for education to help and inspire students while advocating on their behalf.”

At USA, Dr. Myles has been an integral investigator for the Pipeline Program at the Center for Healthy Communities, as well as principal investigator for the Summer Research Apprenticeship Program grant and the Health Careers Opportunity Program grant.

Early in her life, Dr. Myles made a personal decision to improve her life through education – a lesson she shares with passion with her students.  After graduating from high school as the class valedictorian, she earned her associate’s degree from Southwest Mississippi Junior College in Summit, and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss.

Her educational career continued in 1978, as she earned her master’s degree in education from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., and her doctorate in higher education administration and student personnel in 1988 from the University of Mississippi in Oxford.

Between 1979 and 1989, Dr. Myles held multiple positions at Louisiana State University, including assistant coordinator of university relations and community outreach, director of the health careers opportunity program, and academic counselor and veterinary health career development officer.

While living in North Carolina, Dr. Myles served as associate director for health manpower development at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  She also was a grant project consultant for Project Reach to Teach in Durham, N.C., and serves as a grant project evaluator for the Health Careers Opportunity Summer Youth Program at Pembroke State University in Pembroke, N.C., as well as PI for several grants at UNC.

Dr. Myles has been recognized on numerous occasions for her contributions and achievements.  She was recognized in 2013 as an outstanding community leader with the Health and Humanitarian Award given by the Gulf Region Organization of Nigerians and Americans.  She is also a graduate of both Leadership Mobile and Leadership Alabama.

She has also volunteered her time to local charities, serving on the Allocations Board for the United Way of Southwest Alabama; President of the Greater Mobile Big Brother Big Sister Board; Quality assurance board of Mobile DHHR; and board member of the Mobile YMCA.

Dr. Myles, an “elevational” speaker,  markets herself as a steward of humanism, a merchant of  hope and a peddler of common sense, delivering motivational and inspirational talks in the areas of education, humanism and spirituality.  She speaks across the country at workshops and as a conference key note. She also consults for grant proposal development, implementation and evaluation, as well as project development. She is God-inspired, heart-led and people-motivated.

Alabama A&M University operates in the three-fold function of teaching, research, extension and other public service.  It offers baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral level degrees that are compatible with the times to all qualified and capable individuals who are interested in further developing their technical, scientific, professional, and scholastic skills and competencies.

Dr. Donna Cioffi Awarded for Excellence in Respiratory Physiology, Medicine

Dr. Donna Cioffi, assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, was recently awarded the Giles F. Filley Memorial Award for her excellence in respiratory physiology and medicine.

According to Dr. Cioffi, the award is presented annually to an individual demonstrating outstanding promise based on his/her research program in respiratory physiology and medicine.

“I am extremely honored that I was selected to receive the Giles F. Filley Memorial Award this year,” said Dr. Cioffi. “This is really a reflection of the wonderful environment in the Center for Lung Biology here at USA.” She said that the Center is a fabulous training environment that is very supportive and collaborative in learning and research efforts.

Only two of these awards are given annually. One of the two awards is designated for a scientist affiliated with the University of Colorado, while the other is open to members of the American Physiological Society working in the United States. Award recipients are selected based upon their current and future research programs, research productivity and letters of support.

One of her current research projects involves endothelial cells -- the cells that line the blood vessels of the lungs -- and how they function when challenged by disease or illness. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded Dr. Cioffi a four-year $1 million grant in 2013 to better understand this niche in medical research.

Dr. Cioffi’s work focuses on store-operated calcium (SOC) entry in endothelial cells in the lung. When SOC entry is activated, comes into cells leading to endothelial barrier disruption. Understanding mechanisms that regulate SOC entry may lead to development of new therapeutics for treatment of pathologies that involve endothelial barrier disruption such as acute respiratory distress syndrome.

“Being a recipient of this award will allow me to begin exploring new areas of research in lung biology,” Dr. Cioffi said.

USA Medical Students Cook for Ronald McDonald Families

USA medical students pose for a group photo before preparing a meal for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House at USA Children's & Women's Hospital. Picture above, from left to right: Heather Griffin, Chris Mills, Stefan Osborn, Brytney Cobia, Miles Cobia, Megan Hudson, Audrey Paulzak, Vivian Yeilding, Jon Newsom and Abby Weems.

Families staying at the Ronald McDonald House at USA Children's & Women's Hospital grab dinner provided by USA medical students.

Third-year medical student Audrey Paulzak’s desire to help people extends beyond the hospital walls. “Illness not only affects the sick, but also has an impact on those not in the hospital bed,” she said.

On April 16, 2014, Paulzak, along with a group of classmates, cooked a homemade taco dinner for the patients and families staying at the Ronald McDonald House at USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital. The Ronald McDonald House is an organization that provides a temporary home – where they can eat, sleep, shower, and wash their clothes -- for families of children currently in the hospital.

The students hope to make it a permanent program where they cook a meal once a month.

“Everybody goes through something at some point in their lives where they can’t possibly hold up the weight of the world on their own,” Paulzak said. “Sometimes the best ‘medicine’ we can offer is to feel ‘normal.’ A hot, home-cooked meal is a ritual that brings comfort, familiarity, and closure at the end of the day.”

When Paulzak’s older brother Michael was born in Niceville, Fla., he had to stay in a Florida neonatal intensive care unit for six weeks. Her parents lived an hour away from the hospital. “As any family with a sick newborn can testify to, the only place my first-time parents wanted to be was by his side every second of the day.”

Ronald McDonald house took her parents in for the full six weeks. “I remember growing up and hearing the story of his first few hours, and my mom always said what a relief it was to come home to Ronald McDonald house after a long day of stressing by his bedside - about how kind they were and how the cabinets were always stocked full of food.”

Paulzak knew she wanted to find a way to give back. “When the Ronald McDonald House at USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital expressed a need for hot, home-cooked meals for their residents I figured that was a really feasible way I could contribute,” she said.

Paulzak knew her classmate, Chris Mills, would be on board. “I immediately started coming up with ideas for meals,” said Mills. “Cooking is something I have really grown to love and is a big part of my life. It even serves as an outlet for the stresses of medical school.”

Mills says preparing the meals is a great way to serve the community as well as interact with patients' families. “They are not in the comfort of their own homes, so having a home-cooked meal at a time like this can really make someone's day, and hopefully it helps contribute to the positive experience they have at the USA hospitals.”

For another third-year medical student, Brytney Cobia, cooking dinners for Ronald McDonald House is a familiar task. “My dad took me to do this on the weekends when I was growing up,” she said. “It is such an easy way to give back that makes such a difference for these families with so much on their plate.”

Cobia said many parents are from cities more than an hour away, and having a child in the hospital for a prolonged period of time can make for a difficult, time-consuming, and expensive commute.

“As a medical student, we are so focused on the medical care of our patients that it is easy to lose sight of the other people involved in the patient's healing – and that they often need care themselves,” she said. “I think this program is a great way to stay grounded in medicine and to not lose sight of the bigger picture of a patient's health.”

For those interested in volunteering, contact Chris Mills at csm1101@jagmail.southalabama.edu.

USA Health System Welcomes Garry Adkins

Garry Adkins was recently appointed assistant chief information officer for the University of South Alabama Health System.

Adkins, who has 19 years of success in developing support operations and creating technology environments, will be responsible for all day-to-day information systems services for the USA Hospitals.

“Garry brings a lot of experience in the health care field as well as a great customer service orientation,” said Mark Lauteren, chief information officer for the USA Health System. “We are very glad to have him as part of the team.”

Prior to his appointment at USA, Adkins served as director of information systems at Colquitt Regional Medical Center in Moultrie, Ga. While there, he built and implemented an information services (IS) strategic plan and managed all aspects of technology and clinical implementations for the hospital and clinics.

From 2005-2011 Adkins served as director of technical services at Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington, W.Va., where he managed all aspects of technology and support services for the 313-bed teaching hospital associated with Marshall University Medical School and Clinics.

In addition, Adkins served in multiple positions at Applied Card Systems, Inc., a national financial services firm, and as president and owner of Ichthus Access Networking, Inc.

Adkins earned his bachelor of science degree in computer sciences from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.

Medical Alumni Association Hosts Distinguished Alumnus Lecture

Dr. H. Gordon Deen, professor of neurosurgery at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., presented the USA Medical Alumni Association's "Distinguished Alumnus Guest Speaker" lecture.

The University of South Alabama Medical Alumni Association hosted its first "Distinguished Alumnus Guest Speaker" event on April 23, 2014.

The event featured Dr. H. Gordon Deen, professor of neurosurgery at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla. Dr. Deen, who graduated from the USA College of Medicine in 1978, discussed his path from USA to the Mayo Clinic, as well as the importance of graduate medical education.

Dr. Deen has been awarded the distinction of being one of the "Best Doctors in America” on multiple occasions and was named as one of the “Top Doctors” in U.S. News and World Report in 2011. He has extensive military service including serving as the attending neurosurgeon for President Regan’s Medical Support team in Bali, Indonesia.

Dr. Andrea Kahn Named Pathology Residency Program Director

Dr. Andrea Kahn, associate professor of pathology at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, was recently appointed as the USA pathology residency program director. The graduate education committee voted unanimously on her behalf.

“I was very pleased to be appointed residency program director for the department of pathology,” said Dr. Kahn. “I have served as associate program director for the past seven years, and I am excited about my new role.”

According to Dr. Kahn, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) defines the program director as the physician designated with authority and accountability for the operation of the residency program.

The program director wears many hats -- filling the role of principal, counselor, registrar, financial officer, time keeper, and recruiter. “I could not fill all these roles alone,” Dr. Kahn admitted. “The chair of the department, the faculty, the program coordinator, the staff and residents themselves are essential to the operation and success of the program.”

As the program director, Dr. Kahn’s short and long term goals are focused on creating the best possible learning and working environment for the residents while upholding the program requirements.

“I have worked with residents for many years and I choose to continue doing so every day as the reward is great, both professionally and personally,” said Dr. Kahn.