Medical Students to Receive White Coats June 21

Students take the Medical Student Oath during last year's White Coat Ceremony.

The University of South Alabama College of Medicine will hold its annual White Coat Ceremony at the USA Mitchell Center on June 21, 2014, at 10 a.m. During the ceremony, rising third-year medical students will be cloaked with their white coats, the traditional dress of physicians for more than 100 years.

Dr. David Gremse, professor and chair of pediatrics at USA, will be the keynote speaker.

The ceremony marks a significant milestone for these students - the point where they will begin their clinical rotations and start interacting with patients on a daily basis.

"The white coat represents the mantle of the medical profession," said Dr. Susan LeDoux, associate dean of medical education and student affairs. "This ceremony creates a psychological, intellectual, and ethical contract for the profession."

For students, the White Coat ceremony serves as a reminder of the importance and responsibility they take by dedicating themselves to the care of patients. During the ceremony, the students in unison will take the Medical Student Oath, a promise to uphold the human aspects of medicine, such as sensitivity, compassion and respect for patients.

Dr. LeDoux said select students, residents and faculty will also be inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society at the ceremony.

Each year, the USA Medical Alumni Association sponsors this event. Click here to read about last year's White Coat Ceremony.

RSVP Today - June Med School Café

The June Med School Café lecture will feature Dr. Lynn Batten, director of the division of pediatric cardiology at the University of South Alabama.

Her lecture, titled “Sudden Cardiac Death in Athletes and the Screening Controversy,” will take place June 19, 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. Batten will discuss cardiac arrest in young athletes. According to Dr. Batten, a young athlete dies of sudden cardiac arrest every three days. Current screening techniques for athletes consist of a physical exam and a questionnaire aimed at asking about important family history or symptoms associated with exercise, but the screenings do not include electrocardiograms (EKG) or echocardiograms (echo). Dr. Batten will review the most common causes of sudden cardiac death and why there is controversy over current screening recommendations.

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 Batten MSC Teaser from USA Health System on Vimeo.

USA Board of Trustees Given Health System Tour

University of South Alabama Medical Center Assistant Hospital Administrator Elmer Sellers talks to members of the USA Board of Trustees in the Trauma Room of the Emergency Department during a tour of the USA Health System facilities June 6, 2014.

University of South Alabama Children's & Women's Hospital Administrator Owen Bailey talks to members of the USA Board of Trustees as he gives them a tour of the hospital June 6, 2014.

Newly appointed University of South Alabama Board of Trustees toured several facilities within the USA Health System on June 6, 2014.

The tour included the following locations: Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU), Gastroenterology, Trauma, and Outpatient Surgery Center at USA Medical Center; TreeHouse, Family Room, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at USA Children's & Women's Hospital; Research, Infusion, and CyberKnife at USA Mitchell Cancer Institute; and the new clinics at USA Commons.

Click here to view more photos from the tour.

USA Children's & Women's Hospital Holds NICU Reunion

Trinty and Corey Graham pose for a picture during the University of South Alabama Children's & Women's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Reunion June 6, 2014, in the Geri Moulton Children's Park. The brother and sister were both born premature and spent time in the NICU.

Families enjoy the day during the University of South Alabama Children's & Women's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Reunion June 6, 2014, in the Geri Moulton Children's Park.

Sunday marked the 25th year that graduates of the University of South Alabama Children's & Women's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) have been reunited to celebrate the gift of life.

All USA NICU graduates were once babies undergoing treatment at the hospital for being born prematurely, ill or underweight. The graduates, their families and friends were greeted by doctors, nurses and administrators from the hospital and enjoyed food and live entertainment. 

Click here to learn more about the NICU. To view more photos from the event, click here.

Bryan Ayers, drummer for the band Stereo Dogs, plays during the University of South Alabama Children's & Women's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Reunion June 6, 2014, in the Geri Moulton Children's Park. Ayers spent time in the NICU at Children's & Women's.