USA College of Medicine and USA Health Represented in Mobile Bay’s 2018 Class of 40 Under 40

Three representatives from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and USA Health were named to Mobile Bay’s 2018 class of 40 Under 40. Through a nomination process, the annual awards identify 40 of the area’s young professionals who have made a significant impact in their respective careers while also giving back to their communities through volunteer work.

Dr. Lee Grimm Jr. 
Dr. Grimm is associate professor of surgery in the division of colon and rectal surgery and serves as program director of general surgery residency at the USA College of Medicine. One of three colorectal surgeons at USA Health, Dr. Grimm began the region’s only tumor board dedicated to colorectal cancer.

The USA College of Medicine has honored him with nominations to the USA chapter of the Arnold P. Gold Humanism in Medicine Honor Society and the USA chapter of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He also serves on the board of the Christian Medical Ministry of South Alabama, where he leads a month-long medical mission trip in Rwanda, Africa.

Dr. Grimm earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. He completed a general surgery residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a colon and rectal surgery residency at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.

Dr. Moh’d Khushman
Dr. Khushman is assistant professor of interdisciplinary clinical oncology and serves as a hematologist and oncologist at USA Mitchell Cancer Institute.

Dr. Khushman is especially committed to outreach for cancer patients in rural areas. He sees patients at a USA Mitchell Cancer Institute office at Monroe County Hospital, allowing patients in Monroeville to receive quality care closer to home. His work has expanded the hepato-pancreato-biliary and colorectal groups at USA Mitchell Cancer Institute and helped reach the goal of developing disease-specific teams for cancer care.

He earned his medical degree from the University of Jordan in Amman, Jordan. He completed his residency training in internal medicine at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and a fellowship in hematology-oncology at University of Miami Leonard Miller School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Melanie Rose
Dr. Rose is a vascular and endovascular surgeon at Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgical Associates, PC. An alumna of the USA College of Medicine, she serves as an adjunct assistant professor in the department of surgery and a clinical mentor for first- and second-year medical students.

Board certified in general and vascular surgery, Dr. Rose is the first female vascular surgeon in Alabama and the only female vascular surgeon along the Gulf Coast. She serves on the peer review committee for both Mobile Infirmary and Thomas Hospital and is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the Vascular and Endovascular Surgical Society, the Alabama Vascular Society and the Association of Women Surgeons.

After earning her medical degree, Dr. Rose completed her residency training in surgery at USA, followed by a two-year vascular surgery and endovascular therapy fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Visit Mobile Bay Magazine to learn more about the 2018 class of 40 Under 40. 

Pecita Wright Retires from USA Neurosurgery

The University of South Alabama Department of Neurosurgery recently honored Pecita Wright, supervisor of clinical operations for neurosurgery.

Wright retired after 28 years of service to USA.

Making a Difference: USA Health Leadership Focus on What Matters Most

Owen Bailey, chief executive officer and senior associate vice president for medical affairs at USA Health, and Ashton Hennig, manager of outreach for USA Health, visit with a resident of Mulherin Home.

The executive leadership team at USA Health – led by Owen Bailey, chief executive officer and senior associate vice president for medical affairs at USA Health – recently visited the Mulherin Home as part of the institution’s commitment to community service projects.

According to Bailey, one of the top priorities for USA is University-community engagement. “Our team at USA Health believes in giving back to the community and connecting in a very real way with other organizations who are making a difference in people’s lives,” he said. “Our team has a heart for serving others.”

According to Ashton Hennig, manager of outreach for USA Health, this service project had perfect timing, as it was in lieu of an administrative Christmas party. Several times a year, Hennig plans these outings as a way to connect with the community.

“These efforts speak to Owen’s philosophy of servant leadership and the importance of understanding the community in which we serve through hands-on experience,” Hennig said.

Housing 34 individuals at a time, Mulherin Home provides meals, routine medical care, transportation and activities for individuals with developmental disabilities. While visiting the home, the leadership team served snacks to the residents and participated in Christmas crafts. “In addition to spending time with the residents, we each brought an item from their wish list,” Hennig said. “Three of our administrators have loved ones in the home, so that made our visit even more special.”

Earlier this year, the team also visited the Feeding the Gulf Coast and picked up litter along USA Medical Center Drive.

View more photos from their visit to Mulherin Home.