Anthony Gard, Ph.D., retires after 31 years

Anthony Gard, Ph.D., assistant dean for curriculum assessment and evaluation and professor of medical education at the USA College of Medicine, retired after more than 30 years with the university.

In his role, Gard led programs for the development of testing and student self-assessment and evaluation of program effectiveness. He also served as the college’s liaison for the National Board of Medical Examiners.

A noted scientist and educator, Gard served as a professor of cell biology and neuroscience at the USA College of Medicine, teaching medical students since 1990.

During his time at USA, Gard was named Mortar Board Top Prof in 2005, Best Basic Science Professor and inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha National Honor Medical Society. Over the years Gard has taught medical neuroscience and neuroanatomy to more than 2,000 USA graduates, inspiring many to pursue careers in neurology and neurosurgery.

“When I was 6 years old, my dad gave me a microscope and that’s what started it all,” Gard said. “I’ve been fortunate throughout my life to have the NIH support me as a student, post-doc and all the way up the ranks here while I got to study the most fantastic cell you could ever take out of the brain and grow in a culture dish.”

Gard’s research interest was cellular and developmental neurobiology with a focus on the regulation of oligodendrocyte development, myelination and multiple sclerosis. During his career, he published more than 25 manuscripts, authored two textbooks, and was featured on more than 25 abstracts and meeting presentations. Gard served several years on grant review panels for the NIH concerning molecular and cellular mechanisms of brain development.

“You have been a major pillar at the college of medicine,” said John Marymont, M.D., vice president for medical affairs and dean of the USA College of Medicine, at a recent retirement reception. “Most notably, your analytics and what you’ve done for our accreditation was brilliant. On behalf of this university, thank you for everything.”

T.J. Hundley, M.D., associate dean for medical education, also offered heartfelt wishes to Gard. “You’ve touched the lives of so many students over the course of your career, including mine 19 years ago,” he said. “The education program is better because of you, and we thank you for everything you’ve done.”

Anthony Gard, Ph.D., is surrounded by third-year medical students after his final lecture

on June 28, 2021.

Menger addresses military medicine at U.S. Navy Operational Medicine Symposium

Richard Menger, M.D., M.P.A, assistant professor of neurosurgery at the USA College of Medicine and chief of complex spine surgery at USA Health, presented a lecture about the impact and treatment of back pain on deployed and operational sailors and Marines at the U.S. Navy Operational Medicine Symposium at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Menger discussed state-of-the-art delivery of military medicine in the operational or deployed environment with a group of more than 130 medical officers who attended in person and virtually on June 6. Camp Lejeune is home to thousands of expeditionary forces in readiness and is the largest U.S. Marine Corps base on the east coast.

Menger is a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy Reserves Medical Corps. He has performed research and published a series of peer-reviewed articles focusing on military medicine topics. He previously had a policy op-ed regarding military medicine featured in the Wall Street Journal.

Menger also is director of the USA Health Spine Institute that specializes in operative and non-operative delivery of spine care. He performs state-of-the-art minimally invasive spinal procedures (MIS) and has special expertise in the entire spectrum of conservative and surgical management of conditions in children and adults. 

Visit www.southspine.com/about for more information.

Med School Café to address artificial intelligence and women’s heart disease

Amod Amritphale, M.D., an interventional cardiologist with USA Health and assistant professor of internal medicine at the USA College of Medicine, will present “Artificial Intelligence and Women’s Heart Disease” at the Med School Café lecture on Friday, July 23, at 2 p.m. The event will be held virtually via Zoom.

Register for the lecture on Zoom.

Amritphale will discuss how computer-based methods may be beneficial in diagnosing and treating heart disease and preventing hospital readmission rates.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Amritphale hopes to educate women on ways to prevent the disease as well as spotting symptoms of heart issues, which are not always easily identifiable in women. 

Med School Café is a free community lecture series sponsored by USA Health. Each month, faculty and physicians share their expertise on a specific medical condition, providing insight on the latest treatments available. For more information, contact Kim Partridge at kepartridge@health.southalabama.edu.

Third-year students to begin clinical rotations

Students receive training in life support to start off orientation week.

After receiving their white coats last week, third-year medical students are ready to begin their clinical training. 

Clerkship Orientation kicked off on Monday with training in basic life support and advanced cardiovascular life support in the USA Student Center Ballroom. 

During the week, students also learn about maintaining wellness, staying prepared for clinical skills testing, and the importance of support from the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

View more photos from M3 Clerkship Orientation on Flickr. 

New members inducted into Gold Humanism Honor Society

Ten USA College of Medicine seniors, three residents and a faculty member were inducted into the USA Chapter of the Arnold P. Gold Humanism in Medicine Honor Society (GHHS), a national society that celebrates compassionate, patient-centered care. 

Lynn Batten, M.D., delivers the keynote address

at the White Coat and GHHS induction ceremony.

Lynn Batten, M.D., professor of pediatrics and director of the division of pediatric cardiology, was this year’s faculty member to be inducted. Batten delivered the keynote address at the White Coat and GHHS induction ceremony, held Friday, June 25.

“Dr. Lynn Batten was chosen by the students because she exemplifies compassion and humanism in the daily care of her patients,” said T.J. Hundley, M.D., FACP, associate dean of medical education. “She is a role model for all learners on placing the patient at the center of care.”

Batten, a practicing pediatric cardiologist at USA Health, often recruits students and staff members to join her in dance videos shared on her YouTube channel that encourage movement and healthy lifestyles for her young patients and their caregivers.

The following medical students, residents and faculty were inducted into GHHS:

• Charles “Zachary” Aggen, student
• Christian “Blake” Dunaway, student
• Hannah Elizabeth Granger, student
• Brittany Shavon Jackson, student
•  Zachary Thomas Lazzari, student
• Michelle Minh-Anh Nguyen, student
• Gregory John Overbeek, student
• Jessica Thanh Pham, student
• Anna Wright, student
• Melody Marie Zeidan, student
• Lynn Batten, M.D., faculty, department of pediatrics
• Juan Gonzalez, D.O., resident, department of pediatrics
• Wilson Huett, M.D., resident, department of surgery
• Michael Tran, M.D., resident, department of internal medicine

Read more about the new GHHS members.

View more photos from the Gold Humanism Honor Society induction ceremony on Flickr. 

Phung to serve on international scientific committee

Thuy Phung, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of pathology at the USA College of Medicine and director of molecular genetic pathology and dermatopathology, has been invited to serve on the Scientific Committee of the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA).

ISSVA is a multidisciplinary international society of physicians, scientists and healthcare providers united by an interest in vascular anomalies, which are developmental disorders involving blood and lymphatic vasculature, such as vascular malformations and neoplasms.

“It is a great honor to represent the University of South Alabama and the Department of Pathology in an international scientific society, and to work with other experts in the field to help shape the scientific agenda of the society in the upcoming year,” Phung said. 

The Scientific Committee, which consists of about 10 international experts in the field, drives the organization’s scientific initiatives. The committee oversees the Scientific Program of ISSVA’s World Congress, including the abstract review and selection process.

Phung’s service on the committee will conclude with the next World Congress, scheduled to be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, in May 2022. 

ISSVA aims to promote the highest standards of care for patients with vascular anomalies by advancing clinical and scientific knowledge concerning causes, diagnosis and treatment, and by education of physicians, healthcare providers, patients and the community.