Pediatrics faculty to present on COVID variant at virtual town hall

As a new strain of COVID-19 impacts children and adults across the U.S., faculty from the USA College of Medicine, among others, plan to present a virtual town hall meeting at 8 a.m. Friday, Jan. 21, to provide an update on the epidemiology of COVID-19 and the prevailing variant. 

Use this Zoom link to join: https://southalabama.zoom.us/j/95725279864

Topics of discussion will include manifestations of COVID in children and a review of the evolving treatment and prevention strategies.

Presenters include Benjamin Estrada, M.D., professor and vice chair of pediatrics and assistant dean for educational strategies and faculty development; Emily Kelley, Pharm.D., a clinical pharmacist; Linda Hassouneh, M.D., assistant professor of pediatric infectious disease; Supatida Tengsupakul, M.D., assistant professor of pediatric infectious disease; Natalie Fox, D.N.P., chief nursing officer for USA Health Physicians Group; and Haidee Custodio, M.D., associate professor of pediatric infectious disease who will serve as the moderator.

Physicians, physicians in training, nurses, allied health professionals, mental health professionals and educators are invited to attend this town hall.

Research, educate, advocate: Nelson fights back against Alzheimer’s disease

Amy R. Nelson, Ph.D., has devoted more than a decade to researching Alzheimer’s disease, educating people of all ages about the brain, and advocating to improve the quality of life and care for people living with the disease and their families. 

Nelson, assistant professor of physiology and cell biology at the USA College of Medicine, recently accepted an invitation to serve as an Alzheimer’s Ambassador for U.S. Representative Jerry Carl. As part of her ambassadorship through the Alzheimer’s Association, she will meet with the Alabama congressman roughly four times a year to discuss important Alzheimer’s disease-related policies.

Amy R. Nelson, Ph.D., with Sen. Richard Shelby at

the 2011 Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Forum.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to speak with the congressman’s office regularly, and I am hopeful that he will support legislation to help the 96,000 Alabamians and 6.2 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers,” said Nelson, who lost her father and several other family members to the disease.

After earning her Ph.D. in neurobiology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Nelson completed postdoctoral studies in neuroscience at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. While living in L.A., she made many connections that led to unique opportunities to advance her Alzheimer’s work. 

One such opportunity is volunteering with HfC, a nonprofit started by actor-filmmakers Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen to raise funds for Alzheimer’s caregiving, research and education. Nelson recently was invited to serve on the content advisory board for their new educational platform, known as HfCUniverse.

Amy R. Nelson, Ph.D., with Seth Rogen at HfC's 

major fundraising event, Seth Rogen's Prom Night.

"This is such an amazing opportunity that I am truly excited about, as it allows me to share my love of educating high school and college students through an international platform,” said Nelson, who has volunteered with the organization since 2014. “Through this new role, I will be able to provide service to our community at large to inform young individuals about ways to promote a healthy brain."

In addition to her advocacy work, Nelson’s lab recently received a research donation from AlzOut, a nonprofit based in Los Angeles, to help measure biomarkers, such as changes in the blood, related to Alzheimer’s disease. 

To learn more or get involved, visit the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement at alzimpact.org.

Herrera presents at international nephropathology forum

Guillermo Herrera, M.D., professor and chair of pathology at the USA College of Medicine, recently presented two lectures at the 4th International Forum on Nephropathology. About 150 nephrologists and pathologists from Mexico, Central America and South America attended the meeting, held virtually and in person in Guadalajara.

His first lecture, “Acute Kidney Injury in Plasma Cell Dyscrasias,” addressed causes of renal failure in patients with monoclonal gammopathies – conditions in which abnormal proteins are found in the blood. These proteins are produced by plasma cells in the bone marrow.

In Herrera’s published research on the subject, he highlighted new mechanisms of renal damage previously unrecognized. “These findings in renal biopsies when properly recognized allow prompt therapy with good results for these patients,” he said.

In his second lecture, “Renal Amyloidosis: Pathogenesis,” Herrera discussed how amyloidosis – the buildup of an abnormal protein called amyloid – occurs in the kidney. 

“We are currently working on experimental approaches to test new therapeutic avenues to avoid renal damage in these patients,” said Herrera, whose work is supported by the Amyloidosis Foundation. 

Herrera received his medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in San Juan. He completed his residency training in anatomic and clinical pathology at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He is certified by the American Board of Pathology in anatomic and clinical pathology and cytopathology.

Meet a Med Student: Jack Galla

Jack Galla

Age: 24

Class of: 2024

Hometown: Mobile, Ala.

Undergrad/grad institution: Franciscan University of Steubenville

Degree earned: Bachelor of Science in biology

Interests, hobbies: Playing sports, bow fishing, hunting, mission work, reading, playing card games, traveling and attempting to cook/amateur firefighting.

Something unique about me: I have been to 19 different countries.

Three of my favorite things: Reading a good book, spending time with close friends and playing any sport.

What I enjoy most about being a student at the USA College of Medicine: The thing I enjoy most about being at South is my classmates. The friends that I have made since starting medical school here have been some of the greatest surprises on my journey to becoming a doctor. Whether it’s studying in the auditorium, watching a movie on the weekend or going to the beach together, spending time with the friends that I’ve made among my classmates has changed an otherwise challenging time in my life into one that I thoroughly enjoy.

OB-GYN Interest Group hosts women’s health drive

The OB-GYN Interest Group at the USA College of Medicine is hosting a women’s health drive to benefit residents of McKemie Place and Penelope House, shelters that provide a safe environment for women.

Items requested include feminine hygiene products, personal protective equipment, such as face coverings, hand sanitizer and Lysol wipes. The drive runs now through Friday, Jan. 28.

Donation bins are located at the Student Affairs Office in room 202 of the Mastin Building, the Active Learning Center inside the CWEB 1 building, and the labor and delivery board room inside Children’s & Women’s Hospital.

To participate via Venmo, send a donation to @Rennan-Zaharias. For more information, contact Rennan Zaharias at rsz1921@jagmail.southalabama.edu.

The OB-GYN Interest Group is a part of an international organization called PERIOD, which aims to end period poverty through service, leadership and education.