Residents and fellows compete at annual academic exposition

Liliana Arriola Montenegro, M.D., a second-year resident in pediatrics, discusses her case with the judges. She won in the Clinical Vignette poster category.

USA Health residents and fellows competed at the 2024 Resident and Fellow Academic Exposition on May 1, at the Strada Patient Care Center. Hosted by the Office of Graduate Medical Education, the annual event is an opportunity for residents and fellows to display and share their scholarly activities with the USA Health and Whiddon College of Medicine community.

Anas Khouri, M.D., an internal medicine resident, won

in the Clinical and Translational Research category.

This year, 42 highly rated abstract submissions were selected to be presented in the poster competition. The three top-rated abstract submissions were selected as oral presentations. Participants presented clinical vignettes, research projects, quality improvement projects, and patient safety, education and advocacy projects. 

Cash prizes of $300 were awarded to the winners in the oral presentation category and three poster categories:

Oral Presentation
Charu Shastri, M.D., a first-year resident in pathology, won for her oral presentation, “Racial Disparity in Clinico-Pathological Spectrum of Incidental Prostate Cancer Diagnosed Following Transurethral Resection of Prostate (TURP).”

Clinical and Translational Research
Anas Khouri, M.D., third-year resident in internal medicine, won for his poster presentation, “Effect of Computer-Aided Detection Device on the Adenoma Detection Rate and Sessile Detection Rate Among Trainee Fellows: A Single Center Study.”

Quality Improvement/Performance Improvement
Audrey Gunn, M.D., a second-year resident in pediatrics, won for her poster presentation, “Increasing Maternal RSV Vaccination and Newborn RSV Immunization at Children’s & Women’s Hospital: An Ongoing Patient Care Initiative.”

Clinical Vignette
Liliana Arriola Montenegro, M.D., a second-year resident in pediatrics, won for her poster presentation, “A Case of Relapse of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Despite Successful Initial Treatment.”

View more photos from the expo on Flickr. 

Pathology resident takes first place at tri-state conference

Pathology resident Charu Shastri, M.D., presents at the Tri-State Pathology Conference. 

Charu Shastri, M.D., a first-year pathology resident, recently presented and won first place at the 2024 Tri-State Pathology Conference, held April 27-28 in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. 

Shastri discussed racial disparity in the clinicopathological spectrum of incidental prostate cancer diagnosed following a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), which is the surgical removal of part of the prostate gland to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Co-authors from the Whiddon College of Medicine were Jatinder Kumar, M.D., assistant professor of urology; Christopher Keel, D.O., associate professor and chair of urology; Sarabjeet Sudan, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow; Guillermo A. Herrera, M.D., professor and chair of pathology; and Ajay P. Singh, Ph.D., professor of pathology.  

Residents and faculty who attended the conference

included, from left, Jawaria Rahman, M.D.; Xuebao

Zhang, M.D.; Rosetta Campbell, M.D.; Osama Elkadi,

M.D.; Muhammad Tahir, M.D.; and Eric Wei, M.D. 

Others who presented from the Department of Pathology were residents Ryan Walde, M.D.; Jawaria Rahman, M.D.; Rasha Mohammed, M.D.; Rosetta Campbell, M.D.; Lingling Xian, M.D.;  Xuebao Zhang, M.D.; and Muhammad Tahir, M.D.

The tri-state conference brings together the Alabama Association of Pathologists, the Louisiana Association of Pathologists, and the Mississippi Association of Pathologists.

Bassam receives teaching award from American Academy of Neurology

Bassam Bassam, M.D.

Bassam Bassam, M.D., FAAN, a professor of neurology at the Whiddon College of Medicine and a neuromuscular neurologist at USA Health, once again has received a top award that recognizes his commitment and service as an educator.

He recently was presented the 2024 A.B. Baker Teacher Recognition Award by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) at the organization’s annual meeting in Denver, Colorado.

The AAN, the world's largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals, with more than 40,000 members, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care, which includes diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system, such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, concussion, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy.

Bassam described the recognition as an appreciation for his teaching contributions and attestation of the neurology department’s dedication to the university’s educational mission.

“I am proud of supporting the University of South Alabama’s educational mission for 39 years, during which I contributed to training and graduating over 90 neurologists serving our area and all over the country,” he said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to our medical students’ educational programs and mission for nearly four decades.”

Incorporated in 1948, the AAN recognizes excellent teachers for their contributions to improving neurology now and in the future.

Teaching binds students, residents, faculty, other clinicians, researchers, and even patients together and helps make their daily work more meaningful, notes the organization. The award demonstrates respect and appreciation for neurologic teaching.

Late last year, Bassam unanimously was voted the recipient of the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine’s 2023 Distinguished Physician Award at that organization’s annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. It also honors distinguished service for clinicians and educators.

Bassam attended medical school at Aleppo University College of Medicine in Aleppo, Syria. After an internal medicine residency at Makassed General Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon, he completed neurology residency training at Wayne State University (WSU), in Detroit, Michigan, and a neuromuscular disease and electromyography fellowship at WSU and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He served as a faculty member at the University of Michigan from 1982 to 1985, then joined USA Health in the fall of 1985 and served as the director of the Neuromuscular Clinic & EMG Laboratory.

Hartsell presents translational research at national conference

Emily Hartsell received the Blue Ribbon Award

for her poster at the TS24 conference.

Emily Hartsell, a rising third-year medical student, has devoted the past year to full-time research as the recipient of a highly competitive training award from the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS). She recently presented the findings from her research at the Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS) Translational Science 24 (TS24) conference in Las Vegas. 

The ACTS selected her poster, “Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Warburg-Like Phenotype in Influenza Infected Lung Cells,” for the Blue Ribbon Award. The poster summarized her research, which used RNA sequencing to improve understanding of the underlying mechanisms of disease and potential therapeutic targets in the setting of critical illness.

Funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health, the TL1 training award supported Hartsell’s participation in the CCTS’s Predoctoral Clinical/Translational Research Program. The 12-month program is a mentored research experience that allows trainees to develop projects focused on reducing health disparities and/or diseases that disproportionately affect the Deep South. In addition, TL1 scholars complete the program’s core curriculum, gain experience writing a manuscript, and present their research at a national conference.

The TS24 conference focuses on translational science, “which is essentially making sure scientific innovations are actually reaching communities and helping improve patient outcomes,” Hartsell said. The most valuable aspects of the conference, she noted, were networking with fellow TL1 scholars, speed mentoring, and meeting translational scientists from across the country. 

“During speed mentoring, I was matched with four experts in the fields of genetics, bioinformatics, and drug discovery and spent an hour rotating through interviews with each mentor,” she said. “Through this experience, I gained valuable career guidance and scientific feedback while expanding my support network on a national scale.”

Justin T. Roberts, Ph.D.

A native of Huntsville, Hartsell spent the year between her second and third years of medical school working in the lab of her research mentor, Raymond Langley, Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmacology. She credits Justin T. Roberts, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in the department, as being instrumental in the project’s success. The team used the revolutionary Oxford Nanopore Technologies long-read sequencer, which is available on site in the Department of Pharmacology, to generate the RNA sequencing data for the project. 

During her research year, Hartsell also completed the Spanish for Healthcare Professionals graduate certificate that will enable her to connect with an underserved patient population. 

Hartsell is the first M.D. student from the Whiddon College of Medicine to be selected for CCTS’s Predoctoral Clinical/Translational Research Program, as two Ph.D. candidates in the Basic Medical Sciences Graduate Program previously received TL1 training awards. 

Established in 2008, the Center for Clinical and Translational Science has been at the forefront of innovative research aimed at reducing the burden of cardiometabolic, vascular, and cancer-related diseases that disproportionately affect our region. The CCTS Partner Network comprises 11 academic research institutions across Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. 

Members of the lab group attend a tailgate before a South Alabama football game.

Hewes named associate chief medical officer for Children’s & Women’s Hospital

Amelia Hewes, M.D.

Amelia Hewes, M.D., FACOG, has been named an associate chief medical officer (CMO) for women’s health at USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital. She is also an obstetrician and gynecologist at USA Health and an assistant professor at the Whiddon College of Medicine. 

“Dr. Hewes has been working on women’s quality and safety projects with the CMO team for almost a year and has demonstrated she has the vision, professional courage and working knowledge to be successful in optimizing quality and safety for the patients we serve,” said Michael Chang, M.D., FACS, USA Health CMO.  “She's an outstanding clinician and translates her clinical skills to perform improvement projects effectively. Dr. Hewes also understands the importance of culture in moving the needle for quality and safety.”   

Since joining USA Health as health system CMO in 2018, Chang has worked to assemble a team in the CMO office to provide medical directorship in the quality, safety, and operational spaces across USA Health. 

Hewes joins the CMO group at Children’s & Women’s Hospital and will focus on women's services. “I am looking forward to my continued work to enhance the quality of care we offer our patients, while also improving our own job satisfaction and wellness,” Hewes said. “I am excited to work with the CMOs in other departments to share ideas for what is working well and gain different perspectives for my own department.” 

Among her roles at USA Health and the Whiddon College of Medicine, Hewes also serves as fellowship director for Family Medicine-Obstetrics, chair of the Performance Improvement Committee, and co-chair of the Maternal Infant Committee. She is a member of the American Medical Association, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Mobile Medical Society. 

Hewes earned her medical degree from the Whiddon College of Medicine, then completed a residency with USA Health, where she earned recognition as a top resident and researcher. In 2020, she received the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology National Faculty Award for Excellence in Resident Education. 

When she became an attending physician at USA Health, she said, her interest in safety and quality turned into a passion. Among her immediate goals for the new position, she notes, “is to work on ensuring that the women that seek care at Children's & Women's get the resources and level of care that their disease process requires, including our high-risk and complicated cases.” 

Class of 2024 donned with academic hoods at annual ceremony

Medical students in the Class of 2024 took the Hippocratic Oath during the ceremony.

Cheered on by their families, faculty and staff, the Class of 2024 received their academic hoods at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine’s Academic Hooding Ceremony, held Friday, May 3, in the Mitchell Center. 

Seventy-four medical students took the Hippocratic Oath and were hooded by people of their choosing. Those with military affiliation took the military oath of office and received their new rank. Two graduating doctoral students in the Basic Medical Sciences Graduate Program were awarded doctoral hoods by their major professor. 

When they were conferred their degrees at the University of South Alabama’s Spring Commencement on Saturday, May 4, the Class of 2024 became the 49th class to receive medical degrees from the Whiddon College of Medicine.

As the college closed out its 50th anniversary, USA President Jo Bonner asked the class to reflect on the history of the Medical Sciences Building, where the students received their pre-clerkship education. “Think of all the lives that have been touched, that have been changed, that have been healed, that have been saved, because of the young men and women who have entered the doors of your tired, old building,” he said. 

Bonner said he wished the Class of 2024 would have the opportunity to learn and study in the new College of Medicine building that is under construction. While the new facility isn’t scheduled to open until early 2027, he encouraged the soon-to-be physicians to come back as alumni “to be a part of what you have helped build.” 

Antwan Hogue, M.D., speaks to the Class of 2024.

The students selected Antwan Hogue, M.D., a 2012 alumnus of the Whiddon College of Medicine, to address the class. The charismatic faculty member holds several positions in the Whiddon College of Medicine and USA Health. He is an assistant professor of internal medicine, a senior hospitalist, and medical director of the Johnson Haynes Jr., M.D. Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center. He and his wife, Ashley Williams Hogue, M.D., co-founded Project Inspire, a USA Health hospital-based injury prevention program designed to curb youth gun violence.

Among his involvement with students, Hogue is a faculty advisor for Black Men in White Coats and the Student National Medical Association. At last week’s honors ceremony, the senior class bestowed upon Hogue the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award for demonstrating outstanding compassion to patients and their families. 

In February, Hogue accompanied several members of the class on a medical mission trip to Rwanda. He shared with the audience a term he learned in Africa: Nimeza. In the Kinyarwanda language, the phrase simply means, “I’m OK” or “I’m good.” 

“Nimeza seemed to be a way of life for the people of Rwanda, many of whom have endured a great deal of suffering,” Hogue said. As the volunteers made their rounds and asked patients how they were doing, their response was always the same. No matter how well or how critically ill the patients may have been, they would boldly say, “Nimeza.” 

Hogue was encouraged by their determination to seek good in every situation. “Always remember that your response and reaction is a choice,” he said, “and that it will shape your way of life and the way that you practice medicine.

“As you don your hood today, do it proudly,” he added. “Let it not only reflect your hard work, dedication and academic achievement, but it should also be a reminder of the trust that has been placed in your hands and the profound responsibility that comes with being a physician.” 

Carey Johnson addresses his classmates.

Carey Johnson, president of the Class of 2024, began his final address to the class in an unconventional way. He asked everyone in the audience to take out their cell phones. “First off, I want you to take a selfie, because man, y’all look good,” Johnson said. He demonstrated by flashing a smile while taking his own photo at the podium. 

Then he instructed the crowd to turn their phones to video mode. “I want you to press record and repeat after me: ‘You got this. I’ve made it through before. Nobody can do it like I can.’” He advised his peers, “Remember this day when things inevitably get difficult, and refer to this video when you need just a little more motivation for your day.” 

Johnson was a scholar in the Primary Care Pathway and was elected to the Arnold P. Gold Humanism in Medicine Honor Society. He was involved in numerous organizations including the Pediatrics Interest Group, Black Men in White Coats, and the Student National Medical Association. 

Soon, Johnson will begin his residency training in pediatrics at USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital. “As we transition into our prospective residencies, continue to lean on each other and your support system,” he said.

Johnson said they may encounter doubters along the way. In those moments, he reminded them of a saying from one of his mentors. “When the haters ask, ‘How did you do it?’ I hope you respond like the late, great Dr. Johnson Haynes: ‘Just like you. I just did it better.’” 

Several faculty awards also were announced at the Academic Hooding Ceremony. They were:

• Best Pre-Clerkship Module: Respiratory
• Best Pre-Clerkship Educator: Abu-Bakr Al-Mehdi, M.D., Ph.D.
• Best M3 Clerkship: Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Best Clerkship Educator: Nicolette Holliday, M.D.

View more photos from the Academic Hooding Ceremony and Spring Commencement on Flickr. 

Watch video of the recorded livestream on YouTube.

Alabama Power Foundation donates $500,000 to Whiddon College of Medicine

Beth Thomas, far left, external affairs manager at Alabama Power, and Patrick Murphy, vice president of Alabama Power's Mobile division, second from right, presents a check to USA representatives to support the Whiddon College of Medicine.  

A donation from the Alabama Power Foundation to the University of South Alabama will support the new Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine education and research building, currently under construction and scheduled for completion in early 2027.

Patrick Murphy, vice president of Alabama Power’s Mobile division, and Beth Thomas, external affairs manager, recently presented a check for $500,000 to USA President Jo Bonner and John Marymont, M.D., M.B.A., dean of the Whiddon College of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs.

“Alabama Power and its foundation have been strong and steadfast supporters of our Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine and the University of South Alabama,” Bonner said. “Countless students – and through their education, generations of Alabamians – will benefit from the foundation’s gifts. We extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude for the generous support for this new building and our programs.” 

The Alabama Power Foundation’s latest donation – which will name the dean’s suite in the medical school’s new building – brings the foundation’s total contributions to USA to more than $2.6 million.

“We are deeply grateful to the Alabama Power Foundation for their generous support of the Whiddon College of Medicine,” Marymont said. “This donation demonstrates that the foundation understands the value the medical school brings to the Mobile community and the state of Alabama. It is not only an investment in a new facility for our students, faculty and researchers; it’s also an investment in the future of healthcare to meet the needs of Alabamians.”

USA broke ground last December on a new 250,000-square-foot building that will allow the University to graduate more physicians and accelerate research and innovation. The facility will provide state-of-the-art laboratory spaces that will create flexibility and efficiency for research today and in the future. It will also allow for expanding the class size of first-year medical students from 80 to 100, with the capability of increasing to 120 students in the future, as the nation faces a projected shortage of healthcare providers.

The $200 million facility will round out a medical education hub on campus that includes the College of Nursing, the Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions, the Health Simulation Building, and the Charles M. Baugh Biomedical Library. When the new building opens, more than 500,000 square feet of campus facilities will be dedicated to healthcare education and research.

The Whiddon College of Medicine is one of 158 accredited M.D.-granting institutions in the United States, and one of only two in the state. More than 1,139 of its graduates are practicing medicine in Alabama. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the Whiddon College of Medicine consistently ranks in the top tier nationally for graduates practicing in underserved areas.

GME coordinators establish wellness committee to address stress and burnout

GME coordinators gathered at Taco Mama before

Match Day and onboarding season.

While stress and burnout are common among medical students, residents and fellows, internal medicine graduate medical education (GME) program coordinators at USA Health say that extends to their roles as well.  

Various research backs it up. Multiple studies cited in publications such as the Journal of Graduate Medical Education indicate that, nationally, most GME coordinators are overwhelmed and overworked. 

Since 2017, wellness has been part of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Common Program Requirements, a basic set of standards in training and preparing resident and fellow physicians, but the emphasis on psychological, emotional, and physical well-being seems to be neglected when it comes to the program coordinators.  

In response, Brant Weindorf and Kim Eardley, GME coordinators in the Department of Internal Medicine, have started the Program Coordinators Advocating for Wellness (PCAW), a committee dedicated to improving well-being and providing support for their peers. Both will serve as co-chairs of the committee. 

“Our role as program coordinators has evolved so much in the last few years that it can easily become overwhelming and stressful. PCAW has the ability to bridge the gap between specialties and connect coordinators together outside of work,” Weindorf said. “No one understands the effort that goes into this job quite like other coordinators!” 

The committee’s first event, Margaritas Before Match, welcomed all coordinators to socialize at Taco Mama in Midtown to celebrate each other and prepare for onboarding season.   

“Our debut event was a promising sign of how much a committee like this is needed on campus,” he said. “I'm very excited to have created and co-chair this committee with Kim, and together use our talents to shape the well-being of program coordinators at USA Health.” 

Eardley said they sensed the need to improve, educate, and advocate for the well-being of program coordinators through wellness-focused activities and events throughout the year. 

Proposed activities include social events, physical wellness challenges and education, professional development sessions, and volunteer opportunities in the health system.  

“Through PCAW, we have the potential to benefit both program coordinators and graduate medical education by promoting healthier lifestyles, increasing productivity, enhancing coordinator engagement, and fostering a positive work environment,” Eardley said. “It is truly about the atmosphere, teamwork, and the desire to succeed together. It is time to finally give stress the day off!" 

Ramani selected as CMO for Children’s & Women’s Hospital

Maran Ramani, M.D.

Manimaran (Maran) Ramani, M.D., has been appointed to a new role as chief medical officer (CMO) of USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital. He currently serves as the division chief of neonatology and medical director for the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and he will continue in these roles. In this new position, he joins the CMO team for USA Health led by system CMO Michael Chang, M.D., FACS.

This appointment marks an important milestone, as up to now, Children’s & Women’s Hospital has not had a physician executive serving in the CMO role exclusively for the facility. In the position, Ramani will work to better optimize quality, safety, efficiency, and patient-centeredness across the scope of care for children and women.

“In the time he’s been here, Dr. Ramani has demonstrated that he clearly possesses the skillset to be highly effective working with physicians in both the pediatric and women’s health spaces,” said Chang. “The members of the CMO team across USA Health are in a position to serve as physician partners to our hospital CEOs to help manage the explosive growth within USA Health, and he’s remarkably equipped to do that.”

“I am looking forward to working with the incredible team of providers and healthcare staff at Children's & Women's Hospital, who are striving every day to provide the highest quality of care,” said Ramani, who is also a professor of pediatrics at the Whiddon College of Medicine. “I will work hard to identify and remove barriers and challenges our team faces in delivering high-quality healthcare to women and children in our community.”

Ramani is board certified in general pediatrics and neonatal-perinatal medicine by the American Board of Pediatrics. He completed a fellowship in neonatology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and a pediatric residency at Texas Tech Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, Texas.

In addition to medical training, Ramani earned master’s degrees in healthcare administration (M.S.H.A.) and hospital quality and safety (M.S.H.Q.S.) from UAB. His experience includes expertise in strategic planning, operational management, people management, healthcare policy, finance, patient quality, and safety. His research interests include global health and neurodevelopmental outcomes of prematurity and birth asphyxia. Previously, he was the associate fellowship program director for the Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship and director of the neonatal neuro intensive care unit at UAB.

In July 2022, Ramani was awarded a three-year grant from The Thrasher Research Foundation to conduct a multinational clinical study, known as the Azithromycin Brain neuroprotection for Children (ABC) study, to determine whether a single oral dose of the antibiotic azithromycin can be repurposed to have neuroprotective benefits for infants who suffer a lack of oxygen to the brain before or during birth. The study is ongoing in five countries: India, Pakistan, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Guatemala. Through the grant, Ramani is working with a team of physicians and scientists from those countries to improve the health outcomes for infants born in low-resources settings.

Six students earn travel scholarships for state pediatrics meeting

Medical students, from left, Hope Lund, Emily Cleveland, Sarah Jackson, Justine Magadia, Kahlea Haladwala and Kara Nix attend the Alabama Chapter of the AAP meeting. 

With a goal of learning more about careers in pediatrics, six medical students recently received travel scholarships to attend the spring meeting of the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics held in April in Gulf Shores.

The Whiddon College of Medicine students, in their third year of training, included Hope Lund, Emily Cleveland, Sarah Jackson, Justine Magadia, Kahlea Haladwala and Kara Nix.

Benjamin Estrada, M.D., a pediatric infectious diseases physician who is professor and vice chair of pediatrics for the Whiddon College of Medicine, said the students were selected to receive scholarships based on their academic performance, interest in pediatrics, and future career choices.

During the two-day meeting, students enhanced their knowledge in clinical aspects of pediatrics and health issues affecting children in Alabama. In addition, they were able to network with other medical students and pediatricians within the state.

The Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is the only statewide member organization of pediatricians, with 850 members, representing both academic and community pediatrics. The organization is operated by a volunteer board of directors and executive staff in Montgomery.

Molecular lab launches genomic testing for personalized cancer care

Members of the molecular diagnostic lab, from left, Doug Hebert, Ph.D., John Larrimore, Kathryn Navia, and Thuy Phung, M.D., Ph.D., worked to launch a new genomic oncology test.

USA Health's molecular diagnostic laboratory recently launched a genomic test for cancer patients that allows oncologists to tailor treatments based on the specific gene mutations in their patients’ tumors.  

After a patient’s tumor is biopsied, the tissue sample is tested in the molecular diagnostic lab to determine which type of pathogenic gene mutation is present in the cancer. Processing the tissue samples in house means patients receive results more quickly and can start the appropriate treatment earlier than if the tissue samples were sent to an outside laboratory. For patients with aggressive cancers, starting treatment quickly is key to achieving the best possible outcomes. 

“This is precision medicine,” said Thuy Phung, M.D., Ph.D., director of molecular genetic pathology and dermatopathology at USA Health. “We employ state-of-the-art, next-generation sequencing technology to determine what type of mutation the cancer has, so oncologists can determine the best course of action.”  

Kathy Navia, a pathology medical technologist, and Doug

Hebert, Ph.D., a pathology molecular medical scientist,

run a test in the molecular lab.

The test – called the OncSeq Solid Tumor NGS Assay – detects genomic alterations in solid tumor samples and evaluates the mutation status of tumor DNA in about 40 well-known cancer-associated genes simultaneously. This assay focuses on gene mutations that can be addressed by current FDA-approved cancer therapies and detects indications for solid tumors, such as non-small cell lung cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, melanoma, pancreatic, colorectal, endometrial and brain tumors. 

Phung, who also is a professor of pathology at the Whiddon College of Medicine, led the project. In addition to starting appropriate cancer treatment sooner, Phung said it is significant that USA Health as an academic health system has the capability to perform genomic testing in our own lab.   

“When we send the tissue to an outside lab, we don’t have access to the data – the genetic sequence,” she said. “This information is very important for retrospective and prospective research and education.”   

Phung credits the support of John Marymont, M.D., MBA, dean of the Whiddon College of Medicine; and Guillermo Herrera, M.D., chair of the Department of Pathology; as well as members of the molecular lab, John Larrimore, Kathy Navia, and Doug Hebert, Ph.D., for making this achievement possible. 

For more information about the new test and ordering, contact the lab at molecularlab@health.southalabama.edu.   

Resident and Fellow Academic Expo set for May 1

The 2024 USA Resident and Fellow Academic Exposition will take place on Wednesday, May 1, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. in the Strada Patient Care Center Conference Room.

This is an opportunity for residents and fellows to display their scholarly activities from research projects, quality improvement projects, patient safety, education and advocacy projects, as well as case reports.

This year’s expo will feature a poster presentation competition and an oral presentation competition. Faculty, staff, residents, fellows and family are invited to attend.

The winners will receive cash prizes.

For details, visit the USA Resident and Fellow Academic Exposition page. 

Sansing retires from USA after three decades of service

Susan Sansing has provided her professional expertise, mentorship and leadership throughout her 33 years with the University of South Alabama and USA Health. On May 1, she will retire from her position as associate dean for finance and administration at the Whiddon College of Medicine. 

In 1991, Sansing was hired as an accountant at Doctors Hospital, which later became USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital. She worked various positions within the USA system before joining the Whiddon College of Medicine in 2000 as the associate business manager, overseeing all budget and financial aspects of the college including post-award grant activities. Since then, she has served as business manager and the assistant vice president for health sciences before taking on additional responsibilities as the assistant dean and later the associate dean for finance and administration. 

Sansing said she has enjoyed being part of the overall success of the Whiddon College of Medicine. “We have one of the best academic programs in the country, a strong financial position, and some of the best leadership, faculty and staff to work with,” she said. “I enjoy building teams that work together, maintain a strong sense of integrity, and strive for success; and I share my accomplishments with all of those who have worked alongside me.”

One of the most remarkable things Sansing has noticed, she said, is the number of long-term employees who have served USA and USA Health for decades, and have also experienced and been a part of the growth and outreach of the university and the health system. 

Sansing said she will most miss her coworkers who have supported her and the Whiddon College of Medicine over the years. “There has always been a great sense of loyalty to the college by those that I have worked closest with, and those bonds will be missed,” she said.

Faculty, staff and students of the Whiddon College of Medicine honored Sansing at a retirement reception on Wednesday. Her post-retirement plans include traveling and spending time with her family. 

MAA requests 'a note for every white coat'

The USA Medical Alumni Association is proud to provide Whiddon College of Medicine students with their first white coats. As a part of this special tradition, a handwritten note card is included in the pocket of every white coat when they are presented to students at their White Coat Ceremony.

The MAA requests your words of encouragement and advice for these notes. Submit your own special message via email to medalum@southalabama.edu by Friday, June 7. 

The Class of 2026 White Coat Ceremony is set for Friday, June 14, at 2 p.m. at the USA Mitchell Center.

Members of the Class of 2024 recognized at honors ceremony

Classmates Bailey Manning and Justin Penninger high five as she accepts an award.

The Whiddon College of Medicine recognized select members of the Class of 2024 at a special breakfast and honors ceremony on Wednesday, April 24, in the USA Student Center. The following students received awards:

John Marymont, M.D., M.B.A., presents Arcole Brandon

with the Dean's Award.

Dean’s Award: Arcole Sims Brandon
Awarded to the graduating senior who has accumulated the highest scholastic grade-point average for the full four years of medical school.

Merck Award: Jordan Ingram Chappell, Rachel Elise Emig
Awarded to senior students who have demonstrated superior academic achievement.

Glasgow-Rubin Achievement Citations: Madeleine Derbonne Boudreaux, Jordan Ingram Chappell, Rachel Elise Emig, Taylor Coe Yockers
Presented to those women students who graduate in the top 10% of their class.

Dr. Robert A. Kreisberg Endowed Award of Excellence: Claudia Paige Stephens
Awarded to a graduating senior student in the top 25% of the class who is distinguished in both the clinical and basic sciences. This student has demonstrated superior leadership and integrity, possesses a strong work ethic, and has performed in such a way as to earn the respect of his or her fellow students and faculty.

The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award: Marjorie Teel Jones, Antwan J. Hogue, M.D.
Presented by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation to the senior student and to the faculty member nominated and selected by the senior class who have demonstrated outstanding compassion to patients and their families.

Medical Alumni Leadership Award: Carey Patrick Johnson
Awarded to the senior student by vote of classmates, in recognition of outstanding leadership of the graduating class.

Community Service Award: Taran Santana Carrasco, Alexander Gabriel Polski
Presented by the Medical Society of Mobile County to two senior medical students whose classmates believe best fulfill the ideals of humanitarian public service as demonstrated by superior awareness of, and achievement in, civic and community programs.

SNMA Leadership Award: Carey Patrick Johnson
The Student National Medical Association (SNMA) is committed to supporting current and future underrepresented minority medical students, addressing the needs of underserved communities, and increasing the number of clinically excellent, culturally competent and socially conscious physicians. This award is granted to a graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, and community, school, and organizational service.

Dr. Richard William Gurich Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Brandon David Rosser, Taylor Coe Yockers
Awarded to two graduating senior students who have not only performed at the highest level during the third and fourth years, but have also demonstrated efficacy in patient relations and professionalism.

Dr. William James Atkinson Jr. Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Elizabeth Gray Statham
Presented to a fourth-year medical student exhibiting exemplary character, possessing a dedication to the field of medicine, and demonstrating a commitment to compassionate patient care. This student is interested in primary care and plans to practice in the state of Alabama.

Adele Mantiply and Dr. Gerald Galle Pediatric Endowed Scholarship: Carey Patrick Johnson
Awarded to a graduating senior student who has accepted a position in a pediatric residency program at the University of South Alabama and intends to practice pediatrics in Mobile and/or Baldwin counties.

Excellence in Public Health Award: Chandler Hinson
This award is presented by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Public Health Service to recognize the medical student who has demonstrated a commitment to public health and public health practice and has exhibited leadership and hard work with a passion and dedication to public health within the medical profession.

Dr. Joseph G. Hardin Jr. Memorial Scholarship: Zara Ijaz
Awarded to a graduating senior student who is interested in pursuing a career in internal medicine.

National Medical Fellowships Henrietta Lacks Scholarship: Tiara Dean; Sage Garriss, senior doctoral candidate for Ph.D.
Runners-Up: Taran Santana Carrasco, Cara Joy King
This National Medical Fellowship’s award was established in 2021 by Margie Malone Tuckson and Dr. Reed V. Tuckson. This scholarship honors the life of Henrietta Lacks and the invaluable impact she has made in the advancement of science and medicine. The scholarship is given to underrepresented in medicine students at the Whiddon College of Medicine who have exemplified outstanding academic achievement, leadership, research and community service.

John A. Desak Award: Madeleine Derbonne Boudreaux
In honor of USA College of Medicine graduate Dr. Maryella Sirmon’s father, this award is presented to the highest-ranking female in the graduating class who has accepted a residency in internal medicine.

Steven Karl Teplick, M.D., FARC Memorial Award: Shane Gray Stephenson
Awarded to a graduating senior student specializing in radiology and committed to lifelong learning as exemplified by Dr. Steven Teplick.

Recipients of the Cooke-Scott Scholarship

Cooke-Scott Scholarship: Alana Breann Andrew Fortune, Jordan M. Burlingame, Sela Renee Gavan, Samuel Troupe Grimes, Luke Edward Harris, Cara Joy King, Nicole Elizabeth Matis, Shubha Vinod McClelland, Alexandra Paige Templin, Brandon Phillip Webb
Awarded to fourth-year medical students wishing to pursue a career in the neuroscience field (neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, ophthalmology) and who have demonstrated exemplary qualities and commitment to their field.

Edgar C. Fonde Scholarship: Olivia Grace Durant, Erik Joseph Herslebs
Awarded to fourth-year medical students with financial need who have matched in pathology.

College of American Pathologists Distinguished Medical Student Award: Emily Hartsell
Recognizes an outstanding medical student who demonstrates exceptional achievement and dedication in the field of pathology. 

Outstanding Student in the Pre-clerkship Curriculum: Arcole Sims Brandon
Awarded to a graduating senior student for outstanding performance in the pre-clerkship curriculum.

Award for Excellence in Teaching Clinical Skills: Zara Ijaz
Awarded to a graduating senior student for outstanding teaching skills and student mentoring in the clinical skills program. This student has demonstrated a dedication to education in the field of clinical skills.

Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics Excellence Award: Shane Gray Stephenson
Presented to a graduating senior student for demonstrating outstanding knowledge in basic and clinical pharmacology.

Hollis J. Wiseman Award for Excellence in Pediatrics: Justin Ryan Penninger
Presented to the student who best exemplified Dr. Wiseman’s outstanding scholarship, compassion for patients and families, involvement in the profession and community, enthusiasm for exploration and steadfast love of family, friends and colleagues.

Samuel Eichold Award: Arcole Sims Brandon
Presented to the graduating medical student who through scholarship, patient care, interaction with faculty and housestaff, and motivation, has demonstrated outstanding achievement in internal medicine.

Dr. Michael M. Linder Endowed Award: Mia Michaela Jetsu
Awarded to a senior student who has accepted a residency in family medicine and exemplifies a commitment to family medicine, as practiced by Dr. Michael Linder, through astute clinical acumen based on the knowledge of the human body and evidence-based medicine. This student possesses a passion for teaching this knowledge and the art of family medicine to others, and demonstrates courage to do what is best for the whole patient and their family.

Ralph Denny Wright and Anne G. Wright Memorial Scholarship: Bailey Alese Manning
Awarded to the senior student focusing on internal medicine/family practice, who strives to become a compassionate physician and skilled diagnostician as exemplified by Dr. Wright.

Orthopaedic Research Award: Robert Thomas Rella
The Orthopaedic Research Award is presented by the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program to a student pursuing an orthopaedic surgery career who has shown outstanding scientific achievement and a commitment to orthopaedic research.

John W. Donald Memorial Award in Surgery: Jordan Ingram Chappell
Awarded to the senior student who best demonstrated clinical and academic excellence in the surgery clerkship.

H. C. Mullins, M.D. Award: Jarrett A. Barnes
Awarded by the faculty of the Department of Family Medicine to the graduating senior who demonstrated excellence in the ability to apply principles, practice, and philosophy of family medicine in caring for patients and their families. This award is given in honor of Dr. H. C. Mullins, professor emeritus and founding chair of the department.

Obstetrics and Gynecology Award: Claudia Paige Stephens
Presented to the graduating medical student who, through scholarship, patient care, interaction with faculty and housestaff, and motivation, has demonstrated excellence in obstetrics and gynecology.

Excellence in Emergency Medicine Award: Jelani Dia Bender
This award is presented by the Department of Emergency Medicine to the graduating medical student who best exemplifies outstanding clinical performance in emergency medical care.

Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Award: Jonathan Keith Lee
Presented on behalf of SAEM to the graduating medical student who has demonstrated excellence and academic proficiency in emergency medicine.

Excellence in Psychiatry Award: Alexandra Paige Templin
This award is given to a fourth-year medical student who excels in psychiatry, displaying exceptional knowledge and skills in providing compassionate and evidence-based mental healthcare. This award recognizes their academic excellence, clinical proficiency, and leadership potential in the field of psychiatry.

Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society: Madeleine Boudreaux, Arcole Brandon, Taylor Coe Yockers, Rachel Emig, David Gahan, Matthew Handley, Jordan Ingram, Christian Manganti, Bailey Manning, Jessica Moore, Mary Katherine Moore, Lauren Mussell, Brandon Rosser, Claudia Stephens, Robert Yockers

Alumni of DREAM and SouthMed Prep Scholars

Arnold P. Gold Humanism in Medicine Honor Society: Arcole Brandon, Tiara Dean, David Gahan, Carey Johnson, Marjorie Jones, Christian Manganti, Jessica Moore, Justin Penninger, Lameace Sayegh, Trentyn Shaw, Claudia Stephens

Peer Emotional and Educational Resilience Support (PEERS): Alana Andrew Fortune, Tiara Dean, Luke Harris, Rainer Jones, Brenna Katz, Jonathan Lee, Laneace Sayegh, Alexandra Templin

Peer Academic Leaders (PALS): Alana Andrew Fortune, Luke Harris, Lauren Mussell, Brandon Rosser

M.D. Research With Honors: Kiley Brady, Daniel Irelan
Presented to graduating medical students who have conducted in-depth research in a chosen area related to the health sciences.

Primary Care Pathway Scholars: TiAriel Anderson, Jarrett Barnes, Amber Crenshaw, Tiara Dean, Isabelle Hudson, Carey Johnson, Marley Lee

DREAM and SouthMed Prep Scholars Alumni: TiAriel Anderson, Alana Andrew Fortune, Jarrett Barnes, Gabby Brumfield, Taran Carrasco, Amber Crenshaw, Tiara Dean, Carey Johnson, Cara King, Marley Lee, Trentyn Shaw

Students Serving in the Military: Jelani Bender, Kiley Brady, Kayman Strickland-Beach

View more photos from the breakfast and honors ceremony on Flickr. 

USA Health residents and fellows present research at cancer advocacy conference

Muhammad Areeb Ashfaq, M.D.; Anita Mazloom, M.D.; Pranitha Prodduturvar, M.D.; Daisy Escobar, M.D.; and Haris Manan, M.D., attend the NeauxCancer Conference in New Orleans.

Hematology and oncology fellows and internal medicine residents from USA Health recently presented their research at the third annual NeauxCancer Conference presented by the Career Advocacy Group of Louisiana (CAGLA) in New Orleans.

The following represented USA Health: third-year fellows Daisy Escobar, M.D., and Anita Mazloom, M.D.; third-year internal medicine resident Muhammad Areeb Ashfaq, M.D.; and second-year internal medicine residents Jose Alejandro (Alex) Asturias, M.D., and Haris Manan, M.D. Pranitha Prodduturvar, M.D., a medical oncologist and assistant professor of interdisciplinary clinical oncology, also attended the conference. 

The conference attracted medical oncologists, cancer surgeons, radiation oncologists, and other physicians, as well as advanced practice providers, medical trainees, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals. The three-day event covered wide-ranging topics beyond discussions about the disease and emerging therapies, including advocacy and the future of AI in the field.

Escobar, a hematology and oncology fellow, attended the conference for the first time. She presented research on health disparities between races and response to treatment in stage IV non-small cell lung cancer patients. 

“It was great to see so many people coming together for advocacy and more importantly to see all the changes that CAGLA has done for the state of Louisiana,” Escobar said. “Times continue to change, and it is up to us to learn how to advocate for our patients both within and beyond the confines of the clinic.”

Manan, a second-year internal medicine resident, described participating in the conference as a positive experience. “It was a great experience for all of us to present our study,” he said. “There were great lectures about breast cancer, current chemotherapy agents and the future of AI in the world of oncology.”

Their research studied the extent of cardiac toxicity that could be associated with concomitant use of anthracyclines and immune check inhibitors in a retrospective cohort. 

CAGLA is a grassroots advocacy group that champions improved cancer care. Community leaders, dedicated physicians and resilient survivors unite to drive progress in healthcare policy and practice.

OAP team collaborates regionally and nationally to advance medical education

Members of the Office of Accreditation and Planning, from left, are Melisa Pierce, M.P.A.; David Williams, Ph.D., M.P.A.;  Angie O'Neal, M.Ed.; Timothy Gilbert, Ed.D.; Breland Walley; and Russell Cantrell, MSCIS, M.B.A. 

The Whiddon College of Medicine’s Office of Accreditation and Planning (OAP) is committed to excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement in medical education. Their guiding philosophy, “A rising tide raises all ships,” inspires their active engagement in communities of practice beyond the college and their participation in regional and national opportunities.

Under the leadership of Associate Dean Timothy Gilbert, Ed.D., the OAP team strives to align the college's goals with the evolving landscape of medical education. This commitment to planning ensures the unique needs of students, faculty, and the community are addressed. The team includes David S. Williams, Ph.D., M.P.A., assistant dean of institutional and academic success; Melisa Pierce, M.P.A., director of quality improvement; Russell W. Cantrell, MSCIS, M.B.A., director of data administration and strategic initiatives; Angie O'Neal, M.Ed., director of learning support services; and Breland Walley, administrative support. 

Williams is key in advancing medical education beyond the University of South Alabama campus. He was recently appointed to serve on the steering committee for the Medical Education Learning Specialists (MELS) organization, representing the Southern region of medical schools and contributing to regional and national strategic directives. Additionally, he's on the Accreditation Preparation and Quality Improvement (APQI) inaugural annual conference committee, shaping the discourse on defining scholarship in accreditation and quality improvement. Williams, alongside four other faculty and administrators across the University, completed the American Association of Colleges and Universities’ Institute on ePortfolios, for institutional adaptation of ePortfolios as a high-impact practice to support USA’s LevelUP Quality Enhancement Plan. He also collaborated on an Association of American Medical Colleges’ Holistic Student Support community research study with T.J. Hundley, M.D., on pre-module checklist processes for course improvement. 

Pierce contributes her expertise to discussions on various topics related to medical education practices. For example, she is a panelist for the monthly Central Group on Education Affairs webinar series on course evaluation and grade reporting, and student feedback initiatives. In May, she will present at the APQI national conference on the topic of enhancing medical education course evaluation. She is also collaborating with two other medical colleges to present on closing the loop on student feedback. Through her participation in these webinars and conferences, Pierce collaborates with educators and leaders nationwide to drive innovation and improvement in medical education practices.

Cantrell advocates for data literacy and proficiency and is an active community member of Tableau, a data visualization software company. He is a Tableau Academic Ambassador and a featured speaker at the upcoming Tableau Conference 2024. He was selected as a national data visualization competition judge, exemplifying his dedication to advancing data visualization. Collaborating with colleagues at Clark College in Vancouver, Washington, he has also shown how Tableau can enhance data visualization and quality improvement initiatives. 

Additionally, Williams, Pierce and Cantrell will present their work at the APQI annual conference, discussing “Advancing Accreditation: Integrative Heatmap Strategies for Enhanced Continuous Quality Improvement in Medical Education.”

O’Neal empowers students through workshops and programs, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing in medical education nationwide. She volunteers on the MELS conference planning committee and as a peer reviewer for APQI conference proposals. She collaborates on presentations with faculty and staff from various medical schools, promoting student-centric innovation beyond the Whiddon College of Medicine. 

Learn more about the Office of Accreditation and Planning.

Meet a Med Student: Lee Givens

Lee Givens

Age: 24

Class: 2027

Hometown: Auburn, Alabama

Undergraduate education: B.S., Auburn University

What do you enjoy most about being a medical student at the Whiddon College of Medicine?
My favorite thing about the Whiddon College of Medicine is the sense of family and community that is so engrained within the school. Each of the students in my class always watches out for the person next to them, and my experience has really been one of a collective working toward a common goal rather than a group of individuals each working toward their own goals. All of the faculty, administration, and staff have also been so welcoming and inviting, and I've really felt that support in the transition to beginning medical school.

Are you involved in any research, organizations or other initiatives at the Whiddon College of Medicine?
I am involved in the Christian Medical Ministry of South Alabama and the Student-Run Free Clinic. I have also had fun being a part of some of the COM intramural sports teams.

What are your interests and hobbies?
I love going for runs around Mobile and exercising at the Student Rec Center. I also love spending time with my dog, Louie.

What is something unique about you?
I have a titanium plate and two screws in my cheek.

Class of 2024 looks forward to spring ceremonies

Spring is filled with events leading up to graduation for students completing medical and doctoral degrees at the Whiddon College of Medicine.

An honors breakfast and ceremony are planned for medical students who are receiving awards and honors cords on Wednesday, April 24. Breakfast will begin at 9 a.m. in the Terrace Room of the USA Student Center followed by an awards ceremony at 10 a.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.

The Academic Hooding Ceremony for all graduates of the Whiddon College of Medicine will be held at 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 3, at the USA Mitchell Center. Seventy-four graduating medical students will take the Hippocratic Oath and be hooded by a person or persons of their choosing. Those with a military affiliation will take the military oath of office and receive their new rank. Two graduating doctoral students in the Basic Medical Sciences Graduate Program will be awarded doctoral hoods by their major professors. The ceremony will be streamed live on the Mitchell Center's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G_Vqk7qXDA. 

USA's Spring Commencement Ceremony will celebrate graduates and confer degrees from the Whiddon College of Medicine and other colleges at the university. Commencement is set for 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 4, at the Mitchell Center. The Class of 2024 will be the 49th class to receive medical degrees from the Whiddon College of Medicine. The ceremony will be streamed live at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOM9m2gguC0. 

For more information on graduation, visit the Registrar’s Commencement page.

Custodio named director of pediatrics residency program

 Haidee Custodio, M.D.

Infectious disease pediatrician Haidee Custodio, M.D., an associate professor of pediatrics at the Whiddon College of Medicine, recently was named director of the pediatrics residency program for USA Health.

“We are delighted Dr. Custodio accepted this important role,” said Gul H. Dadlani, M.D., professor of pediatrics and chair of USA Health Pediatrics. “Her passion to train and mentor the next generation of healthcare providers is vital to maintaining – and improving – the quality of life for everyone we serve.”

This year, the pediatrics graduate medical education team at USA Health will welcome 12 first-year residents, who will begin the program July 1.

“We have new partners joining our community,” Custodio said of the most recent class of medical school graduates seeking career paths as pediatricians. “Our program's mindset is to recognize the importance of collaborating and partnering with these new physicians as they continue their medical education. They bring a new set of skills, interests, and enthusiasm that we can tap into in our mission of taking care of the children and meeting the needs of the community.”

By training in teaching hospitals and at medical clinics, new physicians can learn in an environment that integrates education, research, and patient care — an experience offering benefits to the healthcare staff and those they care for. Research shows patients treated in teaching hospitals had up to 20% higher odds of survival compared to those treated at non-teaching hospitals, noted the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Custodio joined USA Health in 2011 and previously served as associate director of the pediatrics residency program. She completed medical school in the Philippines before moving to New York to complete a pediatrics residency at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow. She completed a pediatric infectious diseases fellowship at the University of Florida/Wolfson Children's Hospital/Shands Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida.

Custodio, who is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, also serves as CME chair on the board of the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and as a member of the AAP national committee on Continuing Medical Education.

USA launches Healthcare Leadership Certificate program

The first cohort of participants in the Healthcare Leadership Certificate program is a select group of faculty and staff from USA and USA Health. Registration for the 2025 program will open this fall.

Healthcare professionals seeking to develop their management and leadership skills now can earn a Healthcare Leadership Certificate from the University of South Alabama. The program is a partnership of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine, the Mitchell College of Business, and USA Health.

“In this ever-changing industry, it’s important that rising leaders have the skills they need to think strategically and adapt quickly,” said John V. Marymont, M.D., M.B.A., dean of the Whiddon College of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs. “We wanted to offer a hands-on program that would be accessible to busy healthcare professionals.”

The Healthcare Leadership Certificate takes a year to complete, with classes held in person at the Mitchell College of Business. The first cohort, a select group of faculty and staff from USA and USA Health, is working through the curriculum and expected to complete the requirements by December 2024. It will open to community participants in 2025.

“This certificate is designed to prepare you to lead effectively in your career,” said Binata Mukherjee, M.B.B.S., M.B.A., assistant dean for faculty and professional development at the Whiddon College of Medicine and director of healthcare leadership initiatives at the Mitchell College of Business. “It is intended for professionals at the director level and above, or managers moving into those positions.”

To earn the certificate, participants complete eight modules comprising Friday and Saturday classes scheduled throughout the year. They also are required to spend one hour to one and a half hours reading materials between classes. The fee for the program is $5,000.

The modules cover communication, management, operations, finance, leadership, and more, Mukherjee said. Classes are designed to be interactive and experiential. “The goal is to give them the practical knowledge and skills that will help them the most in their work life,” she said.

Registration for the 2025 program will open in the fall.

Altun to present on collaborative care in treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

Osman Altun, M.D., Ph.D.

Pediatric gastroenterologist Osman Altun, M.D., Ph.D., will present a lecture on collaborative care for patients with inflammatory bowel disease at the Alabama Chapter of the American Association of Pediatrics’ spring meeting on Saturday, April 20, in Gulf Shores.  

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are inflammatory bowel diseases that cause chronic inflammation and damage in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The GI tract is responsible for digestion of food, absorption of nutrients, and elimination of waste. Inflammation impairs the ability of affected GI organs to function properly, leading to symptoms such as persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, weight loss and fatigue, according to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA).  

Collaborative care is critical in the management of patients with IBD, Altun said, and demands the best of multiple specialties including gastroenterology, surgery, radiology, rheumatology, and primary care providers.  

In the collaborative care team, the primary care provider is often neglected in the literature. However, in this regional patient population, he noted, the primary care providers have served the population for many years and earned their trust. Often, patients with IBD contact their primary care provider even before they contact a gastroenterologist for IBD-related complications.  

“The presentation's focus is to recognize, recruit and support the primary care providers in managing the pediatric IBD population,” said Altun, who is also an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Whiddon College of Medicine.   

Altun serves as medical director of inflammatory bowel disease at USA Health, and with his partners continues to explore opportunities daily to better serve the pediatric IBD population.  

“USA Health has the most critical components of collaborative care to serve the pediatric IBD population,” he noted, “including pediatric radiologists, pediatric surgeons and pediatric gastroenterologists.”