Residents and fellows strengthen communication skills through horsemanship training

From left, Leena Patel, M.D., Catherine Elortegui; Ekta Khubchandani, M.D.; Judy Blair-Elortegui, M.D.; Angad Singh, M.D.; and Shausha Farooq, M.D.

By Michelle Ryan-Day

In an innovative approach to medical education, internal medicine residents at USA Health recently traded their stethoscopes for saddles and spent time in Fairhope with a horse named Newt to explore the power of nonverbal communication.  

Angad Singh, M.D.

Part of the Department of Internal Medicine’s Horsemanship Seminar, this hands-on workshop helps physicians-in-training recognize and refine the subtle cues that shape how they interact with patients. While horses and medicine may seem worlds apart, programs like this are being used across the country as an experiential way to build empathy, mindfulness, and connection.  

“This session focused more on the messages we send with our non-verbal communication,” said Judy Blair-Elortegui, M.D., FACP, vice chair of medical education and seminar organizer. “Previous sessions focused on being perceptive of what patients (or horses) are communicating nonverbally and adapting to individual communication styles.”  

Third-year internal medicine residents Shausha Farooq, M.D., Ekta Khubchandani, M.D., and Leena Patel, M.D., and pulmonary and critical care fellow Angad Singh, M.D., participated in the workshop, learning how even small shifts in posture or presence can influence how a horse responds.  

“Working with Newt taught me how much can be communicated without words through calm energy, patience, and presence,” Singh said. “That quiet connection helped me slow down, be more mindful, and manage stress better. It’s a lesson I will carry into medicine, reminding me to listen deeply and care with empathy.”  

Shausha Farooq, M.D.

For Patel, the experience underscored how important body language is in clinical practice.  

“The horsemanship seminar taught me to be mindful not only of how my own body language can be interpreted, but also the importance of observing subtle changes in Newt’s behavior and what it meant,” Patel said. “That awareness translates directly to medicine, where we often overlook the impact of our body language when communicating with patients and their families. Being attentive to their nonverbal responses can also help guide the conversation and create a better relationship between provider and patient.”  

Beyond communication skills, participants found the outdoor setting refreshing. “It was very important for wellness,” Patel said. “We were able to be out in the sun, get some fresh air, and take things at a slower pace compared to our busy, fast-paced work environment.”  

Research supports the seminar’s approach: horses are particularly attuned to human emotion and can reflect subtle shifts in tone, tension, or intent. Studies have shown that horses display 17 distinct facial expressions. Many of them mirror human emotions such as fear, surprise, and sadness, which makes them ideal teachers of empathy and awareness.  

Holliday speaks at national symposium on maternal health

Candice Holliday, J.D., M.D., far left, was
among the expert speakers at the symposium. 

By Casandra Andrews

Candice Holliday, J.D., M.D., an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Whiddon College of Medicine, recently served as a panelist at the Beazley Symposium on Health Care Law and Policy, an event that brings together leading voices in law, medicine, and public health to examine critical issues shaping healthcare policy. 

The 2025 symposium, titled “Confronting the Maternal Health Crisis: Access, Equity and Reform,” was held Oct. 24 at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Presented in conjunction with the Annals of Health Law & Life Sciences, the event focused on the persistent challenges surrounding maternal health in the United States, particularly in underserved and rural communities. 

Holliday was among leading experts who discussed barriers to care, and potential reforms designed to improve outcomes for mothers and infants. Topics also included the role of Medicaid in maternal care, disparities in maternal health outcomes, and the need for stronger systems to provide equitable access to prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care. 

Drawing on her experience in academic medicine and clinical practice at USA Health, she discussed the regulatory framework that allowed hospitals to be inadequately reimbursed for providing care, which has led to closures across Alabama and beyond.  

Holliday, who earned a law degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor before receiving a medical degree from the Whiddon College of Medicine, discussed the unique legal challenges of practicing obstetrics, including medical malpractice risks and the exorbitant cost of medical malpractice insurance.  

Through involvement in national discussions such as the Beazley Symposium, Holliday continues to advance USA Health’s mission of improving health outcomes on the Alabama Gulf Coast and beyond. Her participation reflects the academic health system’s growing engagement in shaping policy conversations that impact the quality and accessibility of care for women and their families. 

Fueling success: Support the USA Medical Alumni Association Annual Fund

Don't miss your chance to support the USA Medical Alumni Association Annual Fund before Dec. 31. 

Your contribution ensures vital support throughout the year for the areas that matter most: funding student scholarships, powering key networking events, and celebrating major student milestones. Every gift directly strengthens our medical alumni community.

Make an impact today: connect.southalabama.edu/g/maa-gifts.

Mayer Mitchell Award to be presented to cancer researcher

Santanu Dasgupta, Ph.D., recipient of the 2024

award, with Arlene Mitchell.

The recipient of the 2025 Mayer Mitchell Award for Excellence in Cancer Research will be announced on Monday, Nov. 3, at 4:30 p.m. at the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute.

The $10,000 award is presented annually to a promising scientist at the Mitchell Cancer Institute upon the recommendation of a faculty committee. 

The award was established in 2009 by University of South Alabama trustee Arlene Mitchell in memory of her late husband, Mayer Mitchell, a Mobile businessman, longtime USA trustee and formative figure in the establishment of the MCI.

Trimm named interim dean of Whiddon College of Medicine

R. Franklin Trimm, M.D.

By Lindsay Hughes

A longtime educator, physician and leader at the University of South Alabama, R. Franklin Trimm, M.D., has been appointed interim dean of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine. 

Trimm joined the university in 1991 and currently serves as associate dean of health advancement at the Whiddon College of Medicine. 

“After nearly 35 years of calling this college home, I am deeply honored to serve as interim dean,” he said. “I am energized by the work ahead and grateful for the chance to give back, support my amazing colleagues, and steward our college through this important transition.”

During his tenure at the Whiddon College of Medicine, Trimm has held several key leadership positions, including professor and vice chair of pediatrics and director of the pediatrics residency program. He also served as assistant vice president for medical affairs and as a pediatric developmental and behavioral physician with USA Health.

Trimm is a past president of the Association of Pediatric Program Directors, a national organization that supports pediatric programs across the country in advancing medical education to improve the health and well-being of children.

Board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, Trimm earned his medical degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in Loma Linda, California, where he also completed his residency in pediatrics.

He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, and the Arnold P. Gold Humanism in Medicine Honor Society. 

A national search is underway to identify a permanent dean of the Whiddon College of Medicine. 

Complex pediatric spine team showcases expertise at national scoliosis meeting

Richard Menger, M.D., MPA, center, completed the Scoliosis Research Society's L.E.A.D. Program. 

By Jessica Jones

USA Health neurosurgeon Richard Menger, M.D., MPA, chief of complex spine surgery, and orthopaedic surgeon Tyler McDonald, M.D., chief of pediatric orthopaedics, represented the health system’s complex pediatric spine program at the Scoliosis Research Society’s (SRS) 60th Annual Meeting, a five-day international gathering held in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

Tyler McDonald, M.D., and Richard Menger, M.D., MPA

The event brought together approximately 1,500 spine specialists from around the world to share the latest advances in treating spinal deformities, including adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, adult deformity, minimally invasive surgery, and machine learning applications in spine care. 

Menger also completed the SRS 2024–2025 L.E.A.D. Program, a prestigious year-long leadership development initiative designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders within SRS. Cohort members gain a deeper understanding of the organization’s mission, governance, and impact on spine care worldwide. 

In addition to his participation in the L.E.A.D. cohort, Menger served as a featured speaker for a session titled “Discover the New Standard of Care: Personalized Spine Surgery.” Alongside experts from the University of California San Diego and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, he shared insights on using AI-enabled technology. 

“We are really proud of USA Health’s combined neurosurgery-orthopaedic pediatric complex spine program where our departments work together to offer our patients unique and elevated treatments right here on the Gulf Coast,” Menger said. “Attending and presenting at the SRS meeting allow us to bring the latest techniques and science to our patients.”  

The SRS Annual Meeting serves as a premier global forum for advancing spinal deformity research and care. The 2025 program featured 179 abstract papers, 91 E-Point presentations, and five faculty-led instructional courses spanning topics such as neuromuscular scoliosis, kyphosis, and growing spine management. 

Medical students, faculty present at national obstetrics and gynecology conference

From left, Nicolette P. Holliday, M.D.; Ashleigh Torrance; Mary Faragalla; Charlie Crider; Madison Poiroux; Marianna Oditt; and Candice Holliday, J.D., M.D. 

By Casandra Andrews

Five students from the Whiddon College of Medicine presented research and case studies during the 92nd Annual Central Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (CAOG) meeting in Las Vegas in October. Faculty members from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, along with the students, presented eight posters at the national conference.  

The fourth-year medical students who presented posters included: 

• Charlie Crider, who presented a poster titled “Medically Indicated Hysteroscopy D&C for a Cesarean Scar Ectopic Pregnancy in the Setting of Postpartum Cardiomyopathy with Possible Placenta Accreta Spectrum.” 
• Mary Faragalla, who presented a poster titled “38-year-old at 26 weeks' Gestation with Pituitary Macroadenoma.” 
• Marianna Oditt, who presented a poster titled “Management of Delivery of Neonate with Large Umbilical Pseudocyst and Fetal Heterotaxy: A Case Report.” 
• Madison Poiroux, who presented a poster titled “Cesarean Scar Pregnancy Delivered at 32 weeks.” 
• Ashleigh Torrance, who presented a poster titled “Management of Sickle Cell Disease During Pregnancy, complicated by HELLP syndrome.” 

Attending and presenting at national conferences offers students the opportunity to connect with leading faculty, residents, and fellows from other institutions around the United States and beyond. These relationships can potentially lead to mentorship, collaboration, and future training or research opportunities. 

“Sharing research in a national forum helps our students refine their ability to explain complex medical information clearly and confidently,” said Nicolette P. Holliday, M.D., professor at the Whiddon College of Medicine and clerkship director for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at USA Health. “It strengthens their skills in scientific writing, oral presentation, and professional dialogue — all of which are essential for future clinicians, educators, and researchers.” 

Deadline to apply for Doc Rock is Friday, Oct. 31

If you and your band have a connection to USA Health, and love to perform for a great cause, it is time to submit your application for consideration for the popular music competition planned for Jan. 29, 2026, at Soul Kitchen in downtown Mobile. 

The deadline to apply is this Friday, Oct. 31. 

Doc Rock is a battle-of-the-bands-style event where at least one member of each band has an affiliation with USA Health. That means at least one member of your musical group should be an employee of USA Health (or even a friend of an employee) or an employee or a medical student at the Whiddon College of Medicine.  

“Doc Rock is one of the most exciting events of the year because it brings together the incredible talent within our USA Health and University of South Alabama communities,” said Shanna Thorpe, director of constituent engagement for USA Health. “It’s not just about great music — it’s about gathering to support lifesaving research and compassionate patient care that makes a meaningful difference to so many people.” 

Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit research and critical clinical needs at USA Health, the academic health system for USA. 

Here’s how it works: All bands go through a selection process. The top five groups selected for the live event will be determined and announced by the committee in November. Bands of all music genres are encouraged to submit their group for consideration. 

To apply for Doc Rock, visit www.usahealthsystem.com/doc-rock. 

For sponsorship information, contact Thorpe at sthorpe@southalabama.edu. 

Meet a Ph.D. Student: Sayema Naaz

Sayema Naaz

Hometown: Asansol, West Bengal, India

Previous education: B.S. in microbiology, Kazi Nazrul University, India; and M.S. in microbiology, University of Calcutta, India

BMS program track and year of study: Biomedical Engineering and Bioinformatics, fourth year

Faculty mentor: Glen Borchert, Ph.D.

Current research: My project deals with understanding the role of non-coding RNAs and proteins in Salmonella stress response, particularly how they contribute to persistent and chronic infection. In addition, I also study Salmonella outer membrane vesicles to characterize their contents and identify factors secreted following P22 bacteriophage infection.

What do you enjoy most about being a graduate student at the Whiddon COM?

I really appreciate that people here at the College of Medicine are genuinely supportive and always willing to help one another, creating a collaborative and encouraging environment.

Interests and hobbies: My hobbies include reading, listening to music, playing badminton and watching anime.