Thursday, July 31, 2025

Register now: Faculty Development Grand Rounds

The Office of Faculty Affairs and Faculty Development at the Whiddon College of Medicine has announced the return of the Faculty Development Grand Rounds series for the 2025-2026 academic year. This ongoing professional development initiative provides valuable learning opportunities for our faculty community.

Session Information
When: Second Friday of each month, noon to 1 p.m.
Format: Virtual sessions via Zoom
Duration: Full academic year 2025-2026

Kickoff Session
“AI in Medical Training”
Hector Lopez, M.D., Associate Professor of Medical Education
Friday, August 8, noon to 1 p.m.

Register today to secure a spot for the entire series. Faculty members only need to register once to participate in all sessions.

For more information, contact Amanda Arnold at akarnold@southalabama.edu or 251-460-6823.

USA Health internal medicine residents and fellow publish article on Cureus

Four USA Health internal medicine physicians-in-training recently published an article on Cureus, a web-based medical journal, about infections in people with underlying liver diseases.  

Fluoroscopic angiogram showing coil embolization
of splenic artery
The authors include second-year residents Brandon Boeur, D.O., and Kristen Buchanan, M.D.; third-year resident Hussein Haidari, M.D.; and recently graduated pulmonary/critical care fellow Sagar Kumar, M.D. 

The article, titled “Vibrio vulnificus causing severe multiorgan failure in a patient with underlying cirrhosis,” follows v. vulnificus, a bacterium that is found in raw shellfish like oysters. While typically it does not pose a threat, people who have liver disease are more likely to have a serious and potentially fatal reaction to the bacterium.   

Cirrhosis is a liver condition in which scar tissue replaces healthy tissue cells, weakening the immune system and increasing iron levels in the body. The article details a case study of a patient who presented symptoms of septic shock after v. vulnificus entered the body. As a result, the patient experienced severe organ failure. The patient also developed severe thrombocytopenia, a condition causing a decrease in platelet levels.  

In the article, the residents emphasized the importance of managing v. vulnificus infection efficiently to prevent fatal reactions as seen in this case. The study urges awareness of bacteria found in raw shellfish, especially to those more prone to serious infection.  

The case study was published under the supervision of Philip Almalouf, M.D., a pulmonologist with USA Health and an assistant professor of internal medicine at the Whiddon College of Medicine.  

Established in 2009, Cureus is a peer-reviewed medical science journal with 1.2 million monthly readers. The web-based journal publishes a wide range of health-related articles, including those focused on the U.S. healthcare system. 

Read the full article in Cureus

Welcome, Class of 2029!

The Class of 2029 gathers in front of the Medical Sciences Building.
The Whiddon College of Medicine Class of 2029 officially began their medical school journey this week with a host of orientation activities. 

Miles Hunt, Trinity Upshaw and Ayanna Whittaker
Orientation kicked off Monday with a welcome from John Marymont, M.D., MBA, dean of the Whiddon College of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs. Afterward, the students gathered in front of the Medical Sciences Building for their first photo as the Class of 2029. 

Other highlights from the week included a meet and greet with faculty at the MacQueen Alumni Center, and dinner with the dean at Moe's Original BBQ in downtown Mobile. 

Activities continue Thursday afternoon when the students are sorted into their wellness houses and compete in a kickball tournament sponsored by the Wellness Program. 

View more photos from orientation week

Medical students socialize at the meet and greet at the MacQueen Alumni Center.

Medical students present summer research at 52nd annual event

Medical student Chris Novellino gives an oral presentation on research day.
During the past eight weeks, 53 medical students at the Whiddon College of Medicine have collaborated with clinical and basic sciences faculty to conduct research as part of the 2025 Medical Student Summer Research Program. 

Their research encompassed a wide range of topics including studying how Lyme disease invades the nervous system, evaluating bone density in spinal surgery patients, assessing disaster preparedness of an academic health system, and identifying barriers to care in underserved areas. Through the program, incoming first- and second-year students developed a greater appreciation of how research contributes to the knowledge and practice of medicine.

The program culminated with student presentations and a keynote lecture at the 52nd Annual Medical Student Summer Research Day, held Friday, July 25, in the Medical Sciences Building. 

Medical student Juanita Monteiro-Pai presents her poster.

Oliver McDonald, M.D., Ph.D., an associate professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, presented the keynote lecture. Students had the opportunity to attend a mixer with the keynote speaker the Thursday evening prior to summer research day.

Jonathan Rayner, Ph.D., associate professor of microbiology and immunology, served as chair of this year's summer research program. Skye Andrade, coordinator of research and communications in the Office of the Associate Dean for Research, and Marcina Lang, MPA, senior manager of COM support services in the Dean's Office, were program coordinators.

The Clyde G. Huggins Awards for Summer Research will be presented to the winners in the oral and poster presentation categories in the coming weeks. 

View more photos from Medical Student Summer Research Day on Flickr

Keynote speaker Oliver McDonald, M.D., Ph.D., receives a plaque from Jonathan Rayner, Ph.D. 

Monday, July 28, 2025

Menger named among top 5% of neurosurgery and spine researchers in the U.S.

Richard Menger, M.D., MPA
By Jessica Jones

Richard Menger, M.D., MPA, chief of complex spine surgery and vice chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at USA Health, has been named a 2025 Healthcare Research All-Star by Avant-garde Health — placing him among the top 5% of neurosurgeons and spine specialists nationwide for published research.

As part of the region’s leading academic health system, Menger is also an associate professor of neurosurgery at the Whiddon College of Medicine.

This recognition celebrates the quality and quantity of Menger’s peer-reviewed research published during 2021 and 2022, affirming his role as a leading academic voice in neurosurgery, complex spine care, and healthcare policy.

“This is a great objective external validation of all the work we have been able to accomplish here at USA,” Menger said. “We are proud of the imprint USA Health Neurosurgery has made regionally and nationally.”

A prolific author and national speaker, Menger’s research spans a wide range of clinical and policy-focused topics, including the integration of efficient care delivery models in complex spine surgery. His academic contributions continue to inform national best practices and influence the future of neurosurgical care.

“This illustrates how the Department of Neurosurgery is able to push the field forward in all three areas — performing complex cases, teaching the next generation of surgeons, and participating in leading-edge research,” he said.

The Healthcare Research All-Star lists, compiled annually by Avant-garde Health, recognize only the top 5% of hospitals and physicians publishing high-impact research in their fields. Menger’s selection reflects his continued dedication to advancing the science of spine and neurosurgical care.

Founded in 2014, Avant-garde Health collaborates with healthcare providers to enhance patient outcomes while lowering costs. The company originated from value-based care research at Harvard Business School, led by Professors Michael Porter and Robert Kaplan.

More information about the award and full list of honorees is available at: Neurosurgery and Spine Research All-Stars 2025.