Dr. Townsley Featured in Press-Register

Dr. Mary Townsley, professor of physiology and internal medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, was recently featured in the Dec. 18th Press-Register for an award she received from the American Heart Association.

Click here to view the entire article.

Fay Cunningham Recognized for Outstanding Customer Service

Fay Cunningham receives a spa gift basket for her outstanding customer service skills.

Fay Cunningham, a billing and insurance clerk at the University of South Alabama Family Medicine clinic, recently received the Customer Service Recognition Award given by the department.

Cunningham, who has worked at USA for 16 years, was selected by staff and patients for portraying outstanding customer service skills.

“This presentation could have gone to many others because I work with many wonderful people,” Cunningham said. “I am delighted and thankful that the ballots tilted in my favor.”

Cunningham said she has always followed the principle, “Treat people the way you want to be treated.”

“If you want to receive politeness,” she said, “then you present yourself with politeness.”

Cunningham said her focus is putting the closure to a patient’s visit. “I sometimes think of it as putting the icing on the cake,” she said. “My goal is to establish a positive exit so that patients will share their experience with others.”

Mark Your Calendars

The next University of South Alabama College of Medicine Faculty Assembly Meeting has been scheduled for Monday, Jan. 30, 2012, at 4 p.m. in the Medical Sciences Building auditorium on USA's main campus.

For more information, contact Dr. John Benjamin at johnbenjamin@usouthal.edu.

Free Flu Vaccine - Act Now!

It's your last chance to receive a free seasonal flu vaccine provided by USA Physicians Group!

The vaccine is available free of charge for USA employees, as well as family members covered by the USA Health & Dental Plan.

Flu vaccines are available at the Urgent Care clinic on USA's main campus. No appointments are necessary.

Follow this link to learn more - www.usahealthsystem.com/flushot.

USA Physician Named Chair of APPD Program Director School

From left to right: Dr. Franklin Trimm, professor and vice chair of pediatrics; Dr. Benjamin Petty, family medicine resident on pediatric inpatient rotation. 

Dr. Franklin Trimm, professor and vice chair of pediatrics at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, was recently selected as chair of the Association for Pediatric Program Directors’ (APPD) newly developed Program Director School.

Dr. Trimm, who has served as the residency program director for pediatrics at USA for 18 years, said the Program Director School will train both current and future program directors.

“In the past, serving as a residency program director was a stepping stone in one’s career,” he said. “Now, it is a role that is considered a long-term career choice because it takes time to learn all of the skills necessary. The skill set needed to be a pediatric residency program director is complex, and on-the-job training is the best way to learn.”

Including Dr. Trimm, seven program directors from around the country were selected to serve on the leadership council of the Program Director School.

“Helping others develop their abilities as an educator has been a part of my career for over 25 years,” Dr. Trimm said. “Being a leader of this national program is the perfect next step for my interests in medical education.”

As chair, Dr. Trimm will be responsible for establishing a curriculum and an evaluation program to ensure the program is accomplishing its goals. In addition, he will establish selection criteria for applicants, as well as a method to track the participants’ success in the future.

As the residency program director for pediatrics at USA, Dr. Trimm has helped develop and refine the core curriculum for residents. In addition, the program recently implemented a national policy that is intended to improved patient care.

“The policy limits the hours residents can work,” Dr. Trimm said. “This reduces errors by having more rested medical professionals. We must do our best effort at patient safety and the quality of residency education.”

Dr. Trimm said he will use his experiences at USA to inform others about the training process involved in being a successful program director.

“My hope is that I am able to inspire the next generation of program directors to become competent so future pediatricians trained in their programs can take care of children at the highest level possible,” he said. “It’s all about the patients.”