Next Week's DSS - Dr. Nipun Merchant

The next Distinguished Scientist Seminar at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine will feature Dr. Nipun B. Merchant, professor of surgery and cancer biology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and director of the Vanderbilt Pancreas Center.

The lecture, titled “Overcoming Therapeutic Resistance in Pancreas Cancer,” will take place Jan. 17, 2013, at 4 p.m. in the USA Medical Center’s 2nd floor conference room.

Dr. Merchant earned his B.A. from New York University and his M.D. from State University of New York at Brooklyn.

Dr. Merchant completed his general surgery residency at Temple University Hospital and completed a fellowship in surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Dr. Merchant serves on the editorial board for Colorectal Cancer: Index & Reviews, and Journal of Surgical Research. He also serves as an ad hoc reviewer for several publications including: Journal of Biological Chemistry, Clinical Cancer Research, and Annals of Surgery.

Dr. Merchant’s primary research interests include the identification of molecular markers of colorectal cancer.

For more information on Dr. Merchant, click here.

COM Alum Weighs in on SB 3

University of South Alabama College of Medicine alum Dr. Pippa Abston (COM '93) recently wrote an opinion column featured on al.com. In her column she discusses the pending state bill and implications of its passage.

As a member of the board for the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Abston is an advocate for children's issues at the state level as a member of the board for the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

To read the full article, click here.

USA Knollwood Physicians Group Welcomes Dr. Thomas Leytham

Dr. Thomas J. Leytham recently joined the USA Knollwood Physicians Group, located at 3301 Knollwood Drive. Prior to his appointment at USA, Dr. Leytham practiced with the Health Texas Medical Group in San Antonio.

Dr. Leytham, who grew up in Mobile, graduated from Greystone Christian School.  He earned two bachelor’s degrees and his medical degree from the University of South Alabama. Dr. Leytham completed his residency in family practice at Eglin Regional USAF Hospital, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

From 1991-1997, Dr. Leytham served in the United States Air Force as a staff family physician at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio. He later served as assistant professor of clinical medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center, also in San Antonio.

In addition, Dr. Leytham has served as medical director of Gamboa Family Practice in San Antonio, Texas; clinic director of La Vernia Family Physicians in La Vernia, Texas; medical director of both Alamo City Medical Group East Side Clinic and Alamo City Medical Group La Vernia Clinic, both in San Antonio.

Dr. Leytham is a diplomat of the American Board of Family Practice. He has been included in Castle Connolly’s Top Doctors, Top Doctors of America, and Top Doctors in San Antonio.

Dr. Leytham is now accepting new patients. For appointments call (251) 660-5787.

USA Physicians Named Best Doctors

Twenty physicians affiliated with the University of South Alabama College of Medicine have been included in the 2013 Best Doctors in America database released this month. The following physicians were chosen for the list after extensive peer review by thousands of doctors:

• Jorge E. Alonso - Orthopaedic Surgery
• Susan Ashbee - Pediatrics
• Susan L. Baker - Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Errol Crook - Nephrology
• R. Michael Culpepper - Nephrology
• Jack A. DiPalma - Gastroenterology
• Donna Lynn Dyess - Surgery
• Karen Fagan – Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
• Richard P. Gonzalez - Surgery
• Johnson Haynes, Jr. - Pulmonary Medicine
• Jorge L. Herrera – Hepatology and Gastroenterology
• Shikha Khullar – Radiology and Nuclear Medicine
• David F. Lewis - Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Arnold Luterman - Surgery
• Paul Maertens - Pediatric Specialist
• Frederick N. Meyer - Hand Surgery
• Dean K. Naritoku - Neurology
• Albert W. Pearsall IV - Orthopaedic Surgery
• William O. Richards - Surgery
• John Alan VandeWaa - Infectious Disease

USA Physicians Group, the private practice of the academic physicians at the USA College of Medicine is the region’s largest multi-specialty practice and the only academic physicians group along the central Gulf Coast.

Best Doctors, Inc. is a database that uses peer review along with other criteria to determine the most qualified doctors in various fields of medicine. The database seeks physicians whose reputation and expertise put them in the top 5 percent of their specific specialty. To ensure impartiality, physicians cannot pay to be included in the database, nor are they paid for their participation.

USA College of Medicine Mourns Loss of Dr. Susan Gibson

A celebration of life service was held Dec. 30, 2012, honoring Dr. Susan Gibson, associate professor of comparative medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine who retired in 2011.

Dr. Gibson served at the University for more than 20 years.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, 2500 Summit Ave. Greensboro, NC 27405.

To view Dr. Gibson's obituary, click here.