USA Welcomes Dr. Stephen Bowden

Dr. Stephen E. Bowden recently was appointed assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and will serve as an emergency medicine physician at USA Medical Center.

Prior to joining USA, Dr. Bowden served as an emergency medicine physician and medical director of the emergency department at Providence Hospital. He has practiced emergency medicine for more than 30 years.

He earned his bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Auburn University and his medical degree from USA. He completed postgraduate training in surgery at USA Medical Center.

Dr. Bowden is board chairman and medical director of Mobile County EMS, a member of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine and board-certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine.

Basic Medical Sciences Graduate Program Student Receives Edwin R. Hughes Award

Barnita Haldar, a student in the basic medical sciences graduate program, poses with Dr. Samuel Strada, former dean of the USA College of Medicine, after she received the Edwin Hughes Memorial Award in Basic Medical Sciences for the Class of 2015-16.

Barnita Haldar, a second-year student in the University of South Alabama Basic Medical Sciences Graduate Program, recently received the annual Edwin R. Hughes Memorial Award. Dr. Samuel Strada, former dean of the USA College of Medicine, presented Haldar with the award on Aug. 11, 2016.

The award is named in memory of Edwin R. Hughes, who served as director of the Basic Medical Sciences Graduate Program at the USA College of Medicine from its inception in 1978 until 1990. The award recognizes the student with the best performance in the curriculum.

Halder is completing her graduate studies under the direction of Dr. Donna Cioffi, associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at USA.

Haldar earned her bachelor of medicine and surgery from Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital in India. She then earned her medical degree in biochemistry from R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in India.

USA Mourns Loss of Dr. Robert A. Kreisberg

Dr. Robert A. Kreisberg, former chair of the department of internal medicine, former dean and vice president for medical affairs at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, passed away on Aug. 21, 2016.

Dr. Kreisberg was born in 1934 in New York City. He received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Northwestern University in Chicago. He completed his internship in Northwestern’s health system, where he also completed his residency training in internal medicine. He then completed a two-year fellowship in endocrinology at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Prior to his first appointment at USA, Dr. Kreisberg was a faculty member at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) where he held many key positions including director of the division of medical education for the UAB department of internal medicine, professor of medicine and director of the Clinical Research Center.

Dr. Kreisberg had a long history as an important leader in the USA College of Medicine and USA Health. In 1973, as the USA College of Medicine was beginning its operation, Dr. Kreisberg joined the faculty as professor and founding chair of internal medicine, a position he held until 1987. From 1976 to 1980, he chaired internal medicine while also serving as dean of the medical school during an early reorganization of the college’s administrative structure.

“The appointment of Dr. Kreisberg brought great prominence to our school as he was considered a star in internal medicine and especially in the field of endocrinology,” said Dr. Samuel J. Strada, former dean of the USA College of Medicine. “He was also successful in recruiting a group of outstanding young faculty members who, together, helped shape the school and its educational programs for medical students and residents that has remained a strength of our college for over four decades.”

In 1987, Dr. Kreisberg returned to the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he served as professor and vice chairman of internal medicine until 1994, when he became director of the internal medicine residency program at Baptist Health Systems in Birmingham.

In 1999, Kreisberg returned to USA as associate vice president for clinical affairs, chief of staff for the USA Hospitals and chief executive officer for the Health Services Foundation. In 2000, he began his second stint as dean and vice president for medical affairs following the death of his friend, Dr. Charles M. Baugh. After retiring in 2006, he was appointed professor emeritus of internal medicine in honor of his many contributions to USA, the medical profession and the field of internal medicine.

Dr. Kreisberg was known as a gifted teacher, caring physician, committed mentor and nationally respected researcher and scholar in endocrinology. He was the recipient of numerous teaching awards including Best Clinical Instructor, Best Clinical Faculty Teacher, Best Clinical Senior Elective, an Excellence in Clinical Teaching Lifetime Award and the USA Medical Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award. He also received a Distinguished Teacher Award from the American College of Physicians and the Distinguished Physician Award from The Endocrine Society.

Dr. Kreisberg was a member of numerous professional organizations, such as the American Diabetes Association, Alpha Omega Alpha, Sigma Xi, The Endocrine Society, American College of Physicians, American Federation for Clinical Research, Southern Society for Clinical Investigation and American Society for Clinical Investigation. In addition, Dr. Kreisberg has served as principal investigator on a National Institutes of Health grant award.

Dr. Kreisberg also served on the editorial boards for The Annuals of Internal Medicine, The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, The American Journal of Medicine, The Endocrinologist, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism and Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism Yearbook. 

Dr. Kreisberg was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Leonora, and is survived by wife Ginger; children Howard Kreisberg (wife Elise, children Alexa and Jordan), Mark Kreisberg (wife Chinh, children Anna and Adan), David Kreisberg (daughter Grace), Michele Kreisberg Palmer (husband Marty), and John Kreisberg; Step-children Shannon Wilder (husband Thomas, children Ramsey, Thomas, Jr., Ginny and Olivia), Holly McKinney (children Mac and Charlie), and Christen McKinney; sister Maryce Cohen (husband Lewis, children Lauren and Rick).

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, at 6 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church located in Birmingham, Ala.  A second memorial service in Mobile will be scheduled at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Robert A. Kreisberg College of Medicine Endowment Fund, University of South Alabama Development Office, 300 Alumni Circle, Mobile Ala. 36688.

Winners of Clyde G. ‘Sid’ Huggins Medical Student Research Awards Announced

Pictured from left: Dr. Jon Simmons, associate professor of surgery at the USA College of Medicine and a trauma critical care surgeon at USA Medical Center; second-year medical student Jonathon Whitehead; Dr. Michael Chinkers, associate professor of pharmacology at the USA College of Medicine; second-year medical student Connor Kimbrell; and Dr. Mary Townsley, professor of physiology and cell biology. Whitehead and Kimbrell were awarded this year's Clyde G. 'Sid' Huggins Medical Student Research Award.

The University of South Alabama College of Medicine hosted its 43rd annual Medical Student Research Day on July 29, 2016. More than 40 student research projects were presented at the event.

The Clyde G. ‘Sid’ Huggins Medical Student Research Awards, honoring the memory of Dr. Huggins, were presented to Jonathon Whitehead and Connor Kimbrell. Dr. Huggins served as the first dean of students for USA’s College of Medicine.

Whitehead, a second-year medical student at USA, was recognized for the best oral presentation, titled “Burn-Wound Analysis in the Far Infrared.” Whitehead was sponsored by Dr. Jon Simmons, assistant professor of surgery at the USA College of Medicine and trauma surgeon in the division of trauma/critical care at USA, and Dr. Wiltz Wagner, professor of pharmacology at the USA College of Medicine.

Whitehead’s project helped him gain knowledge about the use of infrared thermal technology to assess second-degree burns. Not only could information learned during the course of this project increase the accuracy of diagnosing second-degree burns, but the technology also could potentially increase the speed of diagnosis, reduce the length of patient hospital stays and increase the quality of patient care in the future.

According to Whitehead, one of the most valuable elements of his research project was learning how to think critically from Dr. Wagner and Edward Crockett, a graduate student in the department of pharmacology at the USA College of Medicine.“In medical school, because of the huge amount of information you are required to remember every week, it is easy to fall into the trap of memorizing information instead of critically thinking,” Whitehead said. “Dr. Wagner and Ed continually challenged me to ask questions and delve into my creativity and instinct for the answers.”

Whitehead said Dr. Simmons also played a vital role, impacting the direction and progression of his project. “Dr. Simmons was the backbone of this project,” Whitehead said. “He was passionate about the practical use of the technology, and this passion radiated to the other surgeons in the field. His excitement fueled this project and opened the doors of possibility.”

Kimbrell, also a second-year medical student at USA, was recognized for the best poster presentation, titled “Depletion of Mitochondrial DNA: Impact on Mitochondrial Volume Density, Bioenergetics, and CA2+ Signaling in Lung Microvascular Endothelium.” Kimbrell was sponsored by Dr. Mary Townsley, assistant dean for faculty affairs and professor of physiology at the USA College of Medicine, and Dr. Mikhail Alexeyev, assistant professor of cell biology and neuroscience at USA.

Kimbrell’s project examined mitochondrial depletion and the effect it has on cellular calcium movement. Kimbrell said his research is important because it is an attempt to better understand the role mitochondria play in regulating cellular calcium movement in relation to specific ion channels that are in turn related to specific physiological functions. “We were looking to see if disrupting mitochondria would cause signals indicative of calcium accumulation to spread further apart in cells,” he said.

Kimbrell said he is thankful for this research program, as it gave him the opportunity to better understand research problems and techniques, which will equip him in his future career. “I had a chance to network with different researchers and professionals, learn new lab methods and techniques, broaden my knowledge in general and refine my writing and presentation skills,” he said.

The regular interaction with professional mentors is considered one of the advantages of the 10-week program. “Dr. Townsley and Dr. Alexeyev served as constant sources of constructive criticism and guidance in performing experiments,” Kimbrell said. “They were invaluable sponsors to have, and it was an honor to be allowed their time and resources to explore this project with them,” Kimbrell said.

During the 10-week summer program, first- and second-year medical students participate in research projects with basic science and clinical faculty in the College of Medicine. Students present their research projects either orally or on poster at the culmination of the summer research program where they are judged by COM faculty on the presentations. Winners are given a plaque and a cash award of $100 each.

Click here to learn more about this year’s event.

USA Welcomes Dr. Osama Abdul-Rahim

Dr. Osama Abdul-Rahim recently was appointed assistant professor of radiology at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and will serve as an interventional radiologist with USA Physicians Group.

Dr. Abdul-Rahim earned his medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pa. He completed his residency training in diagnostic radiology at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pa., and a fellowship in interventional radiology at the University of Miami.

Dr. Abdul-Rahim is a member of the Society of Interventional Radiology and Syrian American Medical Society.