Medical students collecting clothes for Penelope’s Closet

Often, when someone escapes an abusive relationship and finds refuge at a shelter, they only have the clothes on their back and the shoes on their feet.  

To help provide necessities for those who find themselves in such situations, students from the Whiddon College of Medicine in the Jags Against Trafficking group are collecting clothing and footwear for children, women and men to donate to Penelope’s Closet, a local thrift store that funds Penelope House in Mobile. 

Penelope House helps victims of partner violence gain social and economic independence through shelter, counseling, advocacy, and referral to community resources and agencies in Mobile, Washington, Choctaw and Clarke counties in Alabama. The shelter can provide refuge for victims and their children when their lives are in imminent danger.  

Students Tara Hicks and AK Porter, members of Jags Against Trafficking group, are leading the clothing drive that runs through Monday, March 3.  

Drop-off bins are located in: 

• The medical student lounge at the Whiddon College of Medicine 
• The first student room at Mastin on the campus of University Hospital 
• The OB student workroom in CWEB on the Children’s & Women’s Hospital campus 
• Office 1006 in CWEB  

For more information, contact Tara Hicks at tlh1523@jagmail.southalabama.edu or AK Porter at akp2121@jagmail.southalabama.edu.

Whiddon COM kicks off spring semester with staff retreat: 'Turning Disagreements into Dialogue'

Whiddon College of Medicine staff members participated in a retreat focused on navigating difficult conversations. 

The Whiddon College of Medicine Office of Student Affairs, led by Associate Dean Kelly Roveda, M.D., and Assistant Dean Laventrice Ridgeway, Ed.D., started the new year with an engaging and insightful staff retreat focused on enhancing communication and collaboration. The retreat provided a dynamic learning experience for the team, featuring a special presentation on “Turning Disagreements into Dialogue,” a primer on Crucial Conversations. 

Crucial Conversations presenters Tiqueria Hall, Ph.D., MPA, education and training program manager in the Office of Health Advancement, and Marcina Lang, MPA, senior manager of COM support services, guided the staff through a two-hour interactive session designed to equip them with essential skills for navigating difficult conversations. The workshop emphasized strategies to transform disagreements into constructive dialogue, fostering a more open and effective communication environment within the Student Affairs department.

The retreat, held on a Friday morning, set a positive tone for the year ahead by encouraging staff members to engage in meaningful discussions through situational topics relevant to their daily interactions. By applying the basic tools discussed, the team explored ways to address conflicts with clarity, respect, and mutual understanding.

The Whiddon COM Student Affairs staff expressed their enthusiasm for the retreat's success, highlighting the importance of continuous professional development in strengthening teamwork and enhancing student support services. 

For those interested in a staff retreat focused on “Turning Disagreements into Dialogue: A Crucial Conversations Primer,” contact Amanda Arnold, education and training specialist in the Office of Faculty Affairs and Faculty Development, at akarnold@southalabama.edu. 

For any other staff retreat questions, contact Marcina Lang at marcinalang@southalabama.edu.

Lang promoted to senior manager of COM support services

Marcina Lang, MPA

Marcina Lang, MPA, was recently promoted to senior manager of COM support services at the Whiddon College of Medicine. 

In her new role, she will continue her efforts as a liaison for the Dean's Office, both within the College of Medicine and across the university. She will also take on additional special projects and events while placing a stronger focus on staff professional development and engagement.

“Marcina’s dedication and enthusiasm for her work are evident in everything she does,” said Maya Mirzoeva, MBA, associate dean of finance and administration at the Whiddon College of Medicine. “She is deeply passionate about the college's mission and consistently goes above and beyond to support both the institution and its employees. Her ability to manage complex tasks, lead initiatives, and collaborate effectively with colleagues and leadership has been invaluable.”

Lang, who joined the University of South Alabama in 2010, said, “It is very rewarding and brings great joy facilitating meaningful interactions, creating solutions that enhance the work experience, and ensuring seamless operations that support our faculty, staff and students.”

“I am thankful to God for blessing me with such amazing colleagues in the College of Medicine and across the university,” she added.

Lang earned a bachelor's degree in accounting and a Master of Public Administration from USA.

Register now for faculty development opportunities

The Whiddon College of Medicine Office of Faculty Affairs and Faculty Development, led by Emily Wilson, Ph.D., is dedicated to supporting faculty members in their academic research and professional growth. These ongoing programs are designed to help faculty grow as educators, researchers, and leaders in academic medicine: 

Nuts and Bolts: Research Development Series
This series is a collaborative effort between the Offices of Faculty Affairs and Faculty Development and Research. It is designed to provide researchers at all career stages with essential guidance on crafting successful grant applications. Topics covered include understanding funding agencies, developing a biosketch, structuring an R01 proposal, budgeting, writing the Specific Aims page, biostatistics, the NIH review process, clinical trials, research compliance, and more. 

Sessions are held every other Wednesday from 4 to 5 p.m. via Zoom. Register here: southalabama.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMsdu-grzktG9y8pzCXgf-TMVI7ZBrHfP

Faculty Development Grand Rounds
Grand Rounds is a monthly summit that brings together educators and experts to discuss key topics in academic medicine. Covering a range of subjects, including innovative teaching strategies, effective mentorship, medical education scholarship, leadership in academic medicine, and faculty wellness, these sessions provide valuable professional development opportunities. 

Sessions are held on the second Friday of each month at noon via Zoom. Register here: southalabama.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJckf-GgrDspHNIKtkylYmIu8VVHrtNd8CsO

Al-Mehdi recognized by USMLE for service

The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), administered by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), recently recognized Abu-Bakr Al-Mehdi, M.D., Ph.D., for more than a decade of service to the program. 

Al-Mehdi is a professor of medical education and pharmacology at the Whiddon College of Medicine. He also serves as assistant dean of assessment and evaluation at the college and is the executive chief proctor of the USMLE Step exams.

He has been volunteering for both NBME activities and the USMLE program since 2014 and currently serves as a member of the USMLE Pharmacological Advertisements Test Material Development Committee.  

“Volunteering for the USMLE program requires great depth of knowledge of foundational science, disease pathogenesis, illness scripts, mechanisms of drug actions, diagnostic reasoning, verbal and nonverbal communication, and psychometrics, just to name a few,” Al-Mehdi said. “As a scientist, it gives me deep satisfaction to be part of this great intellectual and scientific endeavor that only happens under the umbrella of the USMLE program successfully, year after year. The USMLE program has become the de-facto standard for quality control of medical education all over the world.”

Accompanied by a graphic of Al-Mehdi, the USMLE posted on its social media accounts: “Behind the scenes of the #USMLE program is a group of dedicated volunteers. The expertise and dedication of these individuals make it possible for the USMLE program to continue to serve medical boards, the #MedEd community, physicians and patients.” 

Al-Mehdi received his M.D. and Ph.D. from the Crimea Medical Institute, Ukraine, before practicing as a general surgeon in Bangladesh and Ukraine. He joined the faculty of the Whiddon College of Medicine in 2002.