Whiddon COM celebrates Earth Day

Among the activities, the Earth Day Break event featured a plant potting station.

Students, faculty and staff of the Whiddon College of Medicine took a break on Earth Day, April 22, to engage in a host of creative activities with the message of sustainability.

Participants painted plant picks featuring USA's mascots.

Participants had the opportunity to pot seeds and plants, decorate plant picks featuring SouthPaw and Miss Pawla, pose in the photo booth, grab some snacks, recycle their plastic, and enjoy the fresh air. More than 120 people attended the Earth Day event.

The event planning committee comprised Marcina Lang, MPA; Alani Rodgers, M.Ed.; Victoria Nadeau; William Nguyen; Rebecca Price; Kathy Harden; Paula Jefferson; medical student Heather Lien Inman; and Ph.D. student Oluwagbenro Adesunloro. 

View more photos from the event.

Register now: Reunion Weekend set for June 13-15

The USA Medical Alumni Association will host Reunion Weekend June 13-15 at The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama. 

Join the MAA at the beach for a weekend of connection, continuing education, and celebration. They're welcoming all Whiddon College of Medicine alumni, with special recognition for reunion classes ending in 0 and 5. 

Enjoy CME sessions, reconnect with classmates, and help honor this year’s USA Medical Alumni & Leadership Awards recipients at one of the MAA's signature medical alumni traditions on the coast.

Register today: southalabama.edu/colleges/com/alumni/medicalreunion

Office of Accreditation and Planning retreat highlights individual strengths and collaboration

From left, Tim Gilbert, Ed.D.; Russ Cantrell, MSCIS, MBA; Wendy Wheeler; Julie Estis, Ph.D., CCC-SLP; Melisa Pierce, Ed.D.; David S. Williams, Ph.D.; and Angie O’Neal, M.Ed.

The Whiddon College of Medicine Office of Accreditation and Planning recently held an off-campus retreat focused on deepening collaboration, understanding team dynamics, and mapping out next steps in their commitment to excellence.

Facilitated by Julie Estis, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, interim associate vice president of institutional effectiveness and executive director of academic enhancement, the session guided the team through meaningful self-reflection and group discussion. Estis, who brings extensive experience in accreditation, QEP leadership, and student learning strategy, led the team in applying the Patrick Lencioni's Working Genius model to uncover how each member contributes to the arc of a successful project — from idea to execution.

The Working Genius model is a team-based productivity framework that identifies individual strengths across six key areas: wonder, invention, discernment, galvanizing, enablement, and tenacity. By understanding which types of work energize us — and which tend to drain us — the team explored how we can work more effectively together, reduce burnout, and increase impact across the college.

“It was inspiring to facilitate this retreat with the Office of Accreditation and Planning and witness the team's commitment to understanding their strengths and exploring how to leverage them to advance their organizational mission,” Estis said. “Through thoughtful dialogue and collaborative activities, they explored critical questions and engaged in effective planning processes. Their enthusiasm and dedication set the stage for continued excellence across the college.” 

In addition to team building and strengths exploration, the retreat served as a launch point for advancing department-wide initiatives, aligning key goals and responsibilities related to their core work in student support, accreditation, assessment, planning, data governance, and service.

As part of this planning process, the team also began refining short- and long-term goals tied to LCME site visit success in October 2026, reaffirming the department’s role in leading quality improvement and supporting a culture of excellence at the Whiddon College of Medicine.

The retreat reinforced the department’s guiding statement: “We exist to guide data-driven quality improvement for excellence in medical education.”

By leaning into individual strengths and team synergy, the Office of Accreditation and Planning is more equipped than ever to lead strategic initiatives that serve students, support faculty, and elevate institutional outcomes.

Whiddon COM faculty, alumni recognized at MASA annual session

The Medical Association of the State of Alabama (MASA) recognized alumni and faculty of the Whiddon College of Medicine at a special awards presentation during its annual session, recently held in Orange Beach.

Steven P. Furr, M.D.

Steven P. Furr, M.D., an alumnus and trustee of the University of South Alabama and a 1981 graduate of the Whiddon College of Medicine, received the William Jeff Terry Award, presented to a physician member of MASA in recognition of a medical career that has encompassed not only high ethical and professional standards but also outstanding leadership and advocacy. The award honors the memory of Terry, a former MASA president and chairman of Alabama's American Medical Association delegation at the time of his death in 2015. 

Furr is an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the Whiddon College of Medicine and was a recipient of the 50 People of Influence Award during the college’s 50th anniversary. 

Jennifer Young Pierce, M.D., MPH

Gynecologic oncologist Jennifer Young Pierce, M.D., MPH, received the Howard L. Holley Award, presented to an Alabama physician who has made a significant contribution to the understanding and appreciation of medicine through non-technical published or broadcast works. The award is named for the late author of “A History of Medicine in Alabama.”

Recognized for her work as host of The Cancering Show podcast, Pierce is a professor of interdisciplinary clinical oncology, director of the Division of Cancer Control and Prevention at the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute, and director of the Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program. 

Project Inspire, represented by its founders Antwan Hogue, M.D., and Ashley Williams Hogue, M.D., received the William Henry Sanders Award, presented to an outstanding person engaged in full-time public health work who has served above and beyond the call of duty. Created in 1966, the award honors Sanders, who served as Alabama's state health officer from 1896 to 1917.

Project Inspire is USA Health’s multi-week, hospital-based injury prevention program, which combines trauma center exposure, mentorship and career development. Hogue is a senior hospitalist, medical director of the Johnson Haynes Jr., M.D., Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, and an assistant professor of internal medicine. Williams Hogue is a trauma surgeon at University Hospital, director of the USA Center for Healthy Communities, and an assistant professor of surgery. 

“Receiving the William Henry Sanders Award for our work with Project Inspire is a reminder of how important each of our role is in making safer communities and a brighter future for our children,” said Hogue, who is also an alumnus of the Whiddon College of Medicine. “It not only makes me reflect on the lives that have been lost or impacted due to gun violence, but also gives me hope that our mission is not in vain as we focus on the lives we fight to protect.”

USA Health represented at national cardiology session

From left, USA Health cardiology fellows Celestine Odigwe, M.D., Sanchitha Honganur, M.D., Mohammad As Sayiadeh, M.D., Alexis Parks, M.D., and Brent Ruiz, M.D.

Five USA Health cardiology fellows and a second-year internal medicine resident recently attended the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2025 Scientific Session in Chicago. 

Brent Ruiz, M.D., Celestine Odigwe, M.D., Alexis Parks, M.D., Sanchitha Honganur, M.D., and Mohammad As Sayiadeh, M.D., all cardiology fellows, and internal medicine resident Usama Oguz, M.D., had the opportunity to present their original research and share some of their compelling clinical cases.  

“It was an amazing experience getting to present our research and engage with thought leaders in the field of cardiology,” Odigwe said. 

Usama Oguz, M.D., internal medicine resident

As reigning champions, Odigwe and Ruiz also represented the Alabama ACC chapter in the FIT Jeopardy competition, where they demonstrated impressive clinical knowledge and teamwork on a national stage. As the winning Alabama chapter team, USA Health sent two fellows in training (FIT) to compete at the national level.   

“Representing Alabama in FIT Jeopardy competition was a highlight,” Ruiz said. “It was challenging, fun, and a great way to bond with fellow fellows-in-training.” 

The conference serves as a platform for sharing groundbreaking research and an invaluable experience for professional growth. Opportunities there range from learning from cutting-edge clinical trial data to connecting with colleagues and mentors from across the country and around the world. 

“This conference not only gave us a stage to present our work,” Parks said, “but also exposed us to the latest clinical advancements that will shape the future of cardiology.” 

The American College of Cardiology, the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, and its more than 60,000 members worldwide, are dedicated to transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health. The organization provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions. It is devoted to optimizing cardiovascular care and outcomes through science, knowledge and innovation.