Born with a rare disease, Ocean Kelly is forging her own path
Providence: Proud of the past, excited to join the USA family
Whiddon College of Medicine looks to the next 50 years
Advanced care for menopause
On the cover: A month before her 3rd birthday, Ocean Kelly was diagnosed with Hurler Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder in which the body doesn’t produce an enzyme that breaks down cell waste.
USA Health ofcially welcomed Providence employees to the health system on Oct. 1, 2023.
Table of Contents
FEATURES
Caring for women in menopause 24
Jenny Webster reconnected with childhood friend and USA Health
OB-GYN Constance Dabezies, M.D., for menopause care.
Defying the odds
Born with a rare disease, Ocean Kelly is forging her own path.
‘The future is extremely bright’ Whiddon College of Medicine looks to next 50 years.
Proud of the past, excited to join the USA family
Founded in 1854, Providence Hospital brings a rich history to USA Health.
Outreach
Events Faces/Achievements USA Happenings
Top: The Whiddon College of Medicine Class of 2024 celebrated Match Day in March.
Bands competed at Doc Rock to raise funds for USA Health.
USA Health provided free sports physicals for local high school students.
USA scientists study the body’s innate immune response to infection.
Dear Friends:
In this issue, you will read about how we celebrated the rich, 50–year history of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine — and its bright future — of educating well–rounded researchers and competent, compassionate physicians. Whiddon, the frst president of the University of South Alabama, understood the need to train doctors who would feel called to practice in Alabama and care for its residents, particularly those in rural and underserved communities. We are proud to say the Whiddon College of Medicine continues to fulfll that mission as it matures and meets new milestones.
With the addition of Providence Hospital to the USA Health family, we have witnessed sincere excitement from staf members across our academic health system — and in the community — about our future together. As healthcare providers, we share a commitment to care for those in need. In this issue, we also share more of the history of Providence Hospital, from its founding in 1854 by the Daughters of Charity, a group from Maryland who originally came to Mobile to take care of children orphaned by yellow fever, to the way its staf rallied in recent years to care for those struck down by the pandemic. Compassionate care is something we strive for daily throughout our health system. Tat care extends to our employees as well. We are honored that USA Health was recognized as the “Best Local Company to Work For (Over 50 Employees)” in Lagniappe’s 2024 Nappie Awards.
We hope you enjoy this issue of USA Health magazine.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1 2024
USA HEALTH MAGAZINE
251 Cox Street, Suite 1015 Mobile, AL 36604 www.usahealthsystem.com
EXECUTIVE EDITORS
John V. Marymont, M.D., MBA
Owen Bailey, MSHA, FACHE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Marie Katz
MANAGING EDITOR
Lindsay Hughes
ART DIRECTOR
Amy Wilkins
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Casandra Andrews, Shelbey Ernest, Lindsay Hughes, Carol McPhail, Michelle Ryan
PHOTOGRAPHY
Bill Starling, Mike Kittrell
Owen Bailey, MSHA, FACHE
John V. Marymont, M.D., MBA Chief Executive Ofcer & Vice President for Medical Afairs Senior Associate Vice President Dean, Frederick P. Whiddon for Medical Afairs College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama
University Hospital selected for national program to fght nurse burnout
University Hospital is one of four healthcare sites in the nation chosen to participate in Stress First Aid, a three-year pilot program that utilizes a peer support framework to help nurses cope with stress.
Te pilot program is funded by a grant from the American Nurses Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the American Nurses Association, and the United Health Foundation.
“Our participation in this program will help give us the tools and resources to better support our caregivers who have been under incredible stress serving our community. As an organization, we are committed to improving the lives of those in our community and the lives of our caregivers,” said Shannon Scaturro, MSHA, MSN, chief operating ofcer for USA Health and assistant vice president for medical afairs.
Research shows nurses nationwide have faced unprecedented stress and burnout in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the foundation’s Pulse on the Nation’s Nurses Survey, conducted in November 2022, 64% of respondents said they felt stressed, 60% said they were frustrated, and 57% reported feeling exhausted.
Te pilot program is designed to identify and reduce stress reactions before they develop into lasting issues. First developed for the U.S. Navy, the peer support framework utilizes a scale — green, yellow, orange and red — to describe stress levels. It trains nurses to recognize the signs of stress injury in themselves and their colleagues and to respond with support and resources.
Te pilot program is unique in that it also emphasizes and validates the voices and needs of Millennial and Generation Z nurses as well as nurses of color to ensure their experiences are recognized and addressed. Lessons learned from the program will be incorporated into a national awareness campaign.
USA Health awarded $16 million grant to help address national physician shortage
Improving healthcare access remains a challenge, but a recently awarded grant aims to help USA Health and the University of South Alabama meet a growing need.
Allen Perkins, M.D., MPH, a family medicine physician, chief ambulatory medical ofcer and population health ofcer at USA Health, received a multi-year $16 million Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant to help grow the number of primary care physicians in states facing the highest projected shortages within the next two years.
Along with Covey College of Allied Health Professions, the USA Health Department of Family Medicine, and the USA Center for Healthy Communities, the latest training model is an expansion of the Primary Care Pathway program.
A new post-baccalaureate component takes students from historically underserved communities, Perkins said, and
prepares them for the rigors of medical school, so they will be more likely to succeed once admitted. Additional training in the Whiddon College of Medicine prepares students for practicing in underserved communities through partnerships with Franklin Primary Health Center and Accordia Health.
With the grant, an epidemiologist and biostatistician will be hired to help characterize the communities where the students are training and help focus the student outreach and impact, Perkins said.
“Tis grant is a vital steppingstone for identifying these students, supporting them in medical school, and keeping them focused on the care they are training to deliver,” said John V. Marymont, M.D., MBA, dean of the Whiddon College of Medicine and vice president for medical afairs. “Te idea is that after medical school these new physicians will complete residency training
and return to rural communities to provide much-needed care.”
For years, Perkins, also a professor of family medicine at the Whiddon College of Medicine, has championed reaching underserved communities through training primary care physicians and obtaining grants like this one.
“We’re proud Dr. Perkins and his team continue to aggressively seek ways to address and alleviate the health disparities that persist in our community and throughout the United States,” said Owen Bailey, MSHA, chief executive ofcer for USA Health and senior associate vice president for medical afairs. “We are extremely optimistic this project will be transformational for the Whiddon College of Medicine and rural communities in southwest Alabama served by our academic health system.”
Nurses' hands are blessed during Nurses Week.
Providence Hospital achieves national accreditation for bariatric surgery
Danuel Laan, M.D., center, and staf perform bariatric surgery at Providence Hospital.
Patients seeking surgical treatment for obesity and its related conditions have a high-quality choice for receiving care at USA Health Providence Bariatrics, which recently achieved national accreditation for meeting the highest standards for patient safety and quality.
Providence is now one of 11 facilities in Alabama to be accredited as a Comprehensive Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, a joint quality program of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
“Tis accreditation afrms our commitment to excellence in the care of patients sufering with obesity. We take our obligations to our patients seriously and never stop trying to be the best we can be,” said Danuel Laan, M.D., director of metabolic and bariatric surgery at Providence Hospital. “By partnering with the American College of Surgeons, we are able to access resources for our patients that we wouldn’t be able to if we didn’t go through this
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CWH launches program to improve maternal health equity
To improve maternal health equity among patients, Children’s & Women’s Hospital launched the use of new software known as AdaptX’s Obstetrics Advisor, in partnership with the Institute of Healthcare Improvement and with
support from Merck for Mothers. AdaptX’s AI-driven software allows clinical leaders to assess, improve and manage care for patients, using real-world data from electronic medical records. The goal is for clinicians to quickly diagnose hidden quality issues, including racial and language disparities.
rigorous accreditation. To us, the needs of the patients and the community will always come frst.”
To earn national accreditation, Providence Hospital met essential criteria for stafng, training, facility infrastructure and patient care pathways, ensuring its ability to support patients with obesity. It also participates in a national data registry that yields semiannual reports on the quality of its surgical outcomes and opportunities for quality improvement.
After applying, facilities undergo a site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon who reviews the center’s structure, processes and clinical outcomes data.
Te Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 93 million adults in the United States are afected by obesity. Te disease of obesity increases the risks of morbidity and mortality because of the diseases and conditions commonly associated with it, such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and cancer, among other health risks.
NICU joins international research group
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Children’s & Women’s Hospital has been selected to join an international research group called The Tiny Baby Collaborative. With a goal of improving outcomes for extremely premature infants, the collaborative is
composed of 25 hospitals spanning four countries that routinely resuscitate children born at 22 to 23 weeks’ gestation and have a track record of successful outcomes.
USA Health, Accordia Health enter partnership to expand healthcare delivery
USA Health and Accordia Health, a primary care division of AltaPointe Health, have established a partnership to further expand healthcare access to Gulf Coast residents.
Trough the partnership, USA Health family medicine providers practice under the umbrella of Accordia Health, which unites the common missions of both organizations and advances them through an integrated healthcare delivery model.
Accordia Health integrates primary care and behavioral healthcare with an emphasis on preventive services. Such comprehensive, holistic treatment enables early detection and intervention for mental health issues, which often intertwine with physical conditions.
Integrating care can also reduce mental health stigma and foster an environment
MCI researchers receive $30,000 to study ovarian cancer
The Mitchell Cancer Institute received $30,000 from the Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation to study ovarian cancer, the deadliest of the gynecologic cancers. Gynecologic oncologist Jennifer Scalici,
where patients feel comfortable discussing their emotional struggles and physical ailments.
“We are excited about this partnership in that it facilitates timely interventions, preventive measures, and health education, ultimately reducing the likelihood of severe illnesses and complications for all people,” said Tuerk Schlesinger, Accordia Health chief executive ofcer. “Collaboration is the catalyst for improved patient outcomes and addresses the multiple dimensions of health, leading to more efective and lasting results.”
For USA Health, the partnership will beneft more than patients.
“We will continue our mission to train family medicine residents and educate our College of Medicine students in the new clinic, which will expose our learners to an
M.D., director of the Gynecologic Oncology Research Lab at MCI, said the funds will be used to study how ovarian cancer develops. Kevin Lee, Ph.D., assistant professor of research at the MCI, is collaborating with Scalici on the project. “Ovarian cancer currently is very difcult to screen for, or identify, at
advanced model of healthcare delivery with an interprofessional team-based approach,” said Ehab Molokhia, M.D., professor and interim chair of family medicine.
Owen Bailey, MSHA, USA Health chief executive ofcer and senior associate vice president for medical afairs, recognized the value of the opportunity the partnership provides.
“Combining primary and behavioral healthcare is important because it acknowledges the inseparable link between physical and mental well-being,” he said, “and by combining the two, it will further enhance our ability to meet our patients’ needs.”
Julie Lucas, PA-C, a physician assistant in family medicine, cares for a patient in the clinic.
early stages; therefore, it’s really important to understand how it develops and what drives it,”
Scalici said. “This project can help us understand that process at a metabolic level, and perhaps predict response to treatment.”
Rare kidney auto-transplant performed at University Hospital University Hospital marked its second-ever renal auto-transplant, a rare surgery in which a patient’s kidney is removed and implanted in a diferent location in the body to restore function. Christopher Keel,
National women’s health collaboration seeks to save the lives of more new moms
D.O., chair of urology at the Whiddon College of Medicine, performed the procedure with Anil S. Paramesh, M.D., MBA, professor of surgery, urology and pediatrics at Tulane University School of Medicine, in August 2023. The patient had sufered from a narrowing of the ureter, which can lead to
kidney failure. Reimplanting the patient’s kidney near the bladder restored its function, while also eliminating the risk of organ rejection.
Spirit of Children gives more than $350,000 to hospital Children’s & Women’s Hospital received a $55,000 dona-
With a goal of providing the best care for all expectant and new mothers, the women’s services team at Children’s & Women’s Hospital was selected to join a national collaborative in 2023 to develop measures to decrease the chances that women will die following childbirth.
Led by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in partnership with Merck for Mothers, the project, Eliminating Inequities and Reducing Maternal Mortality and Morbidity, aimed to understand how to support changes to clinical and administrative processes that will lead to safer and more equitable postpartum care and support for all mothers.
In the U.S., Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
An interdisciplinary team at USA Health used special software to collect, synthesize and report back-routing data into an electronic medical record on care processes, stratifed by race and ethnicity. Te timely reports ofered the potential for hospital teams to enact high-impact changes in the postpartum period to eliminate inequities in care.
One intervention developed by the team is a series of three medical wristbands for new mothers reminding them and healthcare providers they are still “at risk” for up to 12 months after delivery. Te bracelets are meant to alert healthcare providers at any facility that the patient’s complaint may be obstetric-related.
State leaders took notice. As part of the Alabama Perinatal Quality Collaborative aim of reducing perinatal morbidity and mortality, a statewide pilot of the postpartum bracelet project began in 2024. Plans called for the pilot study to supply up to six facilities with bracelets to be given to patients who have just delivered, who have experienced severe maternal hypertension or preeclampsia, or who have experienced a pregnancy/infant loss.
Te goal of the pilot program is to determine whether the bracelets efectively assist frst responders and emergency departments in identifying and improving the response to postpartum-related complications.
tion from Spirit of Children to support its Mapp Child and Family Life Program. Spirit of Children marked a milestone in its ongoing support, surpassing $350,000 in total donations to the hospital. Each year, Spirit Halloween stores donate a portion of their sales through the Spirit of Children program
to support the child and family life program. The funds come from donations made by shoppers at Mobile-area andBaldwin-area Spirit Halloween locations and on SpiritHalloween.com.
A new mother wears a wristband to remind healthcare providers that she just delivered.
Mitchell Cancer Institute launches new radiation technology
Cancer patients treated with radiation are beneftting from new technology at the Mitchell Cancer Institute in Mobile. Te MCI has added the Elekta Versa HD, a $2.5 million medical linear accelerator that aims radiation at cancer cells while sparing the surrounding tissue.
Te new Versa HD and a similar machine at MCI’s Fairhope location are the only linear accelerators in operation in south Alabama made by the Swedish company Elekta. Te equipment is part of the MCI’s broader efort to implement the latest technology in radiation oncology.
“Tis technology allows for much greater accuracy, ease of setup, and shorter treatment times,” said Robert A. Gilbert, M.D., a radiation oncologist and assistant professor of clinical oncology at the MCI. “Tis makes treatment more accurate and more convenient for the patient.”
Using the Versa HD, the radiation oncology team can create a 3D digital sculpture detailing how doses of radiation will be delivered to a patient’s tumor. During treatment, the patient lies on a robotic table that can be adjusted using six-dimensional repositioning. Te Versa HD uses a surface-guided arm, can target very small tumors, and adjusts based on a patient’s breathing. Such precision helps to spare surrounding tissue and reduces side efects for patients.
“Utilization of this machine allows for optimization of the already comprehensive array of radiation therapy services we ofer at the MCI and enables us to continue to push the boundaries of what modern technology has to ofer,” said Adam Huddleston, M.D., radiation oncologist and assistant professor of interdisciplinary clinical oncology at the MCI.
University Hospital upgrades 230 patients beds
With a goal of continuously improving patient safety, University Hospital recently upgraded 230 of its beds — 3 for intensive care units and 177 for patients in medical and surgical units. Manufactured by Stryker, the beds were designed
to help reduce in-hospital patient falls at all acuity levels and improve nurse workfow efciencies and safety. Some of the beds no longer in use at University Hospital have been donated to the Mobile County Sherif’s Department to be utilized by patients at its facility.
Clinical trials test new therapies for melanoma
A recent clinical trial available at the Mitchell Cancer Institute found patients with avancedstage melanoma treated with immunotherapy before and after surgery fared better than those who received the standard of care – surgery followed
by immunotherapy. “This has been a practice-changing trial for folks with advanced but resectable melanoma,” said J. Harrison Howard, M.D., a surgical oncologist at the MCI.
“Usually, these patients have recurrence rates in the 40% to 60% range. Now we’re seeing a 20% to 30% recurrence for
Radiation therapist Michelle Dobbins prepares a patient for the Versa HD.
It’s a match! Class of 2024 celebrates residency placements
Te Class of 2024 entered the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine as a pandemic raged across the country and world.
On March 15, 74 members of the class gathered at the USA Mitchell Center for Match Day, the annual event in which future physicians across North America simultaneously learn where and in what specialties they will complete their residency training.
Supported by their families, faculty and staf, the students eagerly opened their envelopes and announced their matches before pinning their residency locations
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patients treated with neoadjuvant immunotherapy.”
Children’s & Women’s Hospital receives breastfeeding care award
For the fourth time, Children’s & Women’s Hospital received an International Board-Certifed Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
on a map. Te moment was climactic for a class whose early medical school milestones were marked by masks and social distancing.
Taylor Coe, of Birmingham, and Ben Yockers, of Daphne, met two weeks before medical school orientation. Te two bonded over their afnity for fshing, sports and Tai food.
“We soon became the best of friends and were inseparable,” Coe said of their relationship.
Recently married, the couple will spend the next fve years at Baylor University
care award in recognition of stafng professionals who hold the prestigious IBCLC certifcation and for providing a lactation program for breastfeeding families, among other achievements. The recognition means mothers who deliver at the hospital and choose to breastfeed have access to the
Medical Center in Dallas, where Coe matched in obstetrics and gynecology, and Yockers matched in general surgery.
“Te couples match process has defnitely been stressful,” Coe said, “but we are thankful to have had each other for support throughout the application and interview process.”
Tiara Dean took part in USA’s DREAM pipeline program during the summer of 2019, which she described as an invaluable experience that introduced her to a medical school environment.
She said the Whiddon College of
highest level of lactation support throughout their stay and after returning home.
Kangaroo care promotes parental bonding for NICU families
To recognize the importance of a parental bonding technique known as skin-to-skin contact,
36 families with infants in the neonatal intensive care unit at Children’s & Women’s Hospital spent time snuggling with their babies during Kangaroo Care Awareness Day. Research shows the benefts of kangaroo care for babies include a stable heart rate, improved oxygen saturation and respiratory
Ben Yockers and Taylor Coe participated in the match process as a couple. They matched at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.
Medicine’s mission aligned with her own values and aspirations. “After learning about the infated maternal mortality rate among African American women, my passion became an obsession,” she said. “I believe that through pursuing this career path, I am marrying my two loves of both medicine and social action.”
Dean matched in family medicine at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Jacksonville, Florida.
While most medical students go through the National Resident Matching Program and fnd out their matches on Match Day, students in the military and certain specialties learn their residency placements earlier.
Jelani Bender received an email from the U.S. Army last December with the news that he matched in emergency medicine at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University.
Growing up in Birmingham in a family with a strong military background, Bender always considered continuing his family’s history of service, as his father is a U.S. Army colonel. However, it was shadowing his mother, a nuclear medicine cardiologist, that sparked his passion for medicine.
“I am proud to follow in her footsteps as a physician while also honoring my father’s legacy as an Army ofcer,” he said.
Bender was drawn to the sense of community he felt when visiting the medical school. “Over the past four years, my professors, classmates and the entire college have become like family to me,” he said. “I am incredibly grateful and blessed for the opportunity to have started my medical journey at the Whiddon College of Medicine.”
Kimberly Waggener celebrated her early match in urology with her husband and
2024 Match Day Results
rate, reduced stress, plus increased milk production for the mother.
USA Health wins award for safety improvement
USA Health became one of eight healthcare organizations in the nation to
Jacksonville, Florida.
family. She had learned in February that she would train at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Te Madison, Alabama, native said she became interested in urology during her frst year in medical school.
“When I frst shadowed (USA Health urologist) Dr. Lorie Fleck, I fell completely in love with the specialty," Waggener said. "I valued the humility and trust between patients and their urologists when discussing sensitive topics, the emphasis on quality-of-life care, and the ability to use my hands to help others.”
Waggener chose the Whiddon College of Medicine in part because of the healthcare her family received from USA Health during challenging times. “When it came time to choose a medical school, I was confdent in the training I would receive and the type of doctor I could become,” she said. “I believe our students are trained exceptionally well, and I feel prepared to take this next step.”
Award for Serious Safety Event Rate Reduction from healthcare consultant Press
Ganey. To win, USA Health had to achieve a more than 70% reduction in the system-level serious safety event rate. USA Health also demonstrated correspond-
culture perception regarding comfort level of reporting and a healthy trend in safety event reporting.
50,413 national applicants COMPETED FOR 41,503 residency positions
74 USA medical students 21 states represented matched out of state 76% 24% matched in Alabama
placed in hospitals
Tiara Dean celebrates her match in family medicine at St. Vincent's Medical Center in
USA breaks ground on $200 million Whiddon College of Medicine building
“What a great day in the history of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine and the University of South Alabama,” John V. Marymont, M.D., MBA, joyfully announced at the groundbreaking ceremony for a new medical school building.
Following a yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of Whiddon College of Medicine, a crowd of medical students, faculty and staf, administrators, board members and elected ofcials gathered on a sunny December morning to commemorate the beginning of a new era for the
NEWS BRIEFS
Research targets role of MYB proteins in prostate cancer
Researchers at the Mitchell Cancer Institute are investigating the role of MYB proteins in prostate cancer aggressiveness and treatment resistance. They analyzed MYB expression in prostate tumor tissues across diferent grades and stages
medical school.
“Tis is an investment — an investment in the future of healthcare to meet the needs of Alabamians,” said Marymont, dean of the Whiddon College of Medicine and vice president for medical afairs. “And it’s an investment in the 160 frst- and second-year medical students you see here today and the groundbreaking research that will help cure diseases.”
Te $200 million facility, set to be completed in early 2027, will round out a medical education hub on campus that in-
from both black and white patients. The goal was to assess MYB’s potential in predicting cancer recurrence post-primary therapy. The research, led by Ajay Singh, Ph.D., aims to uncover the molecular reasons behind racial disparities in prostate cancer outcomes. Black men are more
USA leaders, local and state ofcials, and medical students break ground on the new building.
cludes the College of Nursing, the Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions, the Health Simulation Building and the Charles M. Baugh Biomedical Library. When the new building opens, more than 500,000 square feet of campus facilities will be dedicated to healthcare education and research.
“Tis facility will ofer our future students the most advanced learning and research opportunities anywhere in the country,” said USA President Jo Bonner. “It will transform medicine to the unique needs of our community while educating and training the next generation of providers.”
Te new Whiddon College of Medicine building will provide state-of-the-art laboratory spaces that will create fexibility and efciency for research today and in the future. It will also allow for expanding the class size of frst-year medical students from 80 to 100, with the capability of increasing to 120 in the future, at the same time the nation faces a projected shortage of healthcare providers.
“By national metrics, this medical school produces high-quality physicians that stay in the state,” Marymont said, “helping meet the needs in primary care as well as in rural and underserved areas at an afordable cost.”
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the Whiddon College of Medicine consistently ranks in the top tier nationally for graduates practicing in underserved areas.
likely to develop and die from the disease compared with white men. The study found that MYB expression correlates with increased aggressiveness in prostate cancer cells.
USA investigators awarded breast cancer research grants Four USA Health researchers were awarded grants from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama totaling $400,000 in 2023. Among the grant recipients are Simon Grelet, Ph.D., assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular
Room naming opportunities are available by contacting the Medical Afairs Development Ofce at 251-445-8423.
Key stakeholders have responded to help invest in the state’s healthcare. In one of his fnal acts as an Alabama U.S. senator, Richard Shelby set aside $60 million in federal appropriations for the new facility. Te USA Foundation contributed $30 million, while the State of Alabama has given $50 million in support of the project.
“Alabama proudly recognizes the value of the Whiddon College of Medicine, and by breaking ground on this state-of-the-art facility, we are further positioning one of our state’s premier institutions to connect our people with the care they need,” said Gov. Kay Ivey. “From larger cohorts to greater research capabilities, this new facility will take an already excellent program to the next level.”
Many others have also recognized the critical need to build a new College of Medicine. Te City of Mobile will give $10 million, and Mobile County has pledged $5 million. Te Alabama Power Foundation, Te Caring Foundation of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, the Bedsole Foundation, the Daniel Foundation, the Monte L. Moorer Foundation and others also have given transformational donations.
“Teir action shows that they understand the critical value an academic health system brings to its local community and throughout the state,” Bonner said.
biology; Santanu Dasgupta, Ph.D., assistant professor of pathology; Chandrani Sarkar, Ph.D., assistant professor of pathology; and Ajay Singh., Ph.D., professor of pathology. The highly competitive grants provide investigators with $100,000 in funding in a two-year period. The awards serve as seed
funding for early-stage studies, allowing researchers to generate data needed to attract national grants.
Mapp Family Campus wins beautifcation award USA Health’s Mapp Family Campus was honored with a beautifcation award from the
city of Fairhope Tree Committee during Arbor Day festivities. In presenting the award, the committee cited the campus’s unique architectural structure, planting landscape, and design. Fairhope-based Walcott Adams Verneuille Architecture served as the architectural frm for the project, while landscape
architect Joe Comer, with Espalier Landscape Architecture, was responsible for the design and plantings surrounding the campus. Larry Smith, with S.E. Civil Engineering & Surveying in Fairhope, provided civil engineering services.
Medical students take part in the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Whiddon College of Medicine building.
USA investigators identify potential biomarker for early pancreatic cancer diagnosis
Cancer researchers from the Mitchell Cancer Institute and the University of South Alabama have identifed TOMM22 protein as a potential biomarker for early detection and prognosis of pancreatic cancer.
“Pancreatic cancer is a very aggressive disease that spreads rapidly, and its early diagnosis is very challenging,” said Santanu
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Whiddon COM part of NIH grant to advance clinical and translational science
Through its afliation with the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama joins institutional partners across the Deep
Dasgupta, Ph.D., an assistant professor of pathology at the Whiddon College of Medicine and principal investigator of the project.
“Moreover, due to the lack of curative treatments at advanced stages, the survival of patients is short. Tus, we urgently need to fnd ways to detect pancreatic cancer early, along with a new line of treatment.”
South as part of collaborative eforts to advance clinical and translational science. The CCTS, based at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, has been awarded four grants, totaling $82 million over seven years, from the National Center for Advancing Translational Science, part of the National
Mitochondria play a crucial role in cellular functions, including metabolism and cell death. TOMM22, a protein involved in mitochondrial function, was found to be abundantly expressed in pancreatic cancer patients. When pancreatic cancer cells were engineered to express high levels of TOMM22, they became more aggressive. Blocking TOMM22 reduced the aggressiveness of cancer cells signifcantly, suggesting TOMM22 as a potential therapeutic target.
Te study also observed a signifcant increase in TOMM22 expression from pre-invasive to invasive pancreatic lesions, indicating its potential as a biomarker for prognosis. Tis increase in TOMM22 expression correlated with worse outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.
Te research team is now focused on developing drugs to target TOMM22, aiming to improve therapeutic outcomes for pancreatic cancer.
Te MCI study is the frst to unravel the role of the mitochondrial protein import system in promoting pancreatic cancer. “We have just begun to understand how cancer cells hijack this unique import machinery to achieve their benefts,” Dasgupta said. “A comprehensive characterization of this import pathway in various other cancers may lead to the development of better disease management strategies to ultimately improve the overall survival of cancer patients.”
Institutes of Health (NIH).
Cast art makes pediatric orthopaedics fun
Making the casting experience more kid-friendly was the impetus for Arts and Casts, a weekly event for USA Health’s Orthopaedic Surgery clinic. Patients can get artwork
painted on their casts, courtesy of volunteer artists. Among the options: marine creatures, fairy tale characters, space graphics, bugs and insects, dinosaurs, and other animals.
Santanu Dasgupta, Ph.D., is principal investigator of the project.
Scientists pursue breakthroughs in triple-negative breast cancer research
Researchers at the Mitchell Cancer Institute and the Whiddon College of Medicine are dedicated to advancing the early detection and treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive form of the disease lacking certain receptors targeted in conventional treatments.
Supported in part by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama, the work is a collaborative endeavor from the labs of Ajay Singh, Ph.D., leader of the Cancer Biology Program at the MCI and a professor of pathology at the Whiddon College of Medicine, and Santanu Dasgupta, Ph.D., a cancer researcher at the MCI and an assistant professor of pathology at the Whiddon College of Medicine. Postdoctoral researchers Kunwar Somesh Vikramdeo, Ph.D., and Shashi Anand, Ph.D., are lead authors of the study.
TNBC, accounting for 10% to 15% of breast cancers, grows and spreads rapidly, posing challenges for efective treatment. Tese cancers tend to be more common in
women younger than age 40 or who have a BRCA1 gene mutation. Black women also have a higher risk of developing TNBC.
In their recent eforts, they measured changes in mitochondrial DNA in tumors and circulating extracellular vesicles from women with a primary diagnosis of metastatic TNBC. Mitochondria play a role in fulflling the energy demand of the cells, and cancer cells often exhibit mutations in their mitochondrial DNA.
Te MCI study is the frst to catalog TNBC tumor-signature mitochondrial DNA mutations and trace them in circulating extracellular vesicles with high sensitivity. Tey found similarities in mutations between TNBC and pancreatic cancer, suggesting common drivers of tumorigenesis.
Te team found unique abundances of mitochondrial DNA and cardiolipin contents (an inner mitochondrial membrane lipid) in the extracellular vesicles of these TNBC patients.
“Tus, measuring tumor-signature mito-
chondrial DNA alterations in concert with cardiolipin contents in the circulating extracellular vesicles could be useful to formulate a minimally invasive method for early cancer detection and monitoring using a small amount of blood samples,” Anand said. Te researchers aim to secure funding and collect more patient samples to test their mitochondrial markers panel.
Novel blood test monitors MS disease activity
Neurologist William Kilgo, M.D., employed a frst-of-its-kind blood test to monitor disease activity patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a condition in which the immune system attacks nerve fbers’ protective covering, potentially disrupting communication between the brain and spinal cord.
While physical therapy and immune-suppressing medications can help, the Multiple Sclerosis Disease Activity (MSDA) test, developed by Octave Bioscience Inc., ofers new possibilities.
Traditionally, annual MRIs track MS progression, but the MSDA test, applicable more frequently, detects early signs of nervous system breakdown. It provides crucial insights into disease behavior, and can help determine treatment therapies, monitor stability or slow decline, evaluate new symptoms, and conduct routine surveillance.
Kilgo tested the MSDA on a diverse patient group, afrming its real-world viability.
“We found a high concordance between the MSDA test and clinical and radiographic
assessments of disease activity and noted a few prognostic case studies where the test showed a high score prior to subsequently identifed clinically evident disease activity,” he said. “Te test is a reliable indicator of objective disease activity, and we look forward to future studies on its capabilities.”
Kilgo said future research will include further investigation into how diferent patient populations experience the disease.
USA scientists develop new methodology to enhance study of cancer innervation
Simon Grelet, Ph.D., assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the Whiddon College of Medicine, is addressing challenges in cancer innervation research. Cancer innervation involves
the peripheral nervous system infltrating tumors, promoting tumor growth and poor patient outcomes across various cancers. Grelet’s team developed a new methodology that facilitated a breakthrough in understanding cancer biology. The CRISPR-based genetic reporter methodology allows
rapid analysis of millions of cells, enabling broader research into cancer innervation mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.
Pathologists present research on amyloidosis
Guillermo Herrera, M.D., professor and chair of pathol-
ogy at the Whiddon College of Medicine, and Luis del Pozo-Yauner, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of pathology, recently presented their research on amyloidosis to international experts in the feld. Amyloidosis is a condition in which abnormal proteins called amyloids build up in organs and tissues,
Kunwar Somesh Vikramdeo, Ph.D., and Shashi Anand, Ph.D., are lead authors of the study.
USA awarded grant for biotechnology research center
Te University of South Alabama and Jonathan Rayner, Ph.D., an associate professor of microbiology and immunology at the Whiddon College of Medicine, were selected as the inaugural designees of the Innovate Alabama Network, a new resource to connect and foster innovation across communities, nonprofts, and higher education institutions statewide.
Rayner received a $125,000 award to support the establishment of the South Alabama Biotechnology Research Center (SABRC).
“Mobile has the potential to serve as the biotechnology hub for the Alabama Gulf
Coast,” Rayner said. “Tis award will go a long way in making sure that happens.”
Innovate Alabama is Alabama’s frst statewide public-private partnership focused on entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation with a mission to help innovators grow roots here in Alabama.
Aligned with USA’s mission, the SABRC will advance innovative technologies to enhance human health locally and globally while ofering learning opportunities to equip the workforce with skills for translational research and product development. Its primary goal is to position USA as the premier biotechnology research and
development hub on the Gulf Coast, ofering contract research services to government, industry, and academic partners.
Using existing university facilities, the SABRC plans to set itself apart by focusing on arthropod-borne infectious diseases. Researchers will explore co-administering mosquito salivary gland components with the challenge virus to mimic natural transmission and disease progression accurately.
Tis research will enable other biotech programs and companies to use the foundational work and laboratories to grow biotech enterprises in the region.
USA awarded $1.43 million, selected as clinical site for dementia study
Te University of South Alabama has been selected as a clinical site for a national research study on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias — Diverse Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia, or Diverse VCID.
Te National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health, has commissioned a scientifc team to design and implement a six-year study of 2,250 Americans from diverse backgrounds in order to understand the role that cerebrovascular disease plays in developing dementia. UC Davis Health, along with UTHealth Houston, is leading the study.
USA was awarded $1.43 million in funding over a four-year period to serve as a clinical site for the Diverse VCID study. Te award is part of a $53.6 million grant from the NINDS
NEWS BRIEFS
disrupting their function. This phenomenon is shared by a growing list of diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, Type 2 diabetes, and light chain-derived (AL) amyloidosis. Herrera presented a talk on the SORL1 receptor, which was identifed in his lab a few years ago.
to UC Davis.
Amy R. Nelson, Ph.D., assistant professor of physiology and cell biology at the Whiddon College of Medicine, is principal investigator of the subcontracted research at the University of South Alabama.
“Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are truly devastating for patients and their caregivers,” Nelson said. “Alabama has the third highest mortality rate due to Alzheimer’s disease in the country. Te disease is becoming more prevalent because our aging population is growing, with an estimated 12.7 million Americans predicted to face this disease by 2050 if new medical breakthroughs to prevent or cure the disease are not discovered.”
“Black and Hispanic individuals have a higher prevalence of both vascular diseases and Alzheimer’s disease,” she added. “Our
SORL1 plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis and progression of renal AL amyloidosis.
University Hospital recognized for commitment to high-quality
stroke care
University Hospital earned three of the American Heart
goal is to understand the links between damage to blood vessels in the brain and memory loss in our local diverse community.”
Te researchers are recruiting participants between the ages of 65 and 90 who have noticed changes in their memory or thinking but have not been diagnosed with dementia or experienced a stroke.
As part of the study, participants will visit the research center site two to three times a year for three years; complete a memory questionnaire; and receive a medical exam, brain MRI and blood draw. Te MRI and testing will be performed at USA Health University Hospital and the Strada Patient Care Center.
To participate in the study, email dvcid@southalabama.edu, or call 251-460-6834.
Association/American Stroke Association awards designed to recognize excellence in stroke care that translates to improved outcomes for patients at the hospital’s Comprehensive Stroke Center. The American Heart Association’s GoldPlus Get With The Guidelines – Stroke quality
achievement award recognizes University Hospital for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.
USA scientists study body’s innate immune response to infection
Better understanding the complexities of how the human body protects itself against infection is one goal of research being conducted at the Whiddon College of Medicine. Te National Institutes of Health awarded a two-year, $423,500 grant to USA scientists to conduct research on the amyloid precursor protein and its role in activating neutrophils to protect against bacterial infections.
Principal investigators for the research are Jonathon P. Audia, Ph.D., a professor of microbiology and immunology; and Robert A. Barrington, Ph.D., an associate professor of microbiology and immunology.
Te amyloid precursor protein (APP) is best known for producing amyloid-beta, a key pathogenic molecule implicated in the development of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. However,
there have been few studies on the normal biological functions of APP, noted Audia.
Recent evidence suggests the amyloid precursor protein functions as part of the innate immune response to infection. Audia and Barrington have made the exciting discovery that APP plays an important role in directing the neutrophils during bacterial pneumonia using their established model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced lung injury.
Additionally, this research has the potential to cast light on mechanisms underlying the long-term health problems faced by patients’ post-recovery from intensive care unit stays.
Jonathon Audia, Ph.D., and Robert Barrington, Ph.D., are principal investigators of the study.
Nurses: the heart of USA Health
From the bedside to the boardroom, USA Health employs more than 3,000 nurses — making up about 40% of our workforce, and spanning more than 40 locations including three hospitals, an academic cancer center, and dozens of medical practices in two states.
Baldwin County Surgery Center opens on Mapp Family Campus
USA Health celebrated the opening of the Baldwin County Surgery Center on the Mapp Family Campus in August 2023.
Te 8-acre complex, located at 21950 Alabama 181, is also home to a three-story medical ofce and imaging center where USA Health specialists and Baldwin Family Medicine providers began seeing patients in the fall of 2022.
“As the region’s only academic health system, we are excited to bring this surgery center — and the talented team working there — to Baldwin County,” said Owen Bailey, MSHA, chief executive ofcer of USA Health and senior associate vice president for medical afairs. “Tis much-needed facility will improve access to exceptional healthcare, and it will bring our specialists closer to the people of Baldwin County. We remain thankful to the Mapp family for their generosity and vision for expanding academic healthcare from Mobile to Baldwin County and beyond.”
Within the 24,000-square-foot ambulatory surgery center, which features six operating rooms and two spaces for procedures,
plans call for surgeons from USA Health and the community to utilize some of the most technologically advanced surgical equipment available. Surgical specialists in pediatrics, orthopaedics, urology, general surgery, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, podiatry, ear, nose and throat, and more will care for patients at the center.
Te Mapp Family Campus will become another vital location for educating and training the next generation of healthcare providers, ofcials said, noting the
additional site will assist USA Health and its academic physicians in alleviating some of the healthcare provider shortages our region and nation face.
Louis and Melinda Mapp donated the land where the complex is located, and the University of South Alabama named the campus in their honor. Te Mapps are long-time supporters of USA Health and serve as volunteers at University Hospital and Children’s & Women’s Hospital.
New high-tech operating rooms unveiled at University Hospital
USA Health in November unveiled fve new, high-tech operating rooms as part of a signifcant expansion at University Hospital, home to the region’s only level 1 trauma center.
Te more than 15,000-square-foot expansion features four state-of-the-art operating rooms and a hybrid operating suite that incorporates advanced imaging to guide cardiovascular procedures and facilitate complex trauma surgeries. Te expansion also adds a 12-bed post-anesthesia care unit for patients recovering from surgery.
Te spacious new operating rooms feature the most advanced lighting systems and booms to integrate the latest equipment while also enhancing efciency and safety. Te rooms incorporate extra space for robotics used in minimally invasive surgery, radiology C-arms for orthopaedic surgery and advanced image-guidance
systems for neurosurgery. Tey also feature a laminar air fow ventilation system to improve air quality and help prevent infection.
“Our ambulatory footprint has grown signifcantly in the past several years. As a result, demand for surgical care has become an even greater need,” said Shannon Scaturro, MSHA, MSN, chief operating ofcer of USA Health and assistant vice president for medical afairs. “Tis expansion will help us meet that demand.”
Te hybrid operating suite incorporates a Philips Azurion advanced imaging system to allow surgeons to perform the most advanced cardiac, vascular and interventional radiology procedures. Te suite brings together cardiologists, radiologists, cardiac surgeons and vascular surgeons who use image-guided surgery to perform new procedures. In addition, trauma
surgeons will use the hybrid suite for complex trauma patients who need advanced surgical treatment.
Leaders cut the ribbon at the surgery center on the USA Health Mapp Family Campus.
A new state-of-the-art hybrid operating suite opened at University Hospital.
USA Health marks opening of west Mobile medical ofce building
USA Health celebrated in December the ofcial opening of the medical ofce building at its West Mobile campus, already the site of a freestanding emergency department and state-of-the-art imaging center.
Standing three-stories high, the building houses Mobile Diagnostic Center, and USA Health specialty care, including psychiatry, cardiology, and immunology services.
Mobile Diagnostic Center (MDC), a fxture in the area since 1982, comprises providers who focus on internal medicine, rheumatology, diabetes management, and lipidology. Twenty-three healthcare provid-
ers with MDC will record approximately 66,000 patient visits annually in the new facility.
Robert Israel, M.D., said the new medical building is a tangible demonstration of the positive impact USA Health is having on healthcare in the region. “With this as a new home for our practice, we are now able to provide care even more efciently to our patients in a single location that is convenient to them,” Israel said. “We are connecting them to the specialists they need, with the diagnostic equipment on the same campus for a true patient-centered experience.”
USA Health adds cardiovascular surgery practice
To expand surgical care for patients, USA Health has acquired Cardiovascular Associates, P.C., in midtown Mobile. Now known as USA Health Cardiovascular Surgery, the practice is home to three board-certifed cardiovascular surgeons who provide surgical procedures for patients with heart, lung, esophageal and vascular conditions:
• Michael Damrich, M.D.
• Dimitris Kyriazis, M.D.
• Carl Maltese, M.D.
The practice remains at 1901 Springhill Ave. To make an appointment, call 251-300-2240.
Geri Moulton Children’s Park rededicated
After months of work to enhance shaded sidewalks and a whimsical feature pond fanked by amphibious creatures, renovations are complete on Geri Moulton Children’s Park on USA Health’s campus in midtown Mobile.
A celebration under the oaks was held in late October to rededicate the park that spans from Springhill Avenue to Center Street at the entrance of Children’s & Women’s Hospital. Geri Moulton, wife of the late Gordon Moulton, the University of South Alabama’s second president, shared stories about the creation of the park, which opened in 2001.
Te park is flled with more than 50 life-size bronze sculptures depicting children, families and animals, providing a place of enjoyment for employees, patients and the community.
Geri Moulton speaks at the rededication ceremony.
Arlene Mitchell, USA trustee and chair pro tempore, speaks at the dedication of the Pediatric Emergency Center.
Pediatric Emergency Center opens at Children’s & Women’s Hospital
Tis spring, USA Health celebrated the opening of the newly expanded Pediatric Emergency Center at Children’s & Women’s Hospital. It is the only healthcare facility in the region ofering specialized care 24 hours a day to best meet the needs of sick and injured children, from newborns to age 18.
Te expansion more than doubled the size of the former emergency department from 9,000 square feet to nearly 19,000 square feet, and the facility expanded from 14 treatment areas to more than 30 areas, including 25 private treatment rooms.
At Children’s & Women’s Hospital, board-certifed pediatric emergency medicine physicians and pediatric nursing staf work together to ofer specialized, quality care. In recent years, USA Health has recorded about 40,000 patient visits a year to the pediatric emergency department.
“We anticipate that number will grow since moving into the new state-of-the-art facility,” said Owen Bailey, MSHA, chief executive ofcer of USA Health and senior associate vice president for medical afairs. “We are excited to increase access to the unmatched services we provide as we continue to meet the healthcare needs of
children and their families in the upper Gulf Coast region.”
Te new center provides more space for parents and caregivers to be with their children and ofers sensory strategies to help calm and support patients during their emergency visit. Te center also includes two behavioral health rooms and a private space dedicated to pediatric sexual assault patients.
“We understand that bringing a child or adolescent to the emergency department can be an overwhelming experience. Tat’s why we focus on ofering family-centered care to make sure patients and their caregivers receive the support they need,” said Deborah Browning, MSN, chief executive ofcer of Children’s & Women’s Hospital. “We also know that children are not little adults. Tey have unique physical and emotional needs. Tis new center was designed to better meet the needs of all children who come through our doors.”
In addition, child life specialists are on hand to help minimize patients’ anxieties and normalize the experience.
Additionally, social workers are available to connect children and their families with
community resources, provide crisis intervention, and collaborate with families and medical staf to ensure the highest level of care is provided.
“Te new Pediatric Emergency Center also strengthens the educational and training opportunities of future healthcare providers, including emergency medicine residents, medical students, nurses and nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other allied health professionals,” said John V. Marymont, M.D., MBA, vice president for medical afairs and dean of the Whiddon College of Medicine. “Now we have a leading-edge facility and equipment that matches our high-quality healthcare providers.”
Te cost of the renovation, construction and equipment was $19 million, with USA Health raising $14.2 million through donations and state appropriations.
Fairhope-based Walcott Adams Verneuille Architects was the architectural frm for the facility. MJ Harris Construction out of Birmingham was the general contractor for the project.
Tips for mindful eating
Make it a goal to eat real food.
Robert Israel, M.D., an internal medicine physician with USA Health and the director of the Integrative Health and Wellness program, ofers insight into eating better and living better.
Changing habits takes time and is one of those things we can all struggle with. But the good news is that it’s possible with a smart approach.
For example, let’s talk about food. How about trying to eat mindfully? What does that mean, and how can we do it? Let’s break it down.
Set a habit that’s specifc.
For me, a goal I have found relatively easy to keep is that I will only eat food. It sounds simple, but my defnition excludes food-like substances. Select a habit that you can clearly defne.
Set a habit that’s measurable.
Food has nutritional value in this defnition and does not contain preservatives and non-food chemicals. It also rarely comes through the window of your car, and it can’t be left under the seat for months and still look like it did when you got it. Tis way, I can measure what’s food and what isn’t.
Set a habit that’s attainable.
If none of the entrees seem appealing or healthy, consider building your own meal. Maybe two appetizers, an appetizer and a side, or a soup and salad are better options.
Set a habit that’s realistic.
Te more realistic the goal, the more successful you will be. Now, if there is a signifcant amount of added sugar or sugar-like things (high fructose corn syrup and other sugar substitutes), I leave it behind. Over time, I’ve come to not like how those things taste and make me feel, despite their being better for me. But that wasn’t always the case. Be realistic with the time it takes to change.
Set a habit that’s time bound.
Start with one thing at a time, then add another goal after a couple of months when you see how you feel. Maybe you start by reading labels and rejecting non-food stuf. Or maybe you choose to stop taking food through the window of your car. Just pick something, try it for two months, and build on it from there.
Healthy recipe to start your day
LeAnne Bolton, M.S., RDN, an oncology nutrition coordinator with USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute, shares simple and healthy recipes to start your day satisfed and energetic.
Frittatas are a fun, colorful and healthy breakfast option that also freeze beautifully. The base ingredients are standard refrigerator staples: eggs, cheese, veggies. I like frittatas because you can throw in whatever you have on hand.
1 ½ tablespoons feta cheese, ½ cup water crumbled 1 tablespoon oregano, fresh, 2 cups spinach, roughly chopped chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried) ½ red bell pepper, julienned
Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a mufn pan with nonstick spray.
2. Place a skillet over medium heat, and add butter and olive oil. Once the skillet is hot, saute onions for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently until onions are lightly browned.
3. Add the red bell peppers and saute for 1-2 minutes or until soft. Allow the mixture to cool slightly.
4. While the vegetables are cooking, crack the eggs into a medium mixing bowl. Whisk until well combined. Mix in the water, parmesan cheese, oregano, and spinach. Set aside.
5. Divide the onion and pepper mixture between the mufn tins. Using a ladle, pour the egg mixture into the mufn tins to ¾ of the way. Sprinkle the top of the egg mixture with feta cheese. Place the mufn tins into the oven and cook for about 20-25 minutes, until egg is frm.
6. Allow frittata to rest for 5 minutes. Then scoop the individual frittata mufns out onto a platter and serve.
Serving Tip: Once they’ve cooled, you can place them on a tray in the freezer until they are frozen. Once frozen, transfer them to an airtight bag or container. Frittatas stay good up to three months if frozen!
Reheating: For best results, allow the frittata to thaw for 4-8 hours in the refrigerator before reheating. Frittata can be reheated in an oven at 275 degrees for 20 minutes or on the stovetop on medium heat. Regardless of the method you choose, make sure the internal temperature is at least 165 degrees.
Jenny Webster searched for a doctor who specializes in menopause care for women. She found one in her childhood friend.
Caring for women in menopause
Nationally certifed in menopause care, USA Health’s Constance Dabezies, M.D., provides personalized treatment plans — and compassion — for her patients.
By Casandra Andrews
Mobile resident Jenny Webster spent more than a decade searching for a specialist who could help her successfully manage a health condition that included her liver’s inability to metabolize medication. And because a previous surgery contributed to the early onset of menopausal symptoms for her, she knew those symptoms, if left unchecked, could continue to negatively impact her quality of life.
With few physicians specializing in menopause care for women, Webster dedicated untold hours to fnding help, communicating with scientists and physicians across the United States and Europe, even traveling to see specialists in other states. One doctor in Atlanta asked to use her medical history and diagnosis for a case study, to which she readily agreed.
Despite the interest, she was left looking for someone to see for specialized care close to home.
She’s not alone. An estimated 2 million women reach menopause each year in the United States. Te onset of menopause is typically described as a point in time 12 months after a woman’s last menstrual cycle, according to the National Institute on Aging. Te years leading up to that point — when women may have changes in their monthly cycles, hot fashes, or other symptoms — are called the menopausal transition or perimenopause.
For many women, the menopausal transition often begins between ages 45 and 55. It typically lasts seven years but can be 14 years or even longer, research indicates.
As Webster’s search continued, her husband ran across an article he thought would be of interest. It featured Constance Collins Dabezies, M.D., a board-certifed OB-GYN who joined USA Health in 2022. At the time, Dabezies was one of only seven healthcare providers in Alabama to hold a NAMS Certifed Menopause Practitioner designa-
tion from the North American Menopause Society.
When he showed his wife the information, she could not believe her eyes. She was thrilled to see someone who specializes in menopause care was now practicing on the Alabama Gulf Coast. But she was even more delighted to discover that she knew the physician.
When they were growing up, their families spent countless summers together on Pensacola Beach, where Webster’s parents had a house. Webster even has a cookbook her mother put together that includes a photo of their parents and a recipe for barbecue shrimp.
Eager to reunite, she made an appointment. On the day of her visit, Webster packed the photo to share with Dabezies. Several decades had passed since they had seen each other, so Webster was prepared to reintroduce herself to the OB-GYN. “When I walked in, we both burst into tears,” she recalled.
Besides the photo, Webster brought in information about her medical history and the research she compiled. Dabezies was thrilled to reunite, she said, and extremely impressed with how much information Webster accumulated.
After catching up, and giving her medical history, Webster said she left the meeting feeling reassured and hopeful.
“She’s helping me,” Webster recently said of Dabezies. “She said, ‘We are in this together. I am willing to research with you and for you.’ She said, ‘I’m going to learn, and we will do this together.’ She has not let me down.”
In Alabama in 2024, fewer than a dozen healthcare providers — and only seven physicians — hold the Certifed Menopause Practitioner designation from the North American Menopause Society and accept new patients.
Dabezies’ father, Oliver H. Dabezies Jr., M.D., met Jenny Webster’s father, Frederick Richard Braden, M.D. while attending Tulane University Medical School in New Orleans. The families vacationed together for years at Pensacola Beach.
To earn the certifcation, a healthcare professional must meet the program’s criteria and pass an examination. Te certifcation indicates a special interest and competency in menopause.
In the past decade, clinical research and the understanding of the perimenopausal and menopausal transition has practically exploded, resulting in a variety of new treatments now available to women during a dynamic stage in their lives, she said.
Her practice focuses on women’s healthcare, including menopausal medicine, hormone consultations, gynecologic cancer prevention, and obstetrical care.
“I frmly believe she’s there for every patient,” Webster said. “It doesn’t matter who you are. She is willing to research, willing to go the extra mile. She wants to learn, and she wants to help make a diference in people’s lives.”
To make an appointment, call 251-415-1496.
Constance
Born with a rare disease, Ocean Kelly is forging her own path and choosing joy
By Casandra Andrews
Soon after she was born, Ocean Kelly developed chronic health issues: ear infections that wouldn’t end, sleep apnea, plus stifness in her joints.
Seeking answers, Ocean’s family took her to see a variety of physicians and specialists. Eventually, they came to USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital after X-rays at another practice revealed spinal abnormalities.
Before Ocean was sedated for an MRI, an anesthesiologist asked her mom, Star, about her daughter’s medical history. Unsure of how much she wanted to know, Star gave her a full rundown. After listening carefully, the anesthesiologist called of the MRI because she suspected Ocean was sufering from a rare disorder.
Genetic testing confrmed her suspicion.
Just a month before Ocean’s third birthday, the little girl was diagnosed with Hurler Syndrome, also known as mucopolysaccharidosis type I, or MPS for short. It’s a condition typically found in childhood in which the body doesn’t produce an enzyme that breaks down cell waste. It can cause a laundry list of debilitating health problems that can be fatal. Tere is no cure.
Te news left Star devastated. “I’m sitting there with Ocean’s dad, and we think she has scoliosis. When I asked what we should do, they told me to take her home and make her happy because the life expectancy is only 10 years.”
For more than seven years now, that’s exactly what they have done. “Ocean has reminded me to just keep living,” Star said. “She helped me process it and deal with it. We make the best of our lives. ... We always have the best day.”
While there is no cure for MPS, some children beneft from regular infusions. So, 52 times a year – nearly every Wednesday for more than six years – Ocean has received enzyme replacement therapy in a suite designed especially for kids at Children’s & Women’s Hospital.
Te little girl who loves solving math problems, cooking quesadillas, and belting out songs karaoke-style was selected as the hospital’s 2023 childhood champion for the Children’s Miracle Network. Her photo appeared in campaigns at local businesses including Costco and Publix.
“I’m here!” Ocean announced cheerfully on a recent morning, finging open the door to the center. Spotting a favorite nurse, she dashed across the room and leapt into her arms. After a hug, Ocean was of again to greet more staf members.
A few minutes later, after Ocean’s vital signs had been recorded, a serious but friendly dance battle broke out between the little girl and a longtime infusion buddy.
“We put on music, and the two of them go to town,” her mom said of how they pass some of the time during the six-hour infusions. “It’s such a relief when your child isn’t stressed out about who is accessing her medically.”
Ocean will continue the weekly infusions indefnitely, Star said, because treatment can prolong life expectancy and often alleviates some symptoms. Right now, there are fewer than 5,000 people in the United States who have the disease, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Te personalized care she receives at Children’s & Women’s helps ensure that Ocean
Through the Jag Pals program, Ocean Kelly had the opportunity to interact with South Alabama football players during their practice.
looks forward to the visits, Star said: “Tey have encouraged her to blossom. From the time she walks through the door of the infusion room until the time she leaves … she knows she is loved. Tey are excited to see her. Tey are interested in her. Tey let her know that as a person she is valued here, and that has been the best.”
Often, child life therapists from the Mapp Child and Family Life Program bring special guests to see Ocean and other patients. A few years back, during an infusion, she received a visit from actor Nicolas Cage, who came to the hospital when he was in Mobile to flm a movie.
More recently, Ocean and other patients have been visited by Senior Bowl players, Mardi Gras royals, and Buddy, a golden retriever therapy pup who dressed like a lovebug on Valentine’s Day to help deliver treats to patients. Pet therapy is one of the
ways the hospital’s child life specialists help ease fears through distraction therapy and other evidence-based strategies.
Cassie Etheredge, R.N., a nurse who works in the infusion suite, praises Ocean, now 10, for helping to smooth the way for younger patients who are nervous before a procedure.
“She is really helpful,” Etheredge said. “She has a port. So, when younger kids need a port placed, she will talk to them about how it’s not scary and doesn’t hurt. It’s amazing to watch her encourage other patients.”
Another place Ocean supports others is at the gym where her mom works as a ftness instructor. Ocean quickly became an honorary CrossFit coach at Trust Athletics, where she also takes classes for children. Videos on her mom’s Facebook page show her confdently walking through
the space in cute workout clothes, then later leaning in to let someone know they should pace themselves during a warmup.
Star made a strategic decision to share their lives on social media to ofer courage and comfort to parents on similar journeys.
“I wanted families with this diagnosis to see what we do,” she said. “We lead a happy life. Ocean is full of joy. Nothing can contain her. We just keep living and choose joy.”
Learn more about Ocean’s story.
‘THE FUTURE IS EXTREMELY BRIGHT’
WHIDDON COLLEGE OF MEDICINE LOOKS TO NEXT 50 YEARS
By Lindsay Hughes
Over the past year, the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine celebrated its rich, 50-year history of educating wellrounded researchers and competent, compassionate physicians.
Whiddon, the frst president of the University of South Alabama, saw a need to train doctors who ultimately would practice in Alabama and care for its citizens, particularly those in rural and underserved areas. Today, the Whiddon College of Medicine continues to fulfll the vision set forth by its namesake.
“Like any young institution, we’re maturing, we’re meeting milestones, we’re growing,” said John V. Marymont, M.D., MBA, dean of the Whiddon College of Medicine. “We have a great
reputation. We’re attracting the best students and the best researchers. Te future is extremely bright here.”
In the following pages, hear from leaders in student afairs and medical education on how the Whiddon College of Medicine is meeting the wide-ranging needs of today’s medical students and the rapidly changing healthcare needs of the population they will serve.
The Whiddon College of Medicine Class of 2024 comes together for the academic hooding ceremony at the Mitchell Center.
The ever-changing role of medical student afairs
Students are matriculating at the Whiddon College of Medicine with arguably more lived experiences than previous generations of learners.
“Burnout — which we have long recognized as a true phenomenon in physicians — is also taking a toll on our students in their roles as future physicians,” said Kelly Roveda, M.D., associate dean for student afairs. “In addition to the volume of material they must digest to meet the competencies of each year in medical school, the national trend is to ask these young people to give of their time through research endeavors, volunteerism and community engagement — all while trying to discern their vocational path and maintain overall holistic well-being.”
Consequently, student afairs professionals are charged with the enormous task of meeting a wide scope of needs.
“We are striving to grow our support services to include those which minister to the students’ whole person academically, emotionally, mentally and physically,” said Roveda.
Becky Smith, Ph.D., full-time health and wellness counselor, spearheads the collegewide wellness program, which hosts events throughout the academic year such as Art in Medicine, Honest Conversations, barbecues and crawfsh boils.
Under the leadership of Laventrice Ridgeway, Ed.D., assistant dean for student afairs, the college launched the MedJag Career Success Coaching Program in 2023. Te program provides students the opportunity to form a collaborative relationship with a trained coach to explore setting and achieving personal and professional goals outside of mentoring and advising.
Additionally, the Ofce of Student Afairs is expanding its outreach within the College of Medicine and into the University at large. Within the college, student afairs collaborates with the ofces of medical education, health advancement, and institutional and academic success in order to provide resources and referrals to best meet the needs of students. Within the University, student afairs is tapping into the expertise of career services and the Center for Academic Excellence to best equip the future physicians to develop the tools necessary to provide polished applications for residency positions.
Te Whiddon COM has also seen an expansion of student-run, faculty-assisted groups to provide outlets for students to pursue interests. Tese range from vocationally minded such as the clinical specialty interest groups, to culinary and lifestyle groups, to fnancial groups. A support group for young parents is on the horizon, Roveda said.
“Our goal in student afairs is not necessarily to lead our students on their journey,” she said, “but to walk side by side with them while they are with us.”
Carey Johnson, a native of Decatur, Georgia, led the Class of 2024 as president all four years of medical school.
In the fall of 2018, he worked as a research technician at the University of South Alabama for two years before starting medical school at the Whiddon College of Medicine.
As a frst-year medical student, Johnson was among the inaugural group selected as Primary Care Pathway Scholars. Te program’s goal is to increase the number of primary care physicians in underserved areas and improve the health of those populations.
Johnson describes medical school as both challenging and rewarding.
“One of the primary challenges for a medical student is fnding the right balance between their current life and this new demanding role,” he said. “Te world around us doesn’t halt just because we’re ‘too busy studying’ to tend to it. Many students have families of their own, hold secondary jobs, or care for sick loved ones at home in addition to being medical students.”
Te reward, he said, is seeing the impact of his actions every day.
“Te fourth year is when I witnessed the most signifcant change within myself and my abilities. Having the opportunity to pass on knowledge to the new third-years and collaborating with diferent healthcare professionals, I recognized the growth I had achieved over the previous three years.”
Johnson said the Whiddon COM has provided the Class of 2024 a comprehensive education that embodies cultural competency and the delivery of high-quality healthcare.
“I feel honored to have been a part of this institution,” he said, “and I eagerly anticipate the next generation of physicians the Whiddon COM will produce.”
Kelly Roveda, M.D., associate dean for student afairs
Carey Johnson, Class of 2024
T.J. Hundley, M.D., associate dean of medical education
The evolution of medical education at the Whiddon COM
More than a decade ago, the Whiddon College of Medicine reframed its educational objectives around six core competencies of medical practice endorsed by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Tey are patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice.
Te shift toward competency-based medical education (CBME) is a strategy to meet the rapidly changing healthcare needs of the population. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the goal of CBME is to ensure all learners achieve the desired patient-centered outcomes during their training.
T.J. Hundley, M.D., associate dean of medical education, said changes to the Whiddon COM’s curriculum included reducing lecture-based teaching, increasing the use of small-group teaching and simulation, and introducing clinical experiences earlier in students’ education.
“Tere are more health profession students than ever before, given the growth in medical schools, nursing, and allied health programs nationally,” said Hundley. “Tis has created an increased need for health systems to support learners, and the need for collaboration to ensure training programs and health systems can meet the needs of their students, their communities and the nation.”
In the next fve to 10 years, Hundley anticipates:
• Further prioritizing and enhancing small-group education and application of knowledge.
• Expanding clinical skills education and simulation.
• Increasing and expanding experiences in the clinical phase.
• Increasing individualized coaching and professional development.
• Developing structured transitions of learners from undergraduate medical education to graduate medical education.
• Further integration of technology in the classroom such as ultrasound, advanced simulation, virtual reality, augmented reality, and artifcial intelligence.
Cana Brown is a member of the Class of 2026 from Helena, Alabama. After graduating from South, she spent a gap year conducting research in the lab of Glen Borchert, Ph.D., a professor of pharmacology.
Once she entered the Whiddon College of Medicine, Brown quickly became involved in several organizations. She serves as treasurer of the Student-Run Free Clinic, social media chair for the Pediatrics Interest Group, a member of the Family Medicine Interest Group, and participates in Bible study with the Christian Medical Ministry of South Alabama.
“Our class is full of people with such rich backgrounds and difering personalities, yet we have such a community,” she said. “Our faculty members are also so kind and encouraging. You can truly tell how much every person here cares about your success and well-being.”
Last summer, Brown helped to facilitate a pre-orientation course for incoming frst-year students. Organized by the Ofce of Academic Success, the course was designed to help students achieve academic excellence in medical school.
Brown said one of the challenges medical students are facing is learning how to navigate the healthcare industry in a period of rapid growth and expansion, “but I don’t quite view this as a negative. With all the exciting innovations that are taking the medical feld by storm, there are so many learning opportunities.”
She added, “I believe with full confdence that the Whiddon College of Medicine is preparing my class to enter the medical feld with all the tools to succeed and be the best physicians we can be.”
Cana Brown, Class of 2026
Whiddon College of Medicine: the frst 50 years
May 3 | Te University of South Alabama is founded by an act of the Alabama Legislature.
June | USA opens its doors to the students of Mobile County and the state of Alabama.
November | Mobile General Hospital is transferred to the University.
August | A resolution of the Alabama Legislature supports establishment of a medical school under the auspices of the University of South Alabama.
Te City of Mobile and Mobile County commit $4.5 million to establish the USA College of Medicine.
and the American Medical Association send
Te Association of American Medical Colleges representatives to USA to assess the possibility of establishing a medical school there.
October 18 | Frederick P. Whiddon, Ph.D., is named the University’s frst president.
May | Robert M. Bucher, M.D., is named the frst dean of the College of Medicine.
Frederick P. Whiddon, Ph.D., the University’s frst president, formed a search committee to fnd a dean for the College of Medicine. Te committee included renowned physicians Alton Ochsner, M.D., Arthur Richardson, M.D., and Michael DeBakey, M.D. Tey selected Bucher, a thoracic surgeon, administrator at the National Institutes of Health, and former medical school dean at Temple University in Philadelphia. Bucher was tasked with rapidly recruiting basic sciences and clinical faculty. His success was evident when the frst class began in January 1973, more than a year ahead of expectations. By June 1976, the College of Medicine was accredited, with 20 students graduating.
Te Medical Sciences Building is completed as the home of the College of Medicine.
April | Mobile General Hospital is renamed the University of
September | Te University’s frst Ph.D. program – in Basic Medical Sciences – is initiated at the College of Medicine. South Alabama Medical Center.
January | Charter class of 25 students enters the College of Medicine.
August | USA acquires the former Providence Hospital to house programs of medicine, allied health, and nursing.
May | USA celebrates the 50th anniversary of the University’s founding and the 40th anniversary of the College of Medicine.
November | USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute is dedicated.
June | Te University acquires Doctors Hospital and Knollwood Park Hospital.
January | USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital is established.
April | John V. Marymont, M.D., MBA, appointed dean of the College of Medicine.
June | Te USA College of Medicine is renamed the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine.
November | USA announces plans to construct a new medical school on campus.
December | USA breaks ground on a new College of Medicine building.
August | USA Medical Center renamed USA Health University Hospital.
December | Gov. Kay Ivey cuts the ribbon on the Fanny Meisler Trauma Center at USA Health University Hospital.
October | Te University acquires Providence Hospital.
June | Alumni celebrate 50th anniversary of the Whiddon College of Medicine.
Watch the 50th anniversary video.
Proud of the past, excited to join the USA family
By Carol McPhail
sonia Smith was 22 when she took a job as a dietary aide at Providence Hospital, walking to work at the building bound by Springhill Avenue and Catherine Street.
“Tat’s where I met an extended family of loving people,” she said.
Fifty-six years later and at a diferent location, Smith is still with Providence, overseeing eight employees as the switchboard supervisor on the west Mobile campus. One of Providence’s biggest cheerleaders, she is also hopeful about what’s ahead for the hospital now under the USA Health umbrella. “Put two great things together, and it’s a plus,” she said.
Being part of the region’s only academic health system represents a new chapter in the long, storied history of Providence Hospital, founded in 1854 by the Daughters of Charity. Te Sisters from Emmitsburg, Maryland, originally came to Mobile to take care of children orphaned by yellow fever.
Providence and USA Health share a commitment to care for those who need it most, observers say, making the acquisition a natural ft for both entities.
“I have personally witnessed a great deal of excitement at both Providence and USA Health about our future together,” said Owen Bailey, MSHA, USA Health chief executive ofcer and senior associate vice president for medical afairs.
At a welcome celebration in 2023, the USA band, cheerleaders and mascot set a festive mood as Providence employees enjoyed burgers and hot dogs alongside their new colleagues at the Providence campus.
Jamey Greer, executive director of support services for Providence and health system safety ofcer, was on site directing her co-workers to the food stations. A graduate of the University of South Alabama, Greer said she feels a sense of pride in how the university and its health system have grown. She also praised the family atmosphere at Providence and the “get-itdone” attitude she has witnessed over the years.
Greer fondly recalled Providence’s move in 1987 from Springhill Avenue to a new, futuristic facility designed by renowned architect Bertrand Goldberg. Te move, she said, involved just about everyone on the organizational chart. Tere are other examples of the “get-it-done” attitude: the quick transformation of ICUs into negative pressure units during the COVID pandemic, and the physical labor required for the annual Festival of Flowers fundraiser.
“It doesn’t matter what challenge we’re faced with,”
she said. “Everyone jumps in and gets it done.”
Greer has also witnessed a sense of pride in joining USA. “People like being a part of something that appreciates you and something that’s local. South is a major university that has realized its full potential,” she said.
When the acquisition was completed in October, leaders including John V. Marymont, M.D., MBA, vice president for medical afairs and dean of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine, welcomed alumni “home” to the university’s health system. He said the addition of Providence would help USA Health expand its mission of education, research and service.
Ijaz M. Iqbal, M.D., chief medical ofcer at Providence, takes pride in the history and standing of Providence Hospital in the area. “Generations have worked here and have been patients here. It’s really an icon – not only in west Mobile, but all over the city,” he said.
Providence returned to its roots, in a way, when confronted with the pandemic, Iqbal said. Te hospital, which had played a role in the 1918 infuenza epidemic, collaborated with other health systems to meet the challenge presented by COVID.
“I really saw everybody coming together,” he said. “It was just about taking care of people.”
Tara Hunt, RN, served on the front lines as a new manager at Providence during COVID. She had spent the previous 22 years growing as a nurse at the hospital’s ICU, but nothing prepared her for what she faced in 2020.
She said managers and staf bonded by supporting each other during emotional moments and returning to the bedside to carry on. Tey helped organize an impromptu wedding involving a COVID patient, and they still stay in touch with some of the survivors.
Hunt describes the culture at Providence as family oriented. Many leaders started their careers there as new nurses and stayed. Chief Nursing Ofcer Katrina Brown was once a candy striper there. “Everybody has a voice,” she said. “In some organizations, you rarely see the leadership. Tat is not the way it is here; our leadership is present and hands-on.”
Hunt said she looks forward to collaborating with the other hospitals and being a part of a large academic health system. “I’m very excited about it, and about having the opportunity and resources to better serve our community,” she said.
Providence Hospital through the years
The beginning
In 1841, Mobile’s frst bishop, Michael Portier, asked members of the Daughters of Charity in Emmitsburg, Maryland, to come to Mobile to care for orphans who had lost parents to yellow fever. After the sisters were asked to leave City Hospital because of anti-Catholic bias, a group
1855-1901
St. Anthony and Broad streets
Two-and-a-half-story building on western edge of Mobile
1902-1950
Springhill Avenue at Catherine Street
Mediterranean Revival structure featuring the signature archway, which moved with the hospital each time it relocated
1952-1987
Springhill Avenue at Catherine Street
Modern building with air conditioning and fuorescent lighting
Airport Boulevard
High-rise designed by Chicago architect Bertrand Goldberg
Gifs to the Providence Foundation provide continuous support for advanced patient care and cutting-edge treatments. usahealthsystem.com/providence-foundation
USA Health named top fundraising group for Kidney Walk 2024
USA Health CEO Owen Bailey, MSHA, served as the 2024 honorary chair for the Mobile Kidney Walk & Celebration, in March. As community members and USA Health employees gathered for the event, Bailey announced this year’s initiative met and exceeded its goal of $200,000, raising more than $228,000.
All three USA Health hospitals and the system’s physician enterprise hosted teams for the walk. USA Health’s corporate sponsorship was credited with bringing in more than $46,000 for the annual event, according to Becki Connally, director of corporate and community partnerships for the Alabama Kidney Foundation.
Proceeds help south Alabama kidney patients in need through the Alabama Kidney Foundation’s Financial Assistance Program. Te program serves low-income dialysis patients by helping them with necessities such as utility bills, prescription medications, and transportation to and from dialysis treatments.
Car seat safety checks keep kids safe
During a car seat safety check this spring, instructors from Children’s & Women’s Hospital and colleagues from across the state inspected, removed, and then professionally installed dozens of seats for local parents.
Te free community outreach was held immediately following a training course at the hospital, led by parent educator Courtney Tomson, BSN-NIC, and members of USA Health’s nationally certifed car seat tech team. After the latest training, USA Health now has 33 employees who are
certifed to install car seats.
Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children in the United States. Research shows that some 46% of car seats are not used correctly. Using age-and size-appropriate car seats and installing them correctly are the best ways to reduce crash fatalities among children.
Team members from Children’s & Women’s Hospital and other divisions have been providing free car seat inspections to the public for more than a decade.
USA Health performs free sports physicals for students
More than 600 Mobile County public high school athletes and band members visited the USA Mitchell Center in June for free physicals provided by USA Health.
Sports medicine and family medicine physicians, orthopaedic surgeons, pediatricians, cardiologists, and other providers checked the students’ blood pressure, vision, heart, lungs, abdomen, ears, nose and throat. Tey evaluated posture, joints, strength and fexibility, and discussed any medical needs or concerns.
New this year were EKG screenings and hands-only CPR training ofered by physicians and community volunteers, including Heart For Athletes.
Area high schools now equipped with CPR training kits
Because most cardiac arrests happen in the home or public settings, being trained in CPR can save lives. But according to the American Heart Association (AHA), only half of bystanders are trained and willing to perform it. To help address this need, USA Health sponsors CPR training kits delivered to schools on behalf of the AHA.
Eric Lee, development director for the AHA’s Alabama Gulf Coast chapter, presented kits to two area high schools in May. “Satsuma High and Foley High now have the potential to train hundreds of students and faculty in hands-only bystander CPR and other frst aid techniques,” he said. “Trough the education and awareness of
physical resuscitation, USA Health is equipping witnesses with the ability to become lifesavers.”
Recently, the AHA upgraded its CPR in Schools Training Kit designed specifcally for schools’ needs. Te reusable kit allows students to practice on a manikin while watching videos of the skills performed correctly, a research-proven way to learn and retain lifesaving CPR skills. Te training kit also teaches choking relief and how to use an automated external defbrillator.
Lee added, “Trough this resource, USA Health’s support can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.”
USA nursing students check high school students’ blood pressure during their sports physicals.
A Night Honoring Healers recognized the remarkable stories of USA Health care team members in action as they provided exceptional, compassionate care to patients Joe Cabaniss and Ashley Emmons. Presented by the USA Foundation, the event was held Nov. 16, 2023, at the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center.
Doc Rock another huge success in its third year
Hundreds of music fans attended USA Health’s third annual Doc Rock fundraiser on March 21 at Soul Kitchen in downtown Mobile, where fve bands competed to raise money for research and critical patient needs at USA Health.
Thousands visit Festival of Flowers in downtown Mobile
Held March 7-10 in Cathedral Square, the award-winning Festival of Flowers celebrated 31 years in Mobile. Proceeds from the event, presented by the Providence Hospital Foundation, were used to purchase advanced EKG equipment for the USA Health Providence Cardiac Care Unit.
USA Health Faces
Browning appointed CEO of Children’s & Women’s Hospital
Deborah Browning, RN, MSN, was named chief executive ofcer of Children’s & Women’s Hospital. She previously served as chief nursing ofcer beginning in 2021 and then as interim hospital administrator. She has overseen renovation and expansion eforts of the only pediatric emergency center on the Alabama Gulf Coast, among other initiatives. Prior to joining USA Health, Browning served as chief nursing ofcer at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City.
Curtis named chief nursing ofcer of CWH
Vicki Curtis, RN, MSN, was named chief nursing ofcer of Children’s & Women’s Hospital. She joined USA Health in January 2021 as the nurse manager for labor and delivery, then moved into the role of director of women’s services, where she oversaw development of the new Mother/Baby Unit and Women’s Complex Care Unit, among other important initiatives.
Dadlani is new chair of pediatrics
Gul H. Dadlani, M.D., a leader in pediatric cardiology and an advocate for health pre-screenings for young athletes, was named professor and chair of the Department of Pediatrics. He previously served as vice chair of the Cardiac Center and chief of pediatric cardiology at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, Florida.
Fryman named chief nursing ofcer of University Hospital
Sherry Fryman, RN, MSHA, was named chief nursing ofcer of University Hospital. Her goals are for University Hospital to become a Top 100 Hospital and an A-rated hospital with Te Leapfrog Group, and to begin the journey to achieve the Pathway to Excellence designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Prior to her appointment at USA Health, Fryman served as chief nursing ofcer at Riverview Regional Medical Center in Gadsden, Alabama.
Pack-Mabien
Powers
Williams Hogue
Polite
Lakkis
Snow
Kahalley
Browning
Menger
Fryman
Whetstine
Hogue
Keel
Curtis
Seaman
Dadlani
Hogue, Pack-Mabien lead Sickle Cell Center
Te Johnson M. Haynes, Jr., M.D. Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center announced new leadership. Antwan Hogue, M.D., was named the center’s medical director, and Ardie Pack-Mabien, Ph.D., was named director. Both had been serving in interim roles since Haynes’ passing in December 2022. Hogue is a senior hospitalist and associate professor of internal medicine at the Whiddon College of Medicine. Pack-Mabien has served as a nurse practitioner specializing in pediatrics and internal medicine at the center since 1997.
Kahalley named chief nursing ofcer of physician enterprise
Sarah Kahalley, RN, M.S.H.A., was named chief nursing ofcer of the USA Health Physician Enterprise, which is home to almost 350 physicians, 175 advanced practice providers, and more than 300 residents and fellows. In her new position, Kahalley serves as a resource for clinical staf and leaders related to patient care and clinical processes. She also helps develop programs in safety, infection control and clinical education.
Keel promoted to chair of urology
Christopher Keel, D.O., was named chair of the Department of Urology at the Whiddon College of Medicine. A board-certifed urologist, he joined University Urology in 2019 and had served as interim chair of urology since it was established as an academic department in 2022. As interim chair, Keel led the creation of a fve-year urology residency program, accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
Lakkis appointed chair of internal medicine
Nasser Lakkis, M.D., a respected researcher, educator and clinician, was appointed chair of the Department of Internal Medicine. He has oversight of divisions including cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology,
nephrology and infectious diseases. Most recently, Lakkis was a professor at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, where he was also chief of cardiology at Wayne Health and Detroit Medical Center Adult Hospitals.
Menger becomes vice chair of neurosurgery
Richard Menger, M.D., MPA, associate professor of neurosurgery at the Whiddon College of Medicine, was named vice chair for the Department of Neurosurgery. Menger also serves as a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy Reserve, chief of complex spine surgery at USA Health, and director of the USA Health Spine Institute, a program he initiated to change the culture around the delivery of spine care.
Seaman, Polite selected as chief quality ofcers
Two USA Health physician leaders, Rachel Seaman, M.D., and Nathan Polite, D.O., were named chief quality ofcers for the health system. In their newly created roles, Seaman and Polite work with existing programs to create and lead projects that drive improvements in quality, safety and patient satisfaction across USA Health.
Seaman, an internal medicine physician and hospitalist, was appointed associate chief medical ofcer/chief quality ofcer for medicine. She is director of academic hospital medicine for internal medicine, associate program director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program, and an associate professor of internal medicine at the Whiddon College of Medicine.
Polite, a trauma/emergency general surgeon and surgical intensivist, was appointed associate chief medical ofcer/chief quality ofcer for surgery. He is an associate professor of surgery at the Whiddon College of Medicine.
Powers appointed chief revenue ofcer of USA Health
As chief revenue ofcer, Candice Powers, MBA, oversees all revenue cycle functions in the acute-care setting, including admissions, medical records, and billing
and collections, to ensure that USA Health receives just reimbursement for the care it provides. Most recently, she was president and chief executive ofcer of Powers Consulting Group LLC in Morgantown, West Virginia, which provided revenue cycle consultation services to acute-and ambulatory-care settings.
Snow joins USA Health as CEO of University Hospital
Josh Snow, MSHA, joined USA Health as chief executive ofcer of University Hospital. He said his vision for the hospital is to remain focused on providing high-quality, patient-centric, innovative healthcare. Prior to joining University Hospital, Snow served as market president for Te Medical Centers of Southeast Texas in Beaumont, part of Steward Health Care, where he provided executive leadership for a healthcare network comprising two full-service hospital campuses.
Whetstine named CIO of USA Health
USA Health appointed Tyler Whetstine as chief information ofcer of the health system. He oversees all aspects of information technology, including computer systems, databases, network, and telecommunications. He brings more than 20 years of experience in healthcare information technology to the position. Most recently, Whetstine was a senior vice president and chief information ofcer for Adventist Health, a company with 30,000 associates in more than 24 hospitals.
Williams Hogue directs Center for Healthy Communities
Ashley Williams Hogue, M.D., a trauma surgeon at University Hospital, was named director of the Center for Healthy Communities, an arm of the University of South Alabama tasked with addressing health disparities, improving access to healthcare for underserved populations, and empowering individuals to make decisions about their health. She is an assistant professor of surgery at the Whiddon College of Medicine and co-founder of Project Inspire.
Achievements
Jennifer Young Pierce, M.D., MPH, and Arlene Mitchell display the Mayer Mitchell Award of Excellence in Cancer Research.
Pierce earns 2023 Mayer Mitchell Award for Excellence in Cancer Research
Jennifer Young Pierce, M.D., MPH, a double board-certifed gynecologic oncologist, was named the recipient of the 2023 Mayer Mitchell Award for Excellence in Cancer Research.
She is the director of the Division of Cancer Control and Prevention at the Mitchell Cancer Institute, where she conducts research in cancer care delivery and supportive care for cancer patients and survivors, and is a principal investigator on grants totaling $1.3 million. She also is a professor of interdisciplinary clinical oncology and an Abraham A. Mitchell Clinical Research Scholar. Pierce has contributed to state, regional and national HPV roundtables and has served as a member of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology Cervical Cancer Elimination Task Force and the World Health Organization Cervical Cancer Elimination Consortium.
At the Whiddon College of Medicine, Pierce serves as director of the Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program, associate designated institutional ofcial, and assistant dean of graduate medical education.
She is also the host of Te Cancering Show podcast.
Te $10,000 award is presented annually to a promising scientist at the Mitchell Cancer Institute. Te award was established in 2009 by Arlene Mitchell, USA trustee and chair pro tempore, in memory of her late husband, Mayer Mitchell, a longtime USA trustee and formative fgure in the establishment of the MCI.
Bassam receives teaching award from American Academy of Neurology
Bassam Bassam, M.D., a professor of neurology at the Whiddon College of Medicine and a neuromuscular neurologist at USA Health, received a top award that recognizes his commitment and service as an educator. He was presented the 2024 A.B. Baker Teacher Recognition Award by the American Academy of Neurology at the organization’s annual meeting.
“I am proud of supporting the University of South Alabama’s educational mission for 39 years, during which I contributed to training and graduating over 90 neurologists serving our area and all over the country,” he said. “I am grateful for the
opportunity to contribute to our medical students’ educational programs and mission for nearly four decades.”
Late last year, Bassam unanimously was voted the recipient of the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine’s 2023 Distinguished Physician Award.
Fleck inaugurated as frst female president of AUA’s Southeastern Section
Lorie Fleck, M.D., a board-certifed urologist at USA Health University Urology, continues to blaze a trail for women in the feld of urology. She was inaugurated as the frst female president of the Southeastern Section of the American Urological Association at the group’s annual meeting in Austin, Texas.
“It’s a great honor. It’s an overwhelming responsibility, but I believe I am up to the task,” said Fleck, who is an associate professor of urology and obstetrics and gynecology at the Whiddon College of Medicine. She also is director of the Urology Residency Program at USA Health.
Te Southeastern Section is the largest of the association’s eight geographic regions, comprising almost 2,100 urologists practicing in nine Southeastern states, Panama, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
USA Health employees recognized with community health leadership awards
Four USA Health employees are among the ffth annual class of the Mobile Community Health Leadership Awards, which recognize local leaders in education, awareness, and action around the city’s most urgent health issues.
“Tese leaders have rolled up their sleeves and designed impactful responses to perennial community health challenges such as gun violence, HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, and unintended pregnancy. Tey are often working with patients who are the least able to aford or access quality care,” said Daryn Glassbrook, Ph.D., executive director of the
Mobile Medical Museum, which presents the awards. “Tat kind of compassion and dedication deserves to be more widely acknowledged.”
USA Health representatives are:
• Kimberly Hale – manager of community outreach and special projects; director of operations for USA Health Industrial Medicine and the SouthNet Medical Clinic
• Teresa Miller, MHS, PA-C – physician assistant in the Division of Infectious Disease
• Jean Sansaricq, M.D. – obstetrician/gynecologist at University OBGYN; adjunct assistant professor at the Whiddon College of Medicine
• Ashley Williams Hogue, M.D. – trauma, acute care and burn surgeon at USA Health; director of the Center for Healthy Communities; assistant professor of surgery at the Whiddon College of Medicine; founder of Project Inspire
Mobile Bay Magazine’s 40 Under 40 includes representa-
tives
from USA Health
Mobile Bay Magazine recognized seven representatives from the University of South Alabama and USA Health among its annual 40 Under 40 class. Honorees are residents under the age of 40 who demonstrate leadership, professional excellence, and a commitment to the Mobile Bay area.
• Meghan Hermance, Ph.D. –assistant professor of microbiology and immunology at the Whiddon College of Medicine
• Ashley Williams Hogue, M.D.
– trauma, acute care and burn surgeon at USA Health; director of the Center for Healthy Communities; assistant professor of surgery at the Whiddon College of Medicine; co-founder of Project Inspire
• Danuel Laan, M.D. – bariatric and general surgeon at USA Health Providence Hospital
• Tyler McDonald, M.D. – pediatric orthopaedic and spine surgeon at USA Health; assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at the Whiddon College of Medicine
• Rachel Seaman, M.D. – chief quality ofcer at USA Health, associate program director of the internal medicine residency program; director of the academic hospitalist program; associate professor of internal medicine at the Whiddon College of Medicine
• Peter Susman – chief administrative ofcer at the University of South Alabama
• Jai Deep Takur, M.D. – neurosurgeon at USA Health; director of minimally invasive cranial and skull base neurosurgery; director of neurosurgery education; assistant professor of neurosurgery at the Whiddon College of Medicine
Menger makes Becker’s National Emerging Leaders in Healthcare list
Richard Menger, M.D., MPA, a fellowship-trained neurosurgeon who serves as chief of complex spine surgery and vice chair of neurosurgery, was named to the Becker’s Hospital Review Emerging Leaders in Healthcare list.
Te list honors leaders who are 40 years old or younger for their commitment to optimizing healthcare, pushing their organizations not only to survive but thrive. Tey are key players who are shaping the future of healthcare proactively, rather than simply reacting to the ever-changing industry.
“Tis is a national list for all healthcare providers so it’s an honor to be recognized outside of the neurosurgery and spine lane,” he said. “It’s a testament to what the entire group has accomplished here at USA Health with clinical pathway development, research publication, and tracking objective outcomes in complex surgeries.”
Menger is also an associate professor of neurosurgery at the Whiddon College of Medicine and an assistant professor of political science at the university.
Physicians named Exceptional Women in Medicine by Castle Connolly
Te Exceptional Women in Medicine list recognizes female Castle Connolly Top
Ashley Williams Hogue,
Doctors who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, expertise and dedication in their respective felds. In addition to meeting the requirements to be selected as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, these physicians have additional qualifcations, including research and academic contributions, volunteer work within healthcare, and training at top institutions.
• LaDonna M. Crews, M.D. – pediatrician who specializes in complex care; established the USA Health Pediatrics Complex Care Clinic; associate professor of pediatrics at the Whiddon College of Medicine
• Donna Lynn Dyess, M.D. – breast and endocrine surgeon at USA Health; professor of surgery at the Whiddon College of Medicine
• Karen A. Fagan, M.D. – director of the pulmonary and critical care division; director of the pulmonary hypertension center at USA Health; professor of internal medicine and pharmacology at the Whiddon College of Medicine
• Felicia L. Wilson, M.D. – pediatric hematologist/oncologist at USA Health; professor of pediatrics at the Whiddon College of Medicine
Above:
M.D., was featured on the cover of the January 2024 issue of Mobile Bay magazine.
USA Happenings
Recruitment bus trips featured in national media
In an article titled “Te College Tour Tat Comes to You,” the online publication Inside Higher Ed featured the Jag Days bus tours hosted throughout the academic year by President Jo Bonner and Executive Vice President and Provost Andi Kent, Ph.D. For the past two years, they have traveled the state — and neighboring states — in Jaguar Athletics buses to bring high school students back to campus for a day to learn more about the University.
Refer a future Jaguar
It’s already time to start thinking about submitting an application for spring or fall 2025. Please encourage your children, grandchildren and other family members and friends to consider South for an undergraduate or graduate degree. Tere are many reasons why more students are choosing South, including our more than 115 degree programs and a warm and welcoming campus environment. Invite them to schedule a campus tour or meet with Enrollment staf to learn more about all that South has to ofer.
Kent named to 2024 class of Women Who Shape the State
Football season is here
South Alabama Executive Vice President and Provost Andi Kent, Ph.D., was recently selected as one of 25 honorees for Tis Is Alabama’s prestigious Women Who Shape the State award. Te honorees were recognized during Women’s History Month at a ceremony in Birmingham. Te program focuses on women who are infuencing Alabama through their eforts in business, community, service and philanthropy.
Show your USA spirit
Te University of South Alabama license tag has been updated and now features a vintage Jaguar design. Te new South tag is the ffth since 2002. Each time a Jag Tag is purchased from the Alabama Department of Revenue, $37.50 of the proceeds goes to the USA National Alumni Association to fund scholarships. Consider choosing a South-branded license tag the next time you renew.
Te Jaguars’ schedule features a pair of nationally televised midweek games against Appalachian State and Troy, as well as a trip to SEC power LSU. South enters the 2024 season led by Major Applewhite in his frst year as head coach. Visit USAJaguars.com for season or single-game ticket information.
