USA Medicine - University of South Alabama Health System

University of South Alabama
MEDICINE
The College of Medicine held its 36th Honors
Convocation and Commencement for the Class of 2011 in
May. The number of medical graduates since its inception is
close to 2,200 physicians, with almost a third of our graduates
practicing in the Mobile/Baldwin County region.
Our college has made great strides since accepting its
first class of medical students in 1973, that pioneer group
of students we highlighted in the previous issue of this
magazine. In the current issue we have chosen to highlight the
contributions of other graduates who have made their mark in
medicine in some unique ways. These individuals: Drs. Frank
deGruy, Gene Marsh, Danny Potts and Dan Roach reflect the
major impact USA graduates continue to have in their chosen
profession and the communities where they reside.
Similarly, our current students in the College of Medicine
have embraced service roles that have enabled them to gain
meaningful hands-on practical experiences and promote the
social mission of our school. In this issue, we also acknowledge
the important leadership roles expected of the new chairs in
neurology, radiology and surgery. Drs. Dean Naritoku, Jeff Brandon and Bill Richards are experienced academicians
with strong academic credentials and visions for the future
growth and development of their respective departments. In the next few months we will be working hard to recruit
new chairs for the departments of obstetrics and gynecology
and pediatrics. The recruitment of a cadre of talented students
and strong academic leaders will ensure the college meets
its goals in medical education, research, patient care, and
community service in a positive way.
Samuel J. Strada, Ph.D.
Dean
USA College of Medicine
University of South Alabama
MEDICINE
Volume 6, Issue 4
Address correspondence to:
usa medicine
University of South Alabama
Mastin 617
2451 Fillingim Street
Mobile, AL 36617
www.usahealthsystem.com
CONTENTS
2
Contributing Writers
Ashley Givens
Paul Taylor
Photography
Walter Beckham
Composition and Printing
University of South Alabama
Publication Services
On the Cover:
One of Lester Potts’ watercolor
paintings shows a tropical resort.
See story on page 14.
Copyright ©2011
University of South Alabama
College of Medicine
All rights reserved.
Compassionate Medicine
4
Nurturing a Physician-Scientist Mindset
5
6
Production Manager
Paul Taylor
Copy Editor
Scott Cox
Hospital Expansion
3
Editor
Dr. Samuel J. Strada
Art Direction
Melissa Root
USA Children’s & Women’s
Community Benefits from
Medical Education
Doctor
on a
Mission
Research Quality Among Nation’s Best
8
9
Award Recognizes Career Accomplishments
10
12
15
HJW Foundation Gift Supports Excellence
A Note from Travis
16
20
The Chairs Share
Their Visions
News and Moves
1
USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital Expansion
The University of South
Alabama Children’s &
Women’s Hospital on Nov.
17, 2010, broke ground
on a 195,000 square-foot
expansion that will nearly
double the hospital’s size.
The expansion is scheduled
to take just over two years to
complete.
The $72.6 million
expansion, funded by the
USA Health System and
the USA Foundation, will
feature more space for the
hospital’s neonatal and
pediatric intensive care units,
additional operating rooms,
and larger patient rooms to
better accommodate visitors
and families. Vital support
services such as an enlarged
cafeteria and kitchen,
professional teaching and
community education space
are also included in the five-level expansion.
“The USA Children’s
& Women’s Hospital
expansion is an important
step in meeting both our
educational and service
missions,” said Dr. Samuel
J. Strada, dean of the USA
Dr. Loran Clement, Chair of Pediatrics, welcomes guests.
College of Medicine. “It will also
have a significant positive impact
on our research capabilities
relating to maternal child care
and diseases of children and
women’s health.”
With nearly 3,000 deliveries
each year, USA Children’s &
Women’s Hospital is Mobile’s
leader in births. The hospital has
the area’s only Level III neonatal
intensive care unit (NICU)
and a pediatric intensive care
unit (PICU), each uniquely
equipped and staffed to provide
the region’s most advanced care
for premature, critically ill and
critically injured children. The
NICU treats some 1,000 babies
2
Expansion...continued on page 23
CompassionateMedicine
Kimberly Bryan, a recently graduated medical student at the
University of South Alabama, was honored with her selection as
the second recipient of the Regan Robinson Young Scholarship,
created by the class of 2009 to honor the memory of a medical
student who passed away.
Before entering medical school, Bryan received her nursing
degree at USA and later worked as a nurse in the intensive
care unit at the USA Medical Center. During that time, she
returned to school to pursue her graduate degree in nursing.
Now, Bryan is using her nursing background to help her
succeed in medical school. “The nursing track helped me
understand the importance of taking care of patients and has
really helped me become a well-rounded physician,” she said.
Bryan was selected for the Regan Robinson Young Scholarship
in part because of the service she participates in outside of the
classroom.
“I’ve always loved
volunteering,” she said. “I like to help people. It’s my nature to do so.”
Bryan served
for two years as
logistics chair for
the USA Gumbo
Chili Showdown,
an event that
supports the Regan
Robinson Young
Scholarship. Prior
to medical school
she organized
the Kidney
Early Evaluation
Program, which was
responsible for screening
patients for kidney disease.
In addition, Bryan has
helped coordinate seminars
for local dialysis patients
and has supported the
Transplant Olympics.
“My main interest is
nephrology,” Bryan said. “I like the challenge, as well
as the continuity. I look
forward to working with
these patients over time and helping them manage
Regan Robinson
their illness.” The Regan Robinson
Young Scholarship was created in memory of Regan Robinson,
a medical student at USA who was diagnosed with advanced
colon cancer in 2003 at the age of 23. She used her own
experience to help others cope with illness. In 2007, just
months before her graduation from medical school, Robinson
passed away. Her empathetic spirit and drive to continue
medical school while completing chemotherapy made her an
inspiration to fellow students, faculty and staff. The scholarship
provides assistance to a rising senior medical student who
embodies Regan’s spirit and character.
Bryan said she was honored to receive an award that
recognizes Robinson’s qualities in others. “I like to stay behind
the scenes, but to be recognized was really nice,” she said.
“Regan had a difficult plight, and it is very humbling to be
recognized in her honor.”
Anna Christensen
said Bryan is a great
example to follow.
Christensen, a second-year medical student
at USA, was also a nurse prior to being
accepted to medical school.
She received her bachelor of nursing
degree at St. Anthony’s College of
Nursing in Rockford, Ill., and her
master’s degree in nursing from USA.
Christensen...continued on page 23
Kimberly Bryan
Anna Christensen
3
Nurturing a PhysicianScientist Mindset
George Nelson, a recently
graduated medical student
at the University of South
Alabama College of
Medicine, completed a yearlong research fellowship at
the University of Iowa Carver
College of Medicine last year.
The Doris Duke Clinical
Research Fellowship (CRF)
provides support for one year
of full-time clinical research
training. The main goal of
the program is to encourage
medical students to pursue
careers in clinical research.
Interested medical students
must be willing to take a year
out from school and conduct
fellowship research and
training at one of 12 hosting
medical schools.
“I was extremely excited
to have the opportunity to
go to an institution and be
immersed in the clinicianscientist culture,” Nelson
said. “I learned about the
life and work of a clinicianscientist, and the best way
to gain this knowledge is
through mentorship.”
Each fellowship consists of
a structured clinical research
experience and coursework.
During the program, Nelson’s
research focused on cystic
fibrosis and gene therapy,
specifically the interactions
of bacteria and viruses in the
lung.
To date, the CRF program
has supported a total of 733
fellows, with 108 fellows in
4
the 2009-2010
class. The Doris
Duke Fellowship
will also fund
research-related
conferences in
the subsequent
year. Nelson
presented his
research at the
2010 North
American
Cystic Fibrosis
Conference this
past October.
George Nelson
Now, Nelson
has finished his
shock. “I cross-country skied
fourth year in
to work,” he said. “And it
medical school.
Nelson said he is interested was the first time I’ve ever
shoveled a driveway. It
in becoming a physicianwas little things like that
scientist largely because
that made it an interesting
of the important role they
experience.”
play. “Each physician While in Iowa, he also
scientist should develop
participated in RAGBRAI,
his or her career to include
The Register’s Annual Great
a mix of both clinical and
Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.
investigational medicine,”
RAGBRAI, the oldest, largest
he said. “Their role is not
and longest bicycle touring
only to energize continued
event in the world, is an
medical discoveries, but also
annual seven-day bicycle
to act as liaisons between
ride across the state. Nelson
pure researchers and pure
biked one of the seven days,
clinicians in implementing
along with fellow researchers
new treatments.”
and Dr. Joseph Zabner, his
Nelson, originally from
mentor.
Birmingham, Ala., received
Nelson said he is looking
his undergraduate degree in
forward to the future. As a
biological chemistry from
physician-scientist, he said
Birmingham-Southern
he will have the rewarding
College. He plans on
opportunity to make
studying internal medicine.
clinical observations at the
Nelson said visiting Iowa
patient’s bedside, bring those
was somewhat of a culture
observations back to the
lab to find the cause, and
translate those findings into
treatments. “The privilege to advance
medical care for patients,
including those who aren’t
under my direct care, will
make coming to work
everyday novel and exciting.”
“Each physicianscientist should
develop his or her
career to include a
mix of both clinical
and investigational
medicine...”
Community Benefits
OF MedicAL education
T
he University of South Alabama
College of Medicine has been
cited as one of the leading
medical schools in the United States
based on its social mission of medical
education. This ranking was published
in an article appearing in the Annals of
Internal Medicine, a premier internal
medicine journal with a readership that
includes more than 129,000 members of
the American College of Physicians.
The 141 U.S. medical schools were
evaluated and ranked on a new scale
based on the percentage of medical school
graduates who practice primary care,
work in health professional shortage areas
(HPSAs), and are under-represented
minorities.
Dr. Fitzhugh Mullan created the
rankings after compiling research that
included a review of 60,043 physicians
in active practice who graduated from
medical school between 1999 and 2001.
Mullan published his findings in an
article titled “The Social Mission of
Medical Education: Ranking the
Schools.” “Throughout our history, the
University of South Alabama
College of Medicine has
placed strong emphasis on
serving the health care needs
of our state by training doctors that
ultimately practice in Alabama,” said Dr. Samuel J. Strada, dean of the USA
College of Medicine. “Our high marks
reflected in this peer-reviewed journal
article validate this point, and underscore
our effort and commitment to train
doctors who establish their practices
along the Gulf Coast and in underserved
regions of our state.”
Overall, USA ranked No. 8 out of the
141 medical schools and received a social
mission score of 3.15. The school ranked
No. 25 in primary care physician output
with 42 percent of graduates practicing as
a primary care physician.
USA ranked No. 2 in HPSA physician
output with 52 percent of graduates
practicing in HPSAs.
Educating physicians in medically
underserved regions of the state is a
significant part of the USA College of
Medicine’s mission. At USA, an effort is
made to admit at least
25 percent of the class
from rural counties
provided that they
meet criteria of
acceptance.
USA ranked No. 112 in the underrepresented minorities category with a
total of 8.2 percent of under-represented
minorities in the school.
In addition to admissions criteria,
several factors at USA point to high
marks in these areas, including an
emphasis on the importance of teaching,
good role models, opportunities to
conduct training in rural settings, and
having smaller class sizes with more
student-faculty interactions.
The USA College of Medicine was
established in 1973. With approximately
2,100 graduates, the medical school
and affiliated hospitals have trained
more than one-third of all practicing
physicians in Mobile and Baldwin
Counties. The school’s smaller class size
(74 students/class) provides students with
a high degree of faculty interaction in a
supportive learning environment.
For the full article, visit
http://www.annals.org/content/
152/12/804.full.pdf+html.
5
Doctor
on a
Mission
This year will be the fifth year that CMMSA has made
the trip to Honduras. The trips began when Mobile
orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Robert McGinley and his wife
Kelly saw a need to help mentor the students at the
USA College of Medicine by spending time with them
outside of the U.S.
After attending a medical missions meeting in Colorado,
the McGinleys began supporting the Christian medical
ministries at USA, which led to the opportunity for
mentoring. They soon learned that help was needed in
Honduras.
Dr. McGinley went overseas, along with several
medical students, to help teach sports medicine.
“We would perform surgeries in the hospital,
set up clinics in town, and arrange for medical
students to see patients in the countryside,”
Dr. McGinley said. “Most importantly, the
trips provided a way to challenge and inspire
students to continue to do mission work.”
Last year, 20 first- and second-year medical students
at the University of South Alabama traveled to
Honduras with the Christian Medical Ministry of
South Alabama (CMMSA). Now, preparations are
being made for a trip again this summer.
Dr. McGinley said he has always had a
strong desire to mentor students. “I’ve always enjoyed
teaching,” he said, “and I believe the best way to teach is
to show them rather than tell them. The mission trips in
Honduras do just that.”
According to Duane Baxter, director of the Christian
Medical Ministry, the 2011 medical mission team plans
on serving more than 1,000 Honduran citizens who do
not have access to common medicines. “We will do this
by partnering with Honduran physicians and hosting free
clinics in rural mountain village settings,” he said. “We
will also partner with Honduran surgeons to perform
orthopaedic surgeries in the country’s only teaching
hospital, Hospital Escuela.”
Baxter, who serves as the stateside coordinator
and team director while in the country, said
the trips allow students to see the importance
of charity. “It builds character and teamwork
skills, and it gives them a world vision,
allowing them to see the great needs of people
not far from our country. It also gives them the
opportunity to learn alongside great mentors.”
6
“To be all that you can
be, you must be involved
in mission work...”
Dr. McGinley said that it is important
for students to become involved in
this type of experience. “To be
all that you can be, you must be
involved in mission work,” he said.
“It is always important to share
the blessings, whether overseas or at
home.”
“Being a physician has more to do with
attitude and connecting with your
patients than the actual procedure,”
he added. “I hope the students will
remember the mission experiences they
have had for many years to come.”
Dr. McGinley, shown here with his wife Kelly, earned his medical degree from
Emory Medical School in Atlanta. He came to Mobile, Ala., in 1977 after completing
orthopaedic surgery residency training at the Campbell Clinic-University of Tennessee.
He is currently in private practice in Mobile.
7
Research
quality
among
nation’s
best
T
he University of South
Alabama Center
for Lung Biology
(CLB), created to improve the
understanding and treatment
of pulmonary diseases as well
as support the training of
both scientists and physicians
interested in pulmonary
medicine, has tripled its
magnitude and scope since its
opening in 2002.
Much of the center’s success
has come from research
funding from the National
Institutes of Health (NIH).
According to Dr. Troy
Stevens, director of the
program, the CLB garners
$7.5 million annually for its
research activities, most of
which is from NIH. “NIH has
funded our faculty in the CLB
since it opened,” he said, “and
the competitive grants allow
us to attract research talent
and improve our mission in
training scientists.”
The CLB has grown
extensively since it began
and is currently comprised
of more than 35 primary
faculty members from
various backgrounds with
a common interest in
pulmonary research and care. Dr. Troy Stevens
8
“Its main goals are to impact
research and clinical missions
of the school, improve
education, and improve
infrastructure in a way that
impacts human health,” said
Dr. Stevens, who also serves as
professor of pharmacology and
internal medicine at the USA
College of Medicine. “Our
work is involved in everything
from model systems to human
patients.”
Dr. Stevens said the center
has also grown as a training
mission. “Through a grant
funded by NIH, we now have
a subspecialty in pre-doctoral
training,” he said. “Because
of this, we have about 15-20
doctoral students currently
affiliated with the faculty.”
This past year, Dr. Stevens
was awarded a Method to
Extend Research in Time
(MERIT) award by NIH,
and in the process joined an
elite group of biomedical
scientists whose research is
deemed distinctively superior
and holds great promise for
continued advancement and
accomplishments in research.
“Looking into the
future, the CLB
has aggressive goals
to expand subdisciplines within the
area of lung biology,”
Dr. Stevens said.
“We are working to
continue to grow in
the areas of faculty
recruitment, training
and research.”
MERIT awards are among
the most selective grants
awarded by NIH, and only a
small number of NIH-funded
investigators are chosen to
receive MERIT awards. The
award typically is funded for
up to 10 years, which could
extend Dr. Stevens’ research
funding from the NIH’s
National Heart, Blood and
Lung Institute through 2021.
Dr. Stevens’ research
interests focus on diseases
of the lung vasculature,
including acute respiratory
distress syndrome (ARDS) and
chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD). In this
project, he is working to better
understand the molecular
make-up and function of a
calcium channel commonly
associated with pulmonary
edema, an abnormal
accumulation of fluid in the
lungs that makes breathing
difficult and is life-threatening. Pulmonary edema is a
serious complication that
occurs with prevalent illnesses
such as heart failure, lung
infections and pneumonia. Mortality rates from edema in
the lungs can be as high as 40
percent.
“We are interested in better
understanding a complex
chain of events that take place
when patients suffer from
pulmonary edema,” Dr. Stevens said. “Our efforts
are focused on ultimately
identifying novel molecular
targets for drug development
to prevent edema from
forming and to limit its
severity once the process has
been initiated.”
Throughout the University’s
history, Dr. Stevens is one of
five USA researchers selected
for a MERIT award. Previous
awardees are: Dr. David
Wood, professor and chair
of microbiology; and retired
medical school professors Drs. Marcel Conrad, Aubrey
Taylor, and Herbert Winkler.
Award Recognizes Career Accomplishments
Dr. Frank Pettyjohn was recognized for his
long and distinguished career in aerospace
medicine.
Dr. Frank S. Pettyjohn, professor of medicine and
professor and chair of emergency medicine at the
University of South Alabama College of the Medicine,
has been honored as the first recipient of the John Ernsting Award. The award was presented to Dr. Pettyjohn at the Honors Ceremony of the
Aerospace Medicine Association’s Annual Scientific
Meeting. Dr. Pettyjohn was recognized for his long and
distinguished career in aerospace medicine, which has
enhanced the links between science and the clinical
practice of aerospace medicine.
Dr. Pettyjohn has held a variety of positions in clinical
and aerospace medicine. He has published numerous
papers and abstracts on aerospace medicine, internal
medicine and cardiology.
A native of Delaware, he graduated from the
University of Delaware with a bachelor of science degree
in civil engineering and entered the U.S. Army as a 2nd
Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers serving in Korea.
Following his return, he received his medical degree
from Hahnemann University School of Medicine in
Philadelphia. Dr. Pettyjohn served in Vietnam as a
flight surgeon for the 17th Combat Aviation Group
in 1966. On his return, he completed his internal
medicine residency and cardiology fellowship at
Madigan Army Medical Center in Fort Lewis, Wash.
Dr. Pettyjohn completed a post-doctoral fellowship in
public health/preventive medicine at the University of
Washington in Seattle. He also completed a residency
in Aerospace Medicine at Brooks Air Force Base in San
Antonio. He served as cardiologist and flight surgeon
for Operation Homecoming to return Vietnam POWs
to the United States in 1973. He joined the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research
Laboratory at Fort Rucker, Ala., conducting research in
the fields of aeromedical evacuation, oxygen systems,
trauma and altitude physiology. He continued his
research at the Naval Aeromedical Research Laboratory
in Pensacola, Fla. Upon leaving military service, he
joined the USA College of Medicine as professor and
chairman of the department of emergency medicine in
1989. Dr. Pettyjohn was recalled to the U.S. Army in 1991
as a cardiologist and aviation medicine consultant at
Dr. Frank Pettyjohn
the U.S. Army Aeromedical Center during Operation
Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He served as a member
of the aeromedical team that returned the U.S. POWs
from Desert Storm to the United States. In December
2008, he again returned to active duty in the U.S. Army
as a flight surgeon and cardiologist with the 345th
Combat Support Hospital in Tikrit, Iraq. He is board certified in internal medicine,
cardiovascular disease, preventive medicine (aerospace
medicine) and emergency medicine. He is recognized
internationally as an expert in aviation and space
medicine and served as president of the International
Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine from 2005
to 2007. Dr. Pettyjohn continues his research career in
the fields of clinical medicine conducting trials of antihypertensive medications, cholesterol treatment, and
combined hypertension and diabetes management. The John Ernsting Award recognizes the scientific
contributions of professor John Ernsting, MBBS,
Ph.D., CB, OBE, as the world expert in altitude
physiology and aircrew protection. The award was
established by the Aerospace Medical Association and
sponsored by Environmental Tectonics Corporation to
recognize the legacy of Professor Ernsting.
9
This past year, the University of
South Alabama College of Medicine
received a $14.5 million grant from
the National Institutes of Health to
support many ongoing infectious
disease research projects at the
medical school that are important
for disease prevention and treatment.
These funds are a direct result of
the federal American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act. The grant, which
is the largest competitive grant
received in the university’s history,
will fund construction of a new
state-of-the-art infectious disease
research laboratory to be located on
USA’s main campus. Dr. David Wood, chair of
microbiology and immunology, and
the lead researcher for the grant, said
the time since the grant was awarded
has been spent solidifying the
building plans for the new research
lab. The new, 25,800 square foot
Specialized Laboratory building will
include Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2)
labs and Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3)
labs, as well as office and support
space. BSL-2 lab space will be used
to study standard disease-causing
10
bacteria, while the BSL-3 lab space
will be used to study agents of
bioterrorism that seriously threaten
human health.
“Building a BSL-3 lab is different
from other campus construction
projects because of the layers of
additional considerations that go
along with this type of facility,” Dr. Wood said. “Our scientists have
worked collectively to develop the
most functional building possible to
conduct our research.”
The new facility will house
multi-use laboratory research space
designed to study infectious diseases
and facilitate expansion of USA’s
Select Agent Program. “This award
will enhance our research capabilities
that are currently focused on two
select agent pathogens, Rickettsia
and Burkholderia, which pose
significant threats to human health
and security, underscoring the
need to further investigate these
organisms,” Dr. Wood said.
Rickettsia prowazekii is a species
of bacteria responsible for epidemic
typhus in humans. Initiated by
Dr. Herbert Winkler over 30 years
ago, USA scientists have worked to
establish a productive Select Agent
Program centered on Rickettsia.
Within the last six years, the Select
Agent Program at USA has expanded
to include the study of Burkholderia.
Burkholderia mallei is responsible
for glanders, a disease that occurs
mostly in horses and related animals.
Burkholderia pseudomallei is a
causative agent of melioidosis, an infectious disease found in soil
and water.
According to Dr. Wood, the
building supports unique research
at USA and in doing so makes it
attractive for scientists to build their
careers here. “The new lab ensures
Dr. David Wood (center) is flanked, left to right by: Dr. Mary Burtnick, Dr. Jonathon Audia, and Dr. Paul Brett
that these scientists can reach their
full career potential right here,”
he explained. “We have planned a
building that supports our current
research needs, as well as the needs
of the foreseeable future.”
In addition to supporting
the current research team, this
building gives the medical school
a strong asset to recruit additional
researchers, Dr. Wood says. He also
feels that it strengthens the College
of Medicine’s appeal to students.
“The unique opportunity to work
and train in a BSL-3 lab will allow
our students to prepare for this type
of research environment, and that
experience will open additional new
career paths for them.”
The new Specialized Laboratory
facility is being constructed in the
USA Research and Technology Park
located at the north side of campus.
It will incorporate state-of-theart safety and security standards.
Energy-efficient “green” principals
will also be implemented into the
building’s design. The project will
provide safer working conditions,
a more comfortable environment,
natural daylighting, and will include
sensors and software to maximize
energy efficiency.
11
The University of South Alabama College of Medicine is
known for training physicians who care for patients
in Alabama and across the nation. In this issue, we
highlight four USA alumni who impact the field of
medicine in nontraditional ways.
Dr. Frank deGruy III was elected to the Institute of
Medicine as an innovative family medicine academician interested
in mental health.
Dr. Dan Roach is leading the charge to train physicians on
electronic health record systems.
Dr. Daniel Potts was inspired by his father to establish expressive arts
therapy programs for Alzheimer’s patients across the country.
Dr. E. Eugene Marsh III was appointed the first leader for the
Penn State College of Medicine Regional Campus.
Dr. Frank deGruy, III
Nathan W. Arme
s Photography
Dr. Frank deGruy, III, former professor and chair of the department of
family practice and community medicine at USA, said his past experiences
at USA helped pave the way for his current successes.
Dr. deGruy, a USA College of Medicine alumnus, has served as the
Woodward-Chisholm Chair and professor of family medicine at the
University of Colorado School of Medicine for the past 11 years. As chair
of one of the largest family medicine departments in the nation – with
195 regular faculty and 550 clinical faculty – Dr. deGruy said he was
prepared to step into the role because of his experiences as both a faculty
member and student at USA.
“I had practical, hands-on medical school experience at USA – better
than most medical schools today,” said Dr. deGruy, who was a member
of the second class at the USA College of Medicine. “When I left, I felt
that I could hold my own against anybody.”
Dr. deGruy joined the USA faculty in 1985, serving for 14 years.
During this time, he was able to strike up collaborations with people
across the country. “The school made it possible for me to do that,”
he said. “I had the resources to get out in the world with cutting-edge
researchers.”
Dr. deGruy’s research interests include somatization, mental
disorders in the primary care setting, and family factors in health
and illness. He is currently heading up a primary care presence in a
12
Dr. deGruy received his undergraduate degree at Princeton
University in 1970 and his medical degree from USA in 1977.
He completed his family medicine residency at the Medical
Center in Columbus, Ga., and a fellowship as a Robert Wood Johnson Fellow in Family
Medicine at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. deGruy currently serves as president of the
North American Primary Care Research Group, a multidisciplinary organization for primary care researchers.
newly developed community in the metro Denver area called
Stapleton. This will include a new residency clinic, research
development and extensive community involvement.
He also was among the six distinguished alumni honored
by the USA National Alumni Association last year. The
National Alumni Association recognizes the achievements and
contributions of alumni, such as Dr. deGruy, for their positive
impact on our community, region and nation. In addition,
Dr. deGruy was recently elected to the Institute of Medicine
(IOM) as a result of his interest in mental health as it relates
to family care.
Election to the IOM is considered one of the highest honors
in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals
who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement
and commitment to service.
“I was completely surprised by the IOM honor – it really
stunned me,” Dr. deGruy said. “The highest quality of work
we do in medicine comes from the IOM. I believe in them,
and I’m really proud to be a part of this group.”
In the future, Dr. deGruy plans to continue to serve as
a consultant and collaborator with medical schools and
organizations in order to help build patient-centered medical
homes and to move to an integrated system of care.
Dr. Dan Roach
Dr. Dan Roach’s interest in technology has proven to be
an important factor in his desire to impact medicine at the
University of South Alabama and across the state.
Last April, USA was awarded a $7.9 million grant to
improve health care in Alabama through implementation of
electronic health records.
Now, Dr. Roach, who is assistant dean for medical
informatics education at the USA College of Medicine,
director of medical informatics at the USA Center for Strategic
Health Innovation and principal investigator of the grant,
says progress has been made state-wide to make the switch to
electronic health records.
Dr. Roach is a 1997 graduate of the USA College of
Medicine and a 2002 graduate of the pathology residency
training program at USA. He first became involved with
informatics when he was introduced to a course through
Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU), which he
completed during his residency training. He went on to earn a
degree in medical informatics from OHSU.
Dr. Roach said officials are currently in the final negotiation
stage of the vendor selection process, and they now have the
top 10 list of selected vendors. “We have compressed the
vendor selection process into a couple of months, where it
usually takes about six months,” he said.
The Center for Strategic Health Innovation also recently
received a supplemental award for training rural and critical
access hospitals. The award provides an additional $18,000 of
support for each hospital that the center trains. The new Regional Extension Center at USA is helping to
facilitate the process of moving health care providers away
from the use of paper patient records to electronic records,
which enables physicians to have more rapid access to patient
information and ultimately improve the quality of patient care.
The center is working with doctors and hospitals in Alabama,
providing technical assistance, guidance and information on
best practices in converting to an electronic health record
system.
“We have already recruited more than 400 providers
throughout the state with the goal of reaching 1,304 priority
primary care providers and bringing them to meaningful use
by April 2014,” Dr. Roach said. “We will help them determine
what electronic health record system will best meet their needs,
help them through the implementation process, and help
them achieve meaningful use. Currently, each provider is in a
different stage, but everyone is progressing.”
Dr. Roach said there are several incentives for making the
switch to electronic health records. “The financial incentive is
that ALREC members will receive a substantial discount on
Alumni Story continued on next page
13
the cost of the EHR system,” he said. “Not only that, but an
electronic health record system can result in enhanced and
more efficient patient care through more readily available
information, a reduction in duplication of services, and an
avoidance of medical errors.”
USA was one of 60 nonprofit organizations selected
nationwide by the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services to receive the Health Information Technology
Regional Extension Center award. The grant is administered
through the HHS’s Office of the National Coordinator for
Health Information Technology.
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
of 2009, the four-year grant establishes the Alabama Regional
Extension Center, or ALREC, a consortium of partners led
by USA that includes the Medical Association of the State of
Alabama, Alabama Medicaid Agency, University of Alabama at
Birmingham, Auburn University, Alabama Primary Healthcare
Association, Childersburg Area Rural Health Network, and the
JHD Group.
The grant is part of a $2 billion effort by the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to achieve what
the HHS describes as “widespread, meaningful use of health
information technology.” The Regional Extension Center, or
REC, grants are part of an overall blueprint by HHS to move
virtually all health care providers to an electronic age.
Working to help the nation achieve this goal, ALREC will
collaborate with other RECs throughout the United States
to provide outreach and support services to at least 100,000
priority primary care providers over the next two years.
The new grant fits well with one of the Center for Strategic
Health Innovation's principal missions, which is to lead
innovation and research into patient-centric health care
technologies. The center uses emerging health technologies to
improve the quality, cost, care, and access to health care within
our state.
“We’re impacting quality of care by using innovative
techniques to treat difficult populations with chronic
conditions,” Dr. Roach said. “The Center for Strategic Health
is all about turning data into information, and turning
information into wisdom.”
Dusty Compton
Dr. Daniel Potts
“I feel like I’ve received a calling to use bad things,
like my dad’s dementia, to go out and make a
difference that will benefit others with the same
experiences.”
14
When his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
disease, Dr. Daniel Potts had the opportunity to turn an
unfortunate situation into something life-changing for
others.
Dr. Potts, a USA College of Medicine alumnus and a
neurologist at Alabama Neurology and Sleep Medicine, now
raises awareness about expressive arts therapies and how they
were used to help improve the life of his father, Lester Potts.
After the Alzheimer’s diagnosis, Lester began attending
Caring Days, a day facility for people with Alzheimer’s and
dementia based in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Clients at the Caring
Days program participate in specially designed activities to
encourage the use of social, language, motor and cognitive
skills.
“He went to Caring Days a broken man,” Dr. Potts said.
“But that soon changed completely.”
Through Caring Days’ music and art therapy programs,
Lester discovered his true talent – watercolor art. “He
changed because of the therapy he was exposed to,” Dr. Potts said. “He stabilized, and his mood was much
better.”
While at Caring Days, Lester created more than 100
pieces of artwork. “Now, my daughter knows her grandpa
through his paintings,” Dr. Potts said.
Last year, the David W. Streets Art Gallery in Beverly
Hills showcased 21 of Lester’s paintings, and Dr. Potts spoke
about his foundation, Cognitive Dynamics.
Based in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Cognitive Dynamics works to
establish expressive arts therapy programs for Alzheimer’s
Alumni Story continued on page 24
HJW Foundation Gift Supports Excellence
The University of South Alabama
department of orthopaedic surgery
has received a $650,000 gift from the
HJW Foundation created by Dr. Hansjörg Wyss.
According to USA orthopaedic
traumatologist Dr. Jorge Alonso,
this gift supports the mission of the
department in providing leading-edge
surgical care for all members of the
community.
“We are grateful for the generosity
of the HJW Foundation and Dr. Wyss,” said Dr. Samuel J. Strada,
dean of the USA College of Medicine.
“This gift recognizes the impact our
orthopaedic department makes in our
region.”
A portion of the funds will be used
to purchase orthopaedic surgical
equipment at the USA Medical
Center, and the remainder will be
awarded to the USA orthopaedic
department to help support surgical
care for indigent patients.
“Charitable support for the USA
Medical Center trauma center and
the USA department of orthopaedics
from the nationally recognized HJW
Foundation is recognition of the
high quality of these programs,” said
Dr. Joseph Busta, vice president of
development and alumni relations at
USA. “We are most grateful to the
HJW Foundation for this significant
gift as it will enable the hospital and
our department of orthopaedics to
better treat patients from the northern
Gulf Coast region.”
The USA department of
orthopaedics offers skilled and highly
trained physicians who provide
personalized orthopaedic medical
care to patients. In addition to
conventional orthopaedic treatment,
USA’s orthopaedic physicians provide
specialty care for athletes and patients
who would benefit from joint
restoration or arthritis care.
The HJW Foundation is a
nonprofit organization dedicated to
improving the care of patients with
musculoskeletal injuries through
research, development, education and
quality assurance in the principles,
practice, and result of fracture
treatment. Dr. Wyss was named
to BusinessWeek’s 2008 list of the
50 Top American Givers, which
recognizes the most generous
United States philanthropists.
A Note From Travis
As I was contemplating what I
wanted to say this year, I reflected
back on a holiday family outing. I
was trying to instill a lesson in my
children about the importance of
helping others by selecting a child’s
name from the Salvation Army Angel
Tree.
As we went through the store
picking out items for our angel,
Molly, each of my three children
was deciding how much of their
allowance they were going to
contribute. One of the items on
Molly’s list was a new bicycle. We
selected a beautiful pink bike, and
the kids remarked that if we got
Molly the bike, she really needed a
bike helmet, too. We also needed
to get her some clothing and other
items from her list.
All the items we purchased on
the shopping trip that day were for
Molly. My kids learned about the
joy of giving and the importance of
helping others. Originally, each of
my children were going to donate
half of their allowance to Molly, but
at the end of the day they chose to
give all the money they had earned so
Molly could have a more enjoyable
Christmas. The lesson I learned
from this family outing was to be
grateful for the important things in
life – family, health, and a job I truly
enjoy. Also, no matter the amount,
it is important to give back to help
those who are in need.
Just like our angel from the Angel
Tree, there are many needs here at
the University of South Alabama.
Please call me at (251) 461-1775 or
e-mail [email protected] if
you are interested in learning about
the many ways you can give back.
Whether it is an outright gift or
a deferred gift such as leaving the
University as a beneficiary in your
will, there are many different ways to
give. When everyone gives, together
we accomplish much.
15
The Chairs Share
Their Visions
Dr. Dean Naritoku
Prior to his appointment with the USA College of Medicine, Dr. Naritoku served as professor and associate chair of neurology and
director of the Center for Epilepsy at the Southern Illinois University
(SIU) School of Medicine in Springfield, Ill.
At SIU, Dr. Naritoku also directed the office of therapeutics research
and served as the fellowship director of clinical neurophysiology for the
school of medicine.
Dr. Naritoku is board certified in neurology and clinical
neurophysiology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology,
and is board certified by the American Board of Clinical Pharmacology.
He is also a member of the American Academy of Neurology, the
American Epilepsy Society, and serves on the American Board of
Clinical Pharmacology.
Dr. Naritoku has published extensively on basic and clinical research
and is the recipient of numerous grants. He also holds multiple United
States patent awards. These include methods of treating traumatic
brain injury by vagus nerve stimulation; methods of modulating
aspects of brain plasticity by vagus nerve stimulation; and methods for
improving learning or memory by vagus nerve stimulation.
16
Dr. Dean Naritoku, professor and chair of
neurology at the University of South Alabama
College of Medicine, said he was first attracted to
USA because of the institution’s commitment to
neurology and neurosciences, as well as its strong
commitment to research, education and training.
As chair of the neurology department, he feels
his primary focus is recruiting and developing a
successful culture for trainees. “It is important to give
our trainees the skills and knowledge to excel in the
field of neurology,” Dr. Naritoku said.
Dr. Naritoku is also focused on improving
infrastructure by fostering collaborative relationships
with regional neurologists and increasing clinically
affiliated faculty, as well as laying down foundation
for new programs and research.
Dr. Juan Ochoa, associate professor of neurology
and a recent hire in the department, serves as an
example of new faculty recruited by Dr. Naritoku.
He directs the epilepsy program and acts as program
director for the neurology residency program. Prior
to joining USA, Dr. Ochoa served for 10 years as the
electro-encephalography (EEG) lab director at the
Neuroscience Institute and the clerkship director of
neurology at the University of Florida.
“As residency director, Dr. Ochoa is working on
implementing new teaching techniques, including
interactive resident seminars,” Dr. Naritoku said.
“He has an extensive background in epilepsy surgery,
and he is developing a program that will allow us
to provide comprehensive care to patients with
uncontrolled seizures.”
“We have successfully recruited an interventional
stroke neurologist, who will be the first in the Mobile
region and will serve as head of the USA Stroke
Center,” Dr. Naritoku said. “We have also recruited a
multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology specialist. In
addition, plans are being made to add a Parkinson’s Disease
and movement disorders specialist in 2012.”
“One of my major goals for the
future is to focus on clinical work
and continue to bring state-ofthe-art services to the people of
the Gulf Coast region.”
In addition to faculty recruitment, the department has
invested in both expertise and technology by building a
state-of-the-art epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) at the
USA Medical Center. The unit will have four fixed and
two portable recording stations capable of recording up to
512 channels/electrodes per patient. It will also allow for
advanced seizure localization.
The neurology department EMG Laboratory equipment
has been updated to encompass advanced as well as
standard electro diagnostic studies. The autonomic
laboratory is now providing autonomic testing for both
clinical services and research projects.
Since his appointment as chair in 2008, Dr. Naritoku
is proud of the work that has been done to create a new
culture of neurology – one that is proactive and designed to
actively cure or treat people with devastating neurological
disorders.
“The department is also engaged in building an even
stronger research program, which will position us to
generate new treatment options for patients,” Dr. Naritoku
said.
“One of my major goals for the future is to focus on
clinical work and continue to bring state-of-the-art services
to the people of the Gulf Coast region,” Dr. Naritoku
said. “We will continue to do relevant research and equip
students with the knowledge they need to be the best
trained neurologists of tomorrow.”
A NEW START
After spending most of his career at Vanderbilt
University in Nashville, Dr. William O. Richards was
looking forward to the new opportunities the University
of South Alabama provides.
Since his appointment as professor and chair of surgery
at the USA College of Medicine in 2009, the department
has continued to grow, with plans on the way to recruit
trauma/critical care surgeons, develop a critical care
fellowship and expand the residency program.
“USA has some really fine medical students, residents
and faculty,” Dr. Richards said. “We have very good
clinical training where students can get hands-on,
practical experience they don’t necessarily get at other
schools.”
One of the hallmarks of the surgery department at
USA is that a large number of faculty have been awarded
teaching awards at graduation. “We hope to amplify that
in the future,” Dr. Richards said. “Our first and most
important mission is education.”
Because USA is geographically distant from other
medical schools in the state, there is an opportunity to
care for a large portion of the Gulf Coast.
The Chairs...continued on next page
Dr. William Richards
sees great opportunities
to build on successes.
17
“There are a lot of positives
happening at the University
and in this department,
which positions us to make a
tremendous difference in the lives
of the community.”
“We are the only Level 1 trauma center for the area, and
we cover a wide range of severely injured patients on
a daily basis,” Dr. Richards said. “Our
surgical trauma surgeons are here 24/7.
Because of this, the infrastructure needs
for this center are intense – it’s a huge
enterprise.
“In addition, we have
approximately 450 admissions each
year in the burn unit, and our unit
has half the mortality expected in
comparison to other burn centers.”
18
Prior to his appointment at USA, Dr. Richards was Ingram
Professor of Surgical Sciences at the Vanderbilt University
School of Medicine in Nashville, Tenn., where he was director
of both laparoendoscopic surgery and the Vanderbilt Center for
Weight Loss.
Dr. Richards’s clinical interests focus on surgical treatment
for Type 2 diabetes and treating motility disorders of the
gastrointestinal tract using minimally invasive surgical
procedures. He has performed thousands of laparoscopic
procedures since 1990, including numerous laparoscopic
bariatric procedures. His research interests include the
measurement of magnetic fields to diagnose diseases of the
gastrointestinal system.
Dr. Richards serves on the editorial board for the Journal
of Laparoendoscopic/Advanced Surgical Techniques and the
editorial board for Surgical Endoscopy. He is also a counselor
for the Southeastern Surgical Congress and an officer of the
Alabama chapter for the American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Richards is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
and a member of numerous professional societies, including
the American Surgical Association, the Society of University
Surgeons, the Southern Surgical Association, the Society for
Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, the Association for Academic
Surgery, the Society of American Gastrointestinal and
Endoscopic Surgeons, the American Society of Metabolic and
Bariatric Surgeons and the American Society of Gastrointestinal
Endoscopy.
One of the factors that has made the surgery department
so successful is its collaboration with the USA Mitchell
Cancer Institute. USA now has surgeons working with the
Mitchell Cancer Institute to advance the science of cancer
research by focusing on multispecialty, multidisciplinary
treatment of cancer.
“This collaboration between the Mitchell Cancer
Institute and the surgery department gives us a tremendous
opportunity to advance care,” Dr. Richards said. “We also
are working on a multidisciplinary center for digestive
health with the USA division of gastroenterology, where
gastroenterologists and surgeons provide collaborative care.
“All fields of medicine are multidisciplinary, and the
trend is to provide care in an interrelated and integrated
approach. We rely on a whole host of experts to provide the
best possible care to patients.”
Dr. Richards said the surgery department will continue
to expand. “There are a lot of positives happening at
the university and in this department, which positions
us to make a tremendous difference in the lives of the
community.”
Dr. Jeffrey Brandon
Dr. Brandon has served as vice-chair of radiology and director of
the residency program at USA since 1995. In addition, he served
as assistant dean of graduate medical education, associate dean
of continuing and graduate medical education, and professor of
physician assistant studies.
Dr. Brandon is certified by the American Board of Radiology.
He serves as a fellow of the American Board of Radiology and is a
member of the American College of Radiology, the Radiological
Society of North America, the Association of University
Radiologists, the Society of Gastrointestinal Radiologists, the
American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, and the Society of
Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiologists.
FOLLOWING HIS MENTOR
As the newly appointed chair of radiology at the
University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Dr. Jeffrey Brandon plans to continue in the footsteps
of his long-time mentor, Dr. Steven K. Teplick.
Dr. Teplick died unexpectedly in 2009, after serving as
professor and chair of radiology at USA for close to 15
years.
“I will do my best to maintain Dr. Teplick’s legacy in this
department,” Dr. Brandon said. “It was a great experience
to work with someone who is your mentor, colleague and
friend.”
“For Dr. Teplick, the most important
thing was to have fun. His last years
were devoted to sacrificing everything
for medical students and residents,”
Dr. Brandon said. “That’s the focus
I’m going to have, too.”
Dr. Brandon, who served as vice-chair of radiology and
director of the residency program at USA since 1995, is
looking forward to future opportunities for the radiology
department as well.
“USA’s teleradiology programs currently provide
radiology services to small, rural Alabama hospitals that
need full-time coverage,” Dr. Brandon said. “One of our
goals is to continue to strengthen the relationship with the
hospitals and continue to provide community outreach.”
The radiology department has also grown within the
system. Radiology services are covered at USA Children’s
and Women’s Hospital, the USA Medical Center, and
the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute. In addition, the
department is expanding its faculty to include more
interventional radiologists.
Dr. Lewis G. Coumanis, a USA alumnus, was recently
appointed assistant professor of radiology and has
joined the USA division of interventional radiology.
Interventional radiology, a subspecialty of radiology, uses
image guidance to perform minimally invasive procedures.
Interventional radiologists are involved in both the
diagnosis and treatment of a disease.
According to Dr. Brandon, the radiology department at
USA provides leading-edge services to the community. “Dr. Teplick was at the medical forefront with his
interventional work, and he opened the door for the rest of us,” Dr. Brandon said. “With the institution’s
investment in technology, our services are practically
instantaneous, and we have a wide range of faculty
expertise.
“Throughout my career, I have observed many radiology
departments,” Dr. Brandon said. “Right now, we have the
best radiologists that I have ever seen in my career.
“Dr. Teplick’s dedication to teaching has helped make
the radiology residency program what it is today. I’m very proud of the residency program at USA,” Dr. Brandon said. “Now, we have 100 percent complete
board certification. We are competing with some of the
most prestigious radiology programs in the nation for
residents.” 19
News and
moves
in practice with the Women’s
Institute of Specialized Health
in Chattanooga with an OB/
GYN specialty.
Daniel (21). Mitzi is in practice at
Eastern Shore OB/GYN. In her free
time, Mitzi enjoys singing in her church
choir, sailing, fishing and sewing.
Patrick Bosarge, ‘00, and
his wife welcomed new baby
Sophia in October 2010.
Lakeisha M. Conley, ‘07, moved from
Mobile, Ala., to Charlotte, N.C.
Scott T. Boyette, ‘93, moved
from West Monroe, La., to
Hattiesburg, Miss.
K.C. Brewington II, ‘95, resides in
Missoula, Mont. He has two children:
Sarah (15) and Will (10). K.C.’s specialty
is neurosurgery and he is in practice with
the Montana Neurological Association.
In his free time K.C. enjoys fly fishing.
Allison Bridges, ‘02, welcomed twins
Henry and Camille in July 2010.
Deberenia Allen-McKenzie ‘90 with
Patricia Sanders ‘77,
who was the first African-Amer
ican female graduate
Deberenia (Williams) AllenMcKinzie, ‘90, lives in Plantation,
Fla., with her husband, Robert.
Deberenia has four children: stepson,
Robert McKinzie III (19) who attends
Hampton University, Amber (17) who
attends Spelman College, Devaney (14)
and Ryan (6). Deberenia’s specialty
is emergency medicine. Deberenia’s
interests include mentoring to minority
teens concerning HIV/STDs and
women’s health issues.
Mudassar Asghar, ‘05, moved from
Ann Arbor, Mich., to Richmond, Va.
Aashish Bharara, ‘04, moved from
Lombard, Ill., to Atlanta.
Priya N. Bhat, ‘04, moved from Ann
Arbor, Mich., to Chicago.
Joseph H. Bodet, ‘81, moved from
Webster Grove, Mo., to Charleston, W. Va.
20
James Patrick Bolton, ‘85, resides in
Hixson, Tenn., with his wife, Retha.
James and Retha have three children:
Patrick Wells (26), Dane Alexander
(24) and Keaton Royce (20). James is
Steven Brint, ‘90, resides in Longwood,
Fla., with his wife, Elizabeth, and
their two children, Spencer (17) and
Stephanie (13). Steven completed a
gastroenterology fellowship and is
currently in practice with Central Florida
Gastroenterology.
Anitra G. Brown, ‘06, moved from
Reading, Penn., to Tallahassee, Fla.
LaDonna Crews, ‘95, resides in Mobile,
Ala., with her husband, Dr. Benjamin
Estrada, and their two children:
Benjamin Joseph (7) and Gianna Marie
(4). LaDonna is a pediatrician with the
University of South Alabama pediatrics
department.
Lauren L. Cronenberg-Self, ‘06,
moved from Mauldin, S.C., to Spanish
Fort, Ala. Lauren is in practice with
Azalea City Physicians for Women.
Lauren and her husband welcomed baby
John Greyson in August 2010.
Suzanne M. Daly, ‘96, moved from Salt
Lake City to Patagonia, Ariz.
Robert C. Dean, ‘87, moved from
Ithaca, N.Y., to Blacksburg, Va.
Jaideep Debsikdar, ‘02, moved from
Alpharetta, Ga., to Memphis, Tenn.
James W. Butler, ‘80, resides in
Evansville, Ind., with his wife, Candy.
They have three adult children:
Kathleen (29), Timothy (26) and
Kaitland (24). Jim’s specialties are
occupational medicine and aerospace
medicine. He practices at St. Mary’s
Occupational Medicine Clinic.
Justin D. Campbell, ‘07, moved from
Winston-Salem, N.C., to Auburn, Ala.
Robert Caton, ‘80, is living in
Modesto, Calif. Bob’s specialty is
orthopaedic surgery, and he is in private
practice.
Christi Cazalas, ‘06, moved from
Memphis, Tenn., to Mobile, Ala.
Mitzi Childs, ‘80, lives in Fairhope,
Ala., with her husband, Rick, an
ophthalmologist. Mitzi and Rick have
two adult children: Sarah (23) and
and
Hillary Dye ‘05,Tracy Williams '05
Jill Ringold '01
Michael and Hilary K. Dye, ‘05,
moved from Mobile, Ala., to WinstonSalem, N.C.
Jonathan Ellis, ‘05, resides in Biloxi,
Miss., at Keesler Air Force Base with his
wife, Emily, and one-year-old daughter,
Annabelle Grace. Jonathan’s specialty is
ophthalmology. Jonathan enjoys golf,
fishing, running, and playing the tuba,
bassoon and ukelele.
Amy Harvey Eubanks, ‘95, lives in
Summerfield, N.C., with her husband,
Russ Eubanks, and their 9-year-old
daughter, Hannah. Amy’s specialty is
pediatrics and she practices with Lucas
Pediatrics of Cornerstone Healthcare.
Amy enjoys cycling, reading, outdoor
activities, spending time with her family
and scrapbooking.
Christine C. Evankovich, ‘93, moved
from Butler, Penn., to Elkins, W. Va.
Dara Josiah Howze, moved from Crete,
Ill., to Rock Hill, S.C.
Marianna H. Kaufmon, moved from
Durham, N.C. to Fayetteville, N.Y.
Kathleen J. Locker, ‘01, moved from
Shannon, Miss., to Chattanooga, Tenn.
Douglas N. Lurie, Jr., ‘02, moved from
Fairhope, Ala., to New Orleans.
Chester Falterman, moved from
New Orleans to Murfreesboro,
Tenn.
F. Warren Feist, Jr., ‘87, moved
from Bedford, Penn., to Modesto,
Calif.
Laurie J. Folkman, ‘83, moved
from Tampa, Fla., to Madison, Ala.
Michael L. Francavilla, ‘09,
moved from Mobile, Ala., to Miami,
Fla.
Members of the class of ‘05 and families
Matthew T. Gaines, ‘01, moved from
Waverly, Ala., to Brandon, Miss.
Vincent W. Gardner, ‘98, moved from
Homewood, Ala., to Signal Mountain,
Tenn.
Sarah R. Gibson, ‘05, moved from
Boston to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Paul Hannon, ‘09, moved from Mobile,
Ala., to Houston.
Wendelin M. Heninger, ‘88, moved
from Asheville, N.C., to Knoxville, Tenn.
Tiffany Hines, ‘95, lives in Brentwood,
Tenn., with her husband, Bob, and their
three children: Claudia (11), Annabel (8)
and Cole (4). Tiffany practices medpeds/
palliative care with Alive Hospice in
Nashville, Tenn.
Sarah E. Joiner, ‘05, resides in Mobile,
Ala., with her husband, David, and oneyear-old son, Chase. Sarah’s specialty is
internal medicine, and she practices at
Grand Bay Medical Center. Sarah enjoys
spending time with family, reading and
singing.
Tamara Majic, ‘05, moved from Los
Angeles, Calif., to Las Vegas.
Alan Maltbie, ‘06, and wife, Jennifer,
welcomed baby Sophie Louise in
December 2010.
Farood Masood moved from Auburn,
Ala., to Billings, Mont. Amanda C. McBane moved from
Spanish Fort, Ala., to Tallahassee, Fla.
John L. McDonough, ‘83, moved from
Enterprise, Ala., to San Antonio.
David Maxwell, ‘80, lives in Tuscaloosa,
Ala., with his wife, Jeanne. David is
a family practice physician for the
University of Alabama Student Health
Center. David and Jeanne have four
children: Gina (28), Amanda (26), Robert
(16) and Kathryn (14).
Megan McGiffert, ‘05, lives in
Tuscaloosa, Ala., where she practices
pediatrics with Tuscaloosa Pediatrics.
Tamara Ann McIntosh, ‘95, resides
in Ohatchee, Ala., with her husband,
Lawrence Thibault, and their two
children: Sarah (13) and Lauren (10).
Tamara’s specialty is family medicine.
Tamara enjoys quilting, traveling,
spending time with family and
photography.
Paul D. McNeely, ‘97, moved from
Harahan, La., to Beaumont, Texas.
Benjamin H. Meyer, ‘78, moved from
Salisbury, Md., to Potter Valley, Calif.
Brett and Tracy Miller, ‘05, live
in Louisville, Ky., with their two
children: Sam (2) and Noah (1). Brett’s
specialty is emergency medicine, and he
practices with Southern Energy Medical
Specialists. Tracy practices internal
medicine with Cogent Healthcare.
Brett enjoys running and movies. Tracy
enjoys spending time with her kids,
running, working out and photography.
Charles "Mickey" Moore, ‘85, lives
in Kennesaw, Ga., with his wife, Cathy.
Mickey and Cathy have two children:
Sarah (23) and Rachel (18). Mickey
practices emergency medicine with the
Kennestone Emergency Group.
Tanikqua Moore, ‘05, lives in Bessemer,
Ala., with her husband, Gregory Moore,
and 2-year-old daughter, Elizabeth.
Tanikqua practices pediatrics with
Morgan Pediatrics in Birmingham, Ala.
Tanikqua’s hobbies are ballet and cooking.
Roger Moss, ‘80, lives in Decatur, Ala.,
where he practices family medicine.
Roger has two children: Mary Kristin
(Kristi) and Roger Moss III (Beau).
Roger enjoys tennis, piano, riding horses
and volunteering at the Decatur Free
Clinic. He is a member of Central United
Methodist Church.
Alice Neumann, ‘84, moved from
Jackson, Wyo., to Lakewood, Colo.
Jeff Nicholson, ‘90, resides in
Birmingham, Ala., with his wife, Scarlette
Smith (also COM ‘90) and their 8-yearold dog, Cayman. Jeff is a radiologist with
the Birmingham Radiological Group. Jeff
enjoys skydiving, running, reading and
traveling.
Bulletin continued on next page
21
William T. O’Byrne, ‘97, moved from
Nashville, Tenn., to Birmingham, Ala.,
and is practicing with the Birmingham
Veterans Administration Medical Center.
Captain Louis D. Orosz, ‘90, is serving
in the U.S. Navy at the Naval Hospital
in Rota, Spain. Louis and his wife, May,
have three children: Tasha (16), Mary
Jo (5) and John (4). Louis’ specialty
is emergency medicine. Louis enjoys
traveling, cycling, personal fitness, weight
lifting, running, scuba diving and hiking.
Sarah Payne, ‘10, resides in Denver with
her husband, Nick, and their 9-monthold son, Henry. Sarah is in her first year
of OB/GYN residency at St. Joseph’s
Hospital in Denver.
Katie and Ryan Pettit, ‘08, are proud
new parents to baby Cooper born in July
2010.
‘95
Holly Pursley ‘95 and Tiffany Hines
Holly Pursley, ‘95, is married to
Dr. Michael Pursley (COM ‘96) and they
live in Fairhope, Ala. Holly and Michael
have two children: Ella (8) and Evan (2).
Holly’s specialty is internal medicine.
Holly volunteers at the Alabama Free
Clinic and enjoys kayaking and painting.
Xingyi Que moved from Mobile, Ala., to
Wheeling, Wyo.
Phillip A. Raduazo, ‘08, moved from
Irving, Texas, to Cary, N.C.
Bill Reed, ‘95, lives in Montgomery,
Ala., with his wife, Carmen, and their two
children Ethan (10) and Phoebe (5). Bill’s
specialty is obstetrics/gynecology. He is in
group practice with Central Alabama Ob/
Gyn Associates, P.A.
22
Leslie Robinson Sawyer, ‘05, lives in
Wilsonville, Ala., with her husband,
Joseph, and two children: Anna (5) and
Will (2). Leslie and Joseph are expecting
their third child. Leslie’s specialty is
pediatrics, and she practices with Coosa
Valley Pediatrics. Leslie enjoys spending
time with family, reading, jogging and
biking.
Andrea Saxon Lamberson, ‘90, lives
in Birmingham, Ala., with her husband,
Randy, who is also a physician. Andrea
and Randy have two children: Emily (8)
and Wesley (8). Andrea practices family
medicine. In her free time she enjoys
spending time with family and friends
and being outdoors.
Suzanne D. Stuckey, ‘05, moved from
Mobile, Ala., to Durham, N.C.
Charles H. Svennson, ‘86, moved from
Foley, Ala., to Des Moines, Iowa.
Christopher C. Swain, ‘91, moved from
Sarasota, Fla., to Woodrufff, S.C.
Jake S. Vacarella, ‘79, moved from Lake
Geneva, Wis., to Portland, Ore.
Mithila Vullaganti, ‘06, moved from
Houston to Cambridge, Mass.
William H. Wade, Jr., ‘07, moved from
Atlantic Beach, N.C., to Orange Beach,
Ala.
Steven D. Scarcliff, ‘05, moved from
Alabaster, Ala., to Shreveport, La.
Sharla Wartes Patteson moved from
Mobile, Ala., to Clinton, Miss.
Zachary Scheer, ‘05, moved from
Mobile, Ala., to El Mirage, Ariz.
John W. Watford, ‘03, moved from
Bend, Ore., to Asheville, N.C.
Aaron D. Seims, ‘06, moved from
Orlando, Fla., to Indianapolis.
Daniel C. Weaver, ‘89, moved from
Stonewall, La., to Rio Rancho, N.M.
Girish Shroff moved from Mobile, Ala.,
to Winston-Salem, N.C.
Michael L. Wertheimer, ‘06, moved
from Norfolk, Va., to Memphis.
Linda B. Singerman,‘86, moved from
Warner, N.H., to Seminole, Fla.
Mark Williams, ‘80, lives in Indian
Springs, Ala., with his wife, Sandi. Mark
and Sandi have four children: Jason (35),
Jessica (27), Sloan (25) and Emily (20).
Mark’s specialty is anesthesiology, and
he is the current chief medical officer for
North Mississippi Health Systems.
Albert Smith, ‘80, lives in Birmingham,
Ala., with his wife, Lynn. Albert and
Lynn have two children: Adam (20)
attends Auburn University and Christina
(19) is attending Furman University.
Albert’s specialty is family medicine, and
he is in practice with Adamsville Family
Medicine. Albert enjoys short-term
missions, tennis, reading classic books and
Christian literature, and choral singing
within his church and community.
Billy Woodall, ‘05, lives in Athens, Ala.,
with his wife, Emil, and five children:
Rebecca (8), Henry (6), William (6),
Vivian (3) and Ellen (1). Billy practices
family medicine with Waddell Center
Family Medicine.
Timothy C. Sorrells, ‘88, moved from
Camp Lejeune, N.C., to Chesapeake, Va.
Nagy A. Youssef moved from Mobile,
Ala., to Durham, N.C.
Scarlette Smith, ‘90, lives in
Birmingham, Ala., with her husband,
Jeff Nicholson (COM ’90). Scarlette
is a dermatologist in solo practice with
Smith Dermatology, P.C. Scarlette enjoys
running and reading.
To keep your professional information
updated, please e-mail us at medalum@
usouthal.edu. The Medical Alumni Office
also has a monthly e-Newsletter that
includes a “class news” section. To receive
the electronic version we need your current
e-mail address – just be sure to put your
name in the subject line.
James E. Stark, ‘88, moved from
Portland, Ore., to Roswell, Ga.
Expansion continued from page 2
each year, with one-quarter of the babies coming from other hospitals
in the region.
“This expansion will enable us to enhance the care we provide to our
patients,” said Dr. Stephen Varner, assistant professor and interim chair
of obstetrics and gynecology. “The project also considers our teaching
requirements and includes new academic space.”
“Our success in training physicians in this facility is measured by the
quality of our graduates,” said Dr. Loran Clement, chair of pediatrics.
“This expansion builds on our success and will allow us to do even
more in the future.”
At the groundbreaking, the University announced a $10.6 million
private fundraising initiative to enhance the programs and services
of USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital and announced the first
major gift to the campaign, a $975,000 gift from the estate of the late
Margarette G. Griffin of Semmes, who died in 2009. The funds are
being matched 25 percent by the University to create the $1.2 million
Margarette G. Griffin Pediatric Cancer Research Endowment Fund to
support the division of pediatric oncology at the hospital.
USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital is one of less than 10 freestanding children’s and women’s hospitals in the country. To learn more about USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital, please visit
www.southalabama.edu/usacwh or call (251) 415-1000.
Margarette G. Griffin was born in Mobile
and lived most of her adult life in Semmes, Ala.,
where she was active in church and community.
While she and her late husband, Roy Delmas
Griffin, never had children, both were interested
in supporting organizations whose missions
centered on providing care to children in need,
especially those suffering from pediatric cancer.
Griffin learned of the work taking place in the
USA pediatric oncology program and made the
gift to support its efforts to provide services to
local children.
In making the gift, Griffin wrote to the
University, “Combating the ravages of cancer
and even eliminating it entirely are goals we
both share. I am so pleased that the university is
placing a strong emphasis on establishing within
our community a major regional cancer research
and treatment facility. It is terrible when anyone
has cancer, more so when it is a child.”
For more information about the Campaign
for USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital,
contact Travis Grantham, director of medical
development and alumni relations, at (251) 461-1775 or e-mail [email protected].
Christensen continued from page 3
Christensen served as a Navy nurse in Japan for 12 years.
It was during her time overseas that she decided to make
the career switch to medicine. “I became involved with
humanitarian issues overseas,” she said, “and I was really
interested in critical care medicine. That was when I decided
to go to medical school.”
Christensen currently works as a nurse practitioner at Sacred
Heart Hospital in Pensacola, where she also teaches other
nurses in critical care courses.
BIOMEDICAL LIBRARY
“I’m really hoping my nursing background will help me as
a medical student at USA. “In nursing, I learned bits and
pieces of information,” Christensen said. “By learning the
basic foundation in medical school, it will help me fit those
pieces together.
“Nursing school gave me a baseline,” she added. “Now I will
evaluate what I already know, and use that to my advantage
in medical school.”
Since its relocation to the University of South Alabama Medical
Center in 2009, the USA Biomedical Library’s Health Information
Resource Center is closer not only to medical students, faculty and
hospital staff, but also to patients and their families.
With its new location being more accessible to patients, the Health
Information Resource Center has broadened its focus to include
more consumer health information. The branch continues to
provide information to medical, nursing and allied health students,
but it is also including resources that library directors hope will
help make patients and their families understand how to find and
interpret quality health information.
“We are always evaluating our resources that we have available and
working to provide up-to-date information for our customers,”
assistant director Geneva Staggs said. “We want to stay on the
leading edge of new databases and technology in order to provide
continued support in the areas of both patient care and education.”
23
Alumni Story continued from page 14
patients across the country. “We’re excited and thankful for the
hope we have,” Dr. Potts said.
In addition, Dr. Potts formed a dementia training company,
Dementia Dynamics, that teaches caregivers coping skills and
how to interact with patients. “The expressive arts is a medium through which caregivers
can connect with their patients – it fosters communication
between them,” Dr. Potts said. “Through this foundation, I’m focusing more on caregivers and bringing appreciation to
them.”
In 2006, one year before his dad died, Dr. Potts published
a book titled “The Broken Jar,” featuring his father’s paintings
as well as the poems he wrote after becoming inspired by his
dad’s work.
Dr. Potts said his experience with his father changed his
practice in many ways. “I fell in love with neurology in
Mobile, but I began to gravitate into dementia because of
my dad,” he said. “Now, half of my patients are dementia
patients.”
Dr. Potts, a 1993 graduate of the USA College of Medicine,
said he appreciates the education and experience he received
at USA. “I was exposed to the best teaching I’ve ever been
exposed to,” he said. “My teachers inspired me to go out and
make a difference.”
24
Darrell Peterson, Penn State/Milton S.
Dr. E. Eugene Marsh III, a University of South Alabama
alumnus, was recently appointed the first leader for the Penn
State College of Medicine Regional Campus in State College.
Dr. Marsh, who grew up in Marion, Ala., earned his medical
degree from USA in 1979. After an internship in family
medicine, he completed a residency in neurology at the Walter
Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
“I felt very prepared for my residency at Walter Reed, which I attribute to the educational foundation I received at USA,”
Dr. Marsh said. “USA was a good fit for me with its size and
sense of commitment to a strong base in clinical medicine,” Dr. Marsh said. “When I graduated, I was confident in my
ability to achieve my career goals.”
After fulfilling his military obligation, Dr. Marsh completed
an additional two years of training at the University of Iowa
Hospitals and Clinics as a fellow associate in cerebrovascular
diseases.
In 2001, Dr. Marsh returned to full-time academics.
He joined the University of Alabama School of Medicine
Tuscaloosa Campus faculty as an associate professor of internal
medicine and associate dean for academic affairs. He was
later named dean of the University of Alabama’s College
of Community Health Sciences and associate dean of the
University of Alabama School of Medicine Tuscaloosa Campus.
Dr. Marsh, whose research interests include stroke and stroke
prevention, said teaching has always been his passion. “My goal
is to make a difference in stroke care,” he said. “The more I
learn about stroke prevention, the more I realize that many of
the strokes I have seen could have been prevented.”
Because the majority of Pennsylvania is rural, Dr. Marsh said
he will have an opportunity to continue his focus on primary
care and rural health. “Working in Pennsylvania is giving me
the opportunity to address many of the same challenges we
addressed in Alabama,” Dr. Marsh said.
Hershey Medical Center
Dr. Eugene Marsh
“There are similarities in risk factors, predispositions and
access issues, as well as a shortage of primary care physicians.”
Dr. Marsh hopes to overcome access challenges by looking
at the types of services the medical campus can bring to the
area. In addition, he will look at new ways to provide patientcentered quality care for patients served by the clinical campus
in State College.
“There will be an emphasis on medical education for third
and fourth year medical students, and we will be developing
a residency program in family medicine,” Dr. Marsh said.
“From a research standpoint, it will be important for us to link
the scientific knowledge in State College with the expertise
at the main medical campus in Hershey, Pa. We will also be
developing some dual-degree programs for students already in
graduate programs in State College.
“Our mission in State College is to look at better ways to
deliver health care and make a difference for this community,”
Dr. Marsh said. “I’m excited about new and different
challenges. My goal is for this Penn State medical campus to
become a model of excellence.”
University of South Alabama
MEDICINE
University of South Alabama College of Medicine
5851 USA Drive North, Mobile AL 36688-0002
www.southalabama.edu/com