Listen to Dr. Sara Paul Preview Her Assembly Presentation on Heart Failure and Cardiac Arrest

September 7, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

During this podcast, Dr. Sara Paul, a nurse practitioner in a private cardiology practice in Western North Carolina, and SMA President Dr. Lee Carter, an internal medicine specialist in private practice in Hickory, North Carolina, offer listeners a preview of Dr. Paul's presentation on heart failure and cardiac arrest taking place during SMA’s Annual Scientific Assembly in Greensboro, North Carolina October 26-28, 2023.

For more information and to register for the Assembly, please visit https://sma.org/asa2023 or call (800) 423-4992.

Posted in: Annual Scientific Assembly

Getting to Know Clinton Adkison, SMA Services 401(k) Administrator

September 5, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

Clinton Adkison just recently celebrated his 1-year anniversary with SMA Services. He has been in Third Party Administration for a few years, and prior to that he was an educator.  Clinton hails from the state of Florida and is a proud alumnus of Florida State University.  He is a true asset here at SMA Services; his knowledge, sense of humor and customer service are what his clients truly appreciate.

One of Clinton’s passions outside of 401(k) administration is his love for automobiles.  

“I have always been a ‘gear head’. I love cars. I enjoy working on them and modifying them. As a teen I would add subwoofers and lights to make my car look and sound ‘cool’,” he recalled. “As I matured into my 2o’s I realized it was about speed and performance. I rebuilt my ‘95 Ford Mustang GT (Last of the real 302’s/5.0) and built the block from the bottom up. As he gained knowledge about cars, Clinton also learned some lessons along the way and that with age comes wisdom. “Nothing on that block was stock except the block,” he said. Then I found out when you sell it you do not make the money back that you poured into it. So I decided in my 30’s, to just go ahead and buy it from the factory fast so there will be a resale value. Also, now that I have turned 40 I don’t want to work on cars anymore…I just want to drive them.”

As for what Clinton drives now? “My current car is a 2020 BMW M4 Coupe. The engine is a Twin Turbocharged 3.0L inline 6. 🙂,” he shared.

Clinton is quite the world traveler who enjoys experiencing new and different cultures. He has traveled to Jamaica, Bahamas, Ireland, England, Scotland, Norway, and Japan. “Of all the places I have been, Japan was by far the best. The food is amazing!!! And when you step off the plane everything is different,” he explained. The air smells different, the roads are different, the people are different, and the language is different. Everyone is super respectful and are willing to help in any way they can. The ways of honor are still very prevalent in Japan.” 

Clinton has such great respect for Japan, the people, and its culture that he wanted to learn the language – that is how he met his beautiful wife Tomoyo. who started out as his Japanese language teacher in Florida. They were later married in Japan with her family and they have been married for 7 years.

You can email Clinton at cadkison@sma.org  or call him at (205) 421-4125.

Founded in 1984, SMA Services, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Southern Medical Association that is a leading Third Party Administrator (TPA) providing all-inclusive plan administration, plan design, consulting and compliance services. The Southern Medical Association was founded in 1906 with a mission to improve quality of patient care through multidisciplinary, interprofessional education.

SMA Announces Call for Abstracts for Its 2024 Physicians-in-Training Leadership Conference

September 1, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

The Southern Medical Association (SMA) is currently accepting abstracts for its 4th Annual Physicians-In-Training Leadership Conference taking place February 16-18, 2024, at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee.

Medical students, residents, and fellows are eligible to submit an abstract for this conference.

To download complete submission guidelines and to submit an abstract, CLICK HERE!

The deadline for abstract submissions is Wednesday, November 15, 2023.

Presenters will compete in person for monetary awards totaling $9,400:

Oral Abstract Awards
1st Place $3,000.00*
2nd Place $2,000.00
3rd Place $1,000.00

*1st Place Program $1000 Sponsorship

Poster Awards
1st Place $1,000.00
2nd Place $800.00
3rd Place $600.00

Posted in: 2023AbstractHiddenPhysicians-in-Training

Getting to Know Ben Satterfield, SMA Services 401(k) Administrator

August 30, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

Ben has been in the 401k industry for more than 10 years and has experience in compliance testing, payroll aggregation, distribution processing, and plan document maintenance.  He has been at SMA for almost 2 years and admits he loves it!  Ben is a leader among the other administration team and embodies the quality customer service standards at SMA Services.  He is the quintessential Southern gentleman who will get the job done. 

Ben’s Professional Advice About 401(k)s

  • If you’re young, you should look into making your deferrals as Roth deferrals. Taxes are only going to go up.  So, you might as well pay them now while they’re lower.  But he advises, “Make sure you talk to your tax guy first, though. I’m not a tax advisor.”
  • “Oh, and don’t take a loan out on your 401k to go on vacation,” he adds. “And, yes, I’ve seen it happen!”

Ben was born, raised, and still lives in Knoxville, Tennessee. He and his wife Kim, who is an ELA teacher for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades, have been married for about 2 ½ years. They have a maltipoo named Jasper and a cat named Mildred. Ben is very involved with his church, and has been involved in youth ministry for more than 20 years. If he’s not at work or at church, then he’s probably at the lake!! 

You can email Ben at bsatterfield@sma.org or call him at (800) 423-4992 ext. 112.

Founded in 1984, SMA Services, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Southern Medical Association that is a leading Third Party Administrator (TPA) providing all-inclusive plan administration, plan design, consulting and compliance services. The Southern Medical Association was founded in 1906 with a mission to improve quality of patient care through multidisciplinary, interprofessional education.

Getting to Know Kristi Tawney, SMA Services 401(k) Administrator

August 22, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

Kristi Tawney began working in the 401(k) industry at the start of 2020. With the COVID-19 pandemic occurring shortly after, she realized that may not have been the ideal time to change careers, but she has no regrets. “It was the perfect fit for myself and my family, Kristi recalled. “ I originally started with another company in the Knoxville, Tennessee area. Working there taught me so much about the industry, but it taught me even more about what kind of role I wanted to play within an organization.”

Joining the SMA Services team in 2022, Kristi’s desire to help others complements her role as a 401(k) administrator perfectly.  “I have a passion for serving people as the individuals we are, which means we have different wants and needs in all walks of our lives,” she said. “In order to become that person I needed a company where they would allow me to grow and serve people the way I felt I needed to; SMA Services has allowed me to do just that.”  

Kristi’s commitment and dedication have not gone unnoticed by those she helps. 

“I had the good luck to get Kristi Tawney on the phone. She was so helpful in solving [my] problem.” said Carolyn Wieteler-Benford. “She went out of her way to get to the bottom of the problem and guided me through the solution to get it fixed. Her kindness and caring was much needed. After the early experience with a certain bank, getting someone smart and kind was such a pleasure. She is a great asset to your company.”

The youngest of four children, Kristi has three grown children of her own – Lillian, Jacob, and Zachary. Living in Knoxville, Kristi’s blood runs orange for the University of Tennessee VOLS, and she loves to play games with her family. “We can get a little rowdy, but it makes for great memories, she said. “Time with family is what I cherish most in life.”

You can email Kristi at ktawney@sma.org or call her at (800) 423-4992 ext. 108. 

Founded in 1984, SMA Services, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Southern Medical Association that is a leading Third Party Administrator (TPA) providing all-inclusive plan administration, plan design, consulting and compliance services. The Southern Medical Association was founded in 1906 with the mission to improve quality of patient care through multidisciplinary, interprofessional education. 

Point of Care Ultrasound Training

August 17, 2023 // Southern Medical Association
Posted in: Hidden
SMA Virtual Abstract Competition Top 20 Winners Post Header

SMA Virtual Abstract Competition Top 20

August 15, 2023 // Randy Glick

Congratulations to the Top 20 Winners of SMA’s Virtual Abstract Competition that took place August 8-9, 2023! 

With more than 85 oral and poster abstracts presented during the two-day virtual event, physicians-in-training from more than 30 medical schools and residency programs had the opportunity to share their research and interact with their peers. 

“It was wonderful to spend time with these outstanding medical students and residents and hear about interesting cases as well as the latest developments across various aspects of medicine,” noted SMA Executive Director Randy Glick. “All of the presenters did an outstanding job. Their hard work and preparation were apparent and made this competition a success.” 

WHAT"S NEXT FOR WINNERS?....

Each winner will be notified by SMA’s Director of Education, Susan Gonzalez, as to what they need to prepare to present in person at SMA’s Annual Scientific Assembly taking place October 26-28 in Greensboro, North Carolina to compete for over $12,000 in cash prizes. 

Top 10 Oral Abstract Winners

Trenton Ferguson, PGY3 

Virginia Tech Carilion

“Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole–Induced Psychosis in a Patient With Down Syndrome”

Ahmed Hebishy, PGY1

East Carolina University

“Nausea and Vomiting in a Teenager, Treated as Cholecystitis, Found to have Castleman Disease”

Sunpil Hwang, PGY2

North Alabama Medical Center

“A Rare Presentation of Metastatic Sclerosing Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma with Spinal Cord Compression”

Ritika Kumar, PGY1

North Alabama Medical Center

“Rare Case of Cardiac Fibroelastoma- Cause of Embolic Stroke”

Tripti Nagar, PGY3

Wayne State University

“Development of Migratory Dermatographism after Moderna COVID-19 Booster Vaccination”

Sierra Patterson, PGY2

Medical University of South Carolina

“Atriocaval Shunt as Damage-Control Surgical Technique for Complex Pancreaticoduodenal and Juxta Hepatic Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Injury”

Henry Ross, PGY2

Medical University of South Carolina

“Needs Assessment for MUSC ACCESS Program Among M4's & Preliminary Residents”

Aditya Vinjamuri, PGY3

Tulane School of Medicine

“Can Inhibiting Ferroptosis and Subsequent Endothelial Glycocalyx Shedding Reduce the Morbidity and Mortality of Hemorrhagic Shock?”

Peter Zhang, PGY4

University of Tennessee Health Science Center

“Remote Monitoring of Patients with Congestive Heart Failure in Rural Areas Reduces Admissions Over Time”

Joshua Zweigle, PGY2

East Carolina University

“Solitary Scalp Metastasis – A Rare Presentation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma”

Top 10 Poster Abstract Winners

Laura Harrison, PGY3

University of Tennessee Health Science Center

“Refractory Hypertension and Hypokalemia in the Setting of Licorice Consumption”

Annabelle Lunt, PGY3

University of South Carolina School of Medicine

“Student-led Guidance for Diabetic Management in an Underserved Population”

Leo Meller, PGY1

University of California San Diego School of Medicine

“Necrobiotic Xanthogranuloma Associated with Uveitis, Retinal Vasculitis and Autoimmune Retinopathy”

Tina Phan, PGY3 

University of Tennessee Health Science Center

“Chorea-Is Diabetes Mellitus to Blame?”

Cooper Root, PGY3

University of Kansas School of Medicine

“Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with Suture Tape Augmentation: A Scoping Review”

Katherine Ruiz Gonzalez, PGY2

Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center

“Strenuous Cough Causing Bilateral Rectus Sheath Hematoma Secondary to Warfarin Coagulopathy”

Alexandra Savage, PGY2

University of Alabama Birmingham School of Medicine

“Investigating the Role of PGP Peptides and Heme in Sepsis-Related Acute Lung Injury: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives”

Lynn Tong, PGY1

Willis Knighton Health System

“Comparing Bacterial Presence with the Usage of 0.05% Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) Lavage During Urologic Prosthesis Revision Surgery”

Virginia Velez Quinones, PGY3

University of Miami  JFK Medical Center

“An Uncommon Case of Epiploic Appendagitis Initially Diagnosed as Acute Diverticulitis”

Clara Wynn, PGY2

Wellstar Kennestone

“Necrotizing Pancreatitis As A Complication of HELLP Syndrome”

Posted in: 2023AbstractPhysicians-in-Training

Meet SMA Services Director of Sales – Deb Catherall

August 15, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

Deb Catherall recently joined SMA Services, Inc., as Director of Sales. After 26 years at Ameritas, she has spread her wings and decided to join SMA Services, a leading third-party administrator (TPA) for qualified retirement plans. This position will allow her to utilize all her professional experience with “group qualified retirement plans.”

Deb is committed to collaborating with financial professionals, insurance brokers, small-to-mid sized business clients, as well as wholesalers and CPAs to explore and design qualified retirement plan solutions to maximize tax advantages and savings for employers and their employees.  

As an independent TPA, SMA Services, Inc., has the freedom to partner with all recordkeeping and investment platforms.  This allows SMA Services, Inc., to objectively focus on the myriad of available plan provisions, administrative, and compliance complexities while allowing complete investment platform flexibility.  

Please reach out and allow us to collaborate with you and your clients - let’s discuss the employer’s objectives for offering a retirement plan solution and see how we can help maximize the benefits.  

On an ongoing basis, we provide dedicated, personalized, all-inclusive administration and compliance services.  We are here to serve the needs of your retirement plan in any way we can.  

You can email Deb dcatherall@sma.org or call her directly (205) 421-4103. 

Founded in 1984, SMA Services, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Southern Medical Association that is a leading Third Party Administrator (TPA) providing all-inclusive plan administration, plan design, consulting and compliance services. The Southern Medical Association was founded in 1906 and SMA’s mission is to improve quality of patient care through multidisciplinary, interprofessional education. 

Rick Spence Named Executive Vice President of SMA Services, Inc.

August 3, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

SMA Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Southern Medical Association, is pleased to announce the appointment of Rick Spence as the Executive Vice President of SMA Services, Inc.

Rick joined SMA Services in 2022 and most recently served as Vice President, Director of Administration. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to implement additional services and technologies with outstanding personal service and attention from our SMA Services Team”, Rick said.

In his new role, Rick will foster a positive client first environment, striving to achieve an outstanding high touch customer service model as a trusted resource for clients and advisors.  He plans to grow SMA Services through relationships with our advisors and vendor partners. Rick will continue to lead the administration team offering support and training. He will be an integral part of SMA Services sales initiative.

“Rick has made a huge impact since joining us over a year ago. He’s put together a fantastic team of professionals to anchor our back office”, said Randy Glick, President of SMA Services, Inc. We’re excited to have him moving us forward.”

Prior to joining SMA Services Inc Rick served as Regional Client Manager for Ameritas Retirement Plans.  Rick has extensive ERISA and Investment experience for Qualified Plans.  Previously, Rick founded and was President of a Third Party Administration firm.

In his spare time Rick enjoys being the Men’s Ministry leader at his church. He  also enjoys fishing and spending time on the lake. 

Founded in 1984, SMA Services, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Southern Medical Association that is a leading Third Party Administrator (TPA) providing all-inclusive plan administration, plan design, consulting and compliance services. The Southern Medical Association was founded in 1906 and SMA’s mission is to improve quality of patient care through multidisciplinary, interprofessional education. 

Listen to Drs. Desiree-Burroughs-Ray and Christopher Jackson Preview Their Assembly Presentation on Wellness and Well-Being

July 25, 2023 // Southern Medical Association


During this podcast, Drs. Desiree Burroughs-Ray and Christopher Jackson offer a preview of their system-level and individual-level practical solutions to healthcare workers dealing with burnout amidst the convergence of multiple pandemics, a topic they will discuss in greater detail in their presentation on wellness and well-being taking place during SMA’s Annual Scientific Assembly in Greensboro, NC. Using personal stories and changes enacted at the system level in their institution, we want to start a conversation around a prescription for addressing wellness from the healthcare worker perspective.

For more information and to register for the Assembly, please visit https://sma.org/asa2023 or call (800) 423-4992.

Posted in: Annual Scientific Assembly

Listen to Dr. Gerald Harmon Preview His Assembly Presentation on Associations’ Approach to Proactive Care

July 10, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

Gerald E. Harmon, MD, recently named Interim Dean at the School of Medicine Columbia in Columbia, South Carolina joins SMA Executive Director Randy Glick to discuss “Associations’ Approach to Proactive Care”. During their conversation, they touch on shortages in healthcare delivery and physician leadership, topics Dr. Harmon will address in more detail during his presentation October 28, 2023 at SMA’s Annual Scientific Assembly in Greensboro, North Carolina. 

For more information and to register for the Assembly, please visit https://sma.org/asa2023 or call (800) 423-4992.

Posted in: Annual Scientific Assembly

Sparkler Safety

June 30, 2023 // Southern Medical Association
Originally posted on sma.org on June 24, 2021

 

Sparklers can be a great deal of fun, but if improperly used that fun can quickly take a turn for the worse.  Make sure your family, friends, and patients are aware of sparkler hazards to ensure a safe Fourth of July!  Approximately 18,500 fires are started annually due to fireworks (NSC, n.d.).  Sparklers are often the culprit, with the highest prevalence in emergency department visits among specific firework types (CPSC, 2018).  This comes as no surprise considering that Sparklers burn at 2,000 degrees (NCS, n.d.).  NCS advises that fireworks should only be used by professionals. 

 Safety Precautions

  • Never attempt to make your own sparklers
  • Only light one sparkler at a time
  • Remain in an open area when using sparklers, away from structures
  • Hold the sparkler still and away from your body
  • Ensure there are no flammable materials nearby
  • Never attempt to relight a sparkler that did not fully work
  • Children should not be allowed to hold or light fireworks, including sparklers! 
  • Keep a bucket of water nearby (NCS, n.d.)
  • Soak all fireworks in a bucket of water prior to throwing them away (Nemours, n.d.)

Safe Alternatives to Sparklers

  • Confetti poppers
  • Glow sticks
  • Bubbles
  • Colored streamers
  • Noise makers
  • Sticky hands
  • Toy jumping frogs
  • Bouncy balls

References and Resources

  1. Consumer Product Safety Commision (CPSC). (2018). Fireworks report. [Data set]. CPSC. https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/Fireworks_Report_2017.pdf?Jr0lMG0Z5QYQMTyUtYr_3GR.991BKn4l
  2. National Safety Council (NSC). (n.d.) Leave fireworks to the experts. https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/tools-resources/seasonal-safety/summer/fireworks
  3. Nemours (n.d.) Firework safety.  Kidshealth. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/fireworks.html

About the Author:

Kaylee Carter is a Registered Nurse in the Burn Center at Wake Forest Baptist Health in North Carolina.  Her medical career began as a phlebotomist in 2012.  Since then she has climbed the degree ladder from CNA, LPN, ADN, and she is two semesters away from her BSN.  She maintains ACLS, PALS, BLS, ABLS, and ABLS instructor certification.  Kaylee has spent several years as a staff nurse on the Burn Center and recently stepped into the Clinical Nurse Educator role.  She is very passionate about nursing retention and is the principal investigator for a research study related to burn nurse retention at her facility. 

Posted in: Patient Education

HIV: A Preventable Disease with Increasing Prevalence in the South

June 26, 2023 // Southern Medical Association


With more than 50% of the country’s HIV diagnoses in 2022 occurring in the South, Carl Fichtenbaum, MD, an Infectious Diseases specialist at the University of Cincinnati, and Philip Hartman, MD, a Family Medicine physician in Florence, Kentucky and former SMA President, discuss the status of HIV prevention and treatment in the United States. During their conversation, they provide insight into regional and racial disparities in new HIV cases and share information regarding pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and other methods of reducing HIV transmission. 

References 

HIV in the United States by Region: HIV Diagnoses (Reviewed October 2022)

PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) (Reviewed June 2022)

July 2023 CME Webinar: Subcutaneous Infusions

June 26, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

Subcutaneous Infusions

Presented by Steven Baldwin, MD

 

REGISTER HERE

Prolonged stress, delays in care, and patient deterioration can occur when repeated attempts to establish venous access are unsuccessful. Subcutaneous infusions can be quickly established with less stress, delays in care, and patient deterioration and represent a method to avoid higher risk procedures (ie, central venous catheters) to achieve fluid or medication infusions. During this webinar, Dr. Steven Baldwin will review indications and techniques for administering these infusions.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the attendee should be able to:

  • Describe the potential for subcutaneous infusions to be used as an alternative to traditional intravenous infusion techniques when intravenous access cannot be  readily achieved.
  • Utilize reference guidelines for performing subcutaneous infusions when indicated.
  • Develop processes that allow healthcare staff to initiate subcutaneous infusions when other methods of infusing fluids or medications fail or cannot be successfully achieved in a timely manner without multiple failures and/or prolonged discomfort/pain to the patient.
Posted in: 2023CME

Listen to Dr. Donald DiPette Preview His Assembly Presentation on Hypertension Studies

June 16, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

In this podcast, Dr. Donald DiPette, the Health Sciences Distinguished Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia, provides an introductory overview of his upcoming presentation, “Landmark Hypertension Studies during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Practical Clinical Implications”, taking place October 27 during SMA’s Annual Scientific Assembly in Greensboro, North Carolina. 

During the conversation, Dr. DiPette, who is also Advisor to the Pan American Health Organization HEARTS in the Americas Program, Hypertension Initiative, discusses some of the integral studies that were published during the pandemic time period and offers insight into their major and immediate clinical implications that should be considered by both primary care and specialty physicians. 

For more information and to register for the Assembly, please visit https://sma.org/asa2023 or call (800) 423-4992.

Posted in: Annual Scientific Assembly

New Courses Available in SMA’s CME Library

June 6, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

SMA’s Online Continuing Medical Education Library offers a variety of on-demand courses, presented in various formats. From podcasts to webinars and journal activities, there are numerous clinical and non-clinical topics available, with recent additions including:  

Courses are free and new content is being added on a consistent basis. Simply log in to your SMA account or register to create an account!

2023 Scholarship Season is Here

June 2, 2023 // Randy Glick

SMA’s scholarship submission season is currently open. SMA has awarded over $1.5 million to rising 4th-year medical students and we invite you to apply!

For complete information and requirements, click the button below!

APPLY OR GET MORE INFO!
Posted in: 2023Annual Scientific AssemblyPhysicians-in-Training

Improving Patient Outcomes through Better CME Design

May 26, 2023 // Susan M. Gonzalez, MS, BS

Since 1983 the Southern Medical Association (SMA) has been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).  Each year, the Education Department updates its very own education by attending ACCME’s annual conference in Chicago.  The conference brings together medical educators, professionals and experts from all over the world to discuss and explore the latest advancements and challenges in medical education.  

One notable session focused on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical education and its potential to revolutionize the learning experience for medical students in addition to the importance of striking a balance between technology and human interaction while advocating for a blended approach that maximizes the benefits of both. 

Another session delved into the topic of cultural competence in medical education as experts in this field stressed the significance of recognizing and addressing cultural biases in medical practice. Through interactive workshops and case studies, participants gained valuable insights into effectively integrating cultural competence into curricula and clinical training.

The conference also addressed the pressing need for diversity and inclusion, demonstrated how to design activities in order to confront systemic barriers and actively promote a more equitable and inclusive learning environment.  The participants were reminded of the power of representation and the importance of fostering an inclusive culture within medical institutions.

Keynote speakers shared the benefits of incorporating gameful pedagogy into educational activities, which can help learners think and problem-solve more creatively when faced with setbacks; the importance of collaboration between CE professionals and learning health systems to achieve the vision of learning healthcare; and, the similarity between an ensemble of musicians and the education of healthcare professionals with the reminder that “Life is not a rehearsal, and even a rehearsal isn’t a rehearsal.  Every moment is a learning moment, and as such, every moment is a teaching moment.” by Robert Iriving III.

Are you interested in accrediting your educational activity or quality improvement program? Contact Susan Gonzalez.

Posted in: 2023

Internal Medicine Faculty Receive Hands-On POCUS Training

May 24, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

Internal Medicine faculty at Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey, recently received hands-on point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) training, provided by SMA. Led by Mike Wagner, MD, FACP, FAIUM, Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Greenville and Director of Internal Medicine Ultrasound for Prisma Health-Upstate, the two-day training/CME event took place May 19-20 and included a series of live demonstrations, case-based simulations, and didactic lectures. 

The program, the aim of which is to offer onsite POCUS training at the clinicians’ facilities, provided a customized and comprehensive look at how and where medical ultrasound can effectively be used in point-of-care and general medicine settings. Attendees learned techniques that provide a foundation for a safe and effective ultrasound practice, including focused cardiac, pulmonary, abdominal and vascular applications.

“We were very pleased to have had this opportunity,” said Randy Glick, SMA Executive Director. “Education has been our mission for more than 100 years and we appreciate that SMA could be a part of this event.”

If you are interested in POCUS Hands-On-Training for your clinicians, please call (205) 421-4189 or email education@sma.org.

Posted in: 2023

Discussing ALAHOPE: The Alabama Health Professions Opioid Education Project

May 19, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

The Alabama Health Professions Opioid Education (ALAHOPE) project is a statewide initiative to create an interdisciplinary substance use disorder and pain management curriculum for Alabama health professions students. In this podcast, Ms. Heather Martin and Drs. Darlene Traffanstedt and Sue Feldman  discuss their external curricula content analysis used to help identify curriculum content for this project, an overview of which was recently published in the Southern Medical Journal. 

SMA Menu