THE COLLEGE The University of South Alabama Mobile, Alabama

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1 THE COLLEGE The University of South Alabama The University of South Alabama is a public, state supported University offering a wide range of undergraduate courses of study for men and women. Although this is a state supported University, the student body is not restricted to residents of the state of Alabama. Additionally, its students are selected without regard to ethnic background or religion. Under the present organization, the University is composed of the College of Allied Health Professions, College of Arts and Sciences, Mitchell College of Business, College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Continuing Education and Special Programs, School of Computer and Information Sciences, and the Graduate School, each headed by an academic officer. In addition, there are two specialized units: University Libraries and Department of Cooperative Education, operating in cooperation with the faculty and reporting directly to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. Departments within colleges operate under the direction of departmental chairs who report directly to the deans of the colleges, who in turn report to either the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs or the Vice President for Health Services. The University of South Alabama enrolls approximately 14,000 students and, like most universities, draws the majority of its students from its own state. Its faculty includes 795 full-time and 404 part-time members. The University consists of a 1200 acre campus located in the western section of Mobile, 315 acres on Mobile Bay which is occupied by the Educational Research and Development Center, a branch campus in Baldwin County, two hospitals, and administrative and outpatient facilities on Springhill Avenue and on Knollwood Road. The University of South Alabama Medical Center and USA Children s and Women s Hospital are the primary teaching hospitals for the College of Medicine. The University has partnered with AltaPointe to provide students with instruction in Psychiatry. USA Medical Center is the region s only Level I Trauma Center. Physicians and nurses are specially trained to manage trauma and critical care, surgical and medical intensive care, and neurotrauma intensive care. A wide range of other specialized services is also offered. Unique to the Gulf Coast is the USA Burn Center. This intensive care unit provides highly specialized treatment for both adult and pediatric burn patients, and is just one of the many special care centers offered through the USA medical system. The USA Hospitals have contracted with private providers for helicopter ambulance services. The USA Children s and Women s Hospital, established in 1983, is the only designated children s hospital in South Alabama, treating more than 6,000 children each year. This hospital is affiliated with the Children s Miracle Network, and all money collected by local fund raising activities remains in Mobile to provide medical care to benefit critically ill children from this region. The hospital includes neonatal and pediatric intensive care services as well as obstetrics and gynecology. A Ronald McDonald house for families of pediatric cancer patients is now affiliated with the hospital. Mobile, Alabama Mobile is a major Gulf Coast city with a population base in the greater metropolitan area of 500,000. The city has a rich and proud heritage that can be found in forts, museums, large antebellum homes and plantations. The Spanish first sailed into Mobile in Since then, the Spanish, French, English, Confederate and the United States flags have signaled this city s allegiance. The first submarine used in the Civil War was built in Mobile and one of the last important battles of the war was fought in this area when 45,000 Federal troops captured Spanish Fort. In preparation for this engagement, Admiral Farragut sailed the Federal fleet past guns of Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines and engaged the Confederate ships defending Mobile.

2 Mobile is Alabama s major seaport. The Mobile Convention Center, located on the waterfront, has a total interior size of 317,000 square feet, meeting space of over 42,000 square feet and an exhibit hall of 100,000 square feet. It attracts national as well as regional conventions and makes a major contribution to the economy of the area. The R.S.A. tower, completed in 2007, presides over downtown Mobile and the recently restored Battlehouse Hotel (part of the R.S.A. complex) provides elegant accommodations. Need a break from your studies and research? Beautiful white sandy beaches are within an hour s drive. There, one can indulge in sunning, sailing or fishing. One can also view the year-round seasonal beauty of Southern flora at scenic and world famous Bellingrath Gardens a 20 minute drive. For those who are athletically inclined, moderate temperatures allow year-round running. One can choose from an assortment of local 5K, 8K, 10K, half- Marathon and Marathon races. In addition, numerous athletic facilities on campus are available for use and many medical students have been active in intramural sports. Other entertainment? The University of South Alabama has a diverse collegiate athletic program with several teams which draw many local fans; 2009 is the first year for collegiate football at USA. The beautiful Mitchell Center is the home for the USA men s and women s basketball teams and the University s baseball facility, Stanky Field, was recently renovated. The Mobile area supports a Double A minor league professional baseball team, the Mobile Bay Bears, as well as numerous amateur sports leagues. The Mobile Civic Center offers other sports events, concerts, and Broadway plays. These events can be supplemented with various local theatrical plays and dinner theaters. Mobile is the home of the nation s oldest Mardi Gras celebration and Mardi Gras itself is a local holiday. This is the Gulf Coast, so seafood is plentiful. History of the College of Medicine 1961 The Mobile County Foundation for Public Higher Education, fostering the development of a statesupported university in Mobile County, was established by a special act of the Alabama Legislature. April, 1963 The University of South Alabama was formally authorized by the Alabama Legislature The University of South Alabama opened its doors to the students of Mobile County and the state of Alabama. May, 1965 The Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association sent representatives to the University of South Alabama to assess the possibilities of establishing a medical school there. 1967/1968 The Medical Society of Mobile County announced publicly that it was in favor of the establishment of a second medical school in Alabama. Aug. 19, 1969 Feb. 11, 1970 The Alabama Legislature passed a resolution that a second medical school should be established in Alabama under the auspices of the University of South Alabama. $4.5 million committed by City and County of Mobile to establish USA College of Medicine. Aug. 15, 1970 Opening date announced as September, Nov. 25, 1970 Mar. 13, 1971 May 4, 1971 May 15, 1971 Mobile General Hospital transferred to USA. Plans announced by President Whiddon for three buildings: Basic Medical Sciences Building, Clinic Building, and School of Nursing. State Legislature approved bond issue giving $10 million to USA College of Medicine. Dr. Robert M. Bucher named dean of new College.

3 April 5, 1972 April 30, 1972 Jan. 3, 1973 April 30, 1974 July 17, 1974 April 6, 1975 First construction contract awarded for foundation of Medical Sciences Building. Governor Wallace participated in ground-breaking for Medical Sciences Building. Charter Class of 25 students entered the College of Medicine. Governor Wallace participated in dedication of Medical Sciences Building. Monte L. Moorer Clinical Sciences Building dedicated at the Medical Center. Name of Mobile General Hospital changed to University of South Alabama Medical Center The old Providence Hospital on Springhill Avenue purchased by USA Doctors Hospital and Knollwood Park Hospital purchased by USA. Oct Opening of the Children s Rehabilitation Center on the campus of the USA Children s and Women s Hospital. Oct May, 2002 July 24, 2002 Dedication of the USA Children s Park, a sixteen acre park displaying bronze sculptures celebrating children and families. Establishment of the USA Cancer Research Institute. Creation of the Center for Lung Biology announced Cancer Center relocated to Mobile Infirmary and Knollwood Hospital leased to Mobile Infirmary. Summer, 2006 Summer, 2007 Spring, 2008 Spring, 2012 Renovation of MSB 1 st floor auditorium Gross Anatomy Lab is updated MSB Freshman auditorium is renovated Completion of new Simulation Laboratory at Children s and Women s Hospital and USA Medical Center The College of Medicine Conference Room is transformed into a new Active Learning Center Facilities of the College of Medicine The administrative offices of the College of Medicine are located on the main University campus which is situated in a heavily wooded area approximately 250 to 300 feet above sea level, one of the highest elevations in the area. The campus can be easily reached from Airport Boulevard, Old Shell Road, or Zeigler Boulevard (the extension of Springhill Avenue), all of which are intersected by University Boulevard. The campus adjoins the 750 acre Municipal Park with its extensive recreational facilities as well as the municipal golf course which is opposite the campus on University Boulevard. There are several buildings which are currently used as educational and research facilities by the College of Medicine: Medical Sciences Building (MSB) This is a modern structure of three stories with a total floor area of approximately 240,000 square feet. The principal classroom features of this building are lecture rooms, several conference rooms which will accommodate small groups, and eight teaching laboratories. The central student lab area is divided so that each unit will contain no more than 24 students. In addition to classroom space, there are research laboratories for the faculty, and an AALAC accredited stateof-the-art vivarium. The office of Student Affairs, the Office of Student Records, and the Office of Medical Student Financial Aid are located in the Associate Dean s suite on the first floor (1005).

4 Central Services and Administration Building (CSAB) This building houses the College of Medicine administrative and business offices as well as the Office of Admissions and the Office of Medical Alumni Affairs. Other offices and services housed here include the office of Continuing Medical Education, Biotechnical Services and Risk Management. The Charles M. Baugh Biomedical Library is adjacent to this facility as is the new Active Learning Center. Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) A model containment unit with the latest technological design features, this facility houses laboratories used for research involving infectious agents and recombinant DNA. USA-Springhill Avenue This facility houses faculty offices and clinics for the Departments of Family Medicine and Pediatrics. The Pediatric Outpatient Clinic ( the children s medical center ) is located in this facility, which is only a few blocks from USA Children s and Women s Hospital. In addition, some Administrative functions for the USA Health Services Foundation and a VA Clinic are also in this building. University of South Alabama Medical Center The University of South Alabama Medical Center is the primary site for the clinical educational programs for the medical students. This hospital has been operated continuously since 1831 and has provided medical education for more than a century. It is owned and operated by the University of South Alabama. It functions as the major physician-staffed emergency facility in south Alabama and has been named a High Level Trauma Center by the Alabama Committee on Trauma. USAMC combines the advantages of community, county or city, and university hospitals. Patients with interesting and acute medical problems constitute the major percentage of the patients admitted. In this respect, it has all the advantages of a county hospital but at the same time it is sufficiently small and intimate to provide the comfortable environment seen in community hospitals. The Medical Center branch of the Baugh Biomedical Library is located on the third floor of the hospital, adjacent to the Human Simulation laboratory. The Emergency Medicine department and Trauma Service receive regional patients via both traditional ambulance service as well as helicopter ambulance service. USA Children s and Women s Hospital The USA Children s and Women s Hospital provides neonatal and pediatrics intensive care services, high risk obstetrics services as well as routine pediatrics and OB/GYN services, and pediatric oncology services. The Evaluation Center provides emergency medical services for the pediatric and OB/GYN patients. Its entrance on Springhill Avenue leads into a beautiful sculpture park. USA Knollwood Physicians Group Located adjacent to the Infirmary West Campus are the clinics where a group of USA primary care physicians see patients. Moorer Clinical Sciences Building This 20,000 square foot facility provides office, research, conference, and supplementary teaching space for the College of Medicine on the USA Medical Center campus. Mastin Building Located adjacent to the University Medical Center, the Mastin Building is a seven-story structure with faculty offices, student room for medical students, call rooms, classrooms, specialty clinics, and the Office of Graduate Medical Education. USA Cancer Research Institute The USA Mitchell Cancer Research Institute is located adjacent to the Mobile Infirmary Medical Center, and the USA Children s and Women s Hospital.

5 Forensic Laboratory A joint effort by the University and the State of Alabama resulted in the construction of a Forensic Laboratory adjacent to the USA Medical Center. This provides medical examiner and forensic science services to southwest Alabama. Portions of the Department of Pathology and the USA Medical Center Clinical Laboratories occupy this building. Computer Center The University Computer Services Center provides computing resources and expertise to serve the academic, research and administrative needs of the University. USA maintains two support locations: the Computer Services Center and USA Medical Center Data Processing. Affiliations In addition, the College of Medicine has formal affiliations with other area health care facilities, notably AltaPointe Health System, the Gulf Coast Veteran s Administration, and Mobile Infirmary Health System for both undergraduate and graduate medical education.