South Alabama Dean of Medicine Headlines UA’s McCollough Forum

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Dr. Samuel Joseph Strada, dean of the College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama, will be the featured speaker for the 10th annual Susan and Gaylon McCollough Medical Scholars Forum Feb. 24-25 in the Shelby Hall rotunda on The University of Alabama campus.

The forum, sponsored by UA’s College of Arts and Sciences, was established by UA alumnus Dr. Gaylon McCollough and his wife, Susan. It begins Friday, Feb. 24 at 3:30 p.m. with registration and continues Saturday, Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. with group discussions.

Strada will present two lectures during the forum. He will speak on “The Direction of Medical Education: A Fork in the Road,” Feb. 24 at 4 p.m and on “The Importance of Mentors and Mentoring in Career,” Feb. 25 at 10:30 a.m.

The event is free and open to the public.

Strada has gained national recognition for research on cellular signaling mechanisms, and he has published more than 200 articles and abstracts. He has been active in the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and the Council of Academic Societies of the American Association of Medical Colleges. He has served as president of the Association for Medical School Pharmacology Chairs and the Southeastern Pharmacology Society.

Strada joined USA in 1983 as professor and chair of pharmacology, and he has served as senior associate medical dean, acting director of the graduate program in basic medical sciences, assistant dean for admissions and acting chair of psychiatry at USA. He is president of the South Alabama Medical Science Foundation and was faculty athletics representative from 1990-97.

Strada received his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and master’s in pharmacology from the University of Missouri at Kansas City and his doctorate in pharmacology from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He did post-doctoral training in neuropharmacology at the National Institutes of Mental Health in Washington, D.C.  Before coming to USA, he spent 11 years on the faculty as the University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

The McCollough Medical Scholars Forum’s purpose is to give students an understanding of the importance of the scientific and humanistic aspects of health care. High school students, UA pre-health professions students, and past forum participants will join UA faculty representing diverse disciplines for the event.

Gaylon McCollough is an Alabaman physician, the president of the McCollough Plastic Surgery Clinic and the founder of the McCollough Institute for Appearance and Health in Gulf Shores.

A 1965 honors graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, he served as an offensive center for the Crimson Tide football team and was named to the All-American Football Team in 1964. Since entering practice, he has obtained recognition as a surgeon and teacher through his affiliation with the largest association of specialty plastic surgeons in the world.

For more information on the forum, contact Chris Hutt, director of health professions advising, in the College of Arts and Sciences at 205/348-5902.

UA’s College of Arts and Sciences is the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All American Team.