Medical Alumni Reunion

Event Registration

• $550.00 - All Weekend - Medical Alumni rate 
• $500.00 - All Weekend - MAA Lifetime Alumni rate 
• $350.00 - All Weekend - Non-Alumni Guest rate 
• $85.00 - All Weekend - Child rate 
• $135.00 - Awards Luncheon Only rate 

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION - LIMITED TIME DISCOUNT

Through January 31st, Get 10% OFF all Weekend Admissions using code EARLYBIRD2026 at registration checkout. Please note, the discount does not apply to Awards Luncheon-Only Admission.

Hotel Accommodations

The USA Medical Alumni Association has partnered with the following hotels to offer our Reunion guests discounted rates. Please note the group codes and discount deadlines when booking your stay (coming soon).

• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Mobile - University Area by IHG
  • $121 per night
  • 109 Long St, Mobile, AL 36608 | 251-241-9979
  • This property is conveniently located across from the University of South Alabama campus, offering amenities such as a free Express Start Breakfast bar, a 24-hour fitness center, an outdoor pool and complimentary Wi-Fi. 
  • USA Corporate Rate: Book online.
• Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa
  • $175 per night
  • 26 N Royal St, Mobile, AL 36602
  • This historic, AAA Four Diamond hotel located in downtown Mobile's entertainment district, offering amenities like a full-service European spa, rooftop pool oasis, three onsite restaurants, and a tennis court.
  • USA Corporate Rate: Book online using the code U6M or book via telephone by calling 800-468-3571 and providing phone codes 17UOSA / UOSB. (If the corporate rate is not available for your dates, please contact Karyl Hanisch at Karyl.Hanisch@renaissancemobile.com or 251-415-3074.)
• Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel
  • $169 per night
  • 64 S Water St, Mobile, AL 36602
  • This contemporary, high-rise hotel is located in downtown Mobile, featuring amenities like an outdoor pool and hot tub, an on-site restaurant and lounge, and a fitness center with city or river views.
  • USA Corporate Rate: Book online using the code U6M or book via telephone by calling 800-468-3571 and providing phone codes 17XXLV / 17UOSA. (If the corporate rate is not available for your dates, please contact Karyl Hanisch at Karyl.Hanisch@renaissancemobile.com or 251-415-3074.)

Schedule-at-a-Glance

Events and locations are subject to change. Watch this page for the most updated information.

Friday, June 12
1 p.m.	Medical Science Building (MSB) Open House  MSB Lobby Walk the halls where it all began and revisit the foundational spaces that have shaped generations of physicians and researchers.
2:30 p.m.	Coffee & Conversations: Medical Education Panel MSB First-floor Auditorium Attend a USA Faculty and Medical Student panel discussion with a Q&A session featuring alumni questions.
5 p.m.	Dinner on Your Own Please note, the Medical Class of 1976 has a private 50th Anniversary Social scheduled for this evening, beginning at 6 p.m.

 

Saturday, June 13
7:30 a.m.	Breakfast Buffet MacQueen Alumni Center Lobby
8 a.m.	Welcome & USA MAA Membership Meeting MacQueen Alumni Center Ballroom Learn more about the impact of the USA Medical Alumni Association at our annual general membership meeting.
8:30 a.m.	Culinary Medicine: The New Food Pyramid with Robert Israel, MD, FACP, and Ben Schrubbe, MD, ‘88 MacQueen Alumni Center Ballroom Join Drs. Israel and Schrubbe to discover how the art of cooking and the science of medicine unite to transform health.
9:45 a.m.	Tauopathy of the Lung: Benchside Discoveries that Empower Clinical Care with Troy Stevens, PhD MacQueen Alumni Center Ballroom Explore how groundbreaking laboratory research at USA is being translated into life-saving treatments for patients.
10:45 a.m.	State of the College Presentation with Dr. Jeffrey S. La Rochelle, M.D., MPH MacQueen Alumni Center Ballroom Hear our new dean, Dr. La Rochelle, discuss the exciting progress and future initiatives underway at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine
11:45 a.m.	Mix and Mingle MacQueen Alumni Center Lobby Enjoy a glass of champagne and reconnect with colleagues in the lobby prior to the awards program.
12:30 p.m.	Medical Alumni & Leadership Awards Luncheon MacQueen Alumni Center Ballroom Celebrate excellence among our outstanding alumni and faculty as we honor: Dr. Antwan Hogue ‘12, Dr. Ed Panacek ‘81, Dr. Allen Perkins, Dr. Yasmeen Qureshi ‘01, Dr. Ben Schrubbe ‘89, Dr. Franklin Trimm, and Dr. Ann Weinacker ‘86
2:15 p.m.	Driving Tour of USA Campus Take a guided look at the changing landscape of our campus and see firsthand how the university and our academic health system continues to evolve
3 p.m.	New Whiddon College of Medicine Building Hard Hat Tour We will finish the tour with an exclusive, on-foot look inside the future home of the Whiddon College of Medicine.  PLEASE NOTE: This is an active construction site and the provided safety equipment of hard hats and safety vests are required to wear for the duration of the tour. Participants MUST also wear flat, close-toed shoes when exiting the bus at the construction site. You may change in/out of alternate footwear on the bus, should you prefer other shoes for the events preceding and following the hard hat tour.
4:30 p.m.	Farewell Reception Hancock Whitney Stadium Hargrove Club Join President and Mrs. Jo Bonner and Executive Vice President and Provost Andi Kent and Mr. Derek Kent for a special send-off for our returning medical alumni. This is also a wonderful opportunity to meet our new Dean of the Whiddon College of Medicine, Dr. Jeffrey S. La Rochelle. Reunion Weekend attendees will arrive via bus following the campus tour.  PLEASE NOTE: Buses will run continuously throughout the event between the Hargrove Club and the MacQueen Alumni Center to take weekend registrants back to their vehicles.
6 p.m.	Dinner on Your Own We have intentionally scheduled time to allow attendees to self-organize up to two independent class dinners and continue the celebration with your peers.

Coffee and Conversations Panel: Medical Education Today at USA

Whiddon College of Medicine Faculty Panelists: 

• • Natalie Bauer, Ph.D.
    Assistant Dean for Admissions
    (251) 461-1567
    nbauer@southalabama.edu
    
    
  • Timothy Gilbert, Ed.D.
    Associate Dean for Accreditation and Planning
    (251) 460-6597
    tgilbert@southalabama.edu
    
    
  • T.J. Hundley, M.D.
    Associate Dean for Medical Education
    (251) 414-8166
    tjhundley@health.southalabama.edu
    
    
  • Laventrice Ridgeway, Ed.D. 
    Associate Dean for Student Affairs
    (251) 460-7174
    lsridgeway@southalabama.edu
    
    
  • R. Franklin Trimm, M.D.
    Associate Dean for Health Advancement
    (251) 341-4072
    rftrimm@southalabama.edu
    
    
  • Nia Booth, Rising M4 Student and Panel Moderator
    
    
• Culinary Medicine: The New Food Pyramid
  
  Robert Israel, MD, FACP
  
  Dr. Israel is the Director of the Integrative Health and Wellness Program at USA Health in Mobile, Alabama. A board-certified internal medicine physician with over four decades of patient care experience, Dr. Israel is a pioneer in culinary medicine who leads teaching kitchen initiatives to combat chronic disease through nutrition. He brings a deep expertise in blending traditional medicine with evidence-based, lifestyle approaches to his clinical and educational work.
  
  Ben Schrubbe, MD, ‘88
  
  Dr. Schrubbe is a physician with the USA Integrative Health and Wellness Program and a proud alumnus of the USA Whiddon College of Medicine. A family medicine specialist and U.S. Navy veteran, Dr. Schrubbe completed a fellowship in integrative medicine at the University of Arizona following a dedicated career in private practice. He brings a strong commitment to comprehensive, patient-centered care and actively mentors the next generation of medical students.
  
  
• Tauopathy of the Lung: Benchside Discoveries that Empower Clinical Care
  
  Troy Stevens, PhD
  
  Dr. Stevens is the Lenoir Louise Locke Chair of Physiology and Cell Biology and a professor at the University of South Alabama. A molecular biologist specializing in pulmonary and respiratory medicine, he earned his Ph.D. from Colorado State University and completed post-doctoral training at the University of Colorado. Dr. Stevens leads a research laboratory focused on lung vascular biology and brings extensive expertise in investigating molecular mechanisms and cellular behaviors to develop targeted therapies for vascular disease.
  
  
• State of the College
  
  Jeffrey S. LaRochelle, MD, MPH
  
  Dr. La Rochelle is the new dean of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama. An internal medicine specialist and retired U.S. Air Force colonel with 25 years of service, Dr. LaRochelle previously served as associate dean of academic affairs at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine and brings extensive experience in medical education and curriculum development to the role. 

Distinguished Medical Alumni Award Recipients

Edward A. Panacek, MD, MPH, ’81

Dr. Ed Panacek has served as a tenured Professor and Chair of Emergency Medicine at the USA Whiddon College of Medicine since 2015. Notably, he is one of only two USA alumni to return to their alma mater to chair a clinical department. Following postgraduate training in Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Critical Care Medicine, Dr. Panacek embarked on a distinguished career in academic medicine. He spent his early career at Case Western Reserve University from 1986 to 1992, followed by a tenure at UC Davis from 1992 to 2014, where he was promoted to full Professor in 1997 and directed both the Emergency Medicine Residency Program and the Office of Clinical Trials. 

In 2015, Dr. Panacek returned to Mobile to establish the university's academic Department of Emergency Medicine, a monumental undertaking that included developing a new residency program, opening three new emergency departments, and launching a clinical research program. A dedicated alumnus, he and his classmates also established the Medical Class of 1981 Scholarship Endowment Fund, the first class-specific medical alumni endowment at the College. Over his prolific career, Dr. Panacek has authored more than 300 scientific publications, served as an associate editor for two medical journals, and directed a basic research skills course for the American College of Emergency Physicians for two decades. He is the recipient of numerous national and international awards for his contributions to research and education. Despite his extensive professional accolades, Dr. Panacek’s family and friends frequently remind him that his true crowning achievement will always be his starring role on the television series Untold Stories of the ER. 

Ann B. Weinacker, MD, ‘86

Dr. Ann Weinacker is the Senior Vice Chair of Medicine for Clinical Operations at Stanford University School of Medicine, and she is the Chief Physician Executive of Stanford's Risk Management Department. She is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine and has been a full-time faculty member since 1999. Ann has extensive experience in clinical and administrative leadership at Stanford, where she served as Chief of Staff from 2011-2014 after serving as Vice Chief of Staff from 2010-2011, and she was Associate Chief Medical Officer for Patient Care Services from 2015-2023. A strong advocate for patient centricity, Ann was appointed in November 2009 to be one of four leaders designated to actively design, guide and implement strategies to improve the patient experience at Stanford and served in that capacity until 2021. Her clinical work has been predominantly in the ICU.

Ann began her career as a nurse and nurse anesthetist before completing her M.D. at the USA Whiddon College of Medicine in 1986. Her advanced training includes a pulmonary and critical care fellowship and a cardiovascular postdoctoral research fellowship, completed at the University of California, San Francisco in 1994. She has won teaching awards and is a member of AOA, and she received the Stanford Hospital Board of Directors’ coveted Denise O’Leary Award for Clinical Excellence in 2008.

She has been married to Thomas (Tom) Booth, MD (USA COM 1987), since 1985; they have two wonderful daughters and four grandchildren.

---

 
Medical Alumni Humanitarian Award Recipients

Antwan J. Hogue, MD, ‘12

Dr. Antwan J. Hogue is an Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of South Alabama and serves as the Medical Director of the Johnson Haynes, Jr., MD Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center. A lifelong Gulf Coast native, Dr. Hogue earned both his undergraduate degree in Biology and his medical degree from the University of South Alabama before completing his Internal Medicine residency and serving as Chief Resident at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.  

Throughout his career, Dr. Hogue has become known for his dedication to patient care, mentorship, and community impact. He is the co-founder of Project Inspire, a hospital-based violence prevention initiative focused on reducing youth gun violence and recidivism, and has led numerous educational initiatives for medical students and residents. His work in sickle cell disease advocacy and education has been featured at regional and national conferences, and he has participated in multiple medical mission trips to Rwanda, providing care in underserved communities.  

Dr. Hogue’s leadership and service have earned him numerous honors, including Mobile Bay’s 40 Under 40, repeated Red Sash Awards for teaching excellence, induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, and selection as the 2024 Commencement Speaker for the University of South Alabama College of Medicine. Outside of medicine, he enjoys music, outdoor activities, and spending time with his wife, Ashley, and their children, Amarii, Ava, and Atlas.  

Yasmeen A. Qureshi, MD, ‘01

Dr. Yasmeen Qureshi, a board-certified radiologist and Partner at Inversion Recovery Imaging in Houston, Texas, serves as the Director of Women’s Imaging, where she is a leading advocate for advanced breast cancer detection and patient-centered care. A "triple alumna" of the University of South Alabama (BA ’95, MD ’01, Residency ’06), Dr. Qureshi’s distinguished career includes serving as the Section Chief of Women’s Imaging and Assistant Professor at the USA College of Medicine, where she founded the Women’s Imaging Section and spearheaded the transition to 3D digital tomosynthesis.

Beyond her clinical leadership, Dr. Qureshi is defined by her extensive humanitarian spirit and dedication to vulnerable populations. She has organized large-scale community initiatives, including citywide toy and blanket drives for the underprivileged and homeless, and provides significant philanthropic support to The Rose, a nonprofit breast center in Houston. Her impact extends globally through the support of orphanages and educational facilities overseas, as well as locally through her tireless work with refugee communities and disaster relief efforts following Texas floods and hurricanes.

Dr. Qureshi is a proud mother of six children and a passionate advocate for those with special needs and local youth sports. She resides in Katy, Texas, where she remains a cornerstone of both her professional and local communities.

---

Distinguished Service Award Recipients

R. Allen Perkins, MD, MPH

An esteemed leader in regional healthcare, Dr. Allen Perkins serves as Chief of Population Health for USA Health and Professor of Family Medicine at the USA Whiddon College of Medicine, following a transformative 18-year tenure as Department Chair. Dr. Perkins' foundational training includes an undergraduate degree from LSU and a dual MD/MPH from Tulane University, followed by an internship at Portsmouth Naval Hospital and specialized service as a Navy Diving Medical Officer. He completed his medical training at the USA Family Medicine Residency Program in 1993, anchoring a lifelong commitment to the Gulf Coast.

Dr. Perkins has dedicated his career to expanding healthcare access by cultivating a robust primary care workforce equipped to practice in underserved environments, with a focus on serving rural and vulnerable populations across South Alabama. His leadership in these efforts have brought an extraordinary $51 million in federal HRSA grant funding to the USA academic health system. Serving as Principal Investigator, these awards have been utilized to build a legacy of rural medicine pipelines, including the Primary Care Pathway program for pre-medical and medical students, an advanced FM-OB rural training fellowship, and work towards rural family medicine training in Jackson, Alabama.

A respected voice in health policy, Dr. Perkins has lent his leadership at both state and national levels as President of the Alabama Rural Health Association, the Alabama Academy of Family Physicians, and the National Association of Departments of Family Medicine. Recognizing his expertise, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius appointed him to the HRSA federal advisory committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry.

From their historic home in Mobile, Dr. Perkins and his wife, Tammy, enjoy a rich family life with their four children and two grandchildren, rooted in the community they love.

R. Franklin Trimm, MD, FAAP

Dr. Franklin Trimm has long been a foundational pillar of the University of South Alabama Whiddon College of Medicine, most recently providing steady leadership as Interim Dean from October 2025 through May 2026. In his concurrent role as Associate Dean for Health Advancement, his enduring passion for student opportunity focuses on preparing current and future physicians and scientists to address critical health disparities. 

A dedicated faculty member since 1991, Dr. Trimm has anchored his career in a deep commitment to academic excellence and institutional integrity. Dr. Trimm’s legacy is quietly written in the lives of the countless individuals he has mentored, having devoted 25 years to shaping the next generation of pediatricians as the USA Pediatric Residency Program Director. His dedication to championing the underserved is seen in structural pathways, as well, where he pioneered a pre-medical curriculum to provide foundational support to aspiring students. 

On a national stage, he has held prominent leadership positions with the Society for Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Board of Pediatrics, and the ACGME, alongside serving as President of the Association of Pediatric Program Directors. His commitment to compassionate education has earned him the ACGME Parker J. Palmer “Courage to Teach” Award and induction into both the Alpha Omega Alpha and Gold Humanism medical honor societies. Dr. Trimm resides in Mobile, Alabama, alongside his spouse, Robert Koch, and remains deeply grateful for the profound privilege to serve the public, his students, and the medical community.

---

de Juan, Chambers, Oppenheimer Healthcare Award Recipient

Benjamin P. Schrubbe, MD, ’88

Dr. Ben Schrubbe was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, before embarking on his academic journey at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. After earning his medical degree from the USA Whiddon College of Medicine in 1988, Dr. Schrubbe answered the call to service by entering the United States Navy, where he completed his residency in family medicine. His distinguished military career included service as the undersea medical officer for Submarine Squadron 20 in Kings Bay, Georgia, and providing dedicated medical care to Marines and their families stationed in Okinawa, Japan.

Upon returning to civilian life, Dr. Schrubbe and his family chose to plant deep roots in Baldwin County, where he provided compassionate care to local families in private practice, transitioning his group to the Mapp Family Campus in 2022.

Guided by a commitment to comprehensive, patient-centered care, Dr. Schrubbe completed a fellowship in integrative medicine at the University of Arizona in 2010. Today, he channels this passion into the USA Integrative Health and Wellness Program, while continuing to give back to his alma mater by mentoring and inspiring third-year medical students from the USA Whiddon College of Medicine.

The recommended attire for weekend activities is Business Casual. For the Awards Luncheon on Saturday, Professional Attire is welcome, but not required. 

PLEASE NOTE: The Hard Hat Tour of the construction site will require flat, close-toed shoes and the wearing of provided safety equipment (including safety vests and hard hats). Bring appropriate footwear to change into for that portion, if your shoes for the rest of the activities do not meet the safety requirements for construction site participation.

Event Parking Information: Parking is available in Lot 607 for the MacQueen Alumni Center and Lot 802 for the College of Medicine (MSB). For the Farewell at Hargrove Club at Hancock Whitney, please utilize Lot 105 (located on the far left side) for those not arriving via bus.

Reunion Weekend Meals

Reunion Weekend meals/snacks provided with your Weekend Admission include:

• Coffee and sweet treats at Friday’s Open House and Panel discussion
• Saturday morning breakfast buffet
• Light refreshments at Saturday’s Mix & Mingle
• A multi-course meal featuring a chicken and seafood (two meat) plate** at Saturday’s Awards Luncheon
• Light refreshments at Saturday’s All-Class Farewell Social

** Please share any dietary restrictions or alternate menu requests with the Medical Alumni Office at medalum@southalabama.edu or 251.460.6805 by May 21, 2026. 

Dinners On Your Own

We have intentionally scheduled time for two "Dinner On Your Own" options to allow alumni to self-organize independent dinners and continue the celebration with their class year or any special interest groups.  We strongly encourage you to use this opportunity to reconnect and celebrate with your classmates and other alumni! 

Whether you coordinate an informal gathering ahead of time or self-organize at the event, this is the perfect opportunity to share memories and continue the fun. If you would like assistance connecting with other attendees, our Medical Alumni office is happy to help; please reach us at medalum@southalabama.edu or 251.460.6805. 

For your convenience, a list of select local restaurants may be found below:

Downtown

• NoJa Fine Dining
  • Fine Dining/Global
  • 6 N Jackson St, Mobile, AL 36602 
  • (251) 433-0377
• Dauphin's Restaurant
  • Contemporary Gulf Coast
  • 107 St Francis St, Suite 3400, Mobile, AL 36602
  • (251) 444-9100
• The Noble South
  • Farm-to-Table Southern
  • 203 Dauphin St, Mobile, AL 36602
  • (251) 688-6888
• Chuck's Fish Mobile
  • Seafood/Sushi
  • 551 Dauphin St, Mobile, AL 36602
  • (251) 208-1660
• Dumbwaiter
  • Southern/Comfort
  • 167 Dauphin St, Mobile, AL 36602
  • (251) 445-3801
• Wintzell's Oyster House
  • Classic Gulf Seafood
  • 605 Dauphin St, Mobile, AL 36602
  • (251) 445-4422
• The Royal Scam
  • Upscale American
  • 72 S Royal St, Mobile, AL 36602
  • (251) 438-9580
• Moe's Original BBQ
  • Southern BBQ / Comfort
  • 701 Spring Hill Ave, Mobile, AL 36602
  • (251) 410-7427
• The Cheese Cottage
  • Charcuterie/Sandwiches
  • 650 St Louis St, Mobile, AL 36602
  • (251) 301-3814

Midtown

• Hummingbird Way
  • Upscale Southern/Coastal
  • 351 George St, Mobile, AL 36604
  • (251) 408-9600
• Callaghan's Irish Pub
  • Fare/Burgers
  • 916 Charleston St, Mobile, AL 36604
  • (251) 433-9374
• Red or White
  • Wine Bar/Gourmet Small Plates
  • 1104 Dauphin St, Mobile, AL 36604
  • (251) 478-9494

Near USA / West

• Jerusalem Cafe
  • Mediterranean/Middle Eastern
  • 5817 Old Shell Rd, Mobile, AL 36608
  • (251) 304-1155
• Heroes Sports Bar & Grille
  • Pub Fare/American
  • 36 Hillcrest Rd, Mobile, AL 36608
  • (251) 341-9464
• Via Emilia
  • Authentic Italian
  • 56 S Sage Ave, Mobile, AL 36606
  • (251) 472-8785
• Siam Thai Cuisine
  • Thai & Sushi
  • 915 Hillcrest Rd C, Mobile, AL 36695
  • (251) 380-9111
• Pour Baby
  • Wine Bar/Gourmet Small Plates
  • 6808 Airport Blvd Ste H, Mobile, AL 36608
  • (251) 343-3555

Special thanks to the 2025-2026 Medical Alumni Association Board of Directors