Alumni Spotlights

At 100, Cecil Prescott Jr., M.D., becomes oldest living alumni association member

Recent and upcoming events, programs, and activities

Sheldon Kushner, M.D., reflects on life as a young trauma surgeon during the Vietnam War. “Wheels are up,” declared the captain of the aircraft carrying Sheldon Kushner, M.D., and other military personnel departing from Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon, Vietnam—ending Kushner’s arduous tour of duty as a trauma surgeon during the height of the Vietnam conflict in 1969.

The 2025 Medical Alumni Weekend, held February 28-March 1, brought together over 250 alumni and guests for a celebration infused with the spirit of Mardi Gras. This festive gathering provided a unique opportunity for alumni to reconnect, reminisce, and engage with the evolving landscape of the Heersink School of Medicine.

Growing up in Eutaw, Alabama, (pop. 2,803), Drake Lavender, M.D., suffered from asthma and severe allergies. His lifeline was his family doctor, Rucker Staggers, M.D., who treated him weekly with allergy shots, and the two developed a strong patient-doctor bond.