Paging Music Lovers: Doc Rock is Back!
All proceeds from sponsorships, ticket sales and voting donations support research and clinical needs.
USA Health’s fourth annual Doc Rock fundraising event will be held Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at Soul Kitchen in downtown Mobile. This battle of the bands competition brings awareness and support to research and critical clinical needs at USA Health.
Each band has at least one member affiliated with USA Health, and more than a dozen bands submitted applications to compete in the upcoming event. The Doc Rock selection committee narrowed down the field, and the following bands will perform: The Shot Callers, Society Hill, Eklektik Experience, The Grey Scrubs and By the Way.
“If you are not able to attend the event, you can still vote for your favorite band and your donation for each vote goes directly to support USA Health,” said Shanna Thorpe, director of constituent engagement for medical affairs development at the University of South Alabama. “We have bands representing various entities at USA Health, such as the University Hospital, Children’s & Women’s Hospital, Providence, the Mitchell Cancer Institute, and the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine. These representations tie in nicely with our tripartite mission of education, research and patient care.”
All proceeds from sponsorships, ticket sales and voting donations support research and clinical needs. In the past three years, Doc Rock has raised more than $130,000 for USA Health.
The public is encouraged to begin voting for the bands to boost their chances of receiving awards. These awards (and donations from voting) go to each band’s USA Health designation. The awards include Rock the Mission (the highest fundraising total), $5,000; Fanatic Award (highest number of individual donors), $4,000; Technical Award (decided by guest judges), $3,000; and Crowd Favorite (noise-tested during the event), $2,000.
Purchase tickets and cast early votes online at usahealthsystem.com/docrock.
The Shot Callers
Supporting USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital Department of Respiratory Therapy
Band Members: Spencer Gayles (respiratory therapist, USA Health Allergy and Asthma, Children’s & Women’s Hospital), Ryan Wright (respiratory therapist at USA Health Allergy and Asthma, Children’s & Women’s Hospital), Jessica Casey (surgery nurse, USA Health), Matt Jones and Zack Stringer.
Established in 2021, this local cover band will give any genre a shot while they perform all over the Gulf Coast. They appeal to a variety of audiences by playing hits from all decades, giving folks of any age a chance to sing along.
Society Hill
Supporting USA Health University Hospital’s Project Inspire
Band Members: Ashley Williams Hogue, M.D. (trauma surgeon, University Hospital), Antwan Hogue, M.D. (senior hospitalist, University Hospital), Daphney Portis (program coordinator, Project Inspire), Ralph Edwards (informatics analyst, USA Health) and Jada Gardner (director of staff development, USA Health).
This versatile group of life-long musicians aims to please the crowd by performing a medley of upbeat, feel-good song selections. Bringing awareness to important topics through music is the main motivation behind this band’s performances.
Eklektik Experience
Supporting USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital
Band Members: Herbert Conaway (IT technical specialist, USA Health Providence), Larry Moore, Felicia Moore, Ashley Lewis, Ida Finklea, Terrell Warren, Donald William, David Woods, Jimmy Williams, Moses El.
With 30 years of combined music experience, this dynamic group of musicians provides “fine listening entertainment” to any type of event. Their roots are on the Gulf Coast, but they have traveled all over the United States to perform. They cover all genres from funk to country.
The Grey Scrubs
Supporting the Whiddon College of Medicine, Department of Medical Education
Band Members: Danner Butler, Connor Martin, Matt Waterson, Cade Smelley and Will Smith are all fourth-year medical students at the Whiddon College of Medicine.
This band is completely composed of medical students hoping to finish their final year on a good note with a breakout performance. This energetic group has been jamming out to classic rock together since 2021.
By The Way
Supporting the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute
Band Members: Joe Jones (radiation oncologist, Mitchell Cancer Institute), Drew Bentley, Andy Cobb and Jimmy Robinson.
This high-energy rock group is no stranger to the Mobile music scene and has performed locally together for the last several years. They take influence from ’90s rock, but play high-powered, popular songs from all decades.
