Medical School: University of Texas, Southwestern
Residency Class: Ca-2
Hometown: Lebanon, TN
#WhyIChoseUAB: I wanted to train at a large academic institution with opportunities to care for the most challenging patients while learning from faculty who are leaders in their respective clinical fields. As a future physician scientist, I also wanted to be a part of a department with a commitment to research.
Fun Fact: My husband and I were set up on a blind date because we both work in the field of anesthesia. He is an engineer for an anesthesia medical device company.
Favorite part of the program/UAB: The people
My neighborhood and why I like it: Bluff Park- I love living here because of the community. There is a great school system, several local restaurants, frequent events in the area, and even wiffle ball and kickball leagues.
Best places for soaking up the local culture: Bryant Denny Stadium. Roll Tide.
Favorite rotation and why: ICU- I love the complexity of the patients and the opportunity to work closely with the surgery residents.
Favorite spots for a date night: Tre Luna
Favorite places to take guests: Hinkel's Bakery at The Market at Pepper Place
Best park, trail, or golf course/Where I take in the scenic views: Moss Rock Preserve
Why I like Birmingham: Birmingham has the amenities of a larger city with the atmosphere of a smaller town. It is an affordable place to live and raise a family. There are also several great places to visit nearby for weekend trips- Nashville, Atlanta, New Orleans, and the beach.
What I wish someone had told me before I moved here: I went to college at the University of Alabama (Roll Tide), so I was excited to move back to the area.
Medical School: East Tennessee State University, Quillen College of Medicine
Residency Class: Ca-3
Hometown: Manchester, TN
#WhyIChoseUAB: Broad case variety, trauma experience
Fun Fact: I was a driver in a presidential motorcade.
Favorite part of the program/UAB: The cafeteria discount
My neighborhood and why I like it: Helena- Suburban subdivision with lots of kids the same age as my kids.
Best places for soaking up the local culture: Back Forty, BJCC, Vulcan, Five Points
Favorite rotation and why: Liver call
Favorite spots for a date night: Tre Luna, Davenport's Pizza, Whiskey Foxtrot Burgers, Chez Fonton
Favorite places to take guests: Back Forty
Best park, trail, or golf course/Where I take in the scenic views: Hoover Met Splash Pad and park.
Why I like Birmingham: Variety of food and events throughout the year, it's easy to find something new even after 3 years here.
What I wish someone had told me before I moved here: To really believe how humid people say it gets.
What I'll miss the most about Birmingham/UAB: Co-residents
Plans for after graduation: Private practice and more vacations
Medical School: Wake Forest School of Medicine
Residency Class: Ca-3
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
#WhyIChoseUAB: Long story short, when I came to UAB for my interview, it felt right. Although it's a big program (21 residents), it feels like everyone knows everyone well including resident's relationships with attendings.
Fun Fact: Spent a semester fishing in the jungle in Panama
Favorite part of the program/UAB: Everyone, including surgeons, nurses, are cordial and friendly. I also love having a lot of autonomy.
My neighborhood and why I like it: Homewood (had to buy a condo because homes are too expensive), but very close to the hospital, good schools, safe area to raise a family.
Best places for soaking up the local culture: Any of the many festivals, farmer's markets, breweries
Favorite rotation and why: CV- busy, exciting, pretty favorable as far as work-life balance (no 24s)
Favorite spots for a date night: Helen (anniversary), North Italia, Saw's Soul Kitchen, Taco Morro Loco, Eugene's Hot Chicken, Post Office Pies
Favorite places to take guests: Saw's, the zoo or botanical garden, Science center (we have kids)
Best park, trail, or golf course/Where I take in the scenic views: Bike path right near my house on Lakeshore that we go for walks/bike rides at frequently. There are trails all over.
Why I like Birmingham: Has everything you would want in a city, good food scene, semi pro sports, but almost no traffic even at peak times.
What I wish someone had told me before I moved here: Other places are hot, but it's next level here.
What I'll miss the most about Birmingham/UAB: The people
Plans for after graduation: Moving back to AZ, most likely a private group, general anesthesia
Medical School: Wright State University BSOM
Residency Class: Ca-3
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
#WhyIChoseUAB: Several of UAB's qualities appealed to me throughout the application cycle. When I submitted my rank list, I wanted to match at a program that had a strong academic reputation, subspecialty fellowship positions in-house, and residents that appreciated their training experience. UAB excels in each of those facets.
Fun Fact: My mother was born in North America, my father was born in Africa, and I was born in Europe. Small world, right?
Favorite part of the program/UAB: I know every anesthesiology resident in Alabama because we all train together at UAB! There are no programs to compete with in the city, county, or state, so our education is unparalleled.
My neighborhood and why I like it: I live in the Crestwood neighborhood, and a good number of my co-residents are also my neighbors. I like the neighborhood because it is close to UAB, housing is affordable, neighbors are friendly, and I'm close to several restaurants and retail stores. My dog likes it because there are off-leash parks and squirrels to chase.
Best places for soaking up the local culture: My favorite thing to do in Birmingham is to spend a Saturday morning at The Farmers Market at Pepper Place. I buy more local meat, produce, and desserts thank a reasonable person ever would, then try a new recipe with my partner while our German Shepherd hopes we drop something on the floor for him.
Favorite rotation and why: If you ask my classmates, they probably won't believe I picked this one, but my answer is cardiothoracic rotation. Over those two months, I expanded my physiology knowledge, improved my procedural skills, and gained immeasurable confidence in caring for the most fragile patients in the operating room.
Favorite spots for a date night: This might be the toughest question on the list. Bettola has a special place in my heart because my pre-interview dinner was hosted there, even if I can't pronounce half of the items on the menu. For casual date night, East West, Saigon Noodle House or Blue Sushi know I'm on the way.
Favorite places to take guests: The easy places to take guests are Regions Field for a Baron's game, Topgolf to be bad at golf together, or the Summit to go spend some moonlighting money. To show a more unique side of Birmingham, I recommend a trip to the Avondale neighborhood to grab a meal before a concert at one of the intimate venues.
Best park, trail, or golf course/Where I take in the scenic views: Railroad Park is easy to reach, has a variety of restaurants and food trucks to choose from, and there are frequently festivals or cultural events to enjoy. The views of downtown Birmingham are worth the trip.
Why I like Birmingham: Birmingham is close to my hometown of Atlanta, so it's provided me the perfect balance of being accessible to my family when I need to be, but distant enough when I need to limit distractions during residency. The bigger reason I like Birmingham is that it has become my home since matching at UAB.
What I wish someone had told me before I moved here: Even if you don't care about college football before moving to Birmingham, you care now. Pick a side: War Eagle or Roll Tide!
What I'll miss the most about Birmingham/UAB: Just like in high school, college, and medical school, the day will come that 21 residents in the Class of 2024 are gathered in the same place for the last time. I have nothing but positive experiences with all 20 of my classmates, but Drake is my favorite.
Plans for after graduation: I plan on starting my general anesthesiology career with a private practice group. Let's see what July 1, 2024 has to offer!
Medical School: Medical University of South Caroline
Residency Class: Ca-1
Hometown: Greenville, SC
#WhyIChoseUAB: Strong training program, female representation in leadership/faculty, work-life balance, and Birmingham is a great place to live
Fun Fact: I make needlepoint belts and ornaments
Favorite part of the program/UAB: My co-residents and the supportive environment
My neighborhood and why I like it: Crestline, close proximity to restaurants and other neighborhoods, great places to walk, 10-15min to the hospital, and we have a cute park.
Best places for soaking up the local culture: Avondale, Highland Park
Favorite rotation and why: My favorite rotation of intern year was the SICU. You get to work with other anesthesia residents, and it's a great time to learn about cardio-pulm. physiology while also learning how to do procedures.
Favorite spots for a date night: Bamboo, Queen's Park, Betolla
Favorite places to take guests: Back Forty, Railroad Park, Freddy's Wine Bar
Best park, trail, or golf course/Where I take in the scenic views: Crestwood park has everything you could want! The Vulcan around sunset
Why I like Birmingham: I like that many of the neighborhoods have their own small downtown in addition to the main downtown near the hospital.
What I wish someone had told me before I moved here: The thing that shocked me the most when I moved to Birmingham was how large the UAB Hospital System is.
Medical School: UAB School of Medicine
Residency Class: Ca-3
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
#WhyIChoseUAB: My top priority was finding a place to train that would prepare me to feel comfortable in any situation I might face later on in my career. UAB offers its residents tons of autonomy, case volume, and exposure to every subspecialty which stood out to me compared to other programs.
Fun Fact: I lived in China for a year.
Favorite part of the program/UAB: Our residents are incredible clinicians but also easy-going, friendly people who enjoy spending time together and having fun.
My neighborhood and why I like it: Crestline Park. It's only 12 minutes away from the hospital but allows me to have a backyard and quiet neighborhood for my family to enjoy with our dog.
Best places for soaking up the local culture: There's tons of coffeeshops, breweries, and walkable areas. Crestline Village, Avondale, and Lakeview are some of my favorites.
Favorite rotation and why: Our Regional rotation at Highlands gives us a taste of private practice with a high volume of different nerve blocks before outgoing surgeries.
Favorite spots for a date night: Bottega Cafe, Helen, and Bamboo are hard to beat.
Favorite places to take guests: Avondale brewing, Saw's Juke Joint
Best park, trail, or golf course/Where I take in the scenic views: Oak Mountain St. Park has trails for hiking/biking and a solid golf course.
Why I like Birmingham: It has a lot of the perks of a big city without the drawbacks. It's affordable, has great restaurant options, there's a lot to do, but traffic is never bad. Also, the weather is great if you like warm seasons with a short, mild winter.
What I wish someone had told me before I moved here: I've lived here most of my whole life, but I think it offers something for almost everyone. You can live downtown in an apartment and have a big city feel if that's your thing. Or you can also live a little further away in a suburban area and enjoy a house with a neighborhood feel.
What I'll miss the most about Birmingham/UAB: I like it so much that I'm likely never going to leave.
Plans for after graduation: I'm going to work in the community anesthesia division of UAB at a hospital nearby Birmingham.
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency Class: Ca-3
Hometown: Columbus, OH
#WhyIChoseUAB: I chose UAB for its unparalleled clinical exposure, its family friendly culture, and the ability to have a well balanced lifestyle as a resident.
Fun Fact: I hold the official UAB Anesthesia Lounge Record for most packs of Welch's fruit snacks consumed in one day.
Favorite part of the program/UAB: The atmosphere in our anesthesia lounge
My neighborhood and why I like it: I live in Highland Park and absolutely love it. It's a quiet residential area that is less than an 8 min drive from the hospital and downtown life. The neighborhood is walkable and features a golf course, Latin-American restaurant, coffee shop, wine bar, and several dog parks.
Best places for soaking up the local culture: Avondale Brewery on a sunny Fall Saturday. No better place for football, friends, and pups.
Favorite rotation and why: Highlands Regional- great volume, excellent teaching, and daily team breakfast
Favorite spots for a date night: Bettola at Pepper Place- enjoy an outstanding authentic Italian meal and then head across the street to Jeni's for some Brambleberry Crisp Ice cream
Favorite places to take guests: Otey's Tavern, Pepper Place Market, Adios Tequila bar
Best park, trail, or golf course/Where I take in the scenic views: Hiking to King's Chair at Oak Mountain State Park and beach trips to 30A
Why I like Birmingham: BHAM offers all the amenities of a big city but still has a small town feel. Atlanta, Nashville, and the beach are a short drive away. There is an airport less than 15 min from the hospital that makes traveling further a breeze.
What I wish someone had told me before I moved here: Alabama fans are still not over their 2015 Playoff Sugar Bowl Loss to THE Ohio State Buckeyes
What I'll miss the most about Birmingham/UAB: My co-residents, lounge snack delivery day, and the Back Forty cheeseburger
Plans for after graduation: Pain Fellowship
Medical School: Meharry Medical College
Residency Class: Ca-1
Hometown: Nashville, TN
#WhyIChoseUAB: I chose UAB because I desired to train in a program where there was high acuity patients w/ complex cases. However, I needed somewhere that surrounded me in a supportive environment and allowed me to make mistakes.
Fun Fact: I went skydiving from 14,000 feet during the peak of COVID! (Social Distancing)
Favorite part of the program/UAB: Definitely the people I work with!
My neighborhood and why I like it: I live in Vestavia near the Summit & love its proximity, not only to UAB, but downtown/other parts of Birmingham. Plus, the Summit is home to the best shopping!
Best places for soaking up the local culture: Back 40 or Monday Night Brewing
Favorite rotation and why: CCU (during intern year): Perfect place to get some critical care practice along with utilizing tools useful for out future in anesthesia including EKG interpretation, TTE practice, pressor/inotrope management.
Favorite spots for a date night: Bamboo, Gianmarco's, Avine (bar), Mayawell (bar), Big Spoon (dessert)
Favorite places to take guests: Explore the new bars/restaurants & viewing the historic landmarks in the city
Best park, trail, or golf course/Where I take in the scenic views: Vulcan Park, Moss Rock
Why I like Birmingham: Cheaper living, easy to travel to & from, very family friendly
What I wish someone had told me before I moved here: The city reminds me a lot of Nashville
Medical School: University of Iowa Carver School of Medicine
Residency Class: Ca-3
Hometown: Tooele, UT
#WhyIChoseUAB: I chose UAB for their strong clinical training and exposure to all the subspecialties of anesthesia.
Fun Fact: During Ca-1 year, Dr. Lawson and I delivered a baby on L&D. We had just finished placing the epidural and were waiting 3 minutes for the test dose when all of a sudden, the patient shouted that the baby was coming. Dr. Lawson and I were the only ones in the room, so I ran around the bed, caught the baby, and hoped someone else showed up before the placenta came out.
Favorite part of the program/UAB: My classmates are my favorite part about UAB. They are all so smart, supportive, and make our job fun.
My neighborhood and why I like it: I live in Chapel Hills, Fultondale. It is a quiet suburb just North of Birmingham. Currently, there are 8 anesthesia residents who live in Chapel Hills with their families. So we are able to get together often and escape the chaos of work.
Best places for soaking up the local culture: Back Forty Beer Company is a popular spot for people to get together and hang out. As the weather starts warming up, there is always a crowd of people outdoors enjoying good food and company.
Favorite rotation and why: Cardiothoracic anesthesia has been my favorite rotation. In cardiac operating rooms, I feel like I get to use all my skills as an anesthesia provider to gain access, interpret patient data, and manipulate physiology.
Favorite spots for a date night: Bocca Ristorante
Favorite places to take guests: Oak Mountain State Park
Best park, trail, or golf course/Where I take in the scenic views: The Robert Trent Jones golf trail has multiple courses throughout the state. Oxmoor Valley is my favorite course and where you will find most residents on weekends and post-call days.
Why I like Birmingham: I like that Birmingham is a medium-size city. The hospital is busy and provides exposure to everything you'll need to see in training, but the city is still livable with a small-town feel.
What I wish someone had told me before I moved here: Alabama has beautiful geography, ranging from mountains, streams, and lakes up North to sandy beaches down South.
What I'll miss most about UAB/Birmingham: I will miss hanging out in the resident lounge talking about interesting cases. Ca-1 gaffes, and whatever random thought crosses Dr. Egbaria's mind.
Plans for after graduation: Cardiothoracic fellowship at the University of Nebraska
Medical School: University of Virginia School of Medicine
Residency Class: Ca-1
Hometown: Lynchburg, VA
#WhyIChoseUAB: Simple formula: happy residents getting outstanding training. Can't beat that! I couples matched here with my wife, Brett, who's in the OB program.
Fun Fact: I love my 'Hoos; prior to moving down here, I only missed 6 total home UVA football games. Now I'm just an ACC guy living in an SEC world.
Favorite part of the program/UAB: My class! I think UAB does a great job of recruiting people who are kind and hard-working, but still love to hang out outside of work.
My neighborhood and why I like it: Riverchase in Hoover. Beautiful neighborhood surrounded by greenery.
Best places for soaking up the local culture: Tons of great breweries- Avondale, Back Forty, Monday Night, Ghost Train
Favorite rotation and why: OR month during intern year. Great reminder of why I picked anesthesiology, and an opportunity to get to know some of our amazing upper-level residents!
Favorite spots for a date night: My wife and I love El Barrio. It's easily the best Mexican food we've ever had, maybe best food period. Plus, the margaritas are fantastic.
Favorite places to take guests: My wife and I enjoy taking people to Ragtime cafe, a cool restaurant near our home that has an impressively diverse menu with sneaky good margaritas (If you can't tell, my wife and I love a good margarita). We've also taken people to several of the many nearby hiking and running trails; there are endless opportunities to get outdoors!
Best park, trail, or golf course/Where I take in the scenic views: Moss Rock Preserve near Hoover
Why I like Birmingham: Most amazing restaurant scene I've ever experienced by far! I don't tend to get too excited by food (my wife makes fun of me because I legitimately can't taste well; I think I have something wrong with my sense of smell) so for me to comment on food is a big deal. Birmingham itself is a cool city that doesn't feel overwhelming, even for someone who's grown up in relatively small towns. But my favorite aspect might be just how beautiful the surrounding areas are! Seriously, I can't imagine a better nature scene than down here.
What I wish someone had told me before I moved here: My wife and I love our home in Hoover, but due to traffic the commute home can be a little longer than ideal, ~40 minutes, if I am leaving the hospital around 4-6PM.
Medical School: UAB School of Medicine
Residency Class: Ca-2
Hometown: Columbus, GA
#WhyIChoseUAB: UAB is an institution that I felt would not only provide a superb training, but also support me in my endeavors of pursuing a career on academics.
Fun Fact: I saw Prince's last concert one week before he died.
Favorite part of the program/UAB: The level of high acuity cases that lead to excellent hands-on education.
Favorite rotation and why: Highlands Regional: we get excellent ultrasound training doing a variety of nerve blocks, neuraxial procedures and peripheral nerve catheters.
Favorite spots for a date night: Collins Bar, Carrigan's Bar, East West
Favorite places to take guests: Drag Brunch, Bayleaf Indian Cuisine
Why I like Birmingham: There is something for everyone, whether you like outdoors, brunch, or Drag Queens.
Medical School: UAB School of Medicine
Residency Class: Ca-1
Hometown: Decatur, AL
#WhyIChoseUAB: I chose UAB for the top-notch training located in a family-friendly city with a low cost of living.
Fun Fact: I'm a mom to a sweet, fun-loving toddler boy!
Favorite part of the program/UAB: I love how close knit our program is. My co-residents truly feel like family!
My neighborhood and why I like it: We have lived in Fultondale for 3 years now and we love the affordable, family-friendly housing!
Best places for soaking up the local culture: Any of the local breweries or restaurants
Favorite rotation and why: OR Anesthesia has been my favorite rotation thus far as this is our chance to be in the OR during intern year.
Favorite spots for a date night: My husband and I are big fans of Gianmarco's, Helen, and Wasabi Juan.
Favorite places to take guests: My out-of-town friends and family love TrimTab Brewery and Barons games at Regions Field.
Best park, trail, or golf course/Where I take in the scenic views: We frequent parks around Fultondale and Gardendale. My son and dog always have a blast on the trails and at the splash pads.
Why I like Birmingham: Birmingham is a big, little city. It's large enough to have a great food scene, parks, and entertainment, but small enough that traffic is manageable and it's not surprising to see friends when you're out and about.
What I wish someone had told me before I moved here: That I'd have the best years of my life thus far at UAB/Birmingham
Medical School: UAB School of Medicine
Residency Class: Ca-1
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
#WhyIChoseUAB: From its catchment area that covers the entire Southeast to Alabama's sick patient population, UAB offers an unparalleled training environment for future anesthesiologists, while enabling residents to make an incredible impact on patients' lives.
Fun Fact: I have a twin sister who works next door at Children's of Alabama.
Favorite part of the program/UAB: On any day, you feel stimulated and challenged, but also get to have fun since your co-residents are your friends.
My neighborhood and why I like it: Crestwood South- I have a quick, straight-shot commute and live a stone's throw away from restaurants, breweries, and pickleball at Crestwood Park.
Best places for soaking up the local culture: Back Forty, Avondale Brewery, Pepper Place Farmer's Market
Favorite rotation and why: Hands down the SICU. Since it was one of my earlier rotations during intern year, I could sense great growth in my clinical decision making and procedural skills. Also, our anesthesiology critical care faculty are incredible teachers!
Favorite spots for a date night: Blueprint on 3rd, Key Circle Commons
Favorite places to take guests: RTJ Oxmoor Valley Golf Course, i.e., God's country
Best park, trail, or golf course/Where I take in the scenic views: Mt. Cheaha or King's Chair for views. Jemison Trail for a stroll.
Why I like Birmingham: As a mid-sized city, Birmingham offers the activities and entertainment of a large city, without making livability and transportation a nightmare.
What I wish someone had told me before I moved here: Despite growing up here, attending medical school, and working as a resident in Birmingham, there's always been something new to discover.
Medical School: The Lake Erie College of Medicine, Bradenton
Residency Class: Ca-2
Hometown: Lakeland, FL
#WhyIChoseUAB: Great clinical training environment with supportive co-residents and attendings. Wide exposure to challenging cases.
Fun Fact: Personal trainer in college, although my body doesn't say it anymore
Favorite part of the program/UAB: Supportive co-residents
My neighborhood and why I like it: Irondale. Walkable neighborhood with good shopping options.
Best places for soaking up the local culture: Any of the 1000 breweries
Favorite rotation and why: Highlands Regional- great exposure to upper/lower extremity blocks and ultrasound.
Favorite spots for a date night: Blue Pacific for take home Thai!
Favorite places to take guests: Ruffner Mountain
Best park, trail, or golf course/Where I take in the scenic views: Ruffner Mtn, Oak Mtn, Turkey Creek
Why I like Birmingham: Good food, nice people, traffic isn't too bad at all
Medical School: Wright State University
Residency Class: Ca-2
Hometown: Dayton, OH
#WhyIChoseUAB: My SO really wanted somewhere warmer to live, so we began to look down South. After my interview, it was an easy choice. The online meet n'greet was full of residents who genuinely seemed very close and happy, emphasizing the awesome faculty and camaraderie between everyone (attendings, residents, CRNAs, surgeons and surgical staff...), high clinical volume, autonomy, and great work-life balance with moonlighting opportunities. Had a great interview and got a real sense that people really enjoy their experiences here at UAB. 2 years in and all I can say is that all the above are true. A wonderful program to train at with extremely kind individuals who want you to succeed.
Fun Fact: I am Macedonian.
Favorite part of the program/UAB: My co-residents, supportive faculty, high clinical volume and complex cases, tons of autonomy
My neighborhood and why I like it: Waterford Falls in Homewood. I like it because it is a small, quiet neighborhood with little to no traffic, only a short drive from UAB (~15min) and in close vicinity to outdoor parks/trails, great restaurants, and everything downtown Bham has to offer. There are sidewalks throughout.
Best places for soaking up the local culture: Back 40 (or really any other local brewery), Barons games, CityWalk
Favorite rotation and why: Highlands Regional. Love me some nerve blocks and free team breakfast
Favorite spots for a date night: Automatic Seafood, Pizzeria G.M.'s, El Barrio
Favorite places to take guests: Back 40, Taco Mama, Railroad Park, Hero Doughnuts
Best park, trail, or golf course/Where I take in the scenic views: Red Mountain State Park, Moss Rock Preserve, Oak Mountain State Park, Vulcan park and trail
Why I like Birmingham: All the amenities of a big city without being too urban or congested. There are nice Florida/Alabama beaches, as well as Nashville, Atlanta, and Huntsville all within reasonable driving distance
What I wish someone had told me before I moved here: Stay off 280 during rush hour
Medical School: UAB School of Medicine
Residency Class: Ca-3
Hometown: Montgomery, AL
#WhyIChoseUAB: Volume of cases combined with complexity and exposure to subspecialties. The fact that all rotations are completed at UAB and no travel is necessary to fulfill ACGME requirements.
Fun Fact: I once ate seven jamon y queso (ham and cheese) sandwiches on a 25-mile hike across Northern Spain in one day.
Favorite part of the program/UAB or something you love about it: The sunset from the resident lounge as I'm preparing for another trauma
My neighborhood and why I like it: Cahaba Heights- close to UAB with good accessibility to the great city of Birmingham. Also, it doesn't have street lights, which I found strange at first but it turns out to be a huge advantage b/c there's minimal light pollution which then allows you to see the stars and galaxies.
Best places for soaking up the local culture: Railroad Park is always bustling and venturing down the Rotary Trial will take you to many breweries.
Favorite rotation and why: Vascular due to the complex patient population and depth of cases (angiograms all the way to open AAA repairs)
Favorite spots for a date night: Wherever my credit card is not declined- always a fan of Dyrons Low Country
Favorite places to take guests: Avondale, concerts at the BJCC, Red Mountain and Oak Mountain, large assortments of restaurants to select from
Best park, trail, or golf course/Where I take in the scenic views: Tennis guy myself but Red Mountain and Oak Mountain State Park
Why I like Birmingham: Everyone will tell you it's because "It's a small big city". It's true.
What I wish someone had told me before I moved here: The music scene is better than you expect.
What I'll miss the most about UAB/Birmingham: Not sure I'll ever leave
Plans for after graduation: Probably stay in Birmingham
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina
Residency Class: CA-2
Hometown: Charleston, SC
#WhyIChoseUAB: I wanted a residency program that offered challenging cases and a sick patient population to prepare me for any clinical situation after training.
Fun Fact: I have a cat, Moose!
Favorite part of the program: The autonomy we have as residents
Favorite rotation and why: Highlands Regional- doing procedures all day!
My neighborhood and why I like it: Highland Park- great area to walk/run
Best places for soaking up the local culture: Game days in Tuscaloosa
Favorite spots for a date night: Gianmarcos, Watkins, Automatic Seafood
Favorite places to take guests: El Barrio
Best park, trail, or golf course/Where I take in the scenic views: Botanical gardens
Why I like Birmingham: Great food!
What I'll miss the most about UAB/Birmingham: The people!
Plans after graduation: Pain Fellowship
Medical School: The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Residency Class: CA-3
Hometown: Texarkana, TX
#WhyIChoseUAB: I chose UAB because the program is dedicated to not only preparing residents to be exceptional clinicians, but also values resident wellness and puts in money and effort to make sure residents can have work/life balance. Now that I am here, I feel like the patient population that we take care of will place me ahead of others when it comes to be the anesthesiologist out in the community.
Fun Fact: Despite the work schedule, I have been able to play multiple pickleball tournaments while in residency with one of my fellow residents.
Favorite part of the program/UAB or something you love about it: I really appreciate the culture of always wanting to improve and the relationships that I have been able to create with residents, nurses, attendings, surgeons, etc.
My neighborhood and why I like it: Chapel Hills in Fultondale. The reason we like it is that it is only 10 minutes on the interstate from the hospital, and it has a small-town vibe. We feel very safe in the neighborhood, and I don't have to worry very much when my wife is home alone when I am on a 24.
Best places for soaking up the local culture: The Crestwood area is good for eating, events, etc.
Favorite rotation and why: My favorite rotation so far has been CV anesthesia. It is very fast paced compared to many other types of surgery and I feel it has prepared me to stay calm and respond quickly in crisis situations.
Favorite spots for a date night: Automatic Seafood is hard to beat. There are many other good spots though.
Favorite places to take guests: We usually take our guests one of many places to eat. There are also places to go hiking, shopping, etc.
Why I like Birmingham: It has all the amenities of a big city, but without the terrible traffic and crowded feel.
What I wish someone had told me before I moved here: Just how good the food scene is
What I'll miss the most about UAB/Birmingham: Many of the friendships that I have made here not only at the hosital but outside as well. It is a place where people are welcoming.
Plans after graduation: Private practice in Alexandria, LA.
Medical School: The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Residency Class: CA-2
Hometown: Frisco, TX
#WhyIChoseUAB: Large hospital, every subspecialty of Anesthesia availible with early exposure
Fun Fact: Once performed an upside-down bronch.
Favorite part of the program/UAB or something you love about it: Spending time with cp-residents decompressing from cases in Anesthesia lounge
My neighborhood and why I like it: West Homewood- safe, walkable, best coffee spot in town within walking distance (Seeds)
Best places for soaking up the local culture: Pepper Place Farmer's Market every Saturday morning
Favorite rotation and why: CV Anesthesia- TEEs, lots of case variety and learning opportunities
Favorite spots for a date night: Bettola- upscale Italian restaurant that happens to be right next to Jeni's Ice Cream
Favorite places to take guests: Seed's coffee- best coffee in town. Also Vulcan statue- worth the trip to the top!
Best park, trail, or golf course/Where I take in the scenic views: The Ridge golf course at Oxmoor Valley or Highland Park GC- great downtown views, especially in evenings
Why I like Birmingham: Large city, yet still only takes ~15mins to get anywhere, Tons of restaurants to try, always a new cocktail bar
What I wish someone had told me before I moved here: Lots of restaurant choices, many require reservations because of the popular food scene!
Medical School: University of Oklahoma
Residency Class: CA-2
Hometown: Tulsa, OK
#WhyIChoseUAB: Unparalleled clinical experience combined with a great work-life balance for a resident. I worked with UAB alums in medical school and wanted to train where they did because they were THAT good. Visiting Birmingham and meeting people in this program sealed the deal.
Fun Fact: I can probably squat more than Drake.
Favorite part of the program/UAB or something you love about it: The people! I have the best co-residents.
My neighborhood and why I like it: Crestwood North. I love it because it's a short drive to the hospital and the neighbors are absolutely wonderful. There's a local restaurant (The Filling Station) and park (Crestwood Park) that are a 5 minute walk from our house that we frequent often.
Best places for soaking up the local culture: Any of the restaurants (there are so many!). Or Pepper Place Farmer's Market.
Favorite rotation and why: Highlands Regional service. Fun procedures and great attendings!
Favorite spots for a date night: Automatic Seafood, Bettola
Favorite places to take guests: Pepper Place Farmer's Market, Back40 Brewing
Best park, trail, or golf course/Where I take in the scenic views: Vulcan Park! Best view of Downtown Birmingham
Why I like Birmingham: Honestly it's such a great city to live in. Low cost of living, friendly people, and an easy commute to work, no matter where you live.