Dear Class of 2020,

Congrats on your acceptance to medical school! In one year, you will be sitting right where we are now, at the end of your first year of medical school wondering where 365 days went. It will fly by, so my best advice is to live up every moment. We are currently counting down the days to summer break. Some of us are going off to foreign countries like Nepal, Peru and the Dominican Republic to provide quality healthcare. Others are traveling far less distances to do research on a variety of diseases right here at UAB.

This year has surely been a rollercoaster ride of thrilling ups and a few stressful downs, but mostly crazy fun. We’ve learned a lot about each other and even more about ourselves. I could not be more proud of my classmates who keep me motivated, inspired, and laughing every day. We have had the opportunity to get some much needed Vitamin D at the beach, ski the slopes of Breckenridge (or roll down them in my case), pull a few almost all nighters and enjoy endless amounts of free coffee from Medical Student Services together. This has been a year marked by personal growth, gratifying successes and countless memories.

Over the course of the next year, you will make amazing new friends, learn endless facts about the rarest (but most testable) diseases, explore Birmingham’s great food scene and be very glad you still get a fall, Christmas and spring breaks. You will also have the opportunity to explore endless career possibilities, learn from outstanding mentors (just wait until you meet Dr. Kumar) and investigate interests that you never knew you had.

We cannot wait to meet you at orientation! Until then, if you have any questions about Birmingham or school, please don’t hesitate to shoot me an email. GET EXCITED!

See you soon,


Allison Montgomery
President, Class of 2019
ammont@uab.edu