The Orientation Leaders (OLs) have been selected! They will be working hard to make sure your orientation is fun, informative, and welcoming. We will introduce the entire group through the next few Vital Signs so you can get to know them before Orientation in July. Here are our first seven introductions, including your Co-Directors: Oliva Ricks and Matthew Moore. 

Olivia Ricks, Co-Director

1.Where are you from? 
Clanton, Ala.

2. What made you want to become a doctor? 
I have always had an interest in pursuing a position in the medical field. Upon graduating from high school, I decided I wanted to experience medicine from various points of view. In order to accomplish this, I first went to nursing school and worked as a RN for a few years. Working as a nurse enhanced my hunger for medical knowledge and solidified by desire to become a physician. Although I have left the nursing world behind for medical school, I will always cherish the experience it gave me and the love for medicine it instilled in me. 

3. What is your favorite Birmingham spot? 
My favorite spot in Birmingham is Moss Rock Preserve. It’s a little outside of the city, but it’s my favorite place to escape from school for a bit and hike with my dog and friends. 

4. What is something about being a medical student that more people don’t realize? 
It’s not all just studying and taking tests; we actually have a lot of fun! For the first time in your life, you will be surrounded by so many people that are so similar to you, yet so different. It's so refreshing and exciting! 

5. What made you choose UAB? 
Choosing UAB was easy for me. I went to UAB for undergrad and worked at UAB Hospital as a nurse. During this time, I fell in love with the UAB medical community. I also was attracted to UAB due to it being a nationally praised medical school and a research powerhouse.  

6. What are some of the differences you’ve noticed in being a professional school student (expectations, pressures, visibility, etc.) than those of an undergrad or graduate school student? 
The biggest difference is the amount of freedom you are given. While some activities are mandatory, most aren’t. If you are a morning person and want to attend lectures live, go for it! If you aren’t a morning person and want to sleep in instead, all the power to you! This gives you the freedom to find a study structure and style that works best for you. The key is to practice self-discipline and not let yourself fall behind.

Matthew Moore, Co-Director

1. Where are you from? 
Birmingham

2. What made you want to become a doctor? 
My mother is the best physician I know. She is compassionate, intelligent, and patient. Over the years I’ve met her patients, some being friends of mine who told me she was their doctor, all of whom describe her as those things. Having medicine modeled as a way to serve was instilled in me at a young age. That early dream to become a compassionate physician myself has wavered at times but never gone away. Patients entrusting their very lives to you is an intimidating task, but there are few greater honors than to be able to serve a fellow man or woman in such a sacred way. 

3. What is your favorite Birmingham spot? 
Definitely sitting under Vulcan just before dusk on a spring day with the following: a blanket spread out on the lawn, a picnic basket full of yummy snacks, a couple bottles of wine, and a group of cherished friends desiring to make the best memories (Oh, and hopefully it’s not a James Spann suspenders kind of evening).

4. What is something about being a medical student that more people don’t realize? 
We’re just as fun as we are smart. ;)

5. What made you choose UAB? 
Growing up in Birmingham, I had always heard about UABSOM. It wasn’t until I was in graduate school at UAB, though, that I realized how great of an institution UAB really is. There are world-class physicians, researchers, and trainees who are as down to earth as they are intelligent, and the administration fosters such a rich sense of collaboration and innovation. After brushing elbows with such people, I realized I had to choose UAB.

6. What are some of the differences you’ve noticed in being a professional school student (expectations, pressures, visibility, etc.) than those of an undergrad or graduate school student? 
Being a medical student in particular carries a certain weight to it, especially to people in the community not affiliated with UAB. It’s somewhat expected because being a physician is a highly respected career, but as I’ve journeyed further into medicine, I’ve realized the weight exists for a different reason. People allow physicians to enter very intimate parts of their lives, sharing their hopes, fears, and regrets. They expose themselves to their doctor, often times literally, which is quite a weighty thing to experience. This has made the stakes greater than they were as an undergrad or grad student, but I anticipate the rewards, including the healing relationships that come as being a physician, will be even greater.

Tarushi Tanaya

1. Where are you from? 
I was born in Janesville, Wisc., but have spent the majority of my life in Houston, Texas. My family is currently in Montgomery. 

2. What made you want to become a doctor? 
When my brother was two years old, he underwent major brain surgery. Watching him recover and rehabilitate, as well as he did and overcome all the obstacles he was told would be a problem for him, was a huge motivation to for me help others in a similar way. I felt that the best way to reach as many people as possible in a way that was meaningful to me was to become a physician. 

3. What is your favorite Birmingham spot? 
Railroad Park

4. What is something about being a medical student that more people don’t realize? 
That school isn’t everything, and that maintaining your health, wellbeing, and personal happiness are paramount to having a successful career in the long term. 

5. What made you choose UAB?
I chose UABSOM because I loved the feeling of warmth and camaraderie I got while interviewing here. Everyone at UABSOM is extremely kind and helpful, and I appreciated early on that the connection I could make with the faculty, staff, and students here would be greater than those I would make at other institutions. 

6. What are some of the differences you’ve noticed in being a professional school student (expectations, pressures, visibility, etc.) than those of an undergrad or graduate school student? 
I feel like most of the expectations are self-imposed; here it feels less like a competition with others and more like trying to exceed your own expectations. I think for the most part that is good, but I feel like it’s important to make sure that you are taking care of yourself and looking after each other as much as possible, rather getting stuck in a purely academic bubble.

Jack Stein

1. Where are you from? 
Birmingham

2. What made you want to become a doctor?
The combination of a desire to be a part of the high highs and low lows that almost all of us will eventually face and being in a field of endless complexity and wonder.

3. What is your favorite Birmingham spot?
Any of the breweries around town to grab a drink with friends (pre-COVID of course).

4. What is something about being a medical student that more people don’t realize?
Meal prepping can be your best friend if you let it.

5. What made you choose UAB?
I love the city of Birmingham, and UAB’s reputation in the medical field is outstanding!

6. What are some of the differences you’ve noticed in being a professional school student (expectations, pressures, visibility, etc.) than those of an undergrad or graduate school student? 
There’s probably an added pressure that comes with being in medical school compared to undergrad, but there’s also an added camaraderie that comes from most of our grades being pass/fail.

Isabel Girling

1. Where are you from? 
I am from Charlotte, NC (but Texas originally!) 

2. What made you want to become a doctor? 
I’ve always been fascinated with the intricacies of the human body and wanted to pursue a career that reflected that interest. I also love that medicine bridges a gap between people of such a variety of backgrounds. Most importantly, my faith motivates me to demonstrate care and compassion to all people, and medicine is a very tangible way to do that. 

3. What is your favorite Birmingham spot? 
I love walking/running the Jemison Trail. But the restaurants in Birmingham are also a highlight (my favorites are probably El Barrio, Post Office Pies, and Surin of Thailand).  

4. What is something about being a medical student that more people don’t realize? 
I’ve had several people surprised to find me watching Sketchy to study. I guess people don’t realize that we don’t just read textbooks all day.  

5. What made you choose UAB? 
When I got into UAB, I was so excited about the prospect of being in Birmingham for another four years. Obviously, UAB is an amazing institution with a great reputation in the medical community, as well! 

6. What are some of the differences you’ve noticed in being a professional school student (expectations, pressures, visibility, etc.) than those of an undergrad or graduate school student? 
Expectations are definitely high, but in many ways just getting into medical school is the biggest step. I’ve actually found that pass/fail creates a lower pressure and more collaborative environment than I experienced in undergrad, which I have been so thankful for. The best part, though, is that I’m learning about things that really interest me and moving towards what I want to do, which is a great feeling.

Brett Cooke

1. Where are you from? 
Birmingham

2. What made you want to become a doctor? 
I wanted to become a doctor from a very young age, but the experiences that I had throughout undergraduate really sealed the decision for me. Through shadowing, volunteering, research, and various work experiences, I was able to see the wide variety of roles that physicians hold. They are leaders, caretakers, educators, advocators, learners, and innovators. This combination of responsibilities, along with the ability to practice in such an interesting field, is something that I felt that I could not find in any other career. 

3. What is your favorite Birmingham spot? 
Back Forty Brewing! They have a fantastic atmosphere, great food, and they are very COVID friendly with the large amount of outdoor space that they have available. If breweries are not your scene, I recently went to Red Cat Coffee in Pepper Place for the first time this month, and they are a very relaxed place to get some schoolwork done. 

4. What is something about being a medical student that more people don’t realize? 
I would say that most of my friends from outside of medical school do not realize exactly what medical school is, what your course load is like, and how your schedule can sometimes work. While I have stayed close with many of my friends since starting medical school, it has been so nice to be immediately plugged into a community here at UAB. From day one, there is a big emphasis on getting to know members of your class, and I think that this is extremely beneficial. 

5. What made you choose UAB? 
For me, it was a combination of the curriculum, the staff, and the students that UAB brings in. I believed that UAB would provide me with the education and training I needed to go into any specialty as a competent and caring physician. As a second semester MS1, I would say I definitely made the right choice. There are countless opportunities to get involved in research, volunteering, or whatever your passion may be. 

6. What are some of the differences you’ve noticed in being a professional school student (expectations, pressures, visibility, etc.) than those of an undergrad or graduate school student? 
As you have probably heard a thousand times, the content in medical school comes at you way faster than it did in undergraduate. However, the amount of collaboration present in medical school is so much higher than it was in undergraduate. Since the grading system is pass/fail, the pressure to get straight A’s is lower than it was when we were trying to get into medical school. However, everyone still pushes themselves to do their best. At the end of the day, we are studying to become great physicians, not just for a letter grade. 

Caroline Bennett

1. Where are you from?
Hayneville, Ala. 

2. What made you want to become a doctor? 
Long story short, medicine is a combination of endless opportunities to make a tangible difference in the lives of others and scientific learning and discovery. 

3. What is your favorite Birmingham spot? 
The Birmingham Botanical Gardens! It is beautiful any time of year and so relaxing to walk through and enjoy. 

4. What is something about being a medical student that more people don’t realize?
Don’t feel guilty about asking us to hang out! We still have time to talk, spend time with family and friends, and have hobbies! It just may take a little more planning. 

5. What made you choose UAB? 
UAB is a top-notch medical school close to home. It was truly a no-brainer!

6. What are some of the differences you’ve noticed in being a professional school student (expectations, pressures, visibility, etc.) than those of an undergrad or graduate school student?
In undergrad you might have been able to wait until the day or two before a test to study, but that is simply not possible in medical school. The pace, depth, and breadth of the material in medical school is incredible, and staying up-to-date on the material is super important in order to obtain a solid level of understanding (and to keep stress levels in check!).