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.  

Kevin Bray

Where are you from? 
Marietta, Ga.

What made you want to become a doctor? 
My passion for medicine emerged as a kid because both of my parents work in the healthcare field. As a child, I was moved by their conversations regarding the fascinating stories they encountered with their patients. I was captivated by how each day brought new, unique challenges and by how much they impacted their patients’ lives. Through two gap years prior to starting medical school, I worked as a medical assistant in an orthopedic surgeon’s office. The valuable patient interactions have reinforced my desire to pursue a career in medicine.

What is your favorite Birmingham spot? 
I’m not a big runner but when I want to get outside and get some exercise, I love running at the Vulcan Trail that starts right below the Vulcan Statue. It’s a great trail to run on if are like me and enjoy running on flat trails without much incline/decline. The trail provides incredible views of the city as you run along the top of Red Mountain and a little bit of shade on the hot, sunny days.

What is something about being a medical student that more people don’t realize? 
While medical school is challenging, it’s also a ton of fun. It’s more than studying all the time, wearing a white coat, and spending too much money on online resources. Take the time to get to know your classmates and find yourself a fun study group. One of my favorite things about medical school is the fact that I can use “I have to study” as an excuse to get out of anything I don’t want to do and no one will ever question you.

What made you choose UAB? 
Over the last seven years of my life, Alabama has become home to me. I spent four years of undergraduate studies in Auburn, two years working full time in Birmingham, and now medical school. I have grown to love the city of Birmingham and all it has to offer. My family continues to have strong roots in the state of Alabama. I have several close family members who live in the Birmingham area and friends who I graduated with at Auburn. These people have become an important support system to me.

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? 
Medical school actually comes with a ton of schedule flexibility. Although we did most of our first year online, having lectures recorded allows for students to get their work done whenever they chose. I am a firm believer in getting your work done during the week so you have time on the weekends to do things you enjoy outside of studying. That being said, make sure to find something to de-stress when you are not studying. I often found myself forgetting the material I learned in undergrad after I took the test. It’s important to stay on top of the material in medical school because everything you learn is important and you will see it again. There are tons of strategies to help with retention so take advantage of those services to make your life a lot easier down the road.

Savannah Elrod

Where are you from? 
Montgomery

What made you want to become a doctor? 
Since I was little, I was around someone who dedicated their life to being a good physician and a good person who helped people in need. He showed me that being a doctor was so much more than learning the material, but that it created a relationship between people. I’ve known I wanted to be a part of that relationship and life of service since I can remember.

What is your favorite Birmingham spot? 
If it’s spring, then Botanical Gardens. If it’s a fall game day, Avondale’s on the lawn with the games on the projector.

What is something about being a medical student that more people don’t realize? 
Our schedules are not the standard Monday to Friday, 8am-5pm schedules – tests do not always fall on Fridays. So what “feels like the weekend” is any time after a test, which may be a Monday. It’s an adjustment, but I’ve never looked forward to a Monday like I have now. And if we reach out to you to spend time in the middle of your work week, it might be because it’s our “weekend.”

What made you choose UAB? 
I’ve grown up wanting to go to UAB, knowing that it is well-renowned and respected school with great research opportunities. I also knew medical school would require a support system, and mine is my family. I saw being close to home, but still in a new city, as a bonus.

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 an undergraduate student, I was always working towards a dream that may or may not have happened: becoming a doctor. I had to trust and hope that an admissions committee would see the potential in me for which I so eagerly had worked. Now that I am in medical school, I know the dream can happen if I earn it. It creates a different type of pressure and expectation with the goal within reach. I am the only person who controls if I get there, and it’s a matter of knowledge, dedication, and willingness. So, now I feel more sense of responsibility in myself for the sake of the future people who will one day entrust me with their health and bodies. The pressure and expectation is not a matter of “what if” anymore, it’s become a matter of “so now.”

Paxton Peacock

Where are you from? 
I grew up right outside of Dothan but went to school in Enterprise!

What made you want to become a doctor? 
I grew up on a farm raising and showing livestock my entire life. Being able to recognize different symptoms of illness and knowing how to treat it was always interesting to me. This eventually led me to allopathic medicine with a combined interest to educate underserved populations about preventive healthcare.

What is your favorite Birmingham spot? 
The rooftop of Redmont Hotel. It’s a great scenic location as well as a fun place to hang out with friends!

What is something about being a medical student that more people don’t realize? 
Most people don’t realize that being a medical student is not the defining point of our identities. Each of us are unique and have our own special interests, talents, and skillsets outside of school to help manage life a little easier.

 What made you choose UAB? 
I chose UABSOM because I loved the feeling of warmth and the opportunities provided for UABSOM students. Also, in my opinion, the overall comradery is unparalleled.

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 sheer magnitude of information being presented on a daily basis is undoubtedly the greatest difference between undergraduate and professional school. However, you learn to manage your time better than you ever have before, and that is a necessary skill in the medical field.

Shelby Walcott

Where are you from? 
Montgomery

What made you want to become a doctor?
I love being able to connect with other people in a way no other profession can. Practicing medicine allows us to see the change we are making firsthand while simultaneously establishing trust with others during vulnerable moments in life. Medicine also has so many different routes associated with it, so I loved that I have the ability to specialize further in such an interesting field.

What is your favorite Birmingham spot?
Ono Poke – their lava sauce is to die for.

What is something about being a medical student that more people don’t realize?
You still have time for a personal life! Most people think that once medical school starts your personal life disappears, but this isn’t true.

What made you choose UAB?
UAB has an incredibly supportive and welcoming atmosphere. Additionally, the research opportunities provided here are unparalleled. I chose UAB because I felt I would be able to experience a wide range of opportunities, receive unparalleled mentorship, and develop lifelong friends in its supportive community.

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? 
A difference between undergrad and medical school is that everyone in medical school has the same passion and career path as you. While meeting people with different interests is a positive part of undergrad, it is so rewarding in graduate school to grow alongside those with similar aspirations as you. Also, it’s fun geeking out in anatomy lab with friends who don’t think it’s gross.

Spencer MacLeod

Where are you from? 
Huntsville.

What made you want to become a doctor? 
I initially began considering a career in medicine based on my general interest in science throughout my early education. To help me determine whether I wanted to pursue a career in medicine, I started working as a vitals technician at Clearview Cancer Institute in Huntsville during high school. Very early on in this experience, I realized how meaningful this was to me. These patients were fighting a very difficult battle, and in some cases, they were only battling for a little more time with their family and loved ones. I was blown away by how strong and courageous these patients were as they went through their treatments. I knew that my role as a vitals technician was more than just taking patients’ vital signs. I knew that I was there to comfort these patients, talk with them, get to know them, and help them along this journey. I loved having the opportunity to get to interact these patients and be there for them. Over time, I knew that I wanted to be able to do more for these patients, and with that realization, I knew I wanted to be a doctor.

What is your favorite Birmingham spot? 
My favorite spot in Birmingham is Caveat Coffee. I am a huge coffee person, and Caveat has some great coffee. They have a lot of space both indoor and outdoor, which is great for hanging out and for studying.

What is something about being a medical student that more people don’t realize? 
Something people don’t realize about medical students is that medical students do have time for fun outside of school. It’s not always abundant, but there is time.

What made you choose UAB? 
I chose UAB because it has an incredible reputation not just in the state but nationwide as a fantastic medical school program. All of the physicians I shadowed who had attended UAB for their medical school education were all incredible physicians. They all showed a deep devotion towards providing their patients the absolute best medical care, and all of them acted as great teachers and mentors to me.

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 a professional school student, I feel an increased amount of responsibility to educate my community about important health topics. As a future healthcare provider, a lot is expected of me if I am to be caring for patients one day. I feel like it is my obligation to give nothing less than my absolute best. I also feel a lot of visibility as healthcare is very prevalent on the news in regards to COVID and in regards to politics.

Christa Hastings

Where are you from? 
I’m from a small town in Northeast Alabama called Section.

What made you want to become a doctor? 
I’ve wanted to be a doctor from a young age. Growing up, I had a family member who was hospitalized at Children’s of Alabama. I grew up hearing about the doctors who impacted my family’s lives and knew that if I was given the opportunity, I wanted to be able to make a difference in patients’ lives like those physicians did for my family.

What is your favorite Birmingham spot? 
My favorite spot is O’Henry’s! Before the pandemic, I would often go to O’Henry’s to study and they have the best hot chocolate!

What is something about being a medical student that more people don’t realize? 
Medical students don’t study all day. We do have social lives outside of medical school and get to spend time with our families and friends!

What made you choose UAB? 
Because of the impact UAB had on my family, I have always had UAB at the forefront of my mind. However, when I came to UAB for my interview, I saw all the amazing opportunities UAB has for their students. I saw all of the extra academic help that is given to students and the learning communities that were set up to talk about ethics and issues in the healthcare field.

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? 
One of the biggest differences I’ve noticed is the vast amount of workload in professional schools when compared to undergrad. There have been days where I was working late into the night trying to get all my work done and still not managing it. Another big difference is the atmosphere in professional school when compared to undergraduate education. I’ve noticed a bigger competitiveness in professional school and learned early on that comparison is the thief of joy, while also remembering that UABSOM chose me for a reason.

Mitchell Disharoon

Where are you from? 
Trussville.

What made you want to become a doctor? 
I was a very sick little kid and doctors gave me a second chance at life basically, and I feel that it is now my turn to give back to people what I was given!

What is your favorite Birmingham spot? 
Probably George Ward Park. I’m a big disc golf fan.

What is something about being a medical student that more people don’t realize? 
I think the one thing people don’t fully understand is the time commitment medical school requires. There is just nothing else to compare it to and the only way to fully understand it is to do it.

What made you choose UAB? 
UAB is one of the best schools you can go for a medical education and it’s in Birmingham so that’s a plus. The people around Birmingham are always friendly and also the food is great. High quality education while remaining close to family and friends.

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?
Some differences I’ve noticed is the expectations and pressures we are under. It’s not like undergrad where you just learn new information to make an A on a test. We learn new information now to save lives in the future. That creates a new dynamic and importance to learning the material at hand.