To help you get to know more about the UAB Heersink School of Medicine and its Student Senate, as well as the city of Birmingham, your Vital Signs Student Co-Contributors interviewed the MS1 Student Class Treasure, Vice President, and Class President:
Paola Sommer- Class Treasurer
Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Paola Sommer and I was born and raised in the deep south of Dothan, Alabama. I am a CHRONIC extrovert, so one of my favorite things about life is the opportunity to be with people every day. I love nothing more than talking to my friends, hearing a new story, or catching up with family. I also love being outside and taking in all the vibrant colors that make our world a beautiful place. One of my fun facts that I am probably too liberal in broadcasting is that I am part Italian and so have relatives that I visit all over the world. I graduated with a degree in music from the University of Alabama (roll tide) and then moved to Oxford, England where I thrived in my European girl era for a year before attending medical school here at UAB.
What made you apply to be the class treasurer?
I remember distinctly the moment I heard about the treasurer position at orientation. I immediately knew that this administrative role was a position in which I could thrive. Organization and communication are important to me, and skills I worked to hone over the years, so I felt I would both serve my classmates well and enjoy the role of treasurer for these reasons.
What is something that surprised you about medical school?
I think the most surprising thing for me was the communal energy in medical school. There are a ton of people in each class, but we all end up in the same places around Volker and we all have some measure of shared experience. We take the same classes, probably know a lot of the same people, and have a shared passion for medicine. Yet, within that sense of commonality, there remains a diversity of experience. I have learned so much about different cultures from my friends. I now know that Indian weddings are a multi-day affair. I’ve eaten some incredible Greek food and seen where my Greek Orthodox friends go to worship. I’ve witnessed the supportive and exuberant community of African Americans. I’ve learned about Korean names, multi-cultural upbringings, the history of Bangladesh, the passion of Palestinians, and the experiences of physicians in the Mexican mountains. And all these stories have come together to bring colorful vibrance to this journey we’re on together in our shared pursuit of medicine.
Why UAB?
UAB was my top medical school for a few reasons, not the least of which is that I was born and raised in Alabama. I love my Alabama community and have spent much of my life working for its benefit. I wanted to continue learning from the amazing people here and wanted to stay close to the family and friends I love dearly. As an added bonus, UAB is ranked among the best medical schools in the country, includes top research opportunities, and is helping lead the charge in addressing rural medicine concerns in Alabama. UAB aligned with my passion and vision for my medical training, so it served as the obvious choice.
What campus are you and what made you choose your campus?
I am on the Primary Care Track which puts me on the Tuscaloosa campus. I chose this track because I am most interested in becoming a Primary Care Physician in the future. I also have family in Tuscaloosa and I am looking forward to living with them again. Finally, I have an established relationship with a non-profit clinic in the Tuscaloosa area and I would love to give back to the community that guided my first steps down my medical journey. The University of Alabama is alsomy alma mater (roll tide), so I am looking forward to getting back to T-town.
What is something you’ve done so far (or that are in the works) as a senate member that you’re particularly proud of or excited for?
My main effort so far in Student Senate has been to establish consistent lines of communication between the treasurers, the events team, student exec, student cabinet, and the Heersink School of Medicine student body. I am proud that we have worked together as a team to fill communication gaps and move forward as a more cohesively informed unit.
What is your favorite spot in Birmingham?
My favorite spot in Birmingham is probably at the top of the hill near Continental Bakery. I remember the first time I crested that hill and looked upon the view of the whole city. Houses, skytappers (not “scrapers”; that’s a New York thing), smokestacks, stadiums, highway 65, and the Vulcan were all below me. As I took in these sights, a group of birds flew past and settled in the trees nearby, seemingly undisturbed by the activity below. It was then that I realized a beautiful thing about Birmingham: while it is the second most highly populated city in Alabama, it has not grown past the bounds of nature that give our state the name of “Alabama the Beautiful”. It’s busy, yes, but not so much that you can’t stop and hear the birds singing around you. This place is still where many fly to rest and, as the birds sing, so I join in the chorus coined by Lynyrd Skynyrd long ago, “Sweet Home, Alabama. I’m coming home to you.”
Michael Murphy- Vice President
Tell us a little about yourself.
Hi! I’m Michael Murphy the MS1 Vice President. I’m originally from a suburb of Chicago, Mount Prospect, IL, and I attended the University of Alabama where I received a Bachelor of Science in Spanish and Chemistry. My family moved to Florence, AL a little over 3 years ago and have grown to call this new place our home! I love grabbing a bite to eat with my friends, doing escape rooms (successfully), and a little weekend movie night.
What made you apply to be a class officer?
Initially, I was unsure if I was the right person for the job but after hearing from the previous year Vice Presidents and fully understanding what the role as Vice President entailed, I was excited to help be a part of the Learning Communities and reminding people that there is more to medical school than just studying. I love hearing what activities and ideas that the Learning Community representatives come up with and making sure that they are enjoying their time as representatives so that they can help the rest of the students feel the same about school. I have had other leadership roles in the past, but never as student government and I am always looking for ways to build new skills and further my experiences.
What is something that surprised you about medical school?
Neither of my parents went to college so I didn’t have much input from my family as what to expect. Most of what I knew about medical school was from social media and TV. After coming here, I was surprised by the amount of extracurriculars, activities, and support systems the school had in place for us and even more surprised that most of them were largely run by students! It is amazing seeing everyone that wants to work as a team to make this time as enjoyable for as many students as possible and how we all genuinely want everyone to succeed.
Why UAB?
Honestly, the reason I chose UAB was simple. I attended the University of Alabama because of the amazing academic scholarships they offered. During my time there, my mom decided she wanted to move away from Illinois and my brother decided to attend UA as well. Once I was in state, I had the opportunity to apply here as an early-decision applicant. I knew after reading through UABHSOM’s mission statement, student testimonials, and the help of my guidance counselors that this school would be nothing short of an outstanding education and I was brought to tears when I was allowed the opportunity to pursue this education. This school places a tremendous focus on student involvement, satisfaction, diversity, inclusion and equity and I think these pillars are something that we all need to be uplifting and caring about to create a better world for our patients and each other.
What campus are you and what made you choose your campus?
As a member of the Primary Care Track, my campus selection was made for me, but I was lucky enough that it was Tuscaloosa! It is a great town and I have spent hundreds of hours inside the local hospital there. I am excited for my clinical years, the beginning of my hands on experience and learning, and to be back in a town that I have such fond memories of. Every student in my learning community is someone I am proud to call my classmate and the student in my CRISP group, including our class Treasurer, Paola, are people that I am so happy I get to spend the next 3 years going through lots of first experiences together. I have heard with the lesser amount of medical residents at the Tuscaloosa campus, there’s more opportunities for us as medical students and I can’t wait to get as much experience as possible.
What is something you’ve done so far (or that are in the works) as a senate member that you’re particularly proud of or excited for?
At times we all feel like we aren’t doing our best and it’s so important to reflect on how far you’ve come and remember the positive. At times some of my learning community representatives have felt like they aren’t doing enough to support their classmates and I always enjoy being able to lift their spirits and show them and remind them of all the great things they’ve done. Recently we conducted evaluations and people who needed that reminder that what they’re doing is appreciated greatly benefited from hearing the preliminary, anonymous positive feedback that their classmates left for them. There’s nothing I want more than for everyone to feel like they’re doing everything they should be, and they will succeed even through hard times.
What is your favorite spot in Birmingham?
I really miss the baseball games in the spring, going to the Thursday games with people from class and having a drink and a good time…and talking about something other than school (which is hard sometimes)! I love studying in coffee shops like Santos, Red Cat, or O’Henrys, but hate my backpack smelling like coffee all day the next day. Railroad Park is such a nice place to sit, relax, study and lay in the sun with your friends. And of course, you can never go wrong with a good brewery. Good People is walking distance for me so I would have to say it’s my favorite.
Lupita Contreras- Class President
Tell us about yourself.
Hi! My name is Lupita Contreras, but almost all my friends call me Lu! I was born and raised here in Birmingham, but I lived in Guadalajara, Mexico, for five years during middle school and the first year of high school. Living in Mexico had a significant impact on me, and it helped me develop my identity. I had the opportunity to immerse myself in my culture and heritage completely. Family is the most important thing to me, and I was fortunate to be surrounded by my entire family during those years. I have two siblings: a younger brother who is a senior at Auburn and a younger sister who is a junior in high school. My siblings are some of my closest friends!
After returning home to Birmingham, I finished high school and attended Auburn University, where I majored in Biomedical Science and minored in Spanish. I loved my undergrad experience at Auburn, but my all-time favorite thing is that I worked with the therapy dog program at the Auburn School of Nursing and did research with them. It was through them that I got my golden Luna! If you follow me on Facebook, you'll see it's become a Luna fan page! She just turned two, and we've been training to get her certified as a therapy dog so she can visit patients. After Auburn, I did a master's in Biomedical Health and Science at UAB, and now I am here!
Trying new food and traveling are two of my favorite things to do. If you have any restaurant recommendations, please let me know! The next place I would like to visit is Japan.
What made you apply to be a class officer?
After getting to know my amazing classmates, I felt led to apply for a position that would allow me to serve them directly. They had poured so much into me in the couple of months we had all known each other that I wanted to give back. My goal has been to work with my classmates to establish an environment where all their voices are heard and valued. An environment that values advocacy, transparency, and inclusion.
The role of president would allow me to advocate for my classmates in various aspects that affect us on a daily basis and work closely with faculty and administration to find solutions. This was precisely the kind of role I was looking for when finding ways to serve my classmates.
What is something that surprised you about medical school?
The people! I have made some of the best friends anyone could ever ask for in medical school. We all are family and would drop anything to support one another. I was so worried about what days of lots of studying would look like in medical school, but having your classmates around changes the game. It makes those long hours pretty enjoyable. Medical school will definitely challenge you and push you out of your comfort zone, but being surrounded by people who are going through it like you is comforting.
I have also had a great experience working with the faculty and staff at our school. I was pleasantly surprised by how much they value student input and feedback. The course directors are always available during office hours to answer any questions about the material, and Medical Student Services has been really helpful in my transition into medical school. Overall, UAB has provided me with many opportunities to grow as a student and as a person. You truly have the chance to make a change as a student here at UAB.
Why UAB?
The UAB Heersink School of Medicine ranks among the nation’s best medical schools and is in the top 20 institutions for NIH funding. However, for me, UAB represents so much more than these incredible statistics- because of the physicians, research, and cutting-edge technology at UAB- I am here! Let me explain! Twenty-four years ago, my mom was told that her chance of having me was less than 1%. With the best medical programs at UAB at her side, I was conceived! Having the opportunity to be a medical student at the university that gave me the chance to be here today, against all odds, is a true honor.
During my interview, I felt seen and immediately welcomed. I felt like I was a part of the UAB family. As I mentioned before, family is super important to me, and when I got the feeling, I knew UAB would be a perfect match. I cannot think of another place I would rather be than here!
What campus are you and what made you choose your campus?
I am Birmingham Campus! One of my top priorities while choosing my preferred campus was to stay close to my family, so that I can continue to be there for them and offer them any help they need. I strongly recommend attending the Second Look event, if possible. They did an excellent job of explaining the various campuses and providing different perspectives on each one before you make your choice. All campuses offer unique opportunities for you to excel and provide you with all the necessary tools to become the best physician you can be!
What is something you’ve done so far (or that are in the works) as a senate member that you’re particularly proud of or excited for?
Having the opportunity to serve my class as President has been an honor and a joy! One of my initiatives was to host a “Coffee with the President” every block. The idea behind this initiative was to create a space where students could come together, have meaningful conversations, and get to know each other better. Coffee with the President has become one of my favorite days of the block. It’s hosted in our newly renovated space on the 4th floor, and I have a whole coffee bar set up + lunch. During our last get-together, I was able to share a bit of my culture by preparing homemade tres leches and setting up an authentic nacho bar. Coffee with the President is open to all classes, and I look forward to hopefully meeting you at one of the Coffee with the President next year!
What is your favorite spot in Birmingham?
There are so many amazing spots in Birmingham! I started a list this year with all the places people recommended, and it has become my new hobby to check them off. One of my new favorite spots to hang out for a fun night out in the city is Adios. It is the coolest place! The Pizitz is also a fun stop because it has a great food court with many options. If you're looking for a coffee shop, Saturn and Frothy Monkey are two of my favorites.
P.S.: If you ever want me to send you the list, email me @ gbc0008@uab.edu!