Brian Sims, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the Division of Neonatology, attended University of Alabama at Birmingham where he completed a Bachelor Science and a PhD, and a Medical Degree at the University of Alabama School of Medicine. He finished a Clinical Research Fellow at Washington in St. Louis, MO, and a Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship at University of Alabama at Birmingham. 

His primary research interest is in exosome biology and mechanisms involved in neuroprotection. One of his primary roles as a Physician Scientist is to help develop younger trainees. He is involved heavily in training many students on various levels with an emphasis on helping students from diverse backgrounds. He has a sincere interest in increasing diversity in the academic setting. 

Shaundra Blakemore, assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, is the co-director of the UAB Mini Medical School Program. She is a proud graduate of the Birmingham City School System (Central Park Elementary School, WJ Christian Middle School, and Ramsay High School). She attended Yale University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. After college she spent a year teaching biology abroad in Singapore. She completed medical school, pediatric residency, and pediatric emergency fellowship at UAB. She is excited to help expose students to all of the varied careers in healthcare. In addition to co-directing the mini medical school she also co-directs a course in the medical school and is the medical director of the American Heart Association Pediatric Advanced Life Support course for Children’s of Alabama. When she isn’t in the hospital she enjoys spending time with her husband and daughters.  

Tamera Coyne-Beasley, M.D., MPH, professor in the Division of Adolescent Medicine has oversight for Mini Medical School Program team facilitating the UAB Mini Medical School Program. Dr. Coyne-Beasley completed medical school at Duke University, a residency in Internal Medicine/Pediatrics: Duke University Medical Center, and a fellowship at Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program: University of North Carolina Preventive Medicine Fellowship: University of North Carolina. Additionally, she completed a master’s degree in Public Health in Epidemiology at University of North Carolina.  

Her academic, community work, policy development and research has focused on adolescent health and risk behaviors especially sexual and reproductive health, violence and injury prevention; health promotion and disease prevention, reducing health disparities, immunizations, improving health care access, community-based participatory and engaged research, and practice-based research. 

Marsha Kelley-Sutton, a UAB School of Medicine retiree, brings over 35 years of program coordination to the Mini Medical School Program. She possesses expertise in program management, grant solicitation, curriculum development and development of strategic partnerships. In her profession as a program administrator for the University of Alabama School of Medicine, her responsibilities included coordinating the Health Career Opportunity Program, the Summer Health Enrichment Program (formally MMEP), and pre-matriculation programs for the Office of Medical Student Services. Her passion for working with students continues as she assists aspiring college students with creating essays and writing personal statements to assist them in gaining admissions to various schools and programs or scholarships. Ms. Kelley-Sutton began her academic pursuits at Tuskegee University and completed her B.A. degree in English and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.