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Heersink School of Medicine

UAB® Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine
Commencement Ceremony

Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 1 p.m.
Bartow Arena
Birmingham, Alabama

A zoomed in view of UAB Commencement regalia.

Welcome to the 2026 Commencement Ceremony of the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine.

Today’s ceremony is the culmination of years of study, preparation, and achievement by our graduating students. We hope you find the ceremony both meaningful and memorable, as it reflects the combined efforts of the faculty, staff, alumni, and of course, our students and their families.

Award Recipients
Class of 2026
Learning Communities
About the Ceremony

Program

Procession with Path of Honor

Students, Faculty & Alumni

Commencement begins with an academic procession. Faculty and alumni will form a path through which the class will enter.

If you are able, please stand for the Procession.

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Anupam Agarwal, M.D.
Senior Vice President of Medicine Dean
UAB Heersink School of Medicine
James C. Lee, Jr. Endowed Chair

Class President’s Address

Michael Richard Anderson
President, Class of 2026

Commencement Address

Victor M. Montori, M.D., MSc
Dr. Victor Montori is the Robert H. and Susan M. Rewoldt Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic and a consultant in the Division of Endocrinology. He is also an investigator in the Knowledge and Evaluation Research Unit, where his work focuses on improving care for patients with diabetes and other chronic conditions.

Learn more about Dr. Montori

School Awards

Craig Hoesley, M.D.
Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education

Medical Alumni Association Leadership & Community Service Award

Rebecca R. Byrd, M.D.
President, University of Alabama Medical Alumni Association

Awarding of Academic Hoods

Students are hooded with members of their Learning Community. After the Learning Communities, the students who completed the Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD) will be hooded. Finally, those students who have completed the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program will be hooded.

Anupam Agarwal, M.D., Presiding
Senior Vice President of Medicine Dean
UAB Heersink School of Medicine
James C. Lee, Jr. Endowed Chair

Craig Hoesley, M.D.
Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education

Kevin Leon, M.D.
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education

Reading of Names

Nicholas Van Wagoner, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Students

Oath of Hippocrates

Jeremey Walker, M.D.
2025 Recipient of the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award

Physicians in the audience are invited to stand and recite the Oath with the faculty and students. Below is the version of the oath our students, faculty, and alumni will read together at the end of the ceremony.

Read the Oath of Hippocrates

Recession

Students, Faculty, & Alumni

If you are able, please stand for the recession.

Headshot of Dr. Victor Montori.

About the Speaker

Victor M. Montori, M.D., M.Sc.

Dr. Victor Montori is the Robert H. and Susan M. Rewoldt Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic and a consultant in the Division of Endocrinology. He is also an investigator in the Knowledge and Evaluation Research Unit, where his work focuses on improving care for patients with diabetes and other chronic conditions.

Montori has authored more than 850 peer-reviewed publications and is among the most cited researchers in clinical medicine and social science. His work has helped shape modern approaches to evidence-based medicine, shared decision-making, and care that better fits within each patient’s daily life.

Montori earned his medical degree from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia and completed his internal medicine residency and chief residency at Mayo Clinic. He went on to complete fellowship training in endocrinology, along with a research fellowship in clinical epidemiology and biostatistics at McMaster University. Montori also earned a master of science in biomedical research from the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. He was a 2024-2025 Human Rights and Technology Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

In addition to his clinical and academic work, Montori is the author of "Why We Revolt: A Patient Revolution for Careful and Kind Care," where he discusses commitment to care in healthcare, based on competence, compassion, and meaningful partnership between patients and clinicians.

Safety and Courtesy

Please silence all cell phones, pagers and other devices prior to the start of the ceremony. Please do not stand in or block the aisles.

Please note that flash photography is not allowed in the arena. A professional photographer will photograph each student shaking the dean’s hand. Students will receive information about ordering photographs.

Guests are expected to cooperate with Bartow Arena staff and security personnel.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Awards

School Awards

Hugh J. Dempsey Memorial Award
Presented to the student with the highest overall cumulative academic achievement.
Garrett Nathaniel Hawkins
Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award
Sponsored by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation. In recognition of the value of humanism in the delivery of care to patients and their families.
Audria Stevyn Wood

Birmingham Campus Departmental Awards

Awards are listed in alphabetical order by presenting department

Dean’s Award
Superior performance in the clinical curriculum
Josiah Burrell Perry
McGahey Award for Most Outstanding Medical Student
Excellence in Anesthesiology
Brittany Duck Strickland
Emily F. Omura Award
Excellence In Dermatology
Charlotte McRae Woods
Wilfred F. Holderfer Memorial Award
Excellence in Emergency Medicine
Alyssa Niblett
Endocrine Society Medical Student Achievement Award
Exceptional Ability and Interest in Endocrinology
Philip Anthony Harden
G. Gayle Stephens Award
Excellence in Family Medicine
Troy Harrison Shirley
Rime Acting Intern Award
Excellence in Internal Medicine
Robert Austin Blanton
Tinsley R. Harrison Award
Excellence in Internal Medicine
Sarika Kamala Mullapudi
Veterans Affairs Service Award
Excellence in Medicine
Sunya Reddy
American Academy of Neurology Award
Excellence in Neurology
Sam Edward Gary
Samuel Clements Little Award
Excellence in Neurology
Robert Follett Rosencrans
Bruce A. Harris, Jr. Award
Excellence in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Marie Louise Tucker Ehrhardt
Lanning B. Kline Award
Excellence in Ophthalmology
Brenton T. Bicknell
Paul A. Palmisano Award
Excellence in Pediatrics
Matthew Dylan Carder & Margaret Dubin Rosenthal
Battle S. Searcy Memorial Award
Excellence in Psychiatry
Priyanka Mitta
Robert J. Stanley Award
Excellence in Radiology
Sidhvi Nagapriya Reddy
Robert J. Cerfolio Award
Excellence in Surgery
Stevan Craig Fairburn, Jr.
Mary T. Hawn Award
Excellence in Surgery
Bethany Ai Brock
Richard Stahl Award
Excellence in Surgery
Jack Davis Slatton
Elizabeth Beierle Award
Excellence in Surgery
Madeleine Lipese Obuya
Robert and Jamie Dabal Award
Excellence in Surgery
Christopher Mason Berry & Benjamin Casey Hambright

Huntsville Campus Departmental Awards

Dean’s Award
Superior performance in the clinical curriculum
Garrett Nathaniel Hawkins
Exemplary Academic Performance
Excellence in the clinical curriculum
Bethany Ai Brock
Leadership Award
Excellence in leadership and academics
Wade Schmidt Jones
G. Gayle Stephens Award
Excellence in Family Medicine
Wade Schmidt Jones
J. Ellis Sparks Award
Excellence in Internal Medicine
Emily Josephine Hardwick
Award for Excellence in Neurology
Excellence in Neurology
Kimberly Yan Chieh
John Di Placido Award
Excellence in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Jenecia Racquel McCrary
John R. Montgomery Award
Excellence in Pediatrics
Bria Imani Gamble
Tarak Vasavada Award
Excellence in Psychiatry
Bethany Ai Brock
Charles Selah Award
Excellence in Surgery
Garrett Nathaniel Hawkins

Montgomery Campus Departmental Awards

Dean’s Award
Superior performance in the clinical curriculum
Brittany Duck Strickland
Samuel J. Saliba Award
Excellence in Family Medicine
Elizabeth Lopez
J. J. Kirschenfeld Award
Excellence in Internal Medicine
Jordan Sierra Beam
Hamp H. Greene III Award
Excellence in Neurology
Kelliann Elizabeth Donovan
John M. Ashurst, Jr. Award
Excellence in Obstetrics & Gynecology
Edward Brody Rhodes
Thomas “Buddy” Nolan Award
Excellence in Pediatrics
Nicole Kylene Reh
A. Almon Ward Award
Excellence in Psychiatry
Cody Grier
Harry Jackson Till Award
Excellence in Surgery
Edward Brody Rhodes

Tuscaloosa Campus Departmental Awards

Scholastic Achievement Award
Superior performance in the clinical curriculum
Tameron Nicole Williams
William R. Willard Award
Outstanding contribution to the goals and mission of the College of Community Health Sciences as voted by the College faculty; established by the Bank of Moundville
Kierra Nicole Giles
Robert F. Gloor Award in Community Medicine
Excellence in Community and Rural Medicine
Madeleine Bruderer Oberkirch & Cayla Dianne Graham
James H. Akers Memorial Award
Dedication to the art and science of medicine
Cayla Dianne Graham
William Owings Award in Family Medicine
Excellence in Family Medicine
Caleb Von Hayes
William Winternitz Award in Internal Medicine
Excellence in Internal Medicine during the third and fourth years
Richard Colton Clayton & Cayla Dianne Graham
Neurology Award
Excellence in the Neurology clerkship
Tae Ho Koh
Finney/Akers Memorial Award in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Excellence in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Julia Elizabeth Giggie & Tameron Nicole Williams
Pediatrics Recognition Award
Outstanding interest, ability, and the reflection of pleasure in helping parents and their children reach their full personal, social, and educational potential
Madeleine Bruderer Oberkirch
Peter Bryce Award in Psychiatry
Excellence in the Psychiatry clerkship
Marli Kate Jones
William R. Shamblin Surgery Award
Superior achievement in the Surgery clerkship
Brejjette Nickole Aljabi, India Erin Ellison, & Cayla Dianne Graham
Student Research Award
In recognition of the pursuit of research projects leading to a presentation or publication
Nadia Anastasia Pardo & Latimberly Wanee’ Washington
Interprofessional Excellence Award
Excellence in communication, respect, and teamwork as part of a health-care team
Philip Anthony Harden
Dr. Richard O. Rutland Endowed Award
Commitment to primary care in rural communities in Alabama
Caleb Von Hayes

Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine Class of 2026

Renee Abernathy
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Preliminary Medicine
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Anesthesiology

Sameen Yasar-Bin Ali
Summa Health System – Akron, Internal Medicine

Brejjette Nickole Aljabi CE, G
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Urology

Jenna Alkhatib
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, General Surgery

David Michael Allen P
University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Transitional
University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology

Luke Samuel Anderson A, G, C
University of Mississippi Medical Center, Plastic Surgery

Michael Anderson CE
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, Transitional
University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Dermatology

Chidimma Brittany Oluchi Anunobi CE
Prisma Health-Upstate/University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, Obstetrics/Gynecology

Miguel Angel Arias
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Internal Medicine

Rachel Leah Babaie-Harmon
WellStar Kennestone Regional Medical Center, Obstetrics/Gynecology

Madeline Paige Bald A, T
UAB Medical Center, Otolaryngology

Ana Gabriela Barajas
Mobile Infirmary Medical Center, Preliminary Medicine

Ethan Lee Barnes P
UAB Heersink School of Medicine – Huntsville, Internal Medicine

Swati Baskiyar T
Indiana University School of Medicine, Pediatrics

Jordan Sierra Beam G
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, Transitional
UAB Medical Center, Dermatology

Hannah Bednarski CE, P
Rush University Medical Center, Anesthesiology

Brooks Neil Bergman
North Alabama Medical Center, Internal Medicine

Christopher Mason Berry A, G
University of Southern California Medical Center, Thoracic Surgery

Tanvi Sandeep Bhadkamkar T
Indiana University School of Medicine, Internal Medicine

Brenton T. Bicknell G
UAB Medical Center, Ophthalmology

Robert Austin Blanton
UAB Medical Center, Internal Medicine

Adele Tydings Bloodworth M
University of South Alabama Hospitals, Preliminary Surgery

Bethany Ai Brock M
University of Washington Medical Center, General Surgery

Michayla Barber Brown CE
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, Transitional
UAB Medical Center, Radiation Oncology

Megan Nicole Brunsvold CE
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Psychiatry

Hector Santiago Caceres Alvarez
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, General Surgery

Kendall Campbell CE
Prisma Health-University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, Neurology

Matthew Dylan Carder
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Pediatrics

Isha Chaudhary
UAB Heersink School of Medicine – Huntsville, Preliminary Medicine

Eric Chen T
UAB Medical Center, Anesthesiology

Matthew David Cheung *, ‡
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Pediatrics
Spatiotemporal Characterization of the Immune Response in Acute Kidney Injury and Pig-to-Human Kidney Xenotransplantation

Kimberly Yan Chieh A
University of California Irvine Medical Center, Preliminary Medicine
University of California Irvine Medical Center, Neurology

Richard Colton Clayton
University of Colorado School of Medicine, Internal Medicine

Clifford Wayne Cleveland, III G
Johns Hopkins Hospital, Emergency Medicine

Alegna Trejo Contreras CE
UAB Medical Center, Neurology

Emory Johnson Cooper
University of Kansas School of Medicine, Preliminary Medicine
University of Kansas School of Medicine, Ophthalmology

Rachael Cowan
UAB Medical Center, Psychiatry

Mary Alice Crocker A
UAB Medical Center, Internal Medicine

Francis Maria Cruz
Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Radiation-Oncology

Joshua Wilder Cummins
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, Transitional
Medical University of South Carolina, Diagnostic Radiology

Allison Nicole Cupps
UAB Heersink School of Medicine – Huntsville, Psychiatry

Derek Dang CE, G
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Medicine-Pediatrics

Chandler Elton Davis A
UAB Medical Center, Orthopaedic Surgery

Jacob Anthony DiFatta T
University Hospital-University of Missouri Healthcare, Otolaryngology

Kelliann Elizabeth Donovan C, T
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Neurology

Marie Louise Tucker Ehrhardt A
UAB Medical Center, Obstetrics/Gynecology

India Erin Ellison CE
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Preliminary Surgery

Stevan Craig Fairburn, Jr. A, T
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, General Surgery

Brittany Renee Fennell
Eastern Virginia Medical School-Old Dominion University, Pediatrics

Seth Daniel Fortmann A, ‡
The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Ophthalmology
Prenatally-Derived Macrophages Regulate Choroidal Health and are Depleted in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Daniel Jordan Frank
St. Vincent’s Medical Center – Florida, Family Medicine

Luke Daniel Frost CE
Medical College of Georgia, Emergency Medicine

John Walker Galloway A, G
University of Virginia Medical Center, Internal Medicine

Bria Imani Gamble G
Baylor College of Medicine, Pediatrics

Sam Edward Gary A, C, *, ‡
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Neurology
Improving Direct Oncolytic Effect of Oncolytic HSV to Overcome Therapeutic Resistance of Brain Tumors

Gelare Ghajar-Rahimi *, ‡
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, Transitional
University of Virginia Medical Center, Dermatology
Unraveling the Lymphatic Landscape in the Normal and Injured Kidney

Julia Elizabeth Giggie CE
Madigan Army Medical Center, Obstetrics/Gynecology

Kierra Nicole Giles CE
University of South Alabama Hospitals, Family Medicine

Juan Jose Gordillo
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Internal Medicine

Cayla Dianne Graham A
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, General Surgery

Jessica Anne Graham
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, Internal Medicine

Emma Grace GranberryG, T
Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Pediatrics

Cody Grier CE
UAB Heersink School of Medicine – Montgomery, Psychiatry

Ryan Thomas Griffin
Ochsner Clinic Foundation, Emergency Medicine

John David Grissom, III
University of Florida Health Shands Hospital, Psychiatry

Grant Henry Haken CE
UAB Heersink School of Medicine – Montgomery, Psychiatry

Benjamin Casey HambrightA, G, T
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Thoracic Surgery

Safiya Tanveer Haque
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, Preliminary Medicine
UAB Medical Center, Dermatology

Philip Anthony Harden CE, G
University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Medicine-Pediatrics

Emily Josephine Hardwick
UAB Heersink School of Medicine – Huntsville, Internal Medicine

Shelby Cate Harrelson CE
UAB Medical Cener, Orthopaedic Surgery

Whitt McRee Harrelson
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, Preliminary Surgery

Chandler Scott HarrisA, C, T
Oregon Health & Science University Hospital, Orthopaedic Surgery

Garrett Nathaniel HawkinsG, S
University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga, Orthopaedic Surgery

Caleb Von Hayes CE
University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences, Family Medicine

Richard Andrew Heng CE
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, Transitional
University of California Irvine Medical Center, Diagnostic Radiology

Phillip Jersey Hensley CE
Cahaba Medical Care/UAB Medical Center, Family Medicine

Edward Jacob Higginbotham CE
UAB Medical Center, Neurology

Tina Huang CE, G
Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Internal Medicine

Edward Huang
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Internal Medicine

Saad Mohammad Ibrahim
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, Transitional
Indiana University School of Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology

Matthew Thomas Cleveland Jarrell A, C
UAB Medical Center, Neurosurgery

Amy R. Jasani
Emory University School of Medicine, Transitional
Emory University School of Medicine, Ophthalmology

Melissa Simone Jennings *, ‡
UAB Medical Center, Internal Medicine

Marli Kate Jones CE
Medical University of South Carolina, Psychiatry

Martin Paul Jones, III CE
University of Maryland Medical Center, Internal Medicine

Wade Schmidt Jones
UAB Heersink School of Medicine – Huntsville, Family Medicine

Javier Alejandro Jurado Vélez CE
Medical University of South Carolina, Internal Medicine

Anas Uddin Khan ‡
UAB Medical Center, Preliminary Surgery/Urology

Tae Ho Koh CE, P
Duke University Medical Center, Preliminary Medicine
Duke University Medical Center, Neurology

Tarun KoreT
George Washington University Hospital, Internal Medicine

Nicholas Alexander Kummer
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Obstetrics/Gynecology

John Spencer Laue
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, General Surgery

Evan Yilun Liu
UAB Medical Center, Anesthesiology

Yishu Sophia LiuT
UAB Medical Center, Psychiatry

Elizabeth LopezA
University of Florida Health Shands Hospital, Family Medicine

Anna Belle LouAllen
University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences, Family Medicine

Simon Luu
UAB Medical Center, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Chase Keilan Mahler
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, Transitional
UAB Medical Center, Diagnostic Radiology

Erica Lacey Mann M
Medical University of South Carolina, Pediatrics

Amanda Lynne Marinello
UAB Medical Center, Neurology

Benjamin Marlow Marquess
UAB Medical Center, Orthopaedic Surgery

Brannan William Martens
University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences, Family Medicine

Laura Lee Stickler McCarthy
University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Transitional
UAB Medical Center, Radiation Oncology

Jenecia Racquel McCrary A
Louisiana State University School of Medicine – New Orleans, Obstetrics/Gynecology

Jordan Butler McGill
Health Education Services – Tennessee, Family Medicine

Adithya Jayakrishna Menon T
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine, Internal Medicine

Catherine Grace Meyer G, M
Prisma Health-University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, Orthopaedic Surgery

Priyanka Mitta T
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, Transitional
University of Virginia Medical Center, Diagnostic Radiology

Alisa Alexandria Mobley ‡
East Alabama Medical Center, Transitional
Baptist Memorial Medical Education, Diagnostic Radiology

Molly MacKenzie Morris
UAB Medical Center, Psychiatry

Sahar Moughnyeh G
University of Michigan Hospitals, Pediatrics

Sarika Kamala Mullapudi A, CE, M
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Internal Medicine

Daniela del Carmen Muñoz Wilson
Lahey Clinic, General Surgery

William Blaine Newman
University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences, Family Medicine

Scott Nguyen
Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Internal Medicine

Alyssa Niblett
UAB Medical Cener, Emergency Medicine

Madeleine Bruderer Oberkirch CE
UAB Medical Center, Pediatrics

Matthew Paul Oberkirch CE
UAB Medical Center, Internal Medicine

Madeleine Lipese Obuya A, G
Baylor College of Medicine, General Surgery

Lauren Victoria Odom
UABHeersink School of Medicine – Montgomery, Psychiatry

Nadia Anastasia Pardo CE
UAB Medical Center, Pathology

Cara Parker
UAB Heersink School of Medicine – Huntsville, Family Medicine

William Levi Parker M
UAB Medical Center, Internal Medicine

Nicholas Alexander Pasternack *, ‡
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Neurology
Transcriptional Heterogeneity in ALS: Patients with Retrovirus-mediated Disease and Potential Cell-type Specific Therapeutic Approaches

Kartik Rajiv Patel T
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Urology

Michael John Patton *, ‡
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Internal Medicine
Biomedical Informatic Analysis of Critical Care Outcomes & Chronic Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Skyler Pavlou
UAB Heersink School of Medicine – Huntsville, Internal Medicine

Josiah Burrell Perry CE, S
Emory University School of Medicine, Medicine-Pediatrics

Macy Kate Petriske
University of Louisville School of Medicine, Emergency Medicine

Maggie Phillips A, C
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Anesthesiology

Elizabeth Pinto CE, G
University of Maryland Medical Center, Psychiatry

Eduard Popa
UAB Medical Center, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Anna Grace Price CE
UAB Medical Center, Psychiatry

Camilla Grace Puglia T
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, Transitional
Medical University of South Carolina, Diagnostic Radiology

Vyshnavi Rallapalle G, S
University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Preliminary Medicine
University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Dermatology

Amayrani Ramirez CE
UAB Heersink School of Medicine – Huntsville, Family Medicine

Ryan Joseph Rauch
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, Diagnostic Radiology

Sidhvi Nagapriya Reddy CE
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, Transitional
UAB Medical Center, Diagnostic Radiology

Sunya ReddyA, CE
McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, Internal Medicine

Venu Venkatapuram Reddy
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine, Psychiatry

Nicole Kylene RehA, CE
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Pediatrics

Zaurayze Rehman G, C
Texas Health Resources, Preliminary Medicine
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Diagnostic Radiology

Edward Brody Rhodes
UAB Medical Center, Urology

Frank Robinson G
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Psychiatry

Joshua Alexander Rodgers
Louisiana State University School of Medicine – Baton Rouge, Psychiatry

Robert Follett Rosencrans ‡
Yale-New Haven Hospital, Preliminary Medicine
Yale-New Haven Hospital, Neurology
Catecholamines And Catecholamine Resistance in Animal Models of Metabolic Syndrome

Margaret Dubin Rosenthal A, CE, G
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Pediatrics

David Dominick Russo
UAB Heersink School of Medicine – Huntsville, Family Medicine

Ciearria Nicole Samuel CE
Medical University of South Carolina, Pediatrics

Alexandra Lauren Savage
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, Transitional
University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Dermatology

Richard Thomas Shevlin, III G
University of South Alabama Hospitals, General Surgery

Troy Harrison Shirley
Institute for Family Health – New York, Family Medicine

Jack Davis Slatton A, CE, G, C, T
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, General Surgery

John Andrew Soldner
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, Transitional

Anna Catherine Solomonik
UAB Medical Center, Pediatrics

Jalen Cole Spain
Cape Fear Valley Health, Emergency Medicine

Helena Faith Steen CE, G
University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Family Medicine

Brittany Duck Strickland A
UAB Medical Center, Anesthesiology

Adam Bailey Sturdivant
Trinity Health Oakland Hospital, General Surgery

David Sylvester
Ochsner Clinic Foundation, Orthopaedic Surgery

Erin Aurora Tarnoff CE, G
University of Southern California Medical Center, Psychiatry

Hanna Chieko Terhaar A
HCA Healthstar/TriStar Nashville, Transitional
Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Diagnostic Radiology

Charles Garrett Tinch CE, P
UAB Medical Center, Neurology

Emily Y Nhu Tran
University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Pediatrics

Andrew Van CE, G, P
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Neurology

Mallory Ashton Von Lotten
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, Preliminary Medicine

Maya Jamelle Wallace CE
UAB Medical Center, Obstetrics/Gynecology

Michael Yi Ming Wang
Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, General Surgery

Latimberly Washington CE
University of California San Francisco, Obstetrics/Gynecology

Donovan Andre Watson
Temple University Hospital, Urology

Molly Jordan Waugh
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Psychiatry

Christian Earnest Wells
University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences, Family Medicine

Sydney Alexandria Whitt
UAB Heersink School of Medicine – Huntsville, Family Medicine

Beckley Garrith Wilkes G
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Family Medicine

Sanford Robertson Williams A
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Internal Medicine

Tameron Nicole Williams A
UAB Medical Center, Obstetrics/Gynecology

Audria Stevyn Wood A, G
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Orthopaedic Surgery

Charlotte McRae Woods M, T
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, Transitional
UAB Medical Center, Dermatology

Jordan Wright C
UAB Medical Center, Emergency Medicine

* Received PhD as a member of the Physician-Scientist Training Program

A Member of Alpha Omega Alpha: A national medical honor society recognizing scholarship and professional attributes

CE Recipient of the Community Engagement Award (students wearing a blue and silver cord)

G Member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society: Excellence in clinical care, leadership, professionalism, compassion patient care, and dedication to service as selected by their peers (students wearing a gold and white cord)

S Graduated Summa cum laude (students wearing a gold cord)

M Graduated Magna cum laude (students wearing a green cord)

C Graduated Cum laude (students wearing a white cord)

T Member of the Tinsley Harrison Research Society (students wearing a green, gold, and white cord)

P Member of American Physician Scientist Association service programs (students wearing a maroon cord)

‡ Met requirements for MD in December 2025

Heersink School of Medicine logo

Learning Communities

Student Representatives

Saad Mohammad Ibrahim, Barfield-Carter
Scott Nguyen, Barfield-Carter
Tameron Nicole Williams, Finley
Skyler Pavlou, Hamilton
Jalen Cole Spain, Hamilton
Luke Daniel Frost, Harrison
Catherine G Meyer, Harrison
Alyssa Brooke Niblett, Hill
Madeline Lipese Obuya, Hill
India Erin Ellison, Hirschowitz
Edward Jacob Higginbotham, Hirschowitz
Frank Gershom Robinson, Kirklin
Alexandra Lauren Savage, Kirklin
Jordan Sierra Beam, Lyons
Emma Grace Granberry, Lyons
Mary Alice Crocker, McCallum
Kartik Patel, McCallum
Richard Andrew Heng, Oparil
Vyshnavi Rallapalle, Oparil
Ryan Thomas Griffin, Pittman
Daniela del Carmen Munoz Wilson, Pittman

Class of 2026 by Learning Community

Learn more about each Learning Community and view the students under each program.

  • Barfield-Carter Community

    In 1945, Melson Barfield-Carter, M.D., became the first female faculty member at the Heersink School of Medicine and the first woman to be named a department chair (of the Department of Radiology). She also was the first woman to graduate from Tulane Medical School, and she completed her residency in radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital. Barfield-Carter started the radiology residency training program and developed the School of Radiological Technology at UAB.

    Students in the Barfield-Carter Community are assigned to the Birmingham campus for clinical training.

    Desiree Morgan, M.D.
    Lead Mentor
    Robert Austin Blanton
    Adele Tydings Bloodworth
    Matthew Dylan Carder
    Jessica Anne Graham
    Saad Mohammad Ibrahim
    Scott Nguyen
    Lauren Victoria Odom
    William Levi Parker
    Maggie Phillips
    John Andrew Soldner
    Mallory Ashton Von Lotten
    Michael Yi Ming Wang
  • Elopre Community

    Latesha Elopre, M.D., MSPH, served as assistant dean for the Heersink School of Medicine Office of Access and Engagement – Resident and Fellow Experience from 2024 until her passing in July 2025. She dedicated her career to providing students, residents and fellows with the framework necessary to make indelible impacts on their society. She became the inaugural director of Diversity and Inclusion for the UAB Tinsley Harrison Internal Medicine Residency Program and subsequently served as the inaugural Graduate Medical Education (GME) director for Diversity and Inclusion. In addition to being a respected physician, she also had a national
    reputation as a researcher in infectious diseases.

    Students in the Elopre Community are assigned to the Birmingham campus for clinical training.

  • Finley Community

    Wayne Finley, M.D., Ph.D., and Sara Crews Finley, M.D., became pioneers in the field of medical genetics when they co-founded the Laboratory of Medical Genetics, the first center of its kind in the Southeast, in 1962. The Finleys guided the medical genetics research, training, and service program at UAB for 35 years, providing genetics services and developing specialized diagnostic laboratories for detectable genetic disorders.

    Students in the Finley Community are assigned to the Tuscaloosa campus for clinical training.

    Deepti Sharma, M.D.
    Lead Mentor
    Miller Wright, M.D.
    Regional Campus Faculty Mentor
    Kendall Campbell
    Julia Elizabeth Giggie
    Cayla Dianne Graham
    Philip Anthony Harden
    Shelby Cate Harrelson
    Caleb Von Hayes
    Marli Kate Jones
    Anas Uddin Khan
    Tae Ho Koh
    Anna Belle LouAllen
    Madeleine Bruderer Oberkirch
    Nadia Anastasia Pardo
    Charles Garrett Tinch
    Andrew Van
    Maya Jamelle Wallace
    Tameron Nicole Williams
  • Hamilton Community

    Herschell Lee Hamilton, M.D., came to Birmingham in 1958 as its first African American board-certified general surgeon. He was the first African American to receive operating privileges at University Hospital. Hamilton earned his nicknames as the “Dog Bite Doctor” and the “Battle Surgeon” for his work helping injured activists during the civil rights movement.

    Students in the Hamilton Community are assigned to the Huntsville campus for clinical training.

    Saulat Sheikh M.D.
    Lead Mentor
    Amanda Stisher, M.D.
    Regional Campus Faculty Mentor
    Ana Gabriela Barajas
    Ethan Lee Barnes
    Brenton T. Bicknell
    Megan Nicole Brunsvold
    Kimberly Yan Chieh
    Emory Johnson Cooper
    Chandler Elton Davis
    Brittany Renee Fennell
    Daniel Jordan Frank
    Tina Huang
    Wade Schmidt Jones
    Jordan Butler McGill
    Skyler Pavlou
    Macy Kate Petriske
    David Dominick Russo
    Jalen Cole Spain
    Sydney Alexandria Whitt
  • Harrison Community

    Tinsley Harrison, M.D., served as dean of the Heersink School of Medicine and chairman of the Department of Medicine. He helped recruit nationally known physicians from Harvard University and the Mayo Clinic, among others. His special field of interest was cardiovascular medicine as well as the pathophysiological mechanisms of disease. Harrison is best known among physicians as the founding editor and editor-in-chief of the first five editions of Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine.

    Students in the Harrison Community are assigned to the Huntsville campus for clinical training.

    Shaundra Blakemore M.D.
    Lead Mentor
    Chelsea Palmer, M.D.
    Regional Campus Faculty Mentor
    Renee Abernathy
    Jenna Alkhatib
    David Michael Allen
    Christopher Mason Berry
    Bethany Ai Brock
    Joshua Wilder Cummins
    Luke Daniel Frost
    Bria Imani Gamble
    Whitt McRee Harrelson
    Garrett Nathaniel Hawkins
    Matthew Thomas Cleveland Jarrell
    John Spencer Laue
    Jenecia Racquel McCrary
    Catherine Grace Meyer
    Cara Parker
    Amayrani Ramirez
  • Hill Community

    Longtime Heersink School of Medicine faculty member Samuel Richardson “Dick” Hill Jr., M.D., served as president of UAB from 1977 to 1986. Hill practiced internal medicine and endocrinology before coming to the Medical College of Alabama in 1954. He was appointed dean of the college in 1962 and remained there as it evolved into UAB, serving as vice president for health affairs and medical center director and director of the University of Alabama Medical Education Program. Hill recruited John Kirklin from the Mayo Clinic to chair the surgery department and Gene Bartow from UCLA to coach the university’s first basketball team.

    Students in the Hill Community are assigned to the Birmingham campus for clinical training.

    Danielle Powell, M.D.
    Lead Mentor
    Erin Chen
    Jacob Anthony DiFatta
    John David Grissom, III
    Benjamin Casey Hambright
    Chandler Scott Harris
    Martin Paul Jones, III
    Evan Yilun Liu
    Amanda Lynn Marinello
    Priyanka Mitta
    Alyssa Niblett
    Madeleine Lipese Obuya
    Jordan Wright
  • Hirschowitz Community

    Basil Hirschowitz, M.D., Ph.D., is a medical pioneer who, along with his colleagues, invented the first fiberoptic endoscope that became the standard for visualizing and treating virtually every cavity in the body. Hirschowitz dedicated his career to the study of diseases of the upper GI tract and published more than 350 papers, many related to ulcer disease. He was also a leader in clinical trials that were the forerunners to new pharmaceutical treatments in gastroenterology, paving the way for widespread use of medications known today as Pepcid, Prilosec, and Nexium.

    Students in the Hirschowitz Community are assigned to the Tuscaloosa campus for clinical training.

    Stephanie Berger M.D.
    Lead Mentor
    Ansley Baccus, M.D.
    Regional Campus Faculty Mentor
    Brejjette Nickole Aljabi
    Hannah Bednarski
    Brooks Neil Bergman
    Michayla Barber Brown
    Richard Colton Clayton
    Alegna Trejo Contreras
    India Erin Ellison
    Kierra Nicole Giles
    Phillip Jersey Hensley
    Edward Jacob Higginbotham
    Brannan William Martens
    William Blaine Newman
    Elizabeth Pinto
    Anna Grace Price
    Venu Venkatapuram Reddy
    Ciearria Nicole Samuel
    Latimberly Washington
  • Kirklin Community

    In the 1950s, while at the Mayo Clinic, John Kirklin, M.D., performed the world’s first series of open-heart operations using a heart-lung machine. Kirklin joined the UAB faculty in 1966 as chair of the Department of Surgery and the surgeon-in-chief for UAB Hospital. He held those positions until 1982 during which time he built one of the most prestigious cardiovascular surgical programs in the world.

    Students in the Kirklin Community are assigned to the Birmingham campus for clinical training.

    Tyler Gaston M.D.
    Faculty Mentor
    Michael Anderson
    Rachel Leah Babaie-Harmon
    Tanvi Sandeep Bhadkamkar
    Nicholas Alexander Kummer
    Josiah Burrell Perry
    Sunya Reddy
    Sidhvi Nagapriya Reddy
    Frank Robinson
    Joshua Alexander Rodgers
    Alexandra Lauren Savage
    Troy Harrison Shirley
    David Sylvester
  • Lyons Community

    Champ Lyons, M.D., arrived in Birmingham in 1950 to become the first full-time chair of surgery, a position he retained until his passing in 1965. That year, Lyons became one of the first faculty members to be named a distinguished professor. His major professional contributions were in the areas of surgical infections and vascular surgery.

    Students in the Lyons Community are assigned to the Montgomery campus for clinical training.

    Sherell Hicks, M.D.
    Faculty Mentor
    Sameen Yasar-Bin Ali
    Jordan Sierra Beam
    Kelliann Elizabeth Donovan
    Emma Grace Granberry
    Cody Grier
    Grant Henry Haken
    Safiya Tanveer Haque
    Emily Josephine Hardwick
    Javier Alejandro Jurado Vélez
    Yishu Sophia Liu
    Elizabeth Lopez
    Benjamin Marlow Marquess
    Matthew Paul Oberkirch
    Camilla Grace Puglia
    Ryan Joseph Rauch
    Nicole Kylene Reh
    Edward Brody Rhodes
    Margaret Dubin Rosenthal
    Brittany Duck Strickland
    Hanna Chieko Terhaar
    Molly Jordan Waugh
  • McCallum Community

    Charles “Scotty” McCallum Jr., DMD, M.D., came to Alabama in 1951 to complete a residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery after earning his dental degree from Tufts College Dental School. He earned a medical degree from the Medical College of Alabama in 1957 and became dean of the School of Dentistry in 1962. He later served as vice president for health affairs and director of UAB Medical Center before becoming the third president of UAB in 1987. After stepping down as president, he was elected to two terms as mayor of Vestavia Hills beginning in 2000.

    Students in the McCallum Community are assigned to the Birmingham campus for clinical training.

    Todd McCarty M.D.
    Faculty Mentor
    Chidimma Brittany Oluchi Anunobi
    Mary Alice Crocker
    Derek Dang
    Marie Louise Tucker Ehrhardt
    Stevan Craig Fairburn, Jr.
    Juan Jose Gordillo
    Erica Lacey Mann
    Laura Lee Stickler McCarthy
    Alisa Alexandria Mobley
    Sahar Moughnyeh
    Sarika Kamala Mullapudi
    Kartik Rajiv Patel
    Zaurayze Rehman
    Adam Bailey Sturdivant
    Erin Aurora Tarnoff
    Beckley Garrith Wilkes
    Audria Stevyn Wood
  • Oparil Community

    Suzanne Oparil, M.D., is a renowned cardiologist and a member of the prestigious National Academy of Medicine. Her research focuses on cardiovascular disease and the development of novel treatments for hypertension, including ACE inhibitors. She has also made important discoveries about mediators of pulmonary hypertension and the role of estrogen in blood vessels. She is a distinguished professor of medicine and director of the Vascular Biology and Hypertension Program at UAB.

    Students in the Oparil Community are assigned to the Birmingham campus for clinical training.

    Jeremey Walker M.D.
    Faculty Mentor
    Miguel Angel Arias
    Hector Santiago Caceres Alvarez
    Isha Chaudhary
    Clifford Wayne Cleveland, III
    Allison Nicole Cupps
    John Walker Galloway
    Richard Andrew Heng
    Edward Huang
    Amy R. Jasani
    Chase Keilan Mahler
    Molly MacKenzie Morris
    Vyshnavi Rallapalle
    Anna Catherine Solomonik
    Emily Y Nhu Tran
    Donovan Andre Watson
    Christian Earnest Wells
  • Pittman Community

    As the Heersink School of Medicine’s longest-serving dean—19 years, from 1973 to 1992—James Pittman Jr., M.D., left an indelible mark. He was known for his ability to recruit and retain nationally and internationally renowned physicians and scientists. He is credited with restoring a four-year medical school curriculum, replacing the 35-month program that was in place when he became dean, and creating space in the academic cycle for students to pursue research and service activities.

    Students in the Pittman Community are assigned to the Birmingham campus for clinical training.

    Starr Steinhilber M.D.
    Faculty Mentor
    Luke Samuel Anderson
    Madeline Paige Bald
    Swati Baskiyar
    Rachael Cowan
    Francis Maria Cruz
    Ryan Thomas Griffin
    Tarun Kore
    Adithya Jayakrishna Menon
    Daniela del Carmen Muñoz Wilson
    Richard Thomas Shevlin, III
    Jack Davis Slatton
    Helena Faith Steen
    Sanford Robertson Williams
    Charlotte McRae Woods
  • Medical Scientist Training Program
    Talene Yacoubian, M.D., Ph.D.
    Assistant Dean
    Stephanie Krick, M.D., Ph.D.
    Assistant Director
    Gregory Payne, M.D., Ph.D.
    Assistant Director
    Chad Petit, Ph.D.,
    Assistant Director
    Michael Seifert, M.D., Ph.D.
    Assistant Director
    Matthew David Cheung
    Seth Daniel Fortmann
    Sam Edward Gary
    Gelare Ghajar-Rahimi
    Melissa Simone Jennings
    Nicholas Alexander Pasternack
    Michael John Patton
    Robert Follett Rosencrans
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program
    Simon Luu
    Eduard Popa

About the Ceremony

  • About the Hooding

    Students are hooded with members of their Learning Community. After the Learning Communities, the students who completed the Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD) will be hooded. Finally, those students who have completed the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program will be hooded.

  • About the Procession

    Commencement begins with an academic procession. Faculty and alumni will form a path through which the class will enter. The Path of Honor is a significant moment in which faculty and alumni recognize the accomplishments of the graduating students.

    The students will process in by Learning Community. Learning Communities are small groups to which students are assigned upon entering medical school. Each Learning Community will be led by the faculty mentor and gonfalon (banner) bearing the name of physician for which the community is named.

  • About the Oath of Hippocrates

    Hippocrates of Kos (c. 460-370 BC) was a Greek physician known for his contributions to the field of medicine, such as clinical observation, the systematic study of medicine, and categorization of diseases. In Egypt, Imhotep (c. 2650-2600 BC) practiced first as an architect and then as a physician and is recognized for early advances in surgery, pathology of disease, and the insistence of practicing medicine as a science. Taken together, Hippocrates and Imhotep represent the long and evolving history of medicine as a profession with rich global and cultural contributions and accomplishments.

    The Oath of Hippocrates (or Hippocratic Oath), has itself been adapted to reflect new understandings about the practice of medicine, and to reflect values more consistent with different periods of time. While there has not been a “standard” oath for decades, many medical schools still incorporate some version of the oath in their commencement ceremonies to show unity of medical students who will soon enter the profession of medicine with the faculty and alumni in attendance.

Oath of Hippocrates

I swear by that which I hold most sacred that according to my ability I will keep this, my oath and covenant:

With purity and holiness I will pass my life and practice my art.
As I labor in the places of healing, my first thoughts will be the life, happiness and health of my patients.
To this end, I will try to treat my fellow physicians in this art as I wish them to treat me.
I will use my power to heal my patients to the best of my judgment.
I will abstain from harming or wronging anyone by it. I will maintain the utmost respect for human life.
Into whatever houses I enter I will go into them for the benefit of my patients.
And whatsoever I shall see or hear in the course of my profession, as well as outside my profession in my interactions with others, if it be what should not be published abroad, I will not divulge, holding such things to be sacred.
For the sake of the sick I will pursue knowledge of this art throughout the days of my life.
With eagerness I will learn from my fellow physicians and with humility I will share my knowledge with them.
In respect for those who have led me into the paths of Medicine, I will lead those who follow me.
Should I transgress these promises, may my soul know no peace, but while I keep this oath inviolate, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and the practice of the art, forever honored by all people.

About the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine

In grateful recognition of a transformational $100 million gift from longtime University of Alabama at Birmingham supporter Marnix E. Heersink, M.D., the UAB School of Medicine is now named the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine.

The record gift—the single largest philanthropic commitment in university history—named the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, and established the Marnix E. Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation and the Mary Heersink Institute for Global Health. The gift also provides support through both endowed and outright funds for key initiatives of the Heersink School of Medicine. Dr. Heersink, a renowned eye surgeon, innovator, and entrepreneur, desires for this gift to inspire and catalyze additional philanthropic contributions that support high-impact recruitments, programs, and research in the Heersink School of Medicine.

Heersink School of Medicine Leadership

  • Senior Leadership

    Anupam Agarwal, M.D.
    Senior Vice President for Medicine Dean

    Etty (Tika) Benveniste, Ph.D.
    Associate Vice President for Medicine and Basic Sciences
    Senior Vice Dean

    Megann Bates Cain, MPPM
    Assistant Vice President, Development

    Herbert Chen, M.D.
    Senior Associate Dean, Academic Affairs

    Victor M. Darley-Usmar, Ph.D.
    Senior Associate Dean, Research Compliance and Administration

    Mona Fouad, M.D., MPH
    Associate Vice President, Access & Engagement
    Senior Associate Dean, Access & Engagement

    Orlando Gutiérrez, M.D.
    Senior Associate Dean, Clinical and Translational Research

    Craig Hoesley, M.D.
    Senior Associate Dean, Medical Education

    Robert P. Kimberly, M.D.
    Senior Associate Dean, Strategic Initiatives

    Jean Ann Larson, Ph.D.
    Senior Associate Dean, Leadership Development
    Chief Leadership Development Officer

    David Rogers, M.D., MPHE
    Chief Wellness Officer

    Alan Tita, M.D., Ph.D.
    Senior Associate Dean, Global and Women’s Health

  • Associate Deans

    Irfan M. Asif, M.D. | Primary Care and Rural Health

    Scott Ballinger, Ph.D. | Faculty Affairs

    Thomas W. Buford, Ph.D. | Research

    Raegan Durant, M.D., MPH | Access and Engagement

    Richard Friend, M.D. | Tuscaloosa Program

    Cristin Gavin, Ph.D. | Biomedical Programs

    William M. Geisler, M.D., MPH | Physician Scientist Development

    Alice R. Goepfert, M.D. | Graduate Medical Education

    Christina J. Grabowski, Ph.D. | Admissions and Enrollment Management

    Alecia Gross, Ph.D. | Faculty Affairs and Development 

    Caroline Harada, M.D. | Strategic Initiatives, Medical Education

    Louis R. Lambiase, M.D. | Montgomery Program

    Kevin Leon, M.D. | Undergraduate Medical Education

    Nita Limdi, PharmD, Ph.D., MSPH, FAHA | Genomic Medicine

    Michael Mugavero, M.D. | Clinical and Translational Research

    Dana V. Rizk, M.D. | Clinical Trials

    Roger D. Smalligan, M.D. | Huntsville Program

    Nicholas Van Wagoner, M.D., Ph.D. | Students

    Majd Zayzafoon, M.D., Ph.D. | Global Initiatives and International Medical Education 

  • Assistant Deans

    William S. Brooks, Ph.D. | Pathways to Medicine

    Dale Colorado, M.D. | Access and Engagement – Student Experience

    Cynthia I. Joiner, Ph.D., MPH, R.N. | Clinical Research Operations

    Brenessa Lindeman, M.D., MEHP, FACS | Graduate Medical Education

    Todd Peterson, M.D. | Students

    Rubin Pillay, M.D., Ph.D. | Global Health Innovation

    D. Matthew Sherrer, M.D, M.B.A., FASA FAACD | Faculty Affairs

    Marjorie Lee White, M.D. | Clinical Simulation

    Winter Williams, M.D. | Clinical Education

    Talene Yacoubian, M.D., Ph.D. | Medical Scientist Training Program

  • Birmingham Department Leadership

    Dan E. Berkowitz, MBBCh | Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine

    David M. Bedwell, Ph.D. | Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics

    Jay Zhang, M.D., Ph.D. | Biomedical Engineering

    Bradley Yoder, Ph.D. | Cell, Developmental & Integrative Biology

    Boni E. Elewski, M.D. | Dermatology

    Andrew Edwards, M.D. | Emergency Medicine

    Irfan M. Asif, M.D. | Family Medicine

    Anindya Dutta, M.D., Ph.D. | Genetics

    Craig J. Hoesley, M.D. | Medical Education

    Mark Dransfield, M.D. | Medicine

    Victor Garcia Martinez, Ph.D. | Microbiology

    Craig Powell, M.D., Ph.D. | Neurobiology

    David G. Standaert, M.D., Ph.D. | Neurology

    James M. Markert, M.D., MPH | Neurosurgery

    Warner K. Huh, M.D. | Obstetrics & Gynecology

    Brian Samuels, M.D., Ph.D. | Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

    Steven Theiss, M.D. | Orthopaedic Surgery

    Justin Turner, M.D., Ph.D. | Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery

    Cristinia Magi-Galluzzi, M.D., Ph.D. | Pathology

    Yung Lau, M.D. | Pediatrics

    Vu Nguyen, M.D., MBA | Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

    Adrienne Lahti, M.D. | Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurobiology

    Corey Speers, M.D., Ph.D. | Radiation Oncology

    Mahmud Mossa-Basha, M.D. | Radiology

    Herbert Chen, M.D. | Surgery

    Thomas Chi, M.D., M.B.A. | Urology

  • Huntsville Department Leadership

    Shivani Malhotra, M.D. | Family Medicine

    John Fanning, M.D. | Internal Medicine

    Steffane Battle, M.D. | Pediatrics

    Clinton Martin, M.D. | Psychiatry

    Rony Najjar, M.D. | Surgery

  • Tuscaloosa Department Leadership

    Tamer Elsayed, M.D. | Family Medicine, Internal, and Rural Medicine

    John McDonald, M.D. | Obstetrics & Gynecology

    Karen Burgess, M.D. | Pediatrics

    Thaddeus Ulzen, M.D. | Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine

    Joseph Wallace, M.D. | Surgery

  • Regional Campus Leadership

    Lanita S. Carter, Ph.D. | Director, Medical Education and Student Services, Huntsville Campus

    Britney Sellers, MPH | Director, Medical Education and Student Services, Montgomery Campus

    Dale Dickinson, Ph.D. | Director of Medical Student Affairs, Tuscaloosa Campus

Student Leadership

2026 Class Officers

Michael Richard Anderson, Class President
Clifford Wayne Cleveland, III, Vice President
Nadia Anastasia Pardo, Treasurer

Special Thanks

Thanks to the following for their help and assistance during commencement:

Bartow Arena Management Team
Heersink School of Medicine Department of Medical Education
Heersink School of Medicine Medical Student Services
Heersink School of Medicine Records Office
Heersink School of Medicine Learning Communities Student Representatives
Military Medicine Student Interest Group
Heersink School of Medicine Student Senate
University of Alabama Medical Alumni Association
Down in Front Productions

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