Current Cahaba-UAB Highlands Family Medicine Resident Hannah Goymer, M.D., poses at Match Day 2025. For thousands of medical students, Match Day marks the culmination of four years of hard work—when hours of study turn into a career of hands-on service. This year, a record number of aspiring physicians discovered where they will continue their journey in family medicine and play a vital role in their communities.
“Research links access to a family physician to lower health care costs, longer and healthier lives, and higher patient satisfaction,” said Irfan Asif, M.D., chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine and associate dean of Primary Care and Rural Health. “Today is a time to celebrate those students as well as our faculty and staff, who pour their time into teaching, mentoring, and supporting Heersink students as they gain clinical expertise, learn about research, volunteer their time at community clinics, and explore what it means to be a family physician.”
The department will be welcoming 28 future residents who matched into the Cahaba-UAB Family Medicine Residency and UAB St. Vincent's East Family Medicine Residency programs, including Phillip Hensley, M.D., of Verbena, Ala., a member of our Comprehensive Urban Underserved and Rural Experience (CU2RE) Program.
Former Heersink student and current Cahaba-UAB Highlands resident Hannah Goymer, M.D., reflected on the emotions she experienced during last year’s Match Day.
“I vividly remember feeling simultaneously excited and terrified—truly a whirlwind of emotions,” said Goymer. “When I realized I would be staying at UAB Highlands for residency, I felt an immense sense of joy that I would be able to give back to the school and the community that have given me the education, resources, and experiences that allowed me this opportunity.
“Go Blazers!”
Cahaba-UAB Highlands Chief Resident Khawla "Shefa" Suhaila, M.D., MPH, at her Match Day. Family Medicine ranked second among all specialties for the Class of 2026, with 18 UAB School of Medicine graduates matching into the field. Overall, 62 Heersink students matched into primary care specialties, representing 34.8% of the Class of 2026. Among those graduates are five members of the Dean's Primary Care Scholars. This longitudinal program offers additional enrichment experiences in primary care while spotlighting the intersection of advocacy, clinical skills, and scholarly activity.
That enhanced training as a Heersink student has allowed Khawla "Shefe" Suhaila, M.D., MPH, a former Dean's Primary Care Scholar and current Cahaba-UAB Highlands Family Medicine chief resident, to thrive while providing patient care.
"Training with UAB as a medical student and resident allowed me to learn from a variety of patients in different settings, from rural clinics to a large academic hospital," explained Suhaila. "At our clinic, we often care for patients with complex medical histories, so I feel prepared to manage common diseases even if they are a bit more complex. I appreciate the collaborative nature of our Family Medicine department, and I feel comfortable asking my peers and attendings for recommendations for patient care and for reviewing general guidelines."
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, programs offered a record 5,512 family medicine positions, up 133 compared to a year ago and the 17th consecutive year that the number of offered positions has increased.
As she nears the end of her intern year, Goymer contemplated her growth as a physician.
“As expected, residency is hard at times,” Goymer mused. “However, residency is also a time of rapid growth as a clinician, and it's rewarding to reflect back on the start of intern year and see how far I've come thanks to the support I've received from everyone at UAB, from attendings and co-residents to patients and staff.”
The new resident classes for the Cahaba-UAB and UAB St. Vincent’s East Family Medicine Residency programs includes:
Cahaba-UAB Family Medicine Residency - Highlands:
- Ginette Bordcoch De Martino, M.D.; Universidad Católica de Córdoba
- Phillip Hensley, M.D.; UAB Heersink School of Medicine
- Clara McMillan, D.O.; William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Esereoghene Mowoe, M.D.; Ross University School of Medicine
Cahaba-UAB Family Medicine Residency - Urban:
- Da’Shira Brown, D.O., Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Auburn
- Kathryn Donatucci, D.O., Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Aurielle Fowler, M.D., University of Mississippi School of Medicine
- Breyanah Graham, M.D., Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans
- Maria Hite, M.D., Meharry Medical College
- Priya Patel, D.O., Lincoln Memorial University
- Brenden Wright, M.D., Medical University of South Carolina
Cahaba-UAB Family Medicine Residency – Rural:
- Meredith Fowler, D.O., Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Evelyn Powell, D.O., Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Blair Kizza, M.D., Gulu University Faculty of Medicine
- Andrew Daniel, M.D., Ponce Health Science University School of Medicine
- Danielle Hudman, D.O., Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Cahaba-UAB Family Medicine Residency – Frontier:
- Lauren Conway, M.D., George’s University School of Medicine
- Naureen Maqsood, M.D., Quaid-e-Azam Medical College
- Allan Mutale, M.D., Copperbelt University School of Medicine
- Tamara Cox, M.D., Ross University School of Medicine
UAB St. Vincent’s East Family Medicine Residency at Christ Health Center:
- Brandon Barnes, M.D., University of South Alabama College of Medicine
- Zach Briek, M.D., Mercer University School of Medicine
- Alyx Everitt, M.D., Central Michigan University College of Medicine
- Reece George, D.O., Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Auburn
- Erik Johansen, D.O., Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Kyla Mims, D.O., Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Auburn
- Liz Russell, M.D., University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
- Natalie Pang, D.O., Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Auburn