The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is pleased to announce that Drs. Amelia Hartje, Michael Padgett, Suzannah Patterson, Maddie Southall, Jemma Thompson and Danielle Windom are our 2025-2026 McDonald Scholars!

The McDonald Scholars Program provides the opportunity for interested residents to enhance their general pediatric learning with a two week immersion experience in a rural or underserved community in Alabama.  Residents selected as McDonald Scholars will be paired with an established pediatric practice for a two week clinical experience to further learn and truly encompass what being a pediatrician in a rural or underserved area entails.

The program is open to rising PGY-2 and PGY-3 Pediatric or PGY-2 through PGY-4 Med-Peds residents and accepts applications in the spring. Four to eight residents will be selected each year to participate in the program. 

Goals

• Provide residents with an immersive experience in a rural or underserved alabama community.

• Engage residents in caring for different underserved populations.

• Enhance the general pediatric training of residents.

• Inspire interest in practicing in rural settings.

• Honor the generosity of Dr. and Mrs. Jack Mcdonald. 

Faculty Leaders:

• Candice Dye, M.D. associate professor in the Division of Academic General Pediatric and associate program director in the Pediatric Residency Program.

• Michele Nichols, M.D. professor in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine and program director in the Pediatric Residency Program.