Medical School: University of Utah
Residency Class: CA-3 (PGY-4)
Hometown: Kamas, Utah
#WhyIChoseUAB: UAB has so many facets that make it a great place to train: It is a big academic program where you learn by doing cases you only read about in textbooks as a medical student, the faculty and staff here are amazing while still being incredibly approachable, Birmingham's reasonable cost of living paired with our moonlighting opportunities allow us to have a life outside of residency, and last but definitely not least my co-residents are some of the smartest and hardworking residents that I have encountered while also being people who you want to hang out with in your free time.  
Favorite rotation and why: One of our rotations we do as CA-3 is called "AA" or acting attending. You oversee two resident rooms helping with inductions, emergence, and teaching the younger residents. It is great practice for what lies ahead of us as attendings, plus you get to interact with your co-residents which is always a nice change in our relatively isolated specialty. 
My neighborhood and why I like it: Crestwood. My husband and I LOVE our neighborhood and our amazing neighbors. The houses are older and have a lot of charm and character. There is good diversity in people who live there, and it is almost expected that on nice nights you are out walking your dog or sitting on your porch drinking a beverage of choice. 
Best places for soaking up the local culture: Pepper place farmers market on Saturday mornings.
Favorite spots for a date night: Anytime alloy thai or pepperoni john (our favorite "secret" Birmingham food pop-ups) are putting out food is cause for date night, but on nights we are feeling fancy (from all those moonlighting hours) Automatic Seafood, Le Fresca, or Ovenbird.
What I wish someone had told me before I moved here: As someone who is not from the south I honestly had no idea what to expect, but both my husband and I have been really happy here; however, I am not sure I'll ever get used to the humidity during summer months. 
What I’ll miss the most about UAB/Birmingham: My amazing classmates who are moving for jobs/fellowships. I am so grateful that many of us are staying here next year
Plans for after graduation: I am doing a fellowship in Obstetric Anesthesiology here at UAB!!