In 2024, the Department of Family and Community Medicine welcomed our first cohort of Blaze to MD Primary Care Pathway Students. The HRSA-funded program supports students, interested in primary care, prepare for medical school. Meet the five members of Cohort 1.
Blaze to MD Cohort 1
Kiara Langford
Hometown: Huntsville, Alabama
What are your future goals? To provide comprehensive and compassionate primary care to underserved and underrepresented patient populations.
What led you to join the Blaze to MD Primary Care Pathway program? I have been fortunate enough to have amazing primary care providers throughout my life. Visiting these doctors almost felt like visiting a friend. I want to have a similar relationship with my future patients, and I believe working in primary care is the best way to accomplish this. Thus, joining the Blaze to MD Primary Care program was a no brainer for me.
What do you enjoy during your free time? In my free time I like to bake, binge watch tv shows, and participate in artistic activities.
Carly Law
Hometown: Mobile, Alabama
What are your future goals? My health care goals for the future include going into family medicine. Additionally, my goal is to become a physician who constantly advocates for my patients. I hope to be able to apply all the knowledge that I have learned in health behavior to contribute to better health outcomes in the people that are under my care.
What led you to join the Blaze to MD Primary Care Pathway program? As far as background, I was a public health major in undergrad while simultaneously completing my MPH in Health Behavior. Attaining the knowledge of the importance of the role of primary care physicians and that there is a lack of primary care physicians in the state of Alabama led me to join the Blaze to MD program. This program has already supported my goals in that it has introduced and connected me to potential mentors and resources that will help me be successful on my journey.
What do you enjoy during your free time? I enjoy exercising. For the last six months, I have taken up running as a hobby, and it is an activity that I really enjoy. I also like to read books and spend time with my family and friends.
Caleb Peters
Hometown: Kingsland, Arkansas, but I live in Tuscaloosa now!
What are your future goals? I plan to practice Family Medicine and complete a fellowship in Emergency Medicine.
How has the Blaze to MD Primary Care program supported your goals and aspirations? As a person who grew up in a small town, admiring the local physicians who did so much for our community, I knew I wanted to aim toward that same goal. After hearing about the Blaze to MD Primary Care Program, I felt it was a great opportunity to help cultivate relationships that could help plug me in to the communities in which I hope to serve in health care one day. I also thought the program would allow me to learn more about practicing as a primary care physician.
Jaleah Wiggins
Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama. I attended Spelman College for my undergraduate degree and earned my master’s degree at UAB.
What are your future goals? I have a passion for working with and advocating for children, which is why I aspire to be a pediatrician.
How has the Blaze to MD Primary Care program supported your goals and aspirations? The Blaze to MD Primary Care Program has provided me with a wealth of knowledge about what primary care is and how vital it is to our community and overall society. Primary care gives me an amazing opportunity to build long-term relationships with individuals and provide consistent care to patients.
What do you enjoy during your free time? When I’m not studying or in school, I enjoy watching reality TV competition shows, playing puzzle games, walking, and spending time with family and friends.
Mykala Joy Walker
Hometown: Montgomery, Alabama
What are your future goals? My goal is to be a pediatrician.
How has the Blaze to MD Primary Care program supported your goals and aspirations? The Blaze to MD Primary Care program has allowed me to learn more about the history of primary care, the different primary care specialties, and primary care’s role in alleviating later health care costs. With this information, I have become more inspired to pursue pediatrics. The program scholarship has allowed me to keep pursuing pediatrics without financial burden.
What do you enjoy during your free time? In my free time, I like to watch documentaries, read books, play tennis and pickleball, and travel.
The CU2RE Program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $16 million with 10% financed with non¬governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.