The Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) is a student-led organization that empowers UAB medical students to learn more about the family medicine specialty. Sponsored by the Department of Family and Community Medicine, FMIG strives to cultivate interest in family medicine, aid in professional development, and serve our community.

Meet the FMIG executive leadership team: Ryland "Jake" Beede, Savannah Blackwell, Noah Blackwood, and Emma Pierce. They will collaborate with their departmental advisor on events to increase awareness and education in family medicine and primary care among their peers at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine.

Jake Beede

Where are you from originally? Fayette, AL

What inspired you to pursue medicine? From an early age, unfortunately, I was exposed to medicine through necessity, as several of my immediate family members were grappling with chronic illnesses. Seeing how people from all walks of life interacted to provide care to people they had never met before, as though they were family, made a lasting impression on me. Also, I have always had a strong inclination for solving puzzles. I enjoy collecting clues and putting pieces together to come up with solutions. Lastly, and most significantly, I love people. Establishing meaningful and lasting relationships with others is important in many professions, but through medicine, I believe it is paramount to treat every single person as a friend rather than another case. Serving and loving people, working with unbelievably talented individuals, and solving challenging puzzles all to help people live their best lives are some of the reasons I pursue medicine.

What part of family medicine interests you the most? The versatility of the family medicine physician's scope of practice is what interests me the most. I have no interest in being hyper-focused on one single organ system or type of procedure. Rather, I want to consider the patient as a whole and how each part of their body relates to the others. I believe that in the future, I will not have any problem waking up and looking forward to tackling the variety of health issues that walk through my door. 

What are you most looking forward to about being a doctor? I look forward to making hundreds of new best friends every week. Forming meaningful connections with people in my community is one of my strongest motivating factors for going into medicine. Seeing how patients, their families, and I progress through life together will certainly be the largest reward I could ask for.

Why did you decide to get involved with FMIG? As soon as I learned about the FMIG, I knew it was for me. Any platform that can help me utilize my passion for primary care and family medicine to help my colleagues learn more about and potentially gravitate toward a career in those fields is a no-brainer for me. I also believe that my rural background helps me understand the importance of primary care and especially family medicine. I was blessed to be selected as an executive officer for this interest group.

Savannah Blackwell

Where are you from originally? Sand Rock, AL

What inspired you to pursue medicine? As a little girl, I adored my pediatrician and told everyone I wanted to be just like her when I grew up. This childhood dream was further solidified after I participated in the Huntsville Rural Premedical Internship and worked as an ED scribe. After having those experiences, I was able to view becoming a physician as a way for me to pursue my fullest potential while also contributing to the betterment of the world around me. 

What part of family medicine interests you the most? To me, the best part of family medicine is the ability to form longitudinal relationships with patients and the overall continuity of care. 

What are you most looking forward to about being a doctor? My favorite part of medicine thus far has been patient interaction. I am most looking forward to possessing the ability to fix problems that may impede patients from doing the things they enjoy while helping them become their happiest and healthiest selves. 

Why did you decide to get involved with FMIG? Being a student within the rural medicine program and my long-time interest in family medicine, I felt called to get involved with FMIG as soon as I heard about it. I thought doing so would allow me to join a community of like-minded peers, learn more about the specialty, and gain opportunities for personal growth. 

Noah Blackwood

Where are you from originally? Athens, AL

What inspired you to pursue medicine? I was a patient at Children's of Alabama and both of my parents are nurses, so I had significant exposure to medicine for as long as I can remember. I'm inspired to be like the doctors that have always taken care of me. I love working with people and I think physicians have an incredible ability to make a difference in the lives of both their patients and their families.  

What part of family medicine interests you the most? The longitudinal relationships you build as a family medicine physician are easily my favorite part.

What are you most looking forward to about being a doctor? I'm looking forward to building long-term relationships with my patients, their families, and our whole community. I'm also looking forward to getting involved in organized medicine and advocating for meaningful healthcare reform. 

Why did you decide to get involved with FMIG? I just want to share my passion for family medicine and primary care with my classmates. Family medicine is really the heart and soul of our healthcare system, and I want my classmates to see how wonderful a career in family medicine can be.  

Emma Pierce 

Where are you from originally? Holly Pond, AL 

What inspired you to pursue medicine? I always said I wanted to be a doctor when I was growing up, so when I was in high school I shadowed a local physician. The kindness and care that he showed to each of his patients confirmed to me that I wanted to go on to treat patients in that same manner. 

What part of family medicine interests you the most? I love that family medicine physicians get to do a little bit of everything. They have the opportunity to get involved in so many aspects of community health or further specialize in a particular field. Personally, I am interested in going on to specialize in obstetrics and practice as a family physician in a rural area. 

Why did you decide to get involved with FMIG? I wanted to get involved so that I could help my fellow students see the versatility of being a family medicine physician, as well as how valuable these physicians are, especially in rural areas. Additionally, I hoped to create opportunities for students to shadow and volunteer in order to gain first-hand experience in the field.