American Physician Scientists Association (APSA) - University of Alabama at Birmingham, Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine Chapter
Mission Statement
This APSA Chapter has been established for the purpose of promoting medical research and its principals, assisting aspiring physician-scientists in furthering their careers, and providing educational opportunities to both our institutional and local community. More specifically, the APSA Chapter will allow UAB Heersink SOM students to:
- Acquire a better understanding of medical research and related principles.
- Acquaint members with persons and associations involved with medical science and/or clinical research at local, national, and international levels.
- Develop professional skills in order to assess and meet patient needs on an individual basis.
- Extend service to UAB Heersink SOM by developing and organizing programs of interest to the student body and the faculty.
- Sponsor, promote, and encourage educational programs dealing with medical research and associated fields.
- Advance the knowledge and understanding of medical science and clinical research.
- Develop collegial interactions between aspiring physician-scientists enrolled in the UAB Heersink SOM and the UAB NIH NIGMS-Funded Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP).
UAB APSA Chapter Initiatives
Join our email list or follow us on X or Instagram to hear about upcoming events and opportunities!
Birmingham Youth YMCA Partnership
We proudly engage in community science outreach with the Birmingham Youth YMCA as we guide young students through fun science experiments.
Social Hours with UASOM Faculty
Join us on select weekdays to network with faculty involved in basic, translational, and clinical research in an informal setting. Enjoy a free beverage and giveaways as you meet potential research mentors and other medical students interested in pursuing research.
Lunchtime Seminars
Hear about exciting research performed by our faculty, learn how to craft a science-oriented CV, and more during our lunchtime seminars!
Upcoming Events
Check out our X or Instagram page (@uabsom_apsa) to find out about our upcoming events!
Leadership
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President
Ian Miranda
Undergrad: Brooklyn College
Research Focus: Neuroengineering
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Vice President
Rishi Devulapalli
Undergrad: Virginia Tech
Research focus: Neuroepigenetics, Cancer Biology
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Treasurer
Josiah Perry
Undergrad: University of South Alabama
Research Focus: Neuroimaging, neuroscience, learning, and memory
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Secretary
Yassin Mreyoud
Undergrad: Saint Louis University
Research focus: Host-Pathogen Interactions
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Outreach Co-Chair
Kate Smith
Undergrad: University of Michigan- Ann Arbor
Research focus: Neuroimmunology, host-pathogen interactions
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Outreach Co-Chair
Zoe Fokakis
Undergrad: Mississippi State University
Research focus: Optogenetics, Parkinson's Disease
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Assistant Outreach Chair
Annie Popple
Undergrad: UAB
Research Focus: Breast cancer and hyperglycemia
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Events Chair
Alyssa Flint
Undergrad: Purdue University
Research focus: Pediatric Oncology
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Assistant Events Chair
Jeremiah Bergman
Undergrad: University of South Carolina
Research Focus: Neuroimmunology
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Clinical Research Chair
Halle Thannickal
Undergrad: University of Michigan
Research Interests: Med-Onc, Clinical Trials & Design, Personalizing Care, Shared Decision-Making, Healthcare Value
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Workshop Chair
Derek Shyr, PhD.
Undergrad: Washington University in St. Louis
Grad: Harvard University
Research Focus: Oncology, Genomics, AI/Machine Learning, Statistics
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Marketing Chair
Emma Mason
Undergrad: University of South Carolina
Research Focus: Neurodegeneration, protein/RNA biology
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MS2 Representative
Charis Hodges
Undergrad: Auburn University
Research focus: Public health, Infectious diseases, and Epidemiology
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MS1 Representative
Haley Kvarnberg
Undergrad: University of Florida
Research Focus: Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, neuroinflammation.