UAB Heersink School of Medicine is pleased to announce a number of new individuals joining the Department of Medical Education team. Three new staff members started their roles at the beginning of March and a new staff member will join us in April. The department also has a few members who are departing for other opportunities. Please join us in providing a warm welcome to our new additions and well wishes to those who have provided excellent service to our team for many years.

Welcoming new team members

Crystal Burney joins UAB Heersink School of Medicine from the UAB Health Services Foundation, where she served as Lead Clinical Administrative Office Specialist. She earned a bachelor’s degree in 2017 from Grand Canyon University.

Crystal will serve as an Office Associate II within the Office for Access and Engagement - Medical Student Experience. She will support access and engagement activities in concert with Medical Education for student advocacy, mentoring, advising, leadership development, academic enrichment, and student programming. She will work closely with Dale Colorado D.O., assistant dean for Student Experience, and the program managers within the office, serving as first point of contact for students, faculty, staff, and guests for the office. She began work in this role on March 9, 2025.

Jatava Burns joins UAB Heersink School of Medicine from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama where she worked as a marketing and communications coordinator. She obtained master’s degree from Liberty University in 2021.

Jatava will serve as a Communications Coordinator for the Department of Medical Education, providing support across all communications areas. She will write articles highlighting updates and accomplishments from faculty, staff, and students. She will also assist with the distribution of our department newsletters and digital signage, ensuring effective delivery of crucial messaging from leadership to students. She began work in this role on March 3, 2025.

Jimika Colvin joins UAB Heersink School of Medicine from the UAB Department of Health Services Administration, where she served as Program Manager for graduate programs in health informatics and healthcare leadership. She obtained a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University in 2014 and is currently working toward a master’s degree from UAB.

Jimika will serve as a Program Manager in the Office of Academic Initiatives & Programs. She will work in close liaison with Cristin Gavin, Ph.D., associate dean for Biomedical Programs, and program directors on all operational aspects of graduate programs in global health and anatomical sciences. Her responsibilities will include administrative and fiscal management, recruitment, admissions, retention of students, and strategic planning to maintain continuous program and process improvement. She began work in this role on March 3, 2025.

DeCarlos Wright joins UAB Heersink School of Medicine from the UAB Department of Restorative Sciences where he served as a Business Officer II. He earned a master’s degree from UAB in 2001.

DeCarlos will serve as Manager of Fiscal Affairs in the Department of Medical Education. He will oversee and manage the financial operations of the department and ensure compliance with established accounting principles, financial analysis, and budgeting procedures. He will collaborate closely with senior leaders to provide recommendations for financial improvements, revenue generation activities, and other financial strategies. He is scheduled to begin work in this role on April 15, 2025.

Wishing departing team members well

Delia Lewis is transferring to the UAB School of Optometry. She will serve as the assistant director in the Office of Student Affairs. Delia has worked at UAB since 2014 where she began as a manager in the Office of Pre-Health Advising in the UAB College of Arts and Sciences. She joined UAB Heersink School of Medicine in 2022, serving in the Office of Admissions and Enrollment Management as director of Advising and Recruitment.

Mariko Nakano, Ph.D., is relocating to Hokkaido University in Japan. She will serve as an associate professor within the Department of Philosophy/Ethics, Faculty of Humanity and Human Sciences. She joined UAB Heersink School of Medicine in 2015 as an associate professor of Bioethics in the Department of Medical Education. She became an associate professor in the Department of Medical Education in 2023.

Randy Seay is relocating to Wake Forest University in North Carolina. Randy joined UAB Heersink School of Medicine in 2000 as a Program Director II for the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). Since 2010, he has served as administrative director of the Physician Scientist Development Office (PSDO), providing necessary support to Heersink students as they take on the challenge of completing an MD-PhD dual degree track.