A new class of 172 residents joined UAB Hospital in Birmingham on Monday, June 20. The new doctors spent their first day in orientation, where faculty and staff across UAB Hospital and School of Medicine familiarized them with UAB policies, procedures, priorities and initiatives. Gustavo Heudebert, M.D., associate dean for Graduate Medical Education, began the day by welcoming the group.
The new residents – 206 total— represent 56 U.S. and 32 international universities and will span 33 residency programs across four campuses in Birmingham, Huntsville, Selma and Montgomery.
Hilary Anderson, M.D., applied to UAB primarily because of location, but, after interviewing, found more meaningful reasons to complete her residency here.
“On interview day I fell in love with the people,” said Anderson, who matched into UAB’s pediatrics program from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. “Everybody I talked to was very intelligent, but very humble. They were all genuinely happy to be here, and I really wanted to be a part of that.”
Other residents, including UAB School of Medicine alum Ryan Sheets, M.D., were already fond of UAB and just didn’t want to leave quite yet.
“UAB has offered me a great training in medical school for the past four years,” said Sheets, who matched into the internal medicine pediatrics program. “I was able to become immersed and involved here, so I wanted to stick around for a little bit longer.”
Many of the new residents were aware of UAB’s reputation and wanted to be part of that excellence themselves.
“Of course a main factor was UAB’s great reputation across the southeast and across the United States,” said Victoria Scott, M.D., a graduate from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine who matched into pediatrics.