William Illiano, a medical student at the Heersink School of Medicine, has been awarded the 2023 Sara Crews Finley, M.D., Endowed Leadership Scholarship.
The Sara Crews Finley, M.D., Endowed Leadership Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship awarded annually to a rising third-year student who ranks in the top 25% of their class as well as demonstrates the exceptional leadership skills and commitment to service, integrity, and determination that were hallmarks of Finley’s life and work.
“We are so proud to name William Illiano as our newest Sara Crews Finley, M.D., Leadership Scholar,” said Sara J. Finley, daughter of Sara Crews and Wayne Finley and representative for the Finley family. “We were impressed not just by William’s academic achievements, but also by his deep sense of purpose and dedication to serving others. In his finalist interview, he exuded positive energy and compassion telling us about his family, leading efforts during college to combat food insecurity, conducting vision clinics for children, and playing saxophone in the band ‘UltraSound’ that he founded in medical school. It was such a pleasure getting to know William and the other extraordinary finalists this year.”
Finley was an unequivocal trailblazer in medicine at UAB. She joined the faculty of the Heersink School of Medicine, then called the Medical College of Alabama, in 1960 and spent the next 35 years guiding the medical genetics research, training, and service program. She co-founded the first medical genetics program in the southeastern United States with her husband, Wayne H. Finley, M.D., Ph.D., and acted as co-director of the Laboratory of Medical Genetics at UAB for more than 30 years.
Finley served as the first female president of the University of Alabama Medical Alumni Association and the Jefferson County Medical Society. She received the American Medical Women’s Association/National Library of Medicine Legends Award; the National Outstanding Alumna Award of Zeta Tau Alpha; the Birmingham Business Journal’s Lifetime Achievement Award; and the Brother Bryan Humanitarian Award of the Women’s Committee of 100 for Birmingham; among others.
“Being selected as a Sara Crews Finley Scholar means more to me than words can adequately convey; it represents a life-changing opportunity to pursue my dreams without the financial burden of paying for medical education,” said Illiano. “As I embark on my journey as a medical student entering my clinical rotations, I pledge to be an ambassador of the high values and principles that the Finley family and this scholarship embody. Their belief in my abilities is truly humbling, and it fuels my determination to make a positive impact on my community and the field of medicine. It is an incredible honor and privilege to receive this prestigious scholarship, and I will ensure that this immense gift is paid forward during my future career as a physician.”
In addition to being a visionary in the field of genetics, Finley left a legacy as a wise, kind, and generous mentor to countless students. She was a member of the school admissions committee for 20 years and took pride in guiding and advising promising applicants seeking careers in medicine.
“I was inspired by Dr. Sara Crews Finley’s commitment to service to others, and I deeply resonate with this value and calling,” said Illiano. “Coming from a modest background, I've always been cognizant of the invisible struggles many strangers carry. Ever since I can remember, I've made it my mission to use my ambition and work ethic to advocate for those who can't advocate for themselves.”
Illiano’s record of accomplishments and hard work attests to his commitment to academic excellence, leadership, and community service, but his integrity and determination speak for themselves.
Illiano graduated from Auburn University summa cum laude with honors with a Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical sciences. He placed in the top 15% of the class during his first year at the Heersink School of Medicine. Illiano was also the recipient of an NIH T35 Short-Term National Research Service Award for his proposal to investigate the association between macular pigment and the visual symptoms experienced under extreme lighting conditions by patients with primary open-angle glaucoma in 2022.
Illiano already has a long list of humanitarian pursuits. In high school, he spearheaded projects to combat food insecurity in underserved communities, such as the elderly, disabled, and foreign students with little to no support. During his undergraduate years, he served as president of the Campus Kitchen, which collected unserved food from on-campus dining locations, packaged it, and delivered it to food-insecure individuals in the community. Illiano supervised the operations of the organization's 50+ weekly volunteer shifts and managed the organization's $40,000+ yearly budget. For his efforts, he won the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, an award given to two of 4,000 graduating seniors for "unsurpassed humanitarian leadership and contributions to the community."
Since beginning medical school, Illiano has taken part in Arts in Medicine, founded a medical student band named “UltraSound,” and began working as a FocusFirst vision screening coordinator. Arts in Medicine is an organization that utilizes the varied artistic talents of medical students to transform the care environment and enhance well-being and healing through creative arts experiences for patients, families, and staff. UltraSound is a five-piece medical student band that provides musical performances for local health care facilities, especially oncologic and end-of-life care services. As a FocusFirst vision screening coordinator, Illiano travels to pre-K centers throughout rural Alabama and works with kids to ensure that their vision is sufficient for their function in school. Illiano is also a volunteer with the Exceptional Foundation, which works with individuals with special needs to foster functional and social skills through leading recreational activities and games. In this role, Illiano has also leveraged his background in health care to organize health-oriented events where they can connect with health care workers to reduce health care-related anxiety and meet the unique needs of this population.
“His brand of leadership and service is not self-serving, but genuinely focused on improving the lives of those in need,” said Lyne Racette, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Illiano’s mentor. “He consistently goes above and beyond, exploring new avenues and providing thoughtful insights. He experiences setbacks as opportunities to pivot and find ways forward.”
While Illiano has interest in ophthalmology, he intends to keep an open mind to all specialties as he enters his third-year rotations. He said his ultimate goal is to work with populations in need and advocate for hardworking people who lack access to adequate care. Illiano is thrilled to explore the many avenues he can take to achieve that goal.
“My passion for serving my neighbors is what led me to medicine, and it is my honor to do so while following in the footsteps of physicians who have done so before me, such as Dr. Sara Crews Finley,” said Illiano.