Dr. Alexander and his wife Kim at Cure Hospital in Kijabe, Kenya where he goes on an annual mission trip for cleft lip and palate repair. This year, he will help with airway surgery.When did you graduate from UAB?
2012- Where are you now?
Greenville Health System Children's Hospital in Greenville, SC. - What are your clinical/research interests?
Clinical – pediatric otolaryngology – pediatric airway, cochlear implantation, and head/neck. - How did you choose to practice this area of otolaryngology?
I felt like it was a very rewarding facet of otolaryngology as it provides such a life changing impact early on in the life of a child, and their family. - What aspect of your time at UAB do you believe was most valuable as you started your career?
The attendings at UAB had an excellent ability to balance instruction and autonomy with surgical progression. We were able to do an incredible number of cases and that helped to increase surgical confidence as I transitioned into fellowship and then practice. These things also helped to solidify principles and memories that still surface every time I do a particular case. - Did you have a particular mentor while at UAB? Why were they a good mentor?
I didn’t have one particular mentor while in residency. Several attendings at UAB and Children’s helped really shape the way that I practice, operate, and maintain work-home balance. - What is one of your fondest memories from UAB?
I am particularly fond of the unique dynamic where we fostered real friendships with our attendings all while they trusted and allowed us to share in their operations and their day to day practice. I worked a ton and felt like we made a real difference. - Give one piece of advice you’d like to share with the current residents or those recently graduated.
Take notes. There are so many pearls within the five years of residency, it’s easy and unfortunate to leave some in short term memory. The details of a Peter’s thyroid, a Carroll neck, a McGrew mastoid, a Woodworth FESS (just to name a few) are priceless. - When you’re not working, how do you spend your time?
When not at work, I enjoy being home with my wife and five kids and exercising.
Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Nathan Alexander
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- Written by: Morgan Samples