The UAB Department of Surgery recently represented at the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) 2022 Annual Medical Education Conference (AMEC) in Orlando, FL.

According to the SNMA, the AMEC attracts students from all levels of medical education and is consistently the largest gathering of underrepresented minority medical students in the nation. With a slate of workshops and programs focused on the academic and clinical success, development, and preparedness of our cohort of physicians-in-training, AMEC provides a unique opportunity to network with students and physicians from all over the country.

The department, alongside UAB Heersink School of Medicine, hosted a table at the event in order for medical students to learn more about the department, its residency program, and its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The department was pleased to share about its DEI initiatives with future medical students considering its residency program.

The UAB Department of Surgery, believes that a diverse community of faculty and learners is essential to fulfilling our mission and vision. Including individuals with diverse perspectives and experience enriches the educational experience for all learners, allows us to more effectively address health care inequities and improves the quality of our scholarship and clinical care.

Endocrine Surgery Fellow Andrea Gillis, M.D., ran the booth and enjoyed meeting medical students from across the country.

“It really was a great reminder of how bright our next generation of surgeon-scientists will be,” said Gillis. “As medical students interested in the field of surgery search for their residency location, I do hope they consider UAB Surgery and its commitment to diversity and a robust residency program.”