UAB General Surgery Residents Alizeh Abbas, M.D., and Stephanie Rakestraw, M.D., were elected as officers of the House Staff Council (HSC) for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Abbas completed her medical degree at Aga Khan University and is currently a research resident in the Residency Program. Her research interests include patient engagement technologies, health literacy, and mitigating health disparities. In the upcoming year, Abbas will serve as secretary of the HSC.

"I am very excited to contribute positively to the learning environment of the general surgery program as well as other residency programs at UAB and to collaborate with my co-residents and colleagues through this council," says Abbas.

Rakestraw completed her medical degree at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University and is a PGY-3 in the Residency Program. In her past two years of dedicated research time, she has focused on furthering the body of research pertaining to vascular surgery, health, and racial disparities. Rakestraw has been elected as wellness chair of the HSC for the academic year of 2024-2025 and has previously served as president for the Council.

"It has been a very fulfilling experience to serve as president of the House Staff Council in the past year. UAB works in close partnership with the officers to promote the well-being of our residents, fellows, and staff members," says Rakestraw.

About the House Staff Council

The House Staff Council (HSC) is comprised of residents and fellows who convene monthly with Graduate Medical Education (GME) Office leadership to voice the concerns of trainees in all programs. They discuss resident work-related issues, while communicating trainee needs and concerns to GME leaders.