Research resident Shanquell Dixon, M.D., M.S., has been selected for the Alabama Schweitzer Fellowship Program for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Dixon completed her medical degree at Florida State University and entered General Surgery residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Passionate about pediatric surgery research, she relocated to Birmingham, Alabama, to work with all faculty of the UAB Division of Pediatric Surgery and with Professor Robert Russell, M.D., the Director of Trauma & Clinical Research at Children's of Alabama.

Dixon's research includes quality improvement in pediatric surgery outcomes and explores health disparities within the field of pediatric trauma.

Through the fellowship, Dixon will partner with a community organization to develop a program addressing unintentional injuries in children by educating families in low-income communities.

“Community health plays a crucial role in the outcomes of pediatric surgery. A variety of factors, including environment, diet, and childcare, directly affect these outcomes. Through my involvement in the Alabama Schweitzer Fellows Program, I aspire to be an agent of change by positively influencing the determinants that impact our patients’ health,” said Dixon.

About the Alabama Schweitzer Fellows Program

The Alabama Schweitzer Fellows Program is a mentored fellowship for health-focused community service and leadership. Its mission is to prepare professionals to empower vulnerable populations to live healthier lives and build healthier communities. After the Fellowship year, fellows join an interdisciplinary alumni network dedicated to addressing the health needs of underserved communities.