Twenty-six graduates of the UAB Heersink School of Medicine were recognized at The University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences Senior Banquet held May 15 at Cypress Inn Pavilion in Tuscaloosa.
As a regional campus of the Heersink School of Medicine, the College provides clinical education for a portion of third- and fourth-year medical students.
The graduating students, now physicians, will soon begin residency training in programs across 10 states. The students were matched into residencies in family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, general surgery, urology, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, internal medicine and neurology.
“I am proud to be here to celebrate members of this class of 2025 and to congratulate these students for completing medical school at CCHS and becoming doctors,” Dr. Richard Friend, dean of the College, said in welcoming remarks. “This group of students represents the third cohort of Primary Care Track graduates and are a very special part of the College. I want to encourage our students to continue your dedication to the practice of medicine and constant care of patients and to always pursue your work with passion and excellence.”
The Primary Care Track is a medical education track designed to provide students with a strong foundation in clinical medicine, with additional experience in population health and physician leadership skills. CCHS is the only regional campus of the Heersink School of Medicine with a Primary Care Track.
As part of the Primary Care Track, medical students spend their time in a Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC), which moves beyond the traditional block structure of the third year of medical school. In a LIC, students develop longitudinal relationships with patients, observe how their diseases and illnesses progress over time, and get to know their patients in the context of their families and communities. This differs from the traditional third-year model where every four to eight weeks, students rotate through a different medical specialty, often in a hospital setting, without the opportunity to follow a patient longitudinally to see how the patient’s illness or disease evolves.
In addition, in a LIC, medical students work closely with physician instructors and build lasting mentoring relationships.
Dr. Grier Stewart, assistant dean for undergraduate medical education at CCHS, introduced the graduating class. He said he is proud of the graduates’ accomplishments and the steps they have taken to become physicians.
The Graduating Class of 2025 and their residency specialties:
- Dr. Yolanda Amezaga – Anesthesiology
- Dr. Cody Anger – Urology
- Dr. Amiria Blakely – Family Medicine
- Dr. Jackson Broadfoot – Internal Medicine
- Dr. Carla Brown – Family Medicine
- Dr. Jeb Cowen – Internal Medicine
- Dr. Devin Dobbins – Family Medicine
- Dr. Kaitlyn Domning – Internal Medicine
- Dr. Anupa Ghimire – Emergency Medicine
- Dr. Grace Glidden – Family Medicine
- Dr. Taylor Golden – Family Medicine
- Dr. Thomas Gwin – Family Medicine
- Dr. Cynthia Huguley – Family Medicine
- Dr. Sheena Khan – Internal Medicine
- Dr. Andrew Mitchell – General Surgery
- Dr. Madhuri Molleti – Internal Medicine
- Dr. Abygayle Nelson – Family Medicine
- Dr. Anna Patrick – Internal Medicine
- Dr. Andrew Price – Internal Medicine
- Dr. Ashton Robinson – Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Dr. Benjamin Rogers – Family Medicine
- Dr. Jenna Sayler – Neurology
- Dr. William Scott – Internal Medicine
- Dr. Bethany Sparks – Internal Medicine
- Dr. Lillie Veazey – Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Dr. Austin Wall – Pediatrics
Awards given at the banquet:
Academic Honors and Community Engagement Awards from UAB Heersink School of Medicine:
Outstanding Award for Summa Cum Laude Status
Dr. William Scott
Albert Schweitzer Fellowship
Dr. Yolanda Amezaga
A national organization preparing the next generation of professionals who will serve and empower people to live healthier lives and create healthier communities.
Comprehensive Urban Underserved and Rural Experience (CU2RE)
Drs. Yolanda Amezaga, Amiria Blakely, Carla Brown, Grace Glidden and Cynthia Huguley
A program designed to enhance recruitment, training and retention of medical students dedicated to serving as family medicine physicians and provide primary care in the medically underserved urban and rural areas of Alabama.
Health Equity Scholar
Drs. Benjamin Rogers and Jenna Sayler
A three-year program that trains and prepares medical students to care for historically marginalized populations.
Equal Assess Birmingham
Dr. Grace Glidden
Awarded to medical students who have engaged in community service by participating in Equal Access Birmingham, a student-run free clinic that provides continuity of care to the medically underserved.
College Scholarships
Dr. Benjamin Collins Maxwell Endowed Scholarship
Drs. Amiria Blakeley, Devin Dobbins and Cynthia Huguley
Dr. Benjamin Maxwell was a pioneer in family medicine practice who trained many Tuscaloosa medical students and family medicine residents in his practice in Atmore, Ala. He was renowned for the degree of interest, patience and compassion he had for his patients. This scholarship was endowed by Dr. David and Mrs. Regina Maxwell to honor the legacy of Dr. Benjamin Maxwell, and all primary care physicians, and to support the Rural Medical Scholars Program and academic excellence within the College of Community Health Sciences. Priority is given to graduating medical students who plan to practice rural primary care in Alabama, with special consideration for students from Escambia County and the Rural Medical Scholars Program.
Jovita M. Taylor Endowed Scholarship
Dr. Austin Wall
The Jovita M. Taylor Endowed Scholarship is awarded annually to a medical student at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine – Tuscaloosa Regional Campus. The scholarship was created by Drs. Michael A. Taylor and Heather M. Taylor to honor Mrs. Jovita M. Taylor and to promote the education of medical students at the College of Community Health Sciences. Priority is given to a third- or fourth-year CCHS medical student who plans to go into pediatrics.
Larry Mayes Endowed Scholarship
Drs. Kaitlyn Domning, Anupa Ghimire and Cynthia Huguley
The Larry Mayes Endowed Scholarship is awarded to medical students at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine – Tuscaloosa Regional Campus who elect a community medicine experience in a medically underserved setting in the United States or abroad during their third or fourth year of medical school.
Reese Phifer, Jr., Memorial Foundation Endowed Scholarship
Drs. Devin Dobbins, Cynthia Huguley, Abygayle Nelson and Benjamin Rogers
The Reese Phifer, Jr., Memorial Foundation Endowed Scholarship is awarded annually to promote the education of medical students at the College of Community Health Sciences. The Reese Phifer, Jr., Memorial Foundation was established by Mr. and Mrs. Reese Phifer in 1967 in memory of their son, J. Reese Phifer, Jr., a student at The University of Alabama who died in 1964. The foundation established the scholarship fund in 2014. Priority is given to current fourth-year medical students who intend to complete their residency at The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Family Medicine Residency Program, which the College operates, and who have an interest in spending part of their residency training in Fayette, Ala.
Robert E. Pieroni, MD, and Family Endowed Scholarship
Drs. Amiria Blakeley, Devin Dobbins, Cynthia Huguley and Benjamin Rogers
The Robert E. Pieroni, MD, and Family Endowed Scholarship was established by Dr. Robert and Mrs. Dorothy Pieroni to support medical students at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine – Tuscaloosa Regional Campus who are interested in entering primary care. This award takes both merit and financial need into consideration. Dr. Robert Pieroni was a faculty member at the College of Community Health Sciences for many years and still remains active in his support.
Dr. Sandral Hullett Endowed Scholarship
Drs. Cody Anger, Amiria Blakeley and Carla Brown
The Dr. Sandral Hullett Scholarship was established in 1992 from gifts given by the Capstone Health Services Foundation and proceeds from the 1991 Fiesta Bowl to honor Hullett, one of the first African-American family medicine residents to graduate from The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Family Medicine Residency Program, which is operated by the College of Community Health Sciences.
Dr. Terrence M. Pugh Diversity in Medicine Scholarship
Dr. Cody Anger
The Dr. Terrence M. Pugh Diversity in Medicine Scholarship was established by Dr. Terrence M. Pugh in 2018 to support the diversity of the medical student population at the College of Community Health Sciences and to improve the quality of educational experience and training for the College’s future primary care physicians.
William W. Winternitz, Sr. Geriatric Scholarship
Dr. Devin Dobbins
The William W. Winternitz, Sr. Geriatric Scholarship was established in 2016 by Ms. Madeleine M. Hill in honor of her late husband. The recipient of this award has shown an exceptional interest in geriatrics and/or service learning and represents the best in academic medicine as recognized by faculty, residents and medical students of the College of Community Health Sciences.
Department and College Awards:
Recognition of Rural Medical Scholars
Drs. Jackson Broadfoot, Jeb Cowen, Devin Dobbins, Taylor Golden, Thomas Gwin, Abygayle Nelson, Andrew Price and Bethany Sparks
Robert F. Gloor/James D. Leeper Award
Drs. Taylor Golden and Grace Glidden
Awarded for excellent performance in Community Medicine and Population Health.
William Owings Award in Family Medicine
Drs. Carla Brown and Devin Dobbins
Awarded for excellence in Family Medicine.
William W. Winternitz Award in Internal Medicine
Dr. Sheena Khan
Awarded for outstanding achievement in Internal Medicine during the third and fourth years. This student possesses an exceptional wealth of knowledge, can integrate the pathology of disease with the physiology of clinical skills, and practices with empathy, compassion and a desire to improve the patients with whom the student comes in contact.
Neurology Award
Dr. Jenna Sayler
Awarded for outstanding academic and clinical performance during the Neurology Clerkship.
Pediatrics Recognition Award
Dr. Austin Wall
Awarded for outstanding interest, ability and the reflection of pleasure in helping parents and their children reach their full personal, social and educational potential.
Peter Bryce Award in Psychiatry
Dr. Devin Dobbins
Awarded for excellence exhibited by a medical student both academically and clinically during their Psychiatry Clerkship. This award is presented in honor of Dr. Peter Bryce, who was appointed as the first superintendent of Bryce Hospital in Tuscaloosa. He and his wife, Ellen Clarkson Bryce, were cornerstones for Tuscaloosa society and tenacious advocates for people who experience mental illness.
Finney/Akers Memorial Award in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Drs. Ashton Robinson and Lillie Veazey
Awarded to students achieving outstanding academic and clinical success in Obstetrics and Gynecology. This award is presented in honor of former medical students James H. Akers and Teresa K. Finney.
William R. Shamblin, MD, Surgery Award
Dr. Andrew Mitchell
Awarded to student(s) with the most outstanding clerkship performance during their third-year Surgical Clerkship. Dr. William R. Shamblin, a Tuscaloosa native and former chair of the Department of Surgery, spent years educating medical students and family medicine residents. This award continues in his honor.
Interprofessional Excellence Award
Dr. Benjamin Rogers
This award recognizes the medical student who has demonstrated excellence in communication skills, respect for staff and patients, and a commitment to working as an effective member of the health-care team.
Scholastic Achievement Award
Dr. William Scott
Awarded for superior performance in the clinical curriculum.
William R. Willard Award
Dr. Grace Glidden
Established by the Bank of Moundville, this award is presented for outstanding contributions to the goals and mission of the College of Community Health Sciences as voted by the College faculty.
Faculty, Resident and Student Awards as determined by the graduating class:
Faculty Recognition Award
Dr. Heather Taylor, professor in the CCHS Department of Pediatrics
Awarded for outstanding contributions to undergraduate medical education during students’ junior year.
Patrick McCue Award
Dr. Bliss Wright, assistant professor in the CCHS Department of Family, Internal, and Rural Medicine and the CCHS Department of Pediatrics
Awarded for outstanding contributions to undergraduate medical education during students’ senior year. Legend has it that Dr. Patrick McCue won the faculty award so often that it was decided to name the award after him on the condition that, because he was the recipient so many times, he could not receive it again.
Resident Recognition Award
Dr. Austin Brooks, a third-year resident in the UA Tuscaloosa Family Medicine Residency Program, which is operated by the College.
Awarded for outstanding contributions to undergraduate medical education.
James H. Akers Memorial Award
Dr. Cynthia Huguley
Awarded to a graduating senior for dedication to the art and science of medicine.