The CA-3s are in the final days of residency. In honor of their graduation, we asked them to share where they're going and a few recollections of their time here.

Name: John Briggs, M.D.

Where I’m going: Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississippi

What I’ll miss most: The people. There is no replacement for excellent people, and I have been lucky enough to be around outstanding people in Birmingham for the last four years.

I’d like to give a special thanks to: Primarily, my wife—without her, I would be hopelessly lost. Secondarily, everyone that I have been lucky enough to work with or around: Thank you.

My advice to the next class of PGY-1s: Take the advice of the Program Directors to heart. Challenge yourself and you will be amazed when you look back at the things you accomplished.

Name: Colby Duckett, M.D.

Where I’m going: Anesthesia Associates, P.A. in Gadsden, Alabama

What I’ll miss most: Definitely the camaraderie and close personal relationships that I have developed with several of my co-residents and attendings in the anesthesia residency program

I’d like to give a special thanks to: Dr. Moore for everything he's done for me. The specifics are too numerous to mention, but he has been a great teacher, mentor, and friend throughout my entire anesthesia training.

My advice to the next class of PGY-1s: Commit yourself to developing the knowledge and skills needed to be the best anesthesiologist you can be. Be true to yourself and hold tightly to your core values and who you are as a person—even when doing so makes you stand out from the mainstream. And lastly, don't over-emphasize your own importance or take yourself too seriously!

One thing I’ll never forget about my time here: The privilege of learning and training alongside so many excellent anesthesia residents

Name: Ryan Dworaczyk, M.D.

Where I’m going: Houston, Texas, for a fellowship in Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology at the Texas Heart Institute

What I’ll miss most: The close friendships I've formed between my co-residents and attendings. I've always appreciated how everyone in the department truly cares about one another on both a professional and personal level.

I’d like to give a special thanks to: Dr. Tuck for being an excellent mentor during residency. He has truly served as an example of the physician I'd like to become one day.

My advice to the next class of PGY-1s: Even on the most mundane cases or uneventful days there's a lesson to be learned that will change the way you practice or look at medicine for the rest of your life.

One thing I’ll never forget about my time here: The diversity of patients that we care for at UAB and how appreciative they are of our care every day

Name: Krissy Jarzombek, M.D.

Where I’m going: I'm staying at UAB to complete a fellowship in chronic pain.

What I’ll miss most: Fortunately I'll be here next year, but I will definitely miss my co-residents who are leaving Birmingham to pursue fellowships and private practice jobs in other cities.

I’d like to give a special thanks to: My co-residents for lifting me up this year when I lost my mother; Dr. Black for not only being a fantastic program director but also an incredible female role model; my dad and mother-in-law for their unending support and help in caring for my two kids that we've had in residency; and last, but certainly not least, my amazing husband for everything. He has been my rock for all of residency and there is no way I would be where I am today without him.

My advice to the next class of PGY-1s: It takes a village. Sleep when you can. Your classmates will be your best sources of support. Band together and lift each other up because residency will be difficult but good friends and supportive classmates will make it much more painless.

One thing I’ll never forget about my time here: My co-residents donating money to the Lupus Foundation in support of my mother after she lost her battle with complications from SLE. I still get very emotional when I think about it. They truly made my time here amazing.

Name: Nich Katseres, M.D.

Where I’m going: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

What I’ll miss most: My co-residents

I’d like to give a special thanks to: My co-residents and attendings for helping me throughout residency 

My advice to the next class of PGY-1s: Try to spend as much time as possible with your co-residents outside of work. You never know what life events will come up to keep you from doing so, and, in no time, residency is over.

One thing I’ll never forget about my time here: How great the people in the program are and how great Birmingham is

Name: Eric Lee, M.D.

Where I’m going: St. Vincent's East

What I’ll miss most: Hanging out and popping popcorn with my friends/co-residents in the Ben Tuck Center for Anesthesia Excellence 

I’d like to give a special thanks to: My entire family. I am so blessed to have had their support encouragement throughout residency. Also, my co-residents and attendings

My advice to the next class of PGY-1s: Make every day count. 

Name: Sara Anne Lester, M.D.

Where I'm going: UAB Obstetric Anesthesiology Fellowship

What I’ll miss most: Great co-residents to share the journey with

I’d like to give a special thanks to: Dr. Black for being supportive during the highs and lows of residency 

My advice to the next class of PGY-1s: Get to know your classmates early in residency—it gets busier with call schedules and ICU shifts and families growing, but camaraderie is most important to morale.

One thing I’ll never forget about my time here: Dustin

Name: Nicole McCoy, M.D.

Where I’m going: Pediatric Anesthesia Fellowship at Mayo Clinic (Wolfson's Children's Hospital), Jacksonville, FL

What I’ll miss most: The incredible attendings in all divisions

I’d like to give a special thanks to: My husband Chad for supporting me in every way imaginable. Without his support I could have never imagined this dream of a second residency becoming a reality.

My advice to the next class of PGY-1s: Get to know your patients, even in the short time between pre-op and the OR. Establishing rapport and trust with your patients will go a long way in creating meaningful doctor-patient relationships.

Name: Caleb Ortega, M.D.    

Where I’m going: The Detroit Medical Center to continue my training as a Chronic Pain Fellow

What I’ll miss most: Fresh popcorn from the Ben Tuck Center for Anesthesiology Excellence (the resident lounge)

I’d like to give a special thanks to: Dr. Black. I came to UAB as a visiting 4th year medical student, and she treated me like I was already a member of the UAB family.

My advice to the next class of PGY-1s: Enjoy waking up late on your medicine rotations as a PGY-1.

One thing I’ll never forget about my time here: The numerous hills and trails for running and hiking

Name: Mariana Palacios, M.D.      

Where I’m going: Staying at UAB as faculty

What I’ll miss most: Don't have to miss anything, I’m staying here!

I’d like to give a special thanks to: My parents and husband for supporting all my endeavors

My advice to the next class of PGY-1s: When you are post call, get a post call pastry from Breadworks.

One thing I’ll never forget about my time here: My pink and white polka-dot scrub hat that matches with all my ladies!

Name: Ben Roberts, M.D.

Where I’m going: Vanderbilt for a Peds fellowship

What I’ll miss most: The people—having done medical school and residency here, I've been able to build lots of relationships that I'll miss.

I’d like to give a special thanks to: Celia for making sure my paperwork with the GME office was always in order and for always knowing how to find answers to my random questions.

My advice to the next class of PGY-1s: Be nice to everyone—you never know when you might need someone to bail you out of a situation.

Name: Kristen Spruill, M.D.

Where I’m going: Hattiesburg, Mississippi

What I’ll miss most: The close friends I've made over the last four years.

I’d like to give a special thanks to: All of the attendings for their limitless patience and willingness to teach

My advice to the next class of PGY-1s: Residency is hard, but it goes by fast. Go to the socials and really enjoy your time away from the hospital.

Name: Josh Woolard, M.D.

Where I’m going: Scott and White Pain Fellowship; Temple, Texas

What I’ll miss most: The camaraderie among the residents

I’d like to give a special thanks to: My wife Candace

My advice to the next class of PGY-1s: Your residency will fly by—make time to enjoy your friendships.