Upcoming Events

Our Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion—Student Affairs team be found at undergraduate schools across the nation. In addition, they also attend local, regional, and national recruitment events and pre-health fairs where aspirants can speak to representatives about admission requirements, and gain additional resources about diversity and inclusion efforts, as well as initiatives and programs the ODI—SA has established for its thriving professional medical school student body. 

*Above is a map showing cities with events we attended in AY 2020-2021.. It's important to note, all AAMC in-person recruiting events were canceled through June 2021. UAB SOM Office for Diversity and Inclusion—Student Affairs team looks forward to attending in-person events when guidelines can safely allow. 

We are in the process of developing our AY 2021-2022 schedule. Please check back frequently as new events will be added as they are confirmed.

Request a UAB Representative

The Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion—Student Affairs participates in many undergraduate school visits and premed student group meetings such as MAPS, LMSA, AMWA, etc. every academic year. If you would like to have the Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion come to speak at your institution, please fill out the form below:

Diversity Ambassadors

The Heersink School of Medicine Diversity Ambassadors work in partnership with Admissions and the ODI Student Affairs Office to help promote the Heersink School of Medicine and its ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Diversity Ambassadors serve in various capacities and are an integral piece to Interview Days, Preview Days, Second Look Student Weekend, undergraduate student group speaking engagements/panels, pre-interview dinners with prospects, and multicultural events. Diversity Ambassadors oftentimes make phone calls to prospective students who may have specific questions regarding diversity, sense of community and belonging, and the climate of The University of Alabama at Birmingham.

 Please click on any of the Diversity Ambassadors to learn more about them and why they like serving.

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• Allen

  • Campus: Birmingham, AL
  • MD Candidate Class of 2024
  • "As a Diversity Ambassador, I have the privilege of meeting with prospective students and discussing the variety of opportunities that UABSOM has to offer in championing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our students are passionate about creating a welcoming environment, and our team in ODI is always looking for ways to improve our tight-knit community. I look forward to sharing my wonderful experiences as both a Diversity Ambassador and a member of the UABSOM family for years to come!"

• Andrés

  • Campus: Birmingham, AL
  • MD Candidate Class of 2022
  • "I love being able to showcase the broad diversity that UAB has, both at a student level and faculty level. It really enhances the entire medical school experience!"

• Bella

  • Campus: Birmingham, AL
  • MD Candidate Class of 2023
  • "As a Diversity Ambassador, I have the unique opportunity to share my love for UASOM and my culture with prospective students. Knowing that UASOM and ODI place an important emphasis on embracing and celebrating diversity proves to be one of the main reasons why I chose UAB to continue my education. I hope that as DA, I am able to show prospective students all of the amazing opportunities UASOM has to offer!"

• Camille

  • Campus: Tuscaloosa, AL
  • PCT
  • MD Candidate Class of 2024
  • "Talking with the Diversity Ambassadors during my interviewing process allowed me to see the many ways that UABSOM supports and celebrates diversity. I am excited to work alongside my fellow Diversity Ambassadors to speak with prospective students and share with them the wonderful experiences I have had while at UABSOM."

• Candace

  • Campus: Huntsville, AL
  • MD Candidate Class of 2024
  • "I love having the opportunity play a role in helping prospective students feel comfortable at UABSOM and ensuring them that they will always have a safe space and people that they can reach out to if they are struggling or if they just want to talk!"

• Caris

  • Campus: Birmingham, AL
  • MD Candidate Class of 2022
  • "I enjoy being a DA because it allows me to connect with students in a smaller setting, and give them raw and honest advice about how to manage life as a minority student in the medical field."

• Courtney

  • Campus: Birmingham, AL
  • MD/PhD Candidate Class of 2023
  • "Interacting with the Diversity Ambassadors during the UABSOM interview was one of the most unique experiences I had during my medical school application process and it played a role in my decision to come to UABSOM. It encouraged me to become a Diversity Ambassador as well!"

• Dahye

  • Campus: Montgomery, AL
  • MD Candidate Class of 2024
  • "I chose to be a DA because it gives me the opportunity to showcase our school’s commitment to diversity and inclusion to my peers and incoming medical students. Also, I get to work with amazing staffs and DAs who are continuously working to promote a safe and collaborative learning environment for every student!" 

• Dani

  • Campus: Birmingham, AL
  • MD Candidate Class of 2024
  • "My decision to attend UABSOM was largely influenced by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and our wonderful diversity ambassadors. I chose to become a DA because I want to show the same love and support I received as an applicant to prospective students. I love connecting with individuals of diverse backgrounds, and hope that by sharing my experiences I can help underrepresented students feel welcomed and empowered."

• Daniela

  • Campus: Tuscaloosa, AL
  • MD Candidate, Class of 2023
  • "I am an out-of-state student, and UABSOM's Office for Diversity and Inclusion has become part of my Alabama family ❤️. Being a diversity ambassador enables me to share the warm and loving support I received as an applicant with potential incoming students."

• Desalyn

  • Campus: Huntsville, AL
  • MD Candidate Class of 2023
  • "Serving as a Diversity Ambassador is truly rewarding. I am able to welcome applicants, while also encouraging diversity of thought, background and experience. This spirit of inclusion ensures each student feels welcomed and valued here at UAB!"

• Fabian

  • Campus: Huntsville, AL
  • Candidate Class of 2023
  • “As a diversity ambassador I get the opportunity to recruit brilliant prospective students from diverse backgrounds to increase our nation’s need for a diverse physician workforce. I also love returning the warm hospitality that was offered to me as an applicant.”

• Florencia

  • Campus: Birmingham, AL
  • Candidate Class of 2022
  • "I love being a part of an organization that celebrates different backgrounds and ways of life!"

• Henry

  • Campus: Birmingham, AL
  • Candidate Class of 2022
  • "Being a Diversity Ambassador through our ODI is something particularly meaningful to me. Prioritizing diversity, inclusion, and equality of opportunity is something that has never been more important. The way this office and its people make this a top priority for our medical school is something I am so proud of and really honored to play a small role in."

• Jessica

  • Campus: Birmingham, AL
  • MD Candidate Class of 2024
  • "I am excited to work as a DA to help make UABSOM an inclusive environment for people from different cultures and backgrounds. I also enjoy speaking with prospective students and showing them how they might fit into the UABSOM community."

• Joel

  • Campus: Birmingham, AL
  • MD Candidate Class of 2023
  • "Being a diversity ambassador is great because it provides new UAB students a face to connect with. I love being able to meet with new people and show them what we are all about!"

• Kalissa

  • Campus: Tuscaloosa, AL
  • PCT
  • MD Candidate Class of 2024
  • "Diversity Ambassadors are of the utmost importance. We are afforded the opportunity to encourage other minority students to attend an institution with real inclusion efforts. UABSOM acknowledges that there are differences among students and simultaneously expresses an appreciation for these differences. Students desire a place where their unique perspectives, ideas, and struggles can be heard, validated, and valued.  It is an honor to play a small role in creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for prospective students through my role as a DA. Moreover, in this position, I get to provide students with support and assurance that they are capable of achieving their dreams and worthy of being in this position despite societies current message."

• Katelyn

  • Campus: Montgomery, AL
  • MD Candidate Class of 2022
  • "Being a diversity ambassador is not only about telling potential/new students about UABSOM, it is an opportunity to show them. I love being able to reach students in such a unique way."

• Lamario

  • Campus: Birmingham, AL
  • MD/PhD Candidate
  • "Being a DA means I have the opportunity to recruit URiM applicants to choose UABSOM if they are accepted. UAB is an excellent institution for medical training, so I love being able to answer applicants' questions to determine if UABSOM is the right fit for them. I also get to contribute to increasing URiM quality applicant numbers and current URiM retention."

• Mel

  • Campus: Birmingham, AL
  • MD Candidate Class of 2025
  • "Not only should everyone have a seat at the table, but they should also feel welcome and accepted in that seat, too. I chose to be a DA because I want to be a part of fostering these attitudes of inclusion and acceptance within the School of Medicine."

• Natalia

  • Campus: Montgomery, AL
  • MD Candidate Class of 2024
  • "From the moment I interviewed here, I was extremely impressed with UAB’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and seeing that made my decision to attend UAB so much easier. I have only felt immense support and acceptance from my community, and I wanted to be a part of showing other students that they do belong here, and that their differences are something worth celebrating."

• Nikki

  • Campus: Birmingham, AL
  • MD Candidate Class of 2024
  • "As a Diversity Ambassador, I get the exciting opportunity to share with my peers the benefits of celebrating our differences and learning from each other's many backgrounds, cultures and languages. Every student at UABSOM deserves to feel at home here, and we hope to offer a smile and a helping hand to anyone who needs it."

• Obie

  • Campus: Huntsville, AL
  • Candidate Class of 2022
  • "I love the fact that being a DA allows me to not only make a difference in the culture and values around diversity within the UAB SOM, but can also affect the larger medical community as we all take those values into our future careers."

• Paris

  • Campus: Primary Care Track/Tuscaloosa
  • MD/MBA Candidate Class of 2022
  • "I love being a Diversity Ambassador because it grants me the opportunity to not only work to enhance diversity and inclusion throughout the School of Medicine, but also in my own medical school class! I have become great friends with a variety of students that I had the privilege to meet through becoming a Diversity Ambassador."

• Paris

  • Campus: Tuscaloosa, AL
  • MD Candidate Class of 2023
  • “I like being a diversity ambassador because it give me a chance to meet and connect with incoming students. I look forward to sharing my experiences with students because it’s important to let them know they are not alone and we support them.”

• Ricky

  • Campus: Montgomery, AL
  • Candidate Class of 2023
  • "Being a diversity ambassador gives me the opportunity to share the number of ways that the UABSOM has supported me, something that I hope resonates with potential students of all backgrounds."

• Sebastian

  • Campus: Huntsville, AL
  • Candidate Class of 2023
  • "Being a diversity ambassador fills me with the joy of being able to showcase and learn about the unique diversity of my fellow students, UABSOM, and Birmingham as a whole. Also, Ms. Jenna, Ms. Carolyn, and Ms. Erica are the GOATs."

• Syd

  • Campus: Birmingham, AL
  • MD Candidate Class of 2022
  • "Meeting new people,  making connections with people in other classes, and learning about the diverse pathways people took to get to medical school."

• Trinity

  • Campus: Birmingham, AL
  • MD Candidate Class of 20215
  • "Diversity is critical to the progression of healthcare and how we effectively address the needs of our patients. I wanted to be a Diversity Ambassador to contribute to an office devoted to these efforts and play a role in developing a diverse workforce within healthcare. I also want prospective students to know they have a space where their experiences, opinions, and beliefs are heard and valued. ODI & the DA's played a pivotal role in why I chose to attend UABSOM and I hope to make incoming students feel welcome in their transition to medical school."

• Adriana

  • Campus: Birmingham, AL
  • Candidate Class of 2023
  • "I think that diversity and inclusion is a critical part of our medical education and that it can help improve the way our healthcare system addresses all patients' needs, no matter their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or background. I believe UABSOM is a part of this progressive change, and I hope to showcase this to future candidates as a Diversity Ambassador."

• Mia

  • Campus: Birmingham, AL
  • Candidate Class of 2022 
  • "I love being a DA because I get to help showcase all the unique things about ODI and UABSOM that help URiM feel at home while we are pursuing our medical education."

• Emani

  • Campus: Montgomery, AL
  • MD Candidate Class of 2022 
  • "I think one of my favorite things about being a DA is the chance to share my experiences with others and learn more about my classmates’ cultures, backgrounds and interests!"

• Joshua

  • Campus: Birmingham, AL
  • MD Candidate Class of 2021 
  • "I enjoy being a DA because it has provided avenues to meet high school and college students and better expose them to a career in medicine. As well as, it affords me the opportunity to meet applicants and encourage them as they continue through the application process."

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“Having an effective office devoted to increasing diversity and promoting inclusion and a sense of community is vital to making sure our students have the platform needed to be culturally competent and ready to provide real sustainable change in healthcare and beyond," states Blythe-Tjia, who manages the diversity recruiting efforts for the UAB School of Medicine.

“Diversity Ambassadors show a commitment to promoting inclusivity and a sense of community for all, while exhibiting professionalism towards fellow students, prospects, staff and faculty. Our Ambassadors believe in the Heersink School of Medicine mission as it relates to diversity and inclusion. Diversity Ambassadors foster and advocate for an inclusive learning environment; one that engages diversity to strengthen and maintain a positive educational experience for the whole school,” adds Blythe-Tjia.

Why Birmingham?

Home of almost a million people, spread across 99 neighborhoods, Birmingham has many qualities that make it a great place to live. And, we’re not the only ones to think so! U.S. News Rankings lists Birmingham in the top 100 places to live. Here are just a few of the reasons…

Food

More than BBQ and fried foods (while we have plenty of that too), Birmingham is the place of award-winning restaurants. Whether you’re a self-proclaimed foodie or simply looking for a good bite to eat, Birmingham has something for you.

Entertainment & Nightlife

Many people might not think of Birmingham, Alabama when they think of nightlife and entertainment; however, in recent years, microbreweries, bars, and concert halls have helped draw attention to the revitalization of the city. From intimate gigs at Avondale Brewing to sold out shows and seminars at the BJCC, Birmingham offers entertainment options for all walks of life. 

Outdoors

Within the city limits, Birmingham has one of the highest green spaces per capita. Students, residents, and visitors of the city can relax on the campus Green or join a fitness class at Railroad Park. If you’re looking to kick it up a notch, Birmingham is located central to Mount Ruffner and Red Mountain—which has everything from handicap accessible trails to miles long hikes. Or, if you want to get away, Oak Mountain, Cheaha Mountain, and Talladega Mountain are all just minutes away!