DOM Stories: How I Fell in Love with Medicine

Balloons are dancing, roses are blooming, and chocolates are calling. Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, and love is in the air.

Many of us have a common love — medicine. Whether it was a lifelong dream or a path we stumbled upon, that love has led us to meaningful places and purposeful careers.

We asked faculty, trainees, and staff: What made you fall in love with medicine? Here is what they said.

Ashita Tolwani, MD
Professor in the Division of Nephrology

There was no single moment that led me to medicine; rather, it was a gradual realization shaped by many experiences — my love of science and math, the joy I found in helping others feel less overwhelmed, and the trust and comfort I witnessed while caring for animals alongside my brother as he pursued veterinary medicine.

In high school, I joined a summer research program at UAB, studying the science behind Alzheimer’s disease. That experience showed me how research can one day ease suffering and improve lives.

Medicine felt like a natural place where my love of learning, teaching, and caring for others came together. It continues to inspire and challenge me each day while bringing deep fulfillment. I am excited to keep working toward better ways to serve others through academic medicine.

Irakli Tskhakaia, MD 

Fellow in the Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology

I fell in love with medicine in middle school, when I watched my grandmother improve dramatically after a single dose of prednisone. At that moment, a light switch flipped. Watching her suffering ease in real time planted a lasting desire to become a physician.

Since then, I have been drawn to not only how treatments work, but also places where medicine has gaps and unanswered questions. Medical school and residency gave me many formative, life-changing experiences, but the most fulfilling chapter so far has been my rheumatology fellowship at UAB. When I arrived for my interview, a cab driver learned I was here for a job interview and offered an impromptu tour of the city, sharing how UAB had saved multiple members of her family and served as a trusted safety net for the state.

It struck me as poetic that prednisone sparked my path. As a rheumatologist, I now try to minimize its harms while relying on novel therapies that have made once life-threatening diseases less frightening. I have also seen how deeply our team and support programs work to help patients access medications and care.

Each morning, passing the chalk message, “Thank you UAB!” written by a patient or their family in the parking lot reminds me that this work is shared, purposeful, and a privilege to be part of.

Monica Nix
Education Administrator in the Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology

After spending 28 years in the legal field, I was elated to join UAB in 2018. I have really enjoyed working in medical education as a fellowship coordinator. What I love most is that the faculty and staff at UAB genuinely love what they do. The passion is contagious and has rubbed off on me. Working with our fellows on a daily basis and being part of a team that is so committed to education, growth, and supporting one another has been extremely fulfilling.

Kiara Harris 
Communications Specialist, Chair's Office

I never thought I would be in the medical industry. Honestly, I’ve always steered away from all forms of science. In college, I had a 4.0 my freshman year, until my biology class (we’ll talk about that another time). Nonetheless, from my very first day at UAB, I noticed something different, a genuine care for the people our teams serve, whether they’re patients, staff, faculty, or trainees.

Our ecosystem is filled with people who truly want to make the world a healthier place. And that’s what I admire most: learning the stories that make UAB run — the cultures, the diversity, and the moments that changed everything. I’m intrigued by the unmatched compassion for humanity I witness every day.