Welcome Future Blazers,
It is a joy to welcome you to UAB Heersink School of Medicine for Closer Look Day. Our team has thoughtfully designed this event with you in mind. Throughout the day, you will have the opportunity to experience our campus, meet the people who make this community special, and imagine the future you could build here in Birmingham.
UAB is the heartbeat of Birmingham and a leading medical institution in the Southeast. We are training the next generation of physicians and physician‑scientists, answering fundamental scientific questions that drive medical innovation, and delivering the highest quality care to patients across our state and region. As you explore our campus, we hope you begin to see how you can contribute to this mission and see how we will support you during your educational journey at UAB Heersink.
Throughout the day, you’ll learn about our curriculum, student support resources, financial planning, and the many opportunities available to you as a UAB Heersink student. Our current students look forward to showing you what life here truly feels like, from the anatomy and simulation labs where foundational skills take shape to the collaborative spaces where lasting friendships and professional networks are cultivated.
We will end the day together at a reception hosted by Senior Vice President and Dean Anupam Agarwal, M.D. This is a chance to connect further with faculty, staff, and students who will champion your success, as well as explore the student organizations that help contribute to our vibrant community.
We are grateful you are here and hope you leave with a clear sense of belonging, purpose, and possibility. Thank you for taking the time to get to know us.
We sincerely hope this is the beginning of your journey with UAB Heersink!
Jenn Handrop, EdD
Director of Admissions
Agenda
8:30am
Check-in and Continental Breakfast
The Pit
Enjoy a spread of sliced fresh fruit, assorted pastries, and coffee and tea.
9:00am – 9:10am
Welcome
Lecture Rooms C and D
Christina Grabowski, PhD
Associate Dean for Admissions and Enrollment Management
Associate Professor, Medical Education
9:10am
Curriculum
Lecture Rooms C and D
You will receive an overview of UAB Heersink’s four‑year curriculum, starting with a foundation in the fundamentals of medicine, and learn how learning communities build longitudinal relationships, support well‑being and professional development, and cultivate effective physician leaders.
Kevin Leon, MD
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education
Professor, Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, & Critical Care
Laura Fraser, PhD
Course Director, Fundamentals of Medicine
Professor, Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology
Shaundra Blakemore, MD
Course Director, Learning Communities
Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, Pediatric Emergency Medicine
10:20am
Break
10:30am
Medical Student Services
Lecture Rooms C and D
You will learn how UAB Heersink supports student wellness, personal growth, and professional development for all learners. Explore student life, academic and career resources, and the many ways the school fosters a supportive and thriving learning environment. Learn more about Medical Student Services.
Jason Noah, MEd
Director of Student Success Program, Medical Student Services
Melinda Harrison, PhD
Senior Learning Specialist, Medical Student Services
Disability Support & Title IX Liaison
Meg Ruggiero, MA
Senior Learning Specialist, Medical Student Services
Peer Education Program
Dale Colorado, DO, MPH
Assistant Dean for Student Experience
Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Education, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
11:20am
Breakout Sessions (Choose 1)
Breakout sessions give you the opportunity to explore medical school experiences and opportunities that may interest you. Please select one option from the list below.
Lecture Room C
William M. Geisler, MD, MPH
Director, Physician Scientist Development Office
Director, Scholarly Activity
Professor, Medicine and Epidemiology
Service Learning Opportunities
Lecture Room D
Gerald Friedman, MPH
Program Manager,
Service Learning & Healthcare Educator’s Academy
Caroline Harada, MD
Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives, Medical Education
Professor, Medical Education
Active Learning Center, VH 202
Majd Zayzafoon, MD, PhD, MBA
Associate Dean of International Medical Education
Professor, Pathology and International Medical Education
11:35am
Break
11:40am
Breakout Sessions (Choose 1)
Breakout sessions give you the opportunity to explore medical school experiences and opportunities that may interest you. Please select one option from the list below.
Lecture Room C
William M. Geisler, MD, MPH
Director, Physician Scientist Development Office
Director, Scholarly Activity
Professor, Medicine and Epidemiology
Service Learning Opportunities
Lecture Room D
Gerald Friedman, MPH
Program Manager,
Service Learning & Healthcare Educator’s Academy
Caroline Harada, MD
Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives, Medical Education
Professor, Medical Education
Active Learning Center, VH 202
Majd Zayzafoon, MD, PhD, MBA
Associate Dean of International Medical Education
Professor, Pathology and International Medical Education
12:00pm
Lunch
Active Learning Center, VH 202
Enjoy a hot buffet lunch alongside faculty, staff, and current students, and use the time to learn more about opportunities and life at UAB Heersink.
1:00pm
Campus and Labs Tour
Participate in a guided tour of the UAB Heersink School of Medicine led by our Admissions Hosts and Ambassadors, current student leaders excited to share their experiences with you. The tour includes visits to the anatomy and simulation labs.
Anatomy Lab Tour
Laura Fraser, PhD
Director, Anatomical Donor Program
Course Director, Fundamentals of Medicine
Professor, Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology
Simulation Lab Tour
Dawn Taylor Peterson, PhD
Director, Office of Interprofessional Simulation
Professor, Medical Education
2:30pm
Financial Planning
Active Learning Center, VH 202
Learn about financial planning for medical school and explore the options available to help you finance your medical education.
Laine Chapman, MAc
Program Manager for Financial Services
Admissions and Enrollment Management
3:30pm
Break
3:45pm
Interactive Learning Demonstration
Active Learning Center, VH 202
Participate in team‑based case discussions that reflect UAB Heersink’s collaborative, experience‑driven approach to medical education.
William Brooks, PhD
Assistant Dean for Pathways, Pipelines, and Bridges
Professor, Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology
4:30pm
Next Steps and Pre-Matriculation
Active Learning Center, VH 202
Close out the day by learning about the next steps in the medical school admissions process and what to expect during the pre‑matriculation phase.
Christina Grabowski, PhD
Associate Dean for Admissions and Enrollment Management
Associate Professor, Medical Education
5:00pm
Dean’s Reception and Student Life Expo
Volker Hall Atrium and Hall of Deans
Unwind with a reception hosted by Senior Vice President and Dean Anupam Agarwal, M.D., where you can meet future classmates, faculty, staff, and current students. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and refreshments and explore student organization opportunities by connecting with current student leaders.
Meet the Dean
Anupam Agarwal, M.D.
Senior Vice President for Medicine and Dean
James C. Lee Jr. Endowed Chair
UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Dr. Anupam Agarwal serves as the senior vice president for Medicine and dean of the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine. A distinguished physician-scientist and academic leader, Agarwal is also a professor of Medicine, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics in the Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, and program director of the NIH-funded UAB-UC San Diego O'Brien Center for Acute Kidney Injury Research. He holds the James C. Lee Jr. Endowed Chair.
Explore Medical Student Organizations
*Indicates the organization will be present at the Student Organization Expo.
Affinity Organizations
Advancing Innovation in Medicine
Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
American Medical Association (AMA)
American Physician Scientists Association
Artificial Intelligence in Medicine Association
Biochemistry Interest Group*
Biomedical Engineering
Bridging The Gap
Business in Medicine*
Detour
Doctors Without Borders
Extra Life
First Generation Medical Students
Global Health Interest Group*
Gold Humanism
Health Policy Interest Group
Integrative Medicine Club*
Med Spanish*
Medical Education Interest Group
Medical History Interest Group*
Military Medicine
Multidisciplinary Research Stewardship
Passions Beyond Medicine*
Pickleball Medicine Interest Group
Socially Responsible Surgery
Wilderness Medicine
Cultural Organizations
American Medical Women's Association*
Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association*
Christian Medical Fellowship
Dermatology Equity Group*
Jewish Medical Student Assoc (Maimonides Society)
Latino Medical Student Association*
Medical Students For Choice*
MedPride
Middle Eastern & North African Interest Group
Muslims in Medicine
Student National Medical Association*
Women in Radiology Education
Women in Surgery-Association of Women Surgeons Student Chapter
Service Organizations
Arts in Medicine*
Autism Allies of Glenwood
Companicures*
Compassion Closet*
Cooking Healthily On a Penny*
Cooking with the Community*
Disability Advocacy Group
Dynamic Health
Equal Access Alabama*
Equal Access Birmingham*
Helping Our Players Excel
Loops of Love
Medical Students Ask & Advise
Medical Students for a Sustainable Future
Parkinson's Disease Fight Club*
Senior Companionship Program*
Tutoring4Tots*
Resources & Reminders
Pre-Matriculation Checklist
We ask that you continue working on your pre-matriculation checklist in the applicant portal to support a smooth transition to medical school and help you track your enrollment tasks. Some items may take a few days to update after completion, so check back regularly.
The checklist contains more than 15 required items. Review the full list in your applicant portal.
Tuition Deposit
Your tuition deposit is due by April 30 and is refundable until that date if you choose to decline your offer. Please withdraw your application in your applicant portal if you decide not to enroll at UAB Heersink.
AMCAS Choose Your Medical School Tool
Please monitor Vital Signs and your email for updates on AMCAS CYMS Tool requirements. The final date to select Commit to Enroll at UAB Heersink is June 29.
Important Events & Deadlines
First Day of School - July 27
Save the dates for this year’s Paying for Medical School Webinars! We will host two webinars this spring and summer to talk through funding your medical school education. Topics include cost of attendance, budgeting, financial resources, and more! Register in the "Events" tab of your applicant portal today. These webinars are open to students and their families.
- Thursday, April 23, 2026, at noon
- Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at noon
More Information