The UAB Heersink School of Medicine celebrated the Class of 2030 during its annual White Coat Ceremony on Saturday, August 15, 2026. Held at the Alabama Theatre, the event brought together 207 incoming medical students, along with faculty, staff, family, and friends to commemorate this important occasion.
"The white coat is the mantle of our profession,” said Anupam Agarwal, M.D., senior vice president for Medicine and dean of the Heersink School of Medicine. “In the years to come, you will wear your white coat during all patient encounters, identifying yourself as a medical student at UAB and a member of the noble profession of medicine. It is fitting that you receive your white coat in the presence of family, friends, faculty, and alumni, the people most invested in seeing you succeed.”
Christina Grabowski, Ph.D., associate dean for Admissions and Enrollment Management, shared information about this specific class of students. “You were selected from a group of almost 4,000 applicants... you are the chosen few. You are intelligent, compassionate, and an accomplished group. You’ve recorded 147,000 hours of research activity. You’re fluent in 26 different languages and conversational in many more. You’re educated in a wide variety of disciplines, more than 50 in fact.”
Each year, the ceremony is made possible by the University of Alabama Medical Alumni Association and the Arnold P. Gold Foundation. "For generations, the Medical Alumni Association has proudly presented each incoming class with their first white coat,” said Rebecca Byrd, M.D., FACP, MHCM, president of the University of Alabama Medical Alumni Association. “This tradition is made possible by the generosity and the commitment of our alumni who continue to invest in the future of medicine by supporting students like you.”
During the ceremony, David Strickland was announced as the 2026 Sara Crew Finley, M.D., Endowed Leadership Scholarship recipient. The full-tuition scholarship recognizes a rising third-year student in the top 25 percent of their class. Strickland's accomplishments span from community engagement and advocacy for patients in need while holding numerous leadership roles at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He also earned an accelerated MBA with a focus on public health, reflecting his commitment to advancing both medicine and population health.
The Brewer-Heslin Endowed Award for Professionalism in Medicine is also presented each year to a faculty physician who exemplifies professionalism, integrity, and service to patients and their families. This year's recipient was Erin DeLaney, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine and vice chair for Clinical Affairs and Quality. DeLaney was recognized for her work in providing dedicated patient care and access to care.
Prior to the ceremony, incoming first-year student Amy Hudson reflected on the meaning of the moment as someone with a physician for a parent. "Growing up with an emergency physician for a dad, I used to beg to try on his white coat and stethoscope. He was my superhero! Now, he’s my role model who shows me how to care for others with compassion. To me, this white coat represents my responsibility to serve my community; it also reminds me of the kind of person and physician who I want to be.”
View a full recording of the White Coat Ceremony livestream, and read the digital program from the event.
Learn more about making a gift to the UAB Heersink School of Medicine.