At the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, more than 1,100 residents and fellows are engaged in graduate medical education across over 100 programs. The House Staff Council (HSC) represents these trainees, bringing together residents and fellows from all programs to serve as a key liaison between learners and institutional leadership. In 2026, the HSC voted to officially change its name to the Resident/Fellow Council (RFC).
Through monthly meetings with the Graduate Medical Education (GME) Office, the RFC addresses concerns while collaborating on initiatives that enhance both well-being and professional development. With leadership roles rotating regularly, the council benefits from a continuous exchange of new ideas and perspectives. As new officers assume their positions, outgoing members reflect on their time in service and share their vision for the council’s continued impact.
Taylor St. Martin, M.D.
Resident, PGY-3/CA-2 Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
2025-2026 HSC Position
President
How long have you been part of the HSC?
I have been an active member of the House Staff Council (HSC) for the past two years.
Why did you want to be involved?
I wanted to become involved in HSC to better understand the structure and function of graduate medical education at UAB. More importantly, I saw it as an opportunity to advocate for residents and fellows, ensuring that their perspectives and needs are represented in institutional decision-making.
What led you to become an HSC leader?
My experience as a member of HSC highlighted the meaningful impact the council can have on the trainee experience. This motivated me to take on a leadership role, where I could contribute more directly to initiatives that support my colleagues and help drive positive change within our training environment.
What project during your HSC leadership are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the development of the Resident and Fellow Parent Handbook. This resource was designed to support trainees navigating the challenges of parenthood during training by providing clear, accessible information on topics such as breastfeeding, insurance, and leave policies. We also incorporated advice and insights from current residents and fellow parents to provide practical, experience-based guidance for expecting trainees. Additionally, I am proud of a successful Wellness Week led by our outstanding Wellness Chair, Kara Morton, which was very well received and reinforced the importance of prioritizing trainee well-being. I am also grateful for the previous executive board’s work in establishing the wellness center gym, which has been a highly successful and widely utilized resource.
What upcoming initiatives are you looking forward to, from your team and/or from future HSC leadership?
Future HSC leadership has a meaningful opportunity to build on current progress by advancing initiatives that support both the professional and personal well-being of residents and fellows. Key priorities include advocating for retirement matching, which would represent an important investment in trainees’ long-term financial security, helping ensure a smooth and well-supported transition to Epic, and participating in discussions regarding loan repayment strategies amidst changes in deferment and plans. Additionally, I hope there is potential for collaboration with GME leadership and the finance team to reintroduce valued community-building efforts, such as holiday gatherings and other departmental social events. On a more immediate note, I am especially looking forward to our end-of-year social as a chance to celebrate the accomplishments of our trainees and leadership.
Ankit Bansal, M.D.
Resident, PGY-3 Obstetrics and Gynecology
2025-2026 HSC Position
Vice-President
How long have you been part of the HSC?
I have been part of the HSC since my second year of residency. I initially started as a House Staff Council Representative for my program. I then transitioned into my role as Vice President of the Council at the end of my second year in training.
Why did you want to be involved?
I wanted to be involved in the HSC to better understand and contribute to the systems that shape graduate medical education. It provided an opportunity to advocate for residents, improve the training environment, and collaborate with leadership to address challenges that directly impact patient care and trainee development.
What led you to become an HSC leader?
My interest in leadership grew from recognizing opportunities to enhance communication between trainees and administration and to drive meaningful change. I was motivated by a desire to represent my peers, contribute to program improvement, and develop skills in leadership, systems-based practice, and advocacy that will be essential in my future career. I saw firsthand the impact that the HSC Council can have on the resident experience, from wellness week to the new GME Wellness Center.
What project during your HSC leadership are you most proud of?
While there wasn’t a single defining project during my time in HSC leadership, I am most proud of the meaningful increase in resident advocacy and engagement that we’ve been able to cultivate. We saw a shift toward more active trainee involvement in institutional decision-making, particularly around large-scale changes coming from the university. This was especially evident as we began the long transition to Epic, where resident perspectives were increasingly represented in discussions that directly impact clinical workflow and education. Contributing to a culture where residents feel empowered to engage, provide input, and help shape system-level changes has been one of the most impactful aspects of my leadership experience.
What upcoming initiatives are you looking forward to, from your team and/or from future HSC leadership?
I’m excited to see continued progress in initiatives that prioritize resident well-being, enhance educational quality, and improve communication across all levels of training. I am excited for further initiatives in the wellness space and in working toward increasing involvement of all residency programs and representatives in the council.
Ali Eakes, M.D., MPH
Resident, PGY-3 General Surgery
2025-2026 HSC Position
Secretary
How long have you been part of the HSC?
I joined HSC as an intern and have had the privilege of representing the General Surgery Residency Program since then!
Why did you want to be involved?
The GME House Staff Council serves as a direct line of communication between residents, fellows, and administration. It provides an avenue for us to advocate across all specialties, continuously working to improve our training experience.
What led you to become an HSC leader?
I was inspired to join the HSC leadership after seeing all of the amazing things the past leadership teams have been able to accomplish! From the Wellness Space to the salary increases, this group has been able to make significant strides in improving the well-being of residents and fellows.
What project during your HSC leadership are you most proud of?
My main goal as secretary has been to make the information gleaned from our HSC meetings more accessible to all residents and fellows across UAB. In addition to the meeting minutes, I have been creating a graphic that displays the highlights of the meeting as well as QR codes to access important forms or register for upcoming events. These graphics serve as the TLDR version of the minutes to ensure that the critical information is communicated in an effective manner.
What upcoming initiatives are you looking forward to, from your team and/or from future HSC leadership?
Our team has made significant strides in improving access to lactation resources and key information that residents and fellows who are parents need to know! I am excited for our ongoing discussions regarding retirement benefits, and I'm hopeful that the HSC leadership will be able to deliver on this soon!
Kara Morton, M.D.
Resident, PGY-5 IM-Cardiovascular Disease
2025-2026 HSC Position
Wellness Chair
How long have you been part of the HSC?
2 years – the first on HSC and the second on the executive committee.
Why did you want to be involved?
My time as both a resident and fellow at UAB has been very good to me, and I wanted to do something to give back. I am also passionate about wellness and supporting trainees, so this has been the perfect position for me.
What led you to become an HSC leader?
I think UAB is great, but there are always areas for improvement. I love acting as a mediator between trainees and GME leadership to promote positive change.
What project during your HSC leadership are you most proud of?
Wellness week- we redesigned it this year to a theme-based format and got great engagement and feedback from the trainees. Personal wellness is often hard to come by during residency and fellowship, so being able to have fun events is the least we could do to give back to our hard-working house staff.
What upcoming initiatives are you looking forward to, from your team and/or from future HSC leadership?
We are currently working on a comprehensive parent handbook to help all of our trainees who plan to become parents during training. Parenting comes with its own set of challenges, so we want to be sure our house staff is supported!