The Orientation Leaders have been selected! They will be working hard to make sure your orientation is fun, informative, and welcoming. We will introduce the entire group through the next few Vital Signs so you can get to know them before Orientation in July. Here is your third group of OLs!

Isabella Aldana

1. Where are you from?
Birmingham

2. What made you want to become a doctor?
Since I was a little girl, I have dreamed of becoming a doctor. Growing up in a family of doctors, the hospital would be like a second home, one where I was happy to be playing with stethoscopes. As I grew older, the more I seriously considered other potential career paths, the more I compared every option to medicine. I knew that through medicine I could positively impact my community, while also being challenged mentally. I truly couldn’t imagine pursuing any other career path!

3. What is your favorite Birmingham spot?
I absolutely love Little Donkey! My friends and I come here for the $2 taco specials whenever we need a study break.

4. What is something about being a medical student that more people don’t realize?
Being a medical student does require a lot of sacrifice and studying, but what more people don’t realize is that you do have time to be human. It’s truly a matter of prioritizing your time, knowing your limits, and taking breaks. It’ll be OK if you take a night off or spend a free weekend traveling somewhere fun!

5. What made you choose UAB?
Choosing UAB was a culmination of feeling welcomed and knowing this institution would provide an incredible education and research opportunities. UAB is well-known for its program and research, and I knew I would be trained well. I love how UAB fosters an environment of diversity and inclusion, while also fostering a supportive environment that supports students academically.

6. What are some of the difference you’ve noticed in being a professional school student (expectations, pressures, visibility, etc.) than those of an undergrad or graduate school student?
Shifting from undergraduate to professional school, there is an immediate shift in the magnitude of information. There is definitely more pressure in professional school – pressure to know the information well, pressure to study more, pressure to do well. However, the shift is accompanied with knowing that you are one step closer to achieving your dreams.

Joel Brenny

1. Where are you from?
I grew up overseas and moved to Virginia for college. Now I’m in Birmingham.

2. What made you want to become a doctor?
Seeing people without access to basic healthcare really struck me when I was in high school. I wanted to be able to not only provide physical care to those that need it, but to also do my best to help them in the mental and spiritual aspect.

3. What is your favorite Birmingham spot?
The UAB gym! Aside from that I like Hattie B’s for some great hot chicken.

4. What is something about being a medical student that more people don’t realize?
It’s not your identity. There is a lot more to me than just being a medical student. We’re people too!

5. What made you choose UAB?
It is a chance to train with any opportunity you can imagine in a region where there is so much need. I want to be able to give back.

6. What are some of the difference you’ve noticed in being a professional school student (expectations, pressures, visibility, etc.) than those of an undergrad or graduate school student?
There is a lot more work and a lot less room for slacking or making excuses.

Kendall Baecher

1. Where are you from?
I grew up in Homewood, a small suburb of Birmingham about 10 minutes from UAB’s campus. When I was little my dad would take my brother and I to UAB basketball and football games! I was very afraid of UAB’s mascot Blaze, which I thankfully grew out of. Most people in Alabama grew up in an Alabama or Auburn cheerleader uniforms, but I had a UAB uniform!

2. What made you want to become a doctor?
I decided to go to medical school because I wanted to be in a profession where I would have an impact on the greatest amount of people in my life from all different backgrounds. I always thought how awesome the profession of being a physician is that for the majority of people, their lives begin and end with a doctor present.

3. What is your favorite Birmingham spot?
My favorite spot in Birmingham is the Elyton Hotel rooftop. They have great food and drinks with an amazing view of the city, especially at sunset. Sitting outside in the afternoon in their comfy chairs, snacking on some guacamole while reviewing your notes from the day is my new reward for myself when I need a treat!

4. What is something about being a medical student that more people don’t realize?
One thing about being in medical school that people really don’t realize is that you make your own schedule. Since the majority of lectures are not mandatory, it is up to you to go to class and study lectures to be prepared for your tests and quizzes. You really do have the freedom to do more things with your days. You just have to stay disciplined to get all of your work done. Many people are surprised that I can go to school and get my work done just about anywhere as long as I have my laptop!

5. What made you choose UAB?
I choose to go to UAB because UAB is one of the best medical schools in the south. I knew that I would get one of the best educations here because UAB has amazing physicians on staff dedicated to my learning. I also knew I would get exposure to many areas of medicine because UAB has just about every medical specialty you can think of and UAB gets the most interesting and rare cases in the state. Lastly, by going to UAB I am close to family and friends.

6. What are some of the difference you’ve noticed in being a professional school student (expectations, pressures, visibility, etc.) than those of an undergrad or graduate school student?
Medical school is different than undergrad because you do not get many breaks or days you can take off from studying without falling behind. You also do not have a group of friends that are all working toward degrees that understand your studies. It is hard to have friends with jobs while you are continuing studying, and your friends all of the sudden have a really hard time of understanding why you have to study so much. Medical school is also different because it is hard to feel like an adult because you are still in school, but you are now a part of the medical community and your professors will treat you like a professional not like a student.

Hudson Driskill

1. Where are you from?
Guntersville

2. What made you want to become a doctor?
I had always wanted to become a doctor growing up and throughout school. My first real experience with medicine came when I was in high school and traveled to San Vicente, Mexico, for a medical mission trip. After seeing how the clinic was run and the tremendous benefit that was given to the people in that region, I decided to shadow at my local hospital and try to find other avenues to experience medicine in college. During undergrad I was able to participate in other medical mission trips to Guatemala as well as become a CNA and join a variety of on-campus clubs. While all of these activities were centered on my ultimate goal, there were certainly periods where I did not feel the same drive that I experienced in Mexico. I finally came to the realization, however, that anything I wanted to pursue would not always be easy and would come with some sacrifices. Once I thought that I had experienced medicine from the perspective of both “highs” and “lows,” I felt the conviction to pursue becoming a physician while leaning on my previous experiences and relationships I formed along the way for support.

3. What is your favorite Birmingham spot?
Some of my favorite trips to Birmingham as a kid with my family were to go eat or see a movie at The Summit shopping center, and I still love going back! If I had to choose a favorite place, it would have to be The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar. How one place can offer both sushi and burgers and be excellent at both, I will never know.

4. What is something about being a medical student that more people don’t realize?
From an outside perspective, spending most of your days studying seems like it would make medical school drag on forever, but I think actively participating as a student feels very different. In my experience, once you have the right expectations and a schedule set ahead of you, adhering to that schedule and getting enough studying done makes the time and days and weeks fly by very fast!

5. What made you choose UAB?
UAB was by far my number one choice for entering a medical school. I really valued the proximity to home and the academic reputation it has among other schools. On top of that, I have really enjoyed all of the new class mates I have met, and I think people have been great at limiting competitiveness within the class and are more willing to help each other.

6. What are some of the difference you’ve noticed in being a professional school student (expectations, pressures, visibility, etc.) than those of an undergrad or graduate school student?
The greatest difference I have noticed is the increased importance of remaining adaptable and limiting expectations. You are given a lot more freedom to learn the information and study in the ways that are most effective for you. You may have no idea what that looks like for you (I certainly didn’t), but there are many different methods that are available to you which means that it may take longer than you expect to find what fits you best. I have also found myself reaching out much more to older students, staff, and professors than I felt like I needed to before, but those opportunities are incredibly informative and should not be interpreted as a failure, struggle, or inability to succeed on your own.

Lauren Oliver

1. Where are you from?
Huntsville

2. What made you want to become a doctor?
Growing up I had multiple family members with varying different medical problems that exposed me to the medical field which sparked my interest, but I also have a passion for teaching. The main reason I want to become a doctor is to educate my patients about not only their health conduction but also how to live a healthier life.

3. What is your favorite Birmingham spot?
Railroad Park

4. What is something about being a medical student that more people don’t realize?
One thing most people do not realize about medical school is how much of our day we spend using our brains. There have been multiple times over my first year of medical school where I felt mentally exhausted but fully energized physically.

5. What made you choose UAB?
I chose UAB for multiple reasons the main one being that I wanted to stay close to home but also because UAB is a great school and when I interviewed everyone was extremely nice and seem eager to help each other.

6. What are some of the difference you’ve noticed in being a professional school student (expectations, pressures, visibility, etc.) than those of an undergrad or graduate school student?
One difference I have noticed about medical school compared to undergrad is that the pressures are actually a little lower. To me, undergrad created a lot of competitive pressure to get into medical school but now that everyone is here and most of the competitive nature is gone.

Michael Liptrot

1. Where are you from?
Birmingham

2. What made you want to become a doctor?
Medicine combines my passions for empathy, communication, and benefitting the lives of others.

3. What is your favorite Birmingham spot?
Paramount (really nice arcade, restaurant, and sports bar)

4. What is something about being a medical student that more people don’t realize?
A common belief is that medical students do not have a life outside of studies, but life is possible with proper time management and efficiency.

5. What made you choose UAB?
As a native of Birmingham, I overlooked UAB for a long time. After being here for undergrad, I can appreciate the community and unique perspective of UAB. UABSOM supports their students and works to promote a culture of excellence.

6. What are some of the difference you’ve noticed in being a professional school student (expectations, pressures, visibility, etc.) than those of an undergrad or graduate school student?
As a professional student, scheduling and time is a lot more flexible than undergrad. Instead of having the same class at the same time on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I can plan out my time to prioritize what’s best for me, such as specific topics or times.

Natalie Garcia

1. Where are you from?
Dothan

2. What made you want to become a doctor?
I wanted to live my life with purpose and look forward to my job every day, and physicians bring so much good to the world. I knew I would take pride in being a doctor and serving others.

3. What is your favorite Birmingham spot?
I am definitely a foodie and love good food, so the Birmingham restaurant scene is right up my alley. I really enjoy Bamboo on 2nd for incredible sushi!

4. What is something about being a medical student that more people don’t realize?
Medical school truly is like a full time job, and you cannot fall behind. I also believe that you get out what you put in.

5. What made you choose UAB?
I love living in Birmingham, and I also love the positive and encouraging environment that all of the faculty provide for the students. All of the students are also so supportive, and at UABSOM, I get the feeling that this is all a team effort.

6. What are some of the difference you’ve noticed in being a professional school student (expectations, pressures, visibility, etc.) than those of an undergrad or graduate school student?
Professional school is definitely more like a full time job than undergrad, and the main focus in professional school is school instead of having tons of other activities going on like in undergrad. I also feel like the expectations are now much higher, because what we learn now will affect our patients one day.