The UAB General Surgery Residency Program is pleased to announce Mike Akaraphanth, M.D., as the 2026 Military Match resident.
Akaraphanth serves as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Medical Corps. He joins UAB after completing medical school at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where he was a Center for Combat and Battlefield (COMBAT) Scholar.
The Military Match Pathway, which was introduced at UAB in 2021, is a coalition with the Defense Health Agency. Akaraphanth will be fully incorporated into the UAB General Surgery Residency Program.
During medical school, Akaraphanth developed strong interests in trauma, transfusion medicine and military-relevant surgical research. His scholarly work includes national presentations and peer-reviewed publications focused on infection, resuscitation and blood product optimization in austere environments.
“We are proud to welcome Mike as our 2026 Military Match resident,” said Sushanth Reddy, M.D., associate director for the UAB General Surgery Residency Program. “His background in trauma, transfusion medicine and military-relevant surgical research aligns exceptionally well with UAB’s mission and clinical strengths. He will be a tremendous asset to our program and to the military-civilian partnerships that are central to this pathway.”
UAB, as a high-volume Level I Trauma Center and the third largest academic medical system in the country, is an ideal place for military medical professionals to train and integrate. UAB has long-standing military-civilian relationships, including collaboration with the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Surgical Teams (SOST) and the Special Operations Center for Medical Integration and Development (SOCMID), which trains nearly 150 Air Force pararescue specialists and medics annually.
UAB’s trauma team also includes a high percentage of active duty service members and veterans, giving faculty a unique level of understanding of the demands and expectations placed on military trainees.
Learn more about the UAB General Surgery Residency Program here.