PGY 4 Residents
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Daniel McBride, M.D.
Undergraduate: LSU Shreveport
Medical School: LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans
Internship: LSU School of Medicine in Baton Rouge
Career Interests: Stroke, SCI, Pediatric Rehab, Cancer Rehab, General Rehab, Medical Informatics
Personal Interests: My pets: King Louis the cat; Odin and Loki the dogs. Taking the dogs on walks, hikes, and to the park. Games: video, board, TTRPG. Reading: sci-fi, fantasy, pop-sci, futurism, literary fiction. Exercise: weight lifting, biking, and most recently indoor climbing. Eating: pizza.
Why I chose UAB: This program offers a robust core rehab curriculum with a diverse array of subspecialty and elective options, all couched within the academic powerhouse that is UAB. The PM&R faculty, staff, and residents are all fun, friendly people. And Birmingham is a vibrant city, with rolling hills, gorgeous parks, and an endless supply of great food.
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Nelson Santos Agosto, D.O. - Education Chief
Undergraduate: University of Central Florida
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Internship: Brookwood Baptist Health
Career Interests: Sports Medicine, Diagnostic/Interventional Sports Medicine Ultrasound, MSK, Orthobiologics, Performance Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, Exercise Biomechanics, General Rehab, Interventional Spine
Personal Interests: Spending time with family, Anything Sports Related (Watching or Participating), Fitness, Hiking and Trails, Battle Rap, Theology/Apologetics, Avid Orlando Magic Fan
Why did you choose UAB? Extremely well-balanced program with endless opportunities. UAB offers the opportunity to be exposed to a diverse array of pathology. Strong training curriculum and supportive faculty. Enjoyed meeting and talking to everyone involved in the program. Very inclusive and diverse setting. Felt right at home during interview and subsequent conversations with members of the residency program.
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Natalie Dean, D.O.
Undergraduate: Westmont College in Santa Barbara
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Internship: Brookwood Baptist Health
Career Interests: Pediatric rehab, Spinal cord injury rehab
Personal Interests: Hanging out with friends and food, rock climbing, running with my dog, and watching tv comedies
Why I chose UAB: Supportive program and faculty, provides lots of opportunities to learn and experience the breadth of rehab medicine including pediatric rehabilitation, and I also really liked the area
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Sarah Lopes, D.O. - Administrative Chief
Undergraduate: Mississippi State University
Medical School: William Carey College of Osteopathic Medicine
Internship: Brookwood Baptist Health
Career Interests: Inpatient Rehab
Personal Interests: I love spending time outside whether it is riding horses, playing sports, or just going for a walk. I enjoy spending time with friends. I love to bake.
Why I chose UAB: I chose UAB because I could tell that the faculty really cared about residents. They didn't just care about how they were preforming academically, but they truly cared about their overall wellness both professionally and personally. I also liked that they had a strong inpatient curriculum with model systems in place for SCI and TBI.
PGY 3 Residents
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Cynthia Francis, M.D.
Undergraduate: Saint Louis University, MO
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Internship: Brookwood Baptist Health
Career Interests: General Rehab, Neuromuscular Medicine, Spasticity and Movement Disorders
Personal Interests: Baking, collecting cookbooks, trying out new coffee shops and bakeries, yoga, tennis, spending time with friends and family, reading, listening to podcasts, and traveling
Why I chose UAB: From my interview day, I could immediately tell that the faculty, staff and the residents at UAB shared a strong camaraderie, supported each other and offered mentorship willingly. I chose UAB because I wanted a well-rounded residency program with a strong curriculum and that offered various opportunities for research. I also wanted a place where I could feel comfortable learning and growing as a resident and future physician and this seemed like the best environment for me. I'm originally from the Midwest and have loved my time in Birmingham so far. The southern hospitality, great food scene and beautiful outdoors here have been a great change of pace.
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Darien McNeill, M.D.
Undergraduate: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC
Medical School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
Internship: Brookwood Baptist Health
Career Interests: Sports medicine, interventional spine, electrodiagnostic medicine, MSK
Personal Interests: Playing basketball, playing tennis, weight training, snowboarding, grilling steaks, anything UNC-Chapel Hill sports.
Why I chose UAB: One of the biggest draws for me was the supportive people at UAB. The residents, faculty, and staff seemed to be genuinely excited about being a part of the UAB family. I also appreciate the well-balanced structure of the program which helps to promote resident wellness and academic success.
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Vinayak Memula, M.D.
Undergraduate: The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Medical School: The University of Alabama
Career Interests: Interventional Pain, Sports Medicine, Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, EMG
Personal Interests: I enjoy any type of outdoor activities such as hiking, tennis, basketball, golf, and spikeball. I also love trying new restaurants and breweries!
Why I chose UAB: I chose UAB because of the diversity in the patient population and the amazing faculty that work here. I really enjoyed attending medical school at UAB and am looking forward to return to the city of Birmingham!
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Jason Schroeder, M.D.
Undergraduate: Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
Medical School: Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans
Internship: Brookwood Baptist Health
Career Interests: Interventional Spine, Sports Medicine, MSK, SCI Rehab
Personal Interests: Hiking with my wife (Kelly) and pup (Wallace), the Saints (Who Dat), kayaking, camping, fishing, hunting, music festivals, football, golf, fitness, tinkering on my cars, cooking good southern food, and all things cajun
Why I chose UAB: UAB is a strong, established, academic medical center and this program has an abundance of opportunities in many fields of PM&R. During my interview and talking with the residents, I could see the supportive and nurturing environment the faculty has created in this program. On top of that, Birmingham is a gem of a city nestled in the ridges and valleys region of the Appalachian Mountains. There are plenty of outdoor activities to take advantage of including state parks, mountain biking trails, lakes, festivals, and breweries. The combination of a robust, supportive, academic environment with the ease of living in Birmingham makes it a great place to grow as a physiatrist.
PGY 2 Residents
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David Berry, D.O.
Undergraduate: Michigan State University
Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University – DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Internship: Brookwood Baptist Health
Career Interests: Sports Medicine, Pain Medicine, Interventional Spine
Personal Interests: Family, eating healthy (ish), weightlifting, guitar, backpacking, pickleball, disc golf
Why did you choose UAB? I chose UAB for the culture of academic excellence but also for the chance to work alongside a group of dedicated, driven residents, faculty, and staff to serve the people of Alabama.
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Ian Cummins, M.D.
Undergraduate: Auburn University
Medical School: UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Internship: Brookwood Baptist Health
Career Interests: Sports Medicine, Interventional Spine, Interventional Ultrasound Therapies
Personal Interests: Fitness, dog walks, fly fishing, visiting national parks, playing soccer, tennis, pickle ball, watching EPL soccer, watching films, trying new restaurants
Why did you choose UAB? Picking UAB was an easy decision for me. Having completed medical school at UAB, I spent a great deal of time with the PM&R department. From my time spent there, I saw the excellent faculty, staff, and, most importantly, the exceptional residents this program produced. This program offers exposure to the major divisions of inpatient physiatry while also providing abundant opportunities to see the subspecialties available for outpatient physiatrists. Knowing that UAB’s PM&R department had clear plans for growth and development in the near future, including the construction of state-of-the-art rehabilitation hospital and development of a brand-new musculoskeletal ultrasound curriculum, choosing to train at UAB couldn’t have been an easier choice.
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Nandan Patel, M.D.
Undergraduate: Wake Forest University
Medical School: UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Internship: Brookwood Baptist Health
Career Interests: Spina Bifida and Cerebral Palsy Care
Personal Interests: Cooking, Anime, Fitness, and Pickle Ball
Why did you choose UAB? UAB is the best place to get a holistic training to all the different facets of PM&R. They have great mentors and resources in both adult and pediatric rehab. On top of it all, Birmingham is a wonderful affordable city that allows you to live a good life as a resident.
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Casey Roark, M.D.
Undergraduate: Ouachita Baptist University
Medical School: University of Arkansas College of Medicine
Internship: Brookwood Baptist Health
Career Interests: Neuro Rehab, General Rehab, EMG, Spasticity Management
Personal Interests: Exploring Birmingham, going on walks with my family, playing/watching sports, and eating/cooking
Why did you choose UAB? During my away rotation here, I could tell this program was special. The academics are top notch. People here truly care about you and enjoy being together even outside of work. I also love the city of Birmingham and that it is centrally located in the Southeast.
PGY 1 Residents
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Victoria Christian, D.O.
Undergraduate: Campbell University
Medical School: Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine
Career Interests: Sports Medicine, Pain Medicine, Spine, and MSK
Personal Interests: I enjoy hiking with my pup, backpacking, cooking, weightlifting
Why did you choose UAB? I chose UAB because of the camaraderie and the vast learning opportunities it has to offer. During my interview, I got the sense that the faculty and staff are truly invested in their residents, care for their well-being and their success as a physiatrist. The city itself is beautiful, filled with wonderful people and eclectic food!
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Charlotte DeRose, D.O.
Undergraduate: Georgia State University
Medical School: Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Career Interests: Spinal Cord Injury or Pain
Personal Interests: Rowing, watercolor painting, UGA Football, NCAA and elite gymnastics, golden retrievers
Why did you choose UAB? How friendly and welcoming everyone was! I did an AI here and immediately felt at home with the residents and faculty, I knew I’d get incredible training here and have the most fun while doing it. Plus Birmingham is v cute and fun!!
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Casey Pierce, M.D.
Undergraduate: University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
Medical School: UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Career Interests: Sports Medicine, Ultrasound, MSK, Interventional Spine and Pain Management, Spinal Cord Injury
Personal Interests: Playing basketball, summer wake-surfing, backpacking through national parks, and trying new breweries
Why did you choose UAB? I chose UAB due to a variety of factors. They are a well-established program in the Southeast which will provide ample inpatient, outpatient, and elective opportunities throughout my training. I had the privilege of working with the faculty and residents throughout medical school and found that they truly care about your growth as a physiatrist and as an individual. Further, Birmingham is a blossoming city, and I can’t wait to continue watching it grow.
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Katharyn Strong, M.D.
Undergraduate: Florida State University
Medical School: Florida State University College of Medicine
Career Interests: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Personal Interests: cooking and sampling new cuisines with my husband, Jack; F45, traveling, hiking, SCUBA diving
Why did you choose UAB? The program's focus on providing both variety and quality of clinical experiences, supportive and friendly faculty and co-residents, and the opportunity to live in the Magic City!