Visiting medical student Kaitlin Weisshappel is preparing to head back to Rockford, Illinois, after completing her four-week visiting elective in general surgery this week at UAB.

Kaitlin Weisshappel

“I was told by several of our physicians back home about the excellence of the surgical department here at UAB, especially in regard to volume and the diversity of the caseload,” Weisshappel said. “I'm Midwest born and raised, and so seeing health care from a different regional perspective was what initially drew me to UAB. However, the more time I spend here, the more it feels like a natural home.”

Weisshappel joined the UAB Surgery team from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Rockford in September, as part of this year’s UAB Visiting Elective Scholarship Program, and said she was excited by the consistent presence of surgical residents at UAB.

“The only service in which we are exposed to residents [at the University of Illinois] is family medicine, so being able to see the dynamics of medical students, residents, fellows and attendings is exciting and extremely important for my professional development,” she said.

The UAB Visiting Elective Scholarship Program supports underrepresented minority students on a four-week visiting elective in general surgery at UAB. Students interested in applying for a general surgery residency at UAB also have the opportunity to interview for residency during their rotation.

“UAB has diverse patient demographics and serves many medically underserved patients from the entire state,” Weisshappel said. “Many of the main issues, both medical and socioeconomic, transcend from UAB to my future practice … My [long-term career] goal is to return to a tribal area or a population with a significant native population size.”