Ellie Prados didn’t follow a straight line to medical school.
And that may be one of the things she values most about her experience at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).
The Baton Rouge, La., native arrived at UAB with a clear interest in medicine and an initial plan to study Biomedical Sciences in the School of Health Professions. After her freshman year, however, she changed direction, moving into the pre-Physician Associate track.
Two years later, she changed direction again, returning to Biomedical Sciences before graduating in May 2026.
Those changes were not setbacks. They were part of finding the path that was right for her. She said the support she received from SHP made it possible to explore those options without feeling like she was navigating them alone.
“It all worked out perfectly,” Prados said.
A place that already felt like home
Prados’ connection to UAB began before she was a student.
While she was in high school, her father was pursuing an Executive Doctor of Science in Healthcare Leadership at UAB. His time in Birmingham gave Prados the opportunity to visit the city, experience campus and begin imagining what her own future might look like there.
Her family’s UAB connections extend well beyond her father. A cousin graduated in Healthcare Administration, a second cousin is also a UAB graduate, and her brother currently works at the university.
But Prados’ relationship with UAB ultimately became her own, and it did not take long for “The Magic City” to make an impression, as she, “fell in love with it.” She enjoyed exploring the city’s Botanical Gardens and art museums and appreciated the generosity of the people she met throughout the community.
For an out-of-state student, Birmingham quickly became more than the city surrounding her university.
It became home.
Finding the right academic path
Prados had been interested in Biomedical Sciences from a young age because of its clinical focus and its connection to her long-term goal of becoming a physician.
“I knew I wanted to take something that would give me more experience in courses I would see later on in medical school,” she said.
One of the most important people in that process was Tyler Wright, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences.
Prados called Wright “the most supportive” person during her transition back into Biomedical Sciences. His mentorship extended beyond helping her academically.
“He told me how to best ‘market’ myself during med schools’ interviews,” Prados said. “Dr. Wright was always checking in on me and was super nice about it all. He was awesome.”
Wright was not the only person Prados turned to during her time at SHP.
She said one of the things that made the school unique was how willing faculty and staff were to help.
“Most of them did not even know who I was, but wanted to help me out anyways,” Prados said. “Even those that weren’t my advisors or professors, I could go to them, and they would be so willing to help me out. It speaks to how supportive SHP is for all of its students.”
Getting involved — and finding her people
For Prados, finding her place at SHP extended well beyond the classroom.
She became an SHP Ambassador, an experience that gave her the opportunity to share her own story with prospective students and help high school students envision what their own college experiences could look like.
The role also reinforced something she learned throughout her undergraduate experience: getting involved can change the way students experience college.
“Get involved,” Prados advises to young students. “My life would be very different if I didn’t jump in as a freshman.”
Through SHP’s student organizations, Prados developed leadership skills, grew more confident and built friendships that she expects to carry well beyond graduation.
“All of SHP’s majors have their own clubs, and I think I made a lot of my lifelong friends through those organizations,” she said. “When you look around at graduation and realize you know all those people, it is an amazing feeling.”
Finding her people became an important part of what made UAB feel like home for Prados.
Preparing for what comes next
Prados’ next step will take her back to Louisiana.
She will attend the Louisiana State University School of Medicine New Orleans, where she plans to pursue a career as an OB/GYN.
Her interest in the field developed while working as a medical assistant during her time at UAB.
“Working with women and for women is something I have a big passion for,” Prados said.
Getting to this point required plenty of hard work. Prados prepared for the Medical College Admission Test in just two months while also working and taking summer classes.
Her undergraduate experience in Biomedical Sciences helped prepare her for that challenge.
“I have had so many different experiences, especially with the team-based learning that BMD has,” she said. “It is an experience I would not have had anywhere else.”
Looking back, Prados describes her time in SHP as motivational, challenging and rewarding.
“It is all worth it,” she said. “Whenever you apply yourself to these classes and you’re really learning and getting close to your professors and classmates, it is challenging but always rewarding.”
For prospective students, Prados’ story offers a reminder that choosing a career in healthcare does not mean having every step perfectly planned from the beginning.
Plans can change. Interests can evolve. Students can discover new possibilities along the way.
